The case of the existence of God is a basic and fundamental issue that runs in the human mind. The fact whether God exist or not has no middle. It is impossible to logically affirm both the existence and non-existence of God. Atheists claim that God does not exist while theists boldly affirm that God exist. The agnostics say there is not enough evidence to make a decision while the sceptic doubt that God’s existence can be proven with certainty. The only way to answer the question “Does God exist?” is to seek out and examine the evidence because if there is a God then He would certainly provide adequate evidence for His existence. Theists advocate that there is enough evidence to show beyond reasonable doubt that God exist.
Cause and effect – The cosmological argument
Everyone agrees that the Universe exists and is real. An entity that can not account for its own being is contingent because its existence is dependent on something outside of itself. The universe is therefore contingent since it can not explain or cause its existence. So what caused the universe?
The law of causality is a universal law and states that every material effect must have an adequate antecedent cause. This law is analytically true i.e. by definition or analysis. There’s no effect without cause neither is there a cause without effect. The effect can not be superior to the cause reason why the statement adequate antecedent cause is used. To the question on what caused the universe, we have three answers; firstly that the universe is eternal; it always has existed and always will exist. The second is that it is not eternal; but it created itself out of nothing and thirdly that the universe is not eternal and was created by something or someone anterior and superior to itself.
People who do not believe in the existence of God such as Hoyle would say the universe is eternal to avoid the fact that there is a beginning reason why they developed the steady state theory. The discovery that the universe was expanding forced Dr. Hoyle to explain both an expanding and eternal universe by suggesting that at points in space called “irtrons” hydrogen was coming into existence from nothing and their displacement of existing matter causes the expansion of the universe; and that the gaseous hydrogen condenses into clouds of virgin matter from where new stars and galaxies form, etc.
The astronomer Jastrow noted that the steady state theory has been shown to be incorrect and that some astronomers still favour it because the notion of a world with a beginning and an end makes them uncomfortable. The steady state theory violates the first law of thermodynamics which state that matter can neither be created nor destroyed but can be converted into energy and vice versa, with the total amount of matter and energy in the universe remaining unchanged. Dr. Jastrow noted five points to show the failure for the attempt to explain an eternal universe; the motions of the galaxies, the discovery of the primordial fireball, the laws of thermodynamics, the abundance of helium in the Universe and the life story of the stars. The astrophysicist concludes that the universe has a beginning as seen from the second law of thermodynamics. SO the universe is not eternal.
On the auto-creation of the universe, no reputable scientist would agree with the fact that a material thing can create itself. With the evidence that the universe has a beginning hence has a cause anterior and superior to itself; evolutionists escape this by claiming that the universe came from nothing. Claiming that the universe is a result of a random quantum fluctuation in a spaceless, timeless void coming out from absolute nothingness; they violate the first law of thermodynamics. In addition these claims have no empirical data that can support this fact. This battle went on to the inflationary model to the chaotic inflationary model none of which found any success. The fact that the universe created itself is absurd both philosophically and scientifically because for something to create itself it should have enough causal power to cause its own being, and it would have to have the causal power of being before it was.
One thing is clear then that the universe had a beginning and it did not create itself from nothing, but is an effect having a cause. The cause/effect principle states that wherever there is a material effect, there must be an adequate antecedent cause and that no effect can be qualitatively superior to, or quantitatively greater than, its cause. Since the Universe is not eternal, and could not have created itself, then the Universe was created by some-thing, or Someone, that: (a) existed before it, i.e., some eternal, uncaused First Cause; (b) is superior to it—since the created cannot be superior to the creator; and (c) is of a different nature, since the finite, contingent Universe of matter is unable to explain itself. Nothing produces nothing and since something exists, then something has existed forever. Everything can be classified into either matter or mind. Since something existed forever, then either matter or mind is eternal. But we have seen that matter is not eternal from the discussion about the universe, thus mind is eternal. From another direction everything is either contingent or non-contingent. The universe is not eternal hence contingent and so depends on a cause or a non-contingent force. Sir John Eccles in his research on synapses confirms that human beings consist of a mysterious compound of physical and intangible spirit; which is nonmaterial thinking and perceiving. He added that this nonmaterial self survives the death of the physical brain. The philosopher Norman Geisler confirms that this nonmaterial self or mind is all-knowing eternally and in an unchanging way. Jastrow confirms Eccles point of view that many scientist have come out from their closet and believing in the immortal human spirit and divine creation.
Scientifically, the choice is between matter only and more than matter with the difference being: (a) time, chance, and the inherent properties of matter; or (b) design, creation,
and the irreducible properties of organization. In particular cases there are two scientific explanations for the origin of the order that characterizes the Universe and life in
the Universe: either the order was imposed on matter, or it resides within matter. We have not seen any evidence yet to show that it resides within matter but our evidence is of a non-contingent, eternal, self-existent mind that created the universe and everything within it.
Design in nature – The teleological argument
The law of rationality in logic states that one should accept as true only those conclusions for which there is adequate evidence. Theists affirm that there is adequate evidence to show that God exist. They often employ the teleological argument which suggests that where there’s purposeful design, there must be a designer. It is deduced that order, planning, and design in a system are indicative of intelligence, purpose, and specific intent on the part of the originating cause. Atheist philosophers also agree with the fact that everything designed has a designer but they do not accept that the universe shows purposeful design; so they say there’s no design in nature adequate to substantiate the conclusion that a designer exist.
The science writer Lincoln Barnett says modern physicists who prefer to solve their problem with recourse to God say nature mysteriously operates on mathematical principles. The precision, complexity, and orderliness within the Universe are not disputed but atheists do not want to concede design because of its implication for a designer.
Our universe is estimated to be 20 billion light years in diameter. There are an estimated one billion galaxies in the universe, estimated sextillion stars in the universe, with 100 billion stars in the milky way galaxy which would take 100 000years for light to cross its diameter. So the diameter of the galaxy is approximately 587 quadrillion miles. The Earth distance from the sun is exactly positioned to receive the proper amount of heat and radiation to sustain life though the interior of the sun is estimated to be at over 20 million degrees Celsius. If the earth were moved 10% to or from the sun too much heat or too little heat respectively will be absorbed destroying the life on earth. The earth departs from its line in the orbit by one ninth of an inch every 18miles. If it departed by one eight we will be so closed to the earth to be burned up and if it departed by one tenth of an inch we will be so far from the sun that we would freeze to death. Likewise the position of the earth with respect to the moon is just correct to maintain the tides. If it were moved just by a fifth the tides could reach 35-50 feets high twice a day.
If the rotation of the earth were halved, the seasons would be doubled in length leading to harsh heat and cold over much of the earth. If it were doubled the seasons would be halved. In either case it would be impossible to grow enough food to sustain the earth’s population. If the tilt of the earth’s axis were reduce from the 23.5 degrees to zero, all the water would accumulate at the poles leaving vast deserts in their place. If the atmosphere were much thinner, meteorites would strike our planet with much force and frequency causing worldwide devastation. If four-fifth of the earth were not covered by water but less, temperature extremes would be erratic than they are, and we soon would be out of air to breath if oceans were considerably smaller since 90% of the oxygen comes from microscopic plants in the seas.
These exacting requirements for life are not by accident. The Earth has exactly the right distance from the sun, the right diameter, right distance from the moon, right atmospheric pressure, right tilt, right amount of oceanic water, right weight and mass, etc. This is by design but atheist claim that all these are of fortuitous accidents. The atheist Richard Dawkins was forced to admit the very conclusion of the theists that the statistical improbability of the Universe “just happening by blind chance” is staggering; and that the only alternative is an intelligent Designer, and theists extend that this intelligent designer is God.
Design of the human body
Humans go about wondering on the astonishing scenes from our unique universe without wondering about themselves; a marvellous creation. Some evolutionists credit this to a fortuitous circumstance in nature without recognising that this is the result of purposeful design by a master designer.
While noting that the organisation of the body can be grouped at different levels starting from cells, to tissues, to organs and finally the systems; a look at these levels will show how the body is designed to live in this our universe. The human body has over thirty kinds of cells making approximately 100 trillion in an average adult. The diameter of the cells range from 0.05mm to 0.25mm; meaning that if we line the cells in an average human end-to-end it would encircle the earth over 200 times. The cell is made up of a cell membrane of about 0.06-0.08µm thick which allows selective transport into and out of the cell. It also has the 3 dimensional cytoplasm with over 20 different chemical reactions, and having the communication, waste disposal, nutrition, repair and reproduction components. There are also several organelles within the cytoplasm. The third component of the cell is the nucleus which is found within the cytoplasm and is the control centre having most of the genetic material. It’s within the nucleus that we find the DNA which is about 6feets long when unravelled hence if all DNA in an average human were placed end-to-end it will go to the sun and back 400times (186million miles). The DNA molecule is made up of atoms and a cell has about 1014atoms and since an average human has 1014cells then the human body has about 10 million sextillion (1028) atoms.
Information is stored chemically in DNA which is decoded by RNA. Human technology has not yet attained the chemical storage of information and in addition the amount of information stored in a human cell is approximately a trillion (1012) bits. A library of over 10 million volumes would have about a trillion letter equivalent to the size of the cell memory showing intelligence and great design. Within the DNA, the complexity of the genetic code is not by chance but evidence of an intelligence source.
The human body has several tissues with 600 muscles containing 6 billion muscles fibres which make up 40% of body’s weight. They provide the power for movement in the body. Muscles can be grouped into involuntary and voluntary muscles which require thinking before any action can take place. The muscles of the arm are voluntary where as the heart and intestines have involuntary muscles and so work regardless of our control. Muscles work by contracting (initiated by the nerves in the skeletal muscles) and in pairs. When one contracts the other is relaxed (at rest). The muscle is made up of a bundle of muscle fibres. It uses glycogen (sugar) from food as fuel; consuming it just in a similar way an automobile does. Who then engineered this? Certain muscle movements are only peculiar to humans showing that they are not a kind of “evolved animal” but created by an intelligent designer. The largest organ of the body; the skin is made up of two layers and has the skin layer, the glands and the nails. The skin layer is made up of dead cells which are constantly replaced by new ones in the uppermost layer; epidermis (which has melanin for skin colour). The lower layer; dermis is made up of nerves, blood cells and glands such as the sweat and oil. The nails are mostly made of dead cells and those of the hands grow faster than those of the toes. The soles of the hands and feet are rough to provide better grip and they have no hairs. Hair is a sentry system which helps to warn the eye when something strikes it, helps to squeeze the oil glands of the skin, acts as filters in ears and nose. It only grows to a certain length and fall off. The skin has the following values:
1) The skin is a protective fortification that keeps harmful bacteria from entering the human
system.
2) It is a waterproof wall that holds in the fluids of the body. Our bodies are about 75% fluid.
3) It protects the interior parts of the body from cuts, bruises, etc.
4) With its pigment, melanin, it shields the body from harmful rays arriving on the Earth from the Sun. Beck calls melanin “an epidermal light filter” (1971, p. 745). Do light filters in-
vented by man require intelligence?
5) The skin’s many nerve endings make it sensitive to touch, cold, heat, pain, and pressure. Thus, it is a major sense organ.
6) The sweat glands (2 to 5 million in the whole body) help eliminate waste products and also function in cooling the skin.
7) The oil glands lubricate the skin and help keep it soft—while at the same time providing a waterproofing system. Though soft, the skin is quite durable.
8) About one-third of the body’s blood circulates through the skin. The blood vessels, by contracting and expanding, work to regulate body temperature. If body temperature increases by 7 or 8 degrees, and remains there for any length of time, a person almost always will die. The skin is thus a radiator system (see Brand and Yancey, 1980, p. 154). Does a radiator happen by accident?
9) The skin absorbs ultraviolet rays from the Sun, and uses them to convert chemicals into vitamin D, which the body needs for the utilization of calcium. The skin is therefore a chemical-processing plant for the entire body.
The eye is a very complex organ of the body which is made up of millions of cones, rods and more than a hundred million light-sensitive receptor cells. The eye’s focus is easily adjustable, it has a variable diaphragm to control the amount of light entering, and it does optical corrections for spherical and chromatic aberration. The evolutionists Darwin and Jastrow have independently confess and are troubled about the design of the eye. If the eye is always compared to the camera as it is, then considering the number of images the eye takes in a second and its movement, then no right thinking person will deny its design hence a designer.
Another strong evidence of design within the human body is the ear which is made up of the outer, middle and inner ear. Sound waves enter the outer ear and passes along a tube to the middle ear to the thin membrane; the eardrum. This membrane is moved by the sound wave. The vibration is transmitted to the inner ear where it is amplified by vibrating three thin bones operated by muscles. These bones (hammer, anvil and stirrup) are designed to transmit faint sounds. These vibrations are transmitted to the spiral cochlea which is filled with fluid. Here the 25000 auditory receptors transfer the vibration through electrical impulses to the brain where the sound is interpreted to either thunder, voice, music etc. The ear is described as being far beyond the achievement of any microphone. The fluid in the cochlea is also used for balance in cooperation with the nerves in the three semi-circular canals. This system has been compared to inertial system used in missiles and submarines. If the hearing and balancing ability of the ear shows a remarkable achievement in biological engineering then can this be blind nature? No, it should speak of a grand designer. The psalmist affirms that God is the designer as seen in Psalm 94:9 and proverbs 20:12.
The skeletal system is made up of 206 bones in an average adult and 250 in infants. Some fuse as the child grows. The bones are rigid support for organs and tissues of the body. They are protective devices of some softer parts of the anatomy such as the brain, the heart and lungs, the spinal cord etc. They also serve as levers in body movement and they have metabolic functions as they constantly rebuilt the mineral contents in them and production of red blood cells, certain white blood cells and platelets. The bones are very strong, elastic and are light in order for the system to be effective. The bones of the feet make up 26 in number and they help in support working like hydraulic jacks and levers as well as catapult when one jumps and cushion for the legs showing that there most be a brilliant designer behind this design.
The heart is a muscle used to pump blood. It is the strongest muscle in the body regulating its beating with the requirement of the body. It is an involuntary muscle which generates an enormous amount of energy beating 100000times a day and pumping 1800 gallons of blood a day. It is the sinus node which produces electric current to the nerve fibres which stimulate the muscular contractions that send the blood through the body; from heart to tissues, to lungs and from tissues to lungs carrying oxygen from the lungs through out the body. Medical authorities have observed that the hearts efficiency is about twice that of a steam engine. If intelligence was required to invent the steam engine, then what more about the human heart?
Moses declared fifteen centuries before Christ was born, and 3000 years before the English physician William Harvey (1628) discovered the circulatory system that “the life of the flesh is in the blood”. Blood is classified as a tissue consisting of plasma (maintains chemical and temperature balance), salts, the protein fibrinogen, antibodies (which fight disease), enzymes, and hormones. It has solid materials such as red cells which transport oxygen to the body and carbon dioxide to the lungs, white cells (five kinds) which attack bacteria and other germs, and platelets (15 millions in a drop of blood) which help the blood to clot when the body is wounded. The liver and spleen removes bacteria and worn-out cells from the body just as the kidney also removes waste products from the blood system. Because the temperature is very vital for the functioning of the blood the brain thermostatically controls the temperature by slowing down heart beats and constricting blood vessels at low temperature, so that the liquid flow deeper within the body to get warm. At warm weather or during exercise, the arterioles open and blood dispersed within the skin functioning like a radiator. The blood system constitute a networking of arteries (elastic) and arterioles, veins (with one way valves) and venules, and capillaries (with porous walls) which are links between arterioles and veins. If the pipelines were connected end-to-end it would cover between 60000-100000 miles as estimated and circulation takes only a total of 20 seconds (Avraham, 1989, p.41)
Medical scientists, in the interest of extending human longevity have developed artificial organs which are simplistic substitutes for the sophisticated natural counterparts. Hence no synthetic spare part-however well engineered can match the capacity of the organ a normal human being is born with. Miller and Goode admitted that “no engineering genius has invented a pump like the human heart” (1960,P.6)
The nervous system which is the communication centre of the body is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It regulates the actions of organs, monitors the senses and controls our thinking, learning and memory capabilities. Specialized nerve receptors pick information relating to touch, temperature, sight, taste, etc and send to the brain via nerve fibres at 30 miles/hr. the brain analyses this data and determines the appropriate action to be taken. The brain is the most developed and complex system known to science and it’s made up of the cerebrum which is the thinking/learning centre, the cerebellum for maintenance of equilibrium and muscle coordination, and the brain stem which controls the involuntary muscles.
The brain is said to have a capacity of about 1014 bits using 20 to 25 watts compared to 10KW used by our large computers. Cray-2 supercomputer has a storage capacity about 1000 times less than the human brain which is also very flexible. If the information in the brain were to be written in English it will fill 20 million volumes which will take a bookshelf 500 miles long to house the information. If the computer was designed as no rational man will refuse, then what more of the human brain?
To pick up a pen and a paper from a desk, the brain will send signals to the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders to direct the manipulation of 60 different joints and more than 100 muscles. At the same time, you can smell food cooking and know which hear a dog barking and determine if it is yours or the neighbours; feel a breeze upon the face and sense that rain is near, etc. Even with all these, the brain is regulating millions of internal bodily activities that the person never “thinks” about. The brain surgeon, Robert White, wrote: “I am left with no choice but to acknowledge he existence of a superior intellect, responsible for the design and development of the incredible brain-mind relationship-something far beyond man’s capacity to understand”(1978,p.99). Jastrow also admitted that “It is not so easy to accept that theory (Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection –BT/WJ) as the explanation of an extraordinary organ like the brain”(1981, P.96). He went on to say “Among the organs of the human body, none is more difficult than the brain to explain by evolution” (1981, P.104).
It is not just the brain but also numerous other body systems (eg. Digestive, reproductive, etc), each of which provides clear and compelling evidence of design. Atheistic philosopher Paul Ricci suggested that “Although many have difficulty understanding the tremendous order and complexity of functions of human body (the eye, for example), there is no obvious designer” (1986, p.191, emp.added). The only people who “have difficulty understanding the tremendous order and complexity” found in the universe are those who have “refused to have God in their knowledge” (Romans 1:28)
The Unbeliever’s response to the argument from Design
Those who do not believe in God claim there’s no design in nature; that’s why Richard Dawkins wrote The Blind Watchmaker – to argue that there’s no design apparent in the Universe. There are many examples of design in nature; from the macrocosm to the microcosm, and in their lucid moments even unbelievers are struck by it just like the evolutionist Douglas Futuyma. Still yet they have not admitted defeat but have developed other approaches. They say apparent design is just that-apparent, not actual; so features that appear to have been designed can, in actuality, be explained on the basis of adaptation, random chance over eons of time, etc. The second argument is that of drawing attention to alleged examples of “non-design” or poor design-which they feel, should not be present if an intelligent Designer created the magnificent universe in which we live.
In the book, science on Trial, Futuyma used almost a whole chapter for examples of non-design in nature; just as the Harvard scientist Stephen Jay Gould. They used the argument from suboptimality which suggests that if all design were considered perfect, everything would be optimal; and since there are items in nature that allegedly are imperfect, there is suboptimality in nature. This is wrong for these reasons:
1- In arguing the case for design, creationists are not obligated to show obvious design in every single feature of the Universe but to produce only a reasonable number of sufficient evidences in order to establish design. So a production of an example of which to the evolutionist shows no design to negate the evidences of design is a flawed argument.
2- An object might possess purposeful design, but it is not recognized by the observer. An example is the illustration provided by Davis in his book A Case of Creation.
My daughter was playing with her pet rat one day when a question occurred to her. “Daddy,” she said, “why does a rat have scales on its tail?” “You know perfectly well,” I replied. “The reptiles that were ancestral to rats and all other mammals had scales on their tails as well as on the rest of their bodies. Because there was no particular disadvantage to having them, they persisted in rats to this day.” “Quit putting me on, Daddy. I know you don’t believe that!” You cannot win, it seems. But it is true that one is hard put to discern the reason for the manifold adaptations that organisms possess. What I should have said to my daughter (and eventually did say) was that God had put the scales there for reasons He knew to be perfectly good ones but which may take us a lot of research to discover, since He has not told us what they are. Still, the fact was that I could not explain the presence of those scales... (Frair and Davis, 1983, pp. 30-31).
Davis has raised the point that we may not know presently why an organism is designed the way it is; and that with further research, the heretofore-unrecognizable design eventually may be discovered. This is what happened with the Panda’s thumb which Dr. Gould used in his book, The Panda’s Thumb, for an example of non-design. As he was writing about the non-design, Dr. Davis suggested the same kind of research to elucidate the purpose of design in certain structures. Dr. Gould claimed that the Panda’s “thumb” is “a somewhat clumsy, but quite workable” appendage that “wins no prize in an engineer’s derby”. For him it was an evidence for suboptimality, but Davis in his research found that the Panda’s thumb now has been found to exhibit design for very special functions:
a) The san Diego Zoo’ Giant Panda Zoo book states: “In fact, the giant panda is one of the few large animals that can grab things as tightly as a human can”(undated, p.6).
b) In 1985 schaller and co-authors released The Giant Pandas of Wolong, in which they wrote that “the panda can handle bamboo stems with great precision by holding them as if with forceps in the hairless groove connecting the pad of the first digit and pseudo thumb” (p.4). Does these seem to convey non-design or that the Panda’s thumb is a “jury-rigged” device? No, but that Dr. Gould could not immediately observe the design (for whatever reason), but such design is present.
3- The third reason has to do with theology and not science as S.R. Scally of Guelph University in Canada commented (1981,p.174). Those who claim that something is “suboptimal” must, by definition, set themselves up as the sole judge of what is, and what is not, “optimal.” Ie, they must know with certainty that the item shows no design and what the absolute standard is in the first place in order to claim that something has become “suboptimal.” This means that the unbeliever sets himself up as the creator, presupposes to know the mind of the creator, and then presumes to say what the creator did, or did not, do. This we can see in one evolutionists statement where he notes “that the natural world does not conform to our expectation of what an omnipotent, omniscient, truthful creator would have created” (Futuyma, 1983, p.198). They see that creation does not fit what they would do if they were the creator, and then suggests that a creator does not exist on that basis. That is an empty argument.
4- Another flaw with the suboptimality argument which has to do with theology again is that the unbeliever sets himself up as the creator, and proceeds to note that since things weren’t done as he would do them, there must not be a creator. Secondly, when the real creator tries to explain why things are as they are, the unbeliever refuses to listen.
The unbeliever might be witnessing simply degeneration and he believes they are evidences of “suboptimality”. An object that showed design might have this erased or clouded as a result of a process of degeneration. This does not mean that it was not designed. Imagine a gardener who digs up a book from a pile of rubbish. This book has a weathered cover with pages stuck together and the text illegible. Does the current condition show that the book was not communicative or not design? Of course not. This is exactly what the creator has stated that when man sinned, and evil was introduced to this planet, a state of progressive degeneration commenced (Romans 8:20-22). The same is seen when the Hebrew writer quotes the psalmist observing that “the earth, like a garment, is wearing out” (Hebrews 1:10-11). The degeneration in humans due to their rebellion will eventually lead to death (Romans 5:12). The fact that we have eye problems, heart failure, diseases etc does not cancel the fact that the human body is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). We will not assume that because the unbeliever’s reasoning ability is flawed, his brain was not designed. The creator liked this original creation, so much so He pronounced it “very good” (Genesis 1:31); but because of man’s fault because the first man wanted to be like God, just like so many today, that degeneration came into place.
For the unbeliever God gets the blame for man’s mistakes. They have once again set up themselves as the creator to convince people that no creator exists. One does not get a poem without a poet, or a law without a lawgiver. One does not get a painting without a painter, or a musical score without a composer. Surely one does not get purposeful design without a designer. The inherent design in the universe is sufficient evidence, in keeping with the law of rationality that God does exist.
Morality and Ethics-The Anthropological Argument
All rational people are concerned about human moral and ethical conduct. A person may become so insensitive that he abandons his personal ethical obligations, but he will never be willing to ignore the lack of such ethical obligations in those who would abuse him. Morality is uniquely a human trait. Animals do not operate according to any ethical code. What is therefore the origin of morals and ethics?
1- They are either theocentric (centered in an external source of eternal goodness, namely, God); or
2- Anthropocentric (imbedded in the mind of man as a creature that evolved naturally as a result of inanimate forces operating over eons of cosmic and geologic time).
Atheists think that raw, eternal, inorganic matter was able, by means of extended evolutionary process, to concoct, promote, and maintain morality. This is wrong because it assumes that man somehow is capable of discovering “moral truth” with the evolved mass of cerebral tissue. Charles Darwin declared that “there is no fundamental difference between man and the higher mammals in their mental faculties” (as quoted in Francis Darwin, 1889, 1:64). Darwin also opined that “can the mind of man, which has, as I fully believe, been developed from a mind as low as that possessed by the lowest animals, be trusted when it draws such grand conclusions?” (as quoted in Francis Darwin, 1889 , 1:282). The second reason for the flaw in this opinion is that “raw matter” is impotent to evolve any sense of moral consciousness. Unbelief contends that morality and ethics are, at best, relative and situational. If that were so, then billions of ethical systems would exist, each at variance with many of the others, yet, oddly, each equally valid. Who could say someone else’s conduct was “wrong”, or that a man “ought” or “ought not” to do thus and so? Infact infidelity cannot reasonably explain the origin of morality and ethics but only by appealing to the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient God.
Morality is the character of being in accord with the principles or standards of right conduct. Morality and ethics assert that there exists a differentiation between right and wrong, and between good and evil. This implies an appeal to some ultimate standard by which these character traits can be distinguished. If there’s no purpose in the universe, then there’s no purpose to morality or ethics.
Hedonism argues that the aim of moral conduct is the attainment of the greatest possible pleasure with the greatest possible avoidance of pain. How can this be considered “moral” when the man is doing what he cannot help doing since the moral criterion is the preponderance of pleasure over pain? In pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain, if one must inflict pain upon others in order to achieve the goal or what if one must act immorally in order to practice his “morality”? There’s nothing in this philosophy that would motivate one to forego his own pleasure in the interest of others. The atheistic philosopher Ayn Rand authored a book, The virtue of selfishness-A new concept of Egoism, defending the concept of hedonistic selfishness. Who would want to live in such a society?
Utilitarianism build upon hedonism argues that “good” is that which gives pleasure to the greatest number of people. This is wrong because it cannot answer the query if pleasure to the many prevents a man from achieving his own personal pleasure. What motivates him towards the pleasure of the many? Secondly, there’s no guideline to determine what the “pleasure” (genuine happiness) of the many actually is. Thirdly, it is consistent with numerous atrocities perpetrated in the alleged interest of humanity. Finally, there’s no reason why it would be wrong to forgo the interest of many and pursue one’s personal pleasure.
Moral/Ethics and the Existence of God
Though proof of God’s existence is abundant in the designed Universe, His character is only exposed in His verbal communications available to us in the biblical documents. The Bible declares that God is eternal (Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17), and that He is morally perfect. Not only is He holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), just and righteous (Psalm 89:14), and good (Psalms 100:6; 106:1), but in the ultimate sense, only God is good (Mark 10:18). Since the God of the Bible is perfect (Matthew 5:48), it is to be expected that all that proceeds from Him is good initially. Accordingly, that which He created was good (Genesis 1:31), and all that He does, commands, and approves is likewise good (Psalm 119:39,68).
The “good,” therefore, is what God is; what He has commanded results from Who He is, and thus is likewise good. The prophet Micah declared of God that “He showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8). In the New Testament Peter admonished: “...as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy: for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15). Moral sensitivity has been implanted in man by his creation in the image of God who is eternally good; but the failure in man due to the free will power moved man from this state for which God seeks to restore by divine revelation through a process requiring religious and moral obligations.
Biblical morality is designed to develop within man right attitudes, to help humanity translate spiritual attitudes into actions helpful to others, and to guide man back into accord with the divine ideal, ensuring the present and eternal happiness of man to the glory of God. This also give a motive for moral conduct. Those who have not foolishly thrust God from their minds (Psalm 14:1) acknowledge that the creation testifies of Jehovah’s existence (Romans 1:20-21), and that His orderly Universe is evidence of His good and loving nature (Acts 14:17; James 1:17; 1 John 4:8). The love of God in providing Christ (John 3:16) for sinful man, and the love of Jesus in offering Himself to redeem us (Revelation 1:5; Philippians 2:5ff.), are motive plenteous for leading a moral life. We love, hence, obey Him (John 14:15) because He first loved us (1 John 4:10-11,19). The Scriptures therefore provide both purpose and motive for their ethical base, not found in unbelief.
Other criteria for establishing ethics
Nihilism says since there’s no God, there can be no rational justification for ethical norms; so everything is permitted. The French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre says: “Everything is indeed permitted if God does not exist, and man is in consequence forlorn, for he cannot find anything to depend upon either within or outside himself.... Nor, on the other hand, if God does not exist, are we provided with any values or commands that could legitimize our behaviour (1961, p. 485).” This is also admitted by Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky in his work, The Brothers Karamazov (1880); that if there is no God, “anything goes”. But those who propagate this idea mean that everything is permitted for them alone. They don’t mean that the theft of their property, the rape of their wives etc is permitted.
Relativism says there’s no universal criterion for determining values and so no moral system can be said to be true or false since they depend on culture, and condition. Those believing in the Bible say it is absolute, will they yield to that? Infanticide in some cultures is used to control population is that right? Who will declare the morality of this practices?
Situationism also refuses an absolute system of values. The atheistic situationist says the rightness or wrongness depends upon the situation. So it will be wrong to lie if the falsehood is hurtful to others; but if it is helpful, it would be right. Morality is autonomous, so it’s a self law; then could there ever be a situation in which a person could do wrong? Theistic situationists stand midway between antinomianism (no ethical rules exist) and legalism (moral decisions maybe made by appealing to a rule book eg, the Bible). For them love is the only factor in making moral judgements. This love is subjective to the context. The situation ethics say there are only the rules of love, yet they would define love. Secondly, they enthrone man on the throne as the moral sovereign of the universe with his subjective sense of “love”. Thirdly they assume omniscience application of “love” principle. Since they claim that lying, adultery, murder, etc could be “moral” depending on the context of love, then who is able to predict the consequences of such acts and determine in advance what the “loving” thing to do is? Fourthly, they assume that “love” is an ambiguous, no-rule essence that is a cure-all for moral problems and in addition they presupposes some standard for determining what love is even though they take it as the criterion for ethical decisions.
Determinism removes man of personal responsibility for his conduct. Behaviourism claims man is the product of environment and so to speak of human responsibility is nonsense. Socio-biology also sees man as a machine, which has been programmed by its genetic make up. The flaws in this idea are:
1- If this is true, then there’s no human responsibility.
2- If man is not responsible for his actions, terms such as “good” and “evil” are meaningless.
3- If man is not accountable, no one should ever be punished for robbery, rape, child abuse, murder, etc.
4- How can we be persuaded by the doctrine of determinists since they were programmed to teach their ideas even if they are not true at all.
5- They will not abide by their own doctrine. If Edward Wilson’s book, socio-biology was recopied and published in our names, we would find if Wilson thought we were responsible for the action or our genetic backgrounds were.
Is there Ultimate Moral Responsibility?
We have seen that morality is unique to humans and so it has much to say about our nature.
1- Human moral responsibility is based upon the fact that God is our Creator (Psalm 100:3), and that we have been made in His spiritual image (Genesis 1:26). Just as a potter has a right over the clay he is fashioning, so our Maker has the right to obligate us morally and spiritually to right living (see Romans 9:21).
2- Since morality is grounded in the unchanging nature of God (Malachi 3:6; 1 Peter 1:15), it is absolute—not cultural, not relative, not situational.
3- God’s will is not subjective speculation, but He has spoken (Hebrews 1:1) and His mind is made known in Biblical revelation (1Corinthians 2:11ff.; 2Timothy 3:16-17)
4- God has an unchanging nature but His revelatory process was progressive as He dealt with man as he was in that infantile state (Matthew 19:8; Acts 14:16, 17:30-31). Today the New Testament is the Lord’s final and ultimate standard of morality.
5- The New Testament being the “law of Christ” (Romans 8:2; Galatians 6:2) it is not a “legal” system as the aspects of human conduct are proscribed with a “thou shalt” or “thou shalt not.”
6- New testament ethics also deal with motives of the actions e.g. If one accidentally kills a careless pedestrian with an automobile, he is not accountable before God because it was unintentional but adultery and murder makes him guilty (cf Matthew 5:28 and John 3:15)
7- Ethical activity is not man’s entire obligation before God (Acts 10).
8- Though God has called humans to high moral level, He is aware that we are frail, dusty flesh (Psalms 78:39; 103:14), hence His grace is given us through His son (Hebrews 5:8-9) for pardon of our moral blunders (Acts 22:16); so challenged to live godly lives in this world (Titus 2:11-14).
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
The Four Kinds of Love
In English we say the one word “LOVE” where as in Greek there are four words. Our word “LOVE” actually covers four kinds of love, namely:
1) Agape, that is, spiritual love or the love of God
2) Storge, that is, family love
3) Philia, that is, the love between friends. What we usually call brotherly love
4) Eros, that is, love experienced between a man and a woman when sexual feelings stir between them.
It is this latter kind of love which someone is experiencing when they tell you they have fallen in love. It is a great experience. It comes in that wonderful rainbow-like section of the spectrum of human emotions. Its downside, though, is that since one can in an instant fall in love, one can also in an instant fall out of love and it isn’t always too easy to fall back in it again.
In fact, of the four forms of love there is one that endures forever and that one is AGAPE – the LOVE OF GOD. The love of God has got it all. This is the one to be really aiming to always land in and stay in. This is the one that rises above every common strain in relationships and sets people who are in it in a zone without fear that is full of intense expectation of good.
The love of God is spiritual love. This love cannot be conjured up by man. It has to be imparted into your life by the Holy Spirit. One of the amazing things about receiving Jesus into your life is that when He comes to you He calls on the Holy Spirit to pour out God’s love in your heart.
Now, in marriage there is a wonderful opportunity to allow the love of God (Agape) to make the sexual love (eros) no longer a feeling but an enduring experience between the man and the woman. A couple living together in agape can stay in love (eros) with one another without falling out of it! In fact, having fallen in love then by God’s love they can make eros feeling grow deeper and more special as each day of their marriage goes by! This is why I recommend marriage as a glorious part of human life!
1) Agape, that is, spiritual love or the love of God
2) Storge, that is, family love
3) Philia, that is, the love between friends. What we usually call brotherly love
4) Eros, that is, love experienced between a man and a woman when sexual feelings stir between them.
It is this latter kind of love which someone is experiencing when they tell you they have fallen in love. It is a great experience. It comes in that wonderful rainbow-like section of the spectrum of human emotions. Its downside, though, is that since one can in an instant fall in love, one can also in an instant fall out of love and it isn’t always too easy to fall back in it again.
In fact, of the four forms of love there is one that endures forever and that one is AGAPE – the LOVE OF GOD. The love of God has got it all. This is the one to be really aiming to always land in and stay in. This is the one that rises above every common strain in relationships and sets people who are in it in a zone without fear that is full of intense expectation of good.
The love of God is spiritual love. This love cannot be conjured up by man. It has to be imparted into your life by the Holy Spirit. One of the amazing things about receiving Jesus into your life is that when He comes to you He calls on the Holy Spirit to pour out God’s love in your heart.
Now, in marriage there is a wonderful opportunity to allow the love of God (Agape) to make the sexual love (eros) no longer a feeling but an enduring experience between the man and the woman. A couple living together in agape can stay in love (eros) with one another without falling out of it! In fact, having fallen in love then by God’s love they can make eros feeling grow deeper and more special as each day of their marriage goes by! This is why I recommend marriage as a glorious part of human life!
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
The Kinds of Knowledge as seen in the Bible (English/Telugu)
The Kinds of Knowledge as seen in the Bible
Why should we look at issues like this? Why bother about the kinds of knowledge when we know that knowledge is what we think it is? Oh yes, we have to look at it in detail because the word of God has to be grounded in us. We are God’s building and so must be built on solid grounds so that we can stand all seasons (1 Corinthians 3:9). The Bible says the scripture should not depart from our mouth but that we have to meditate on it day and night so that we may observe and do the things that are written in it. Most importantly, that we will grow, we will be prosperous and be successful if we meditate on scriptures. Joshua 1:8: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.
We have to grow in His revelation knowledge so that we would be one in Him. The Bible says he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17. The joined used in the scripture here is “kollao” in Greek which means to stick, cleave or join (self). But how can we join to the Lord without getting grounded in the things of God who is righteous? We therefore have to meditate on his word and observe the things therein; and the Bible says we will be one spirit (Greek: pneuma) with our Lord. We are now one with the lord, and so we shall no longer doubt anything because the truth is revealed in us. We also see this in 1John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God”. When we meditate on scriptures day and night we shall come to find the truth which only comes by revelation knowledge, and that it is Christ who lives in us and the life that we live in the flesh is by faith in Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me”; Galatians 2:20.
We shall find out that there are some kinds of knowledge that even professors in Theology may not have even though they are intellectuals. In this document we shall start by those kinds of knowledge that are less important to us Christians while moving to the most important kinds. The necessity of this is because of the limitations that we have in English. In the Bible we will find that the text is written ‘Knowledge’ but in the Greek language from where the English version was translated, it is written in a more precise way. The English translation is just sufficient for the Christian reader though not complete in clarity.
We now look at what is called GNOSIS in Greek. This is scientific knowledge. ie. Knowledge that requires intellectual activity. This is the knowledge seen in 1 Timothy 6:20 “O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto [thee], turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge (gnosis) which is falsely so called”. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus that he prays to the God the father to strengthen them in his spirit which is in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith to the end so that they may be strong to apprehend with all the saints the depths, and to know (Greek: ginosko) the love of Christ which passes scientific (human or intellectual) knowledge (gnosis). Eph 3:16-19; “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.”
From the text above we find that there is another kind of knowledge which is revelation knowledge (ginosko) i.e. knowledge with completeness without intellectual activity (to be sure, perceive, understand). This kind of knowledge is acquired through revelation; one does not need intellectual capacity to gain this knowledge. This is seen when someone hears the word of scripture and starts crying. Why does the person cry? Because he/she has been revealed the truth. They know for sure what it is and this kind of knowledge cannot be experienced through human or intellectual activity. You can be a professor in theology for many years and may not have this kind of knowledge. The Bible says this kind of knowledge surpasses scientific (human) knowledge and that the natural man cannot receive this kind of knowledge; 1 Corinthians 2:14 “Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know (ginosko) them, because they are spiritually judged”.
There is another kind of knowledge called “oida or eido” in Greek. This is the knowledge of awareness. It is a kind of completion of knowledge while ginosko is complete knowledge. With ginosko you have complete knowledge but you are not aware. Oida is the knowledge of awareness which is to know that something exists because you notice it or realised that it is happening. We can now notice the difference in the two kinds (oida and ginosko) of knowledge. 1Corinthians 8:1: “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know (Grk:eido) that we all have knowledge (Grk:gnosis). Knowledge (Grk:gnosis) puffeth up, but love edifieth”. Here the scriptures say we are aware, we notice, or we realise that we all have scientific knowledge or human understanding; but this human understanding puffs up. This kind of knowledge eido is given through revelation knowledge (and not through intellectual activity) as well but it is the completion of knowledge. This is knowledge gained from the spirit (Grk: hagios pneuma), i.e. the teachings of the Holy Ghost and not human wisdom as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13; “But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know (Grk:eido) the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words]”. The bible says we are aware that for those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28 “And we know (eido) that to them that love God all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose”. The same word is used in 1 John3:14 “We know (eido) that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death”.
Another variation of knowledge is diaginosko from where the English language borrowed its word diagnosis. Diaginosko is knowledge gained from evualtion, objective evaluation of the subject matter. I.e. to determine something from evaluation of the different issues related to it. Acts 24:22; “Andwhen Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge (eido) of that way[], he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know(Grk: diaginosko) the uttermost of your matter”.
There is this important kind of knowledge called ‘epignosis’ in Greek. This is full and exact knowledge. With this kind of knowledge, the knower participates with the object of knowledge; that influences and changes the attitude of the knower. Here the knower is no longer questioning, but he has complete knowledge. So here the knower is relating with the knowledge; he has not only had complete knowledge but he is aware and is relating with the knowledge. This kind of knowledge is acquired through meditation; “ Colosians 1:9; “For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge (epignosis) of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”. This is full discernment of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding; and this can only be acquired through meditation, that is why the apostle says they were ceaselessly praying for this kind of knowledge for the Christians at Colossae. We know see the reason why we have to continuously meditate day and night on God’s word while praying so that we may gain this complete knowledge of His will; this knowledge in which we can relate with.
There are people who quote scriptures but they do not change them. They are aware that the thing is there but they’ve not related it to their life. Epignosis is revelation knowledge that is complete and that relates to the life of the knower. You can be Christian for many years without knowing these things. That’s why the scriptures indicate to us that we must pray for God to give us this knowledge. It is not gained from intellectual activity as the scriptures say the natural man cannot gain this.
We are now able to identify and distinguish between gnosis, ginosko, eido, diaginosko, and epignosis. These are the kinds of knowledge as used in scriptures and at different levels. Each one has its level; the reason why some Christians are able to relate with spiritual things while others are not. While others have gnosis (human intellect), others have epignosis (complete revelation knowledge). Even amongst Christians, some have ginosko without eido because they do not realise the object of knowledge. They are not aware of the things. Even some who have ginosko and are aware (eido), still lack complete knowledge (epignosis) which comes through meditation and prayers. This is the kind of knowledge we Christians should be working for. Being God’s building (1Cor.3:9) we have to be grounded in the things of God; we have to have complete knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding to be well seasoned.
ది కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే అస్ సీన్ ఇన్ ది బైబిల్
వై షౌల్ద్ వే లుక్ అత ఇస్సుఎస్ లికె థిస్? వై బోతేర్ అబౌట్ ది కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే వెన్ వే క్నౌ తాత క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ వాట్ వే థింక్ ఇట్ ఇస్? ఓహ్ ఎస్, వే హవె తో లుక్ అత ఇట్ ఇన్ దెతైల్ బెకాఉసే ది వర్డ్ అఫ్ గాడ్ హస్ తో బె గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ అస్. వే అరె గాడ్'స బిల్డింగ్ అండ్ సో ముస్త్ బె బిల్ట్ ఆన్ సొలిద్ గ్రౌండ్స్ సో తాత వే కాన్ స్టాండ్ అల్ సీసొంస్ (౧ఒరిన్థిఅన్స్ ౩:౯). ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ ది స్క్రిప్తురే షౌల్ద్ నాట్ డిపార్ట్ ఫ్రొం ఔర్ మౌత్ బట్ తాత వే హవె తో మెదితతె ఆన్ ఇట్ డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్ సో తాత వే మే ఓబ్సేర్వే అండ్ డో ది థింగ్స్ తాత అరె వ్రిత్తెన్ ఇన్ ఇట్. మోస్ట్ ఇమ్పోర్తన్త్లీ, తాత వే విల్ గ్రౌ, వే విల్ బె ప్రోస్పెరౌస్ అండ్ బె సుచ్చెస్స్ఫుల్ ఈఫ్ వే మెదితతె ఆన్ స్క్రిప్తురేస్. జాషు ౧:౮: "థిస్ బుక్ అఫ్ ది లా షాల్ నాట్ డిపార్ట్ ఔట్ అఫ్ తి మౌత్, బట్ తౌ శాల్ట్ మెదితతె తేరేఒన్ డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్, తాత తౌ మఏస్ట్ ఓబ్సేర్వే తో డో అచ్కర్దింగ్ తో అల్ తాత ఇస్ వ్రిత్తెన్ తేరేయిన్: ఫర్ తెన్ తౌ శాల్ట్ మాక్ థెయ్ వే ప్రోస్పెరౌస్, అండ్ తెన్ తౌ శాల్ట్ హవె గుడ్ సక్సెస్".
వే హవె తో గ్రౌ ఇన్ హిస్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే సో తాత వే వౌల్ద్ బె ఒనె ఇన్ హిం. ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ హి తాత ఇస్ జిఒనేడ్ తో ది లార్డ్ ఇస్ oనే స్పిరిట్ . ౧ కరింతిఅంస్ ౬:౧౭. ది లిఒనేడ్ ఉసెద్ ఇన్ ది స్క్రిప్తురే హర్ ఇస్ "కాలో" ఇన్ గ్రీక్ విచ్ మేఅంస్ తో స్టిక్, క్లేఅవే ఆర్ జాయిన్ (సెల్ఫ్). బట్ హౌ కాన్ వే జాయిన్ తో ది లార్డ్ వితౌట్ గెత్తింగ్ గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ ది థింగ్స్ అఫ్ గాడ్ వ్హో ఇస్ రిఘ్తెఔస్? వే తేరేఫోరే హవె తో మెదితతె ఆన్ హిస్ వర్డ్ అండ్ ఓబ్సేర్వే ది థింగ్స్ తేరేయిన్; అండ్ ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ వే విల్ బె ఒనె స్పిరిట్ (గ్రీక్: ప్నేఉమ) విత్ ఔర్ లార్డ్. వే అరె నౌ ఒనె విత్ ది లార్డ్, అండ్ సో వే షాల్ నో లాంగర్ దౌబ్త్ అన్య్థింగ్ బెకాఉసే ది త్రుథ్ ఇస్ రేవేఅలేడ్ ఇన్ అస్. వే ఆల్సో సి థిస్ ఇన్ ౧ఒహ్న్ ౪:౧౫ "వ్హోసోఎవేర్ షాల్ కంఫెస్స్ తాత జీసస్ ఇస్ ది సన్ అఫ్ గాడ్, గాడ్ అబిదేత్ ఇన్ హిం, అండ్ హి ఇన్ గాడ్". వెన్ వే మెదితతె ఆన్ స్క్రిప్తురేస్ డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్ వే షాల్ కం తో ఫైండ్ ది త్రుథ్ విచ్ ఓన్లీ కమ్స్ బి రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే, అండ్ తాత ఇట్ ఇస్ క్రైస్ట్ వ్హో లివెస్ ఇన్ అస్ అండ్ ది లైఫ్ తాత వే లైవ్ ఇన్ ది ఫ్లెష్ ఇస్ బి ఫిత్ ఇన్ క్రైస్ట్. "ఐ హవె బీన్ క్రుసిఫిఎద్ విత్ క్రైస్ట్; అండ్ ఇట్ ఇస్ నో లాంగర్ ఐ తాత లైవ్, బట్ క్రైస్ట్ లివింగ్ ఇన్ మే: అండ్ తాత [లైఫ్ ] విచ్ ఐ నౌ లైవ్ ఇన్ ది ఫ్లెష్ ఐ లైవ్ ఇన్ ఫిత్,[ ది ఫిత్ ] విచ్ ఇస్ ఇన్ ది సన్ అఫ్ గాడ్, వ్హో లొవెద్ మే, అండ్ గావే హింసెల్ఫ్ అప్ ఫర్ మే"; గలతిఅంస్ ౨:౨౦.
వే షాల్ ఫైండ్ ఔట్ తాత తేరే అరె సం కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే తాత ఎవెన్ ప్రొఫెస్సొర్స్ ఇన్ తేఒలోగి మే నాట్ హవె ఎవెన్ తౌగ్ థెయ్ అరె ఇంతేల్లెక్టుఅల్స్. ఇన్ థిస్ డాకుమేంట్ వే షాల్ స్టార్ట్ బి తోసే కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే తాత అరె లెస్ ఇమ్పోర్తంట్ తో అస్ చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ వ్హిలె మూవింగ్ తో ది మోస్ట్ ఇమ్పోర్తంట్ కింద్స్. ది నేసుస్సితి అఫ్ థిస్ ఇస్ బెకాఉసే అఫ్ ది లిమితషన్స్ తాత వే హవె ఇన్ ది లోకల్ లాంగ్వేజ్. ఇన్ ది బైబిల్ వే విల్ ఫైండ్ తాత ది టెక్స్ట్ ఇస్ వ్రిత్తెన్ 'క్నౌలెద్గే' బట్ ఇన్ ది గ్రీక్ లాంగ్వేజ్ ఫ్రొం వ్హెరె ది ఇంగ్లీష్ వెర్షన్ వ్యాస్ త్రన్స్లతెద్, ఇట్ ఇస్ వ్రిత్తెన్ ఇన్ అ మోర్ ప్రేసిసే వే. ది త్రన్స్లషన్ ఇన్ ఔర్ లోకల్ లాంగ్వేజ్ ఇస్ జస్ట్ సుఫ్ఫిసిఎంట్ ఫర్ ది క్రిస్టియన్ రీడర్ తౌగ్ నాట్ కంప్లేతే ఇన్ క్లారిటీ.
వే నౌ లుక్ అత వాట్ ఇస్ కాల్లెద్ గ్నోసిస్ ఇన్ గ్రీక్. థిస్ ఇస్ సైంటిఫిక్ క్నౌలెద్గే. ఇఎ. క్నౌలెద్గే తాత రెకుఇరెస్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి. థిస్ ఇస్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే సీన్ ఇన్ ౧ తిమోతి ౬:౨౦ "ఓ తిమోతి, గార్డు తాత విచ్ ఇస్ కంమిట్టేడ్ ఉంతో [థీ], తుర్నింగ్ అవి ఫ్రొం ది ప్రోఫానే బాబ్బ్లింగ్స్ అండ్ ఒప్పోసిషన్స్ అఫ్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్నోసిస్) విచ్ ఇస్ ఫల్సెల్య్ సో కాల్లెద్". ది అపోస్త్లె పాల్ వ్రొతె తో ది చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ ఇన్ ఎఫేసుస్ తాత హి ప్రయ్స్ తో ది గాడ్ ది ఫథెర్ తో స్త్రెంగ్తేన్ తెం ఇన్ హిస్ స్పిరిట్ విచ్ ఇస్ ఇన్ ది ఇన్నెర్ మాన్, తాత క్రైస్ట్ మే ద్వెల్ల్ ఇన్ తేఇర్ హార్ట్స్ త్రౌగ్ ఫిత్ తో ది ఎంద సో తాత థెయ్ మే బె స్త్రొంగ్ తో అప్ప్రేహేండ్ విత్ అల్ ది సైంత్స్ ది దెప్త్స్, అండ్ తో క్నౌ (గ్రీక్: గినోస్కో) ది లవ్ అఫ్ క్రైస్ట్ విచ్ పస్సెస్ సైంటిఫిక్ (హ్యూమన్ ఆర్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్) క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్నోసిస్). ఎఫేసిఅంస్ ౩:౧౬-౧౯; "ఫర్ థిస్ కుసే ఐ బౌ మై క్నీస్ ఉంతో ది ఫథెర్ , ఫ్రొం వ్హొం ఎవెర్య్ ఫ్యామిలీ ఇన్ హేఅవెన్ అండ్ ఆన్ ఎఅర్త్ ఇస్ నమెద్, తాత హి వౌల్ద్ గ్రాంట్ యు, అచ్కర్దింగ్ తో ది రిచెస్ అఫ్ హిస్ గ్లోరీ, తాత ఏ మే బె స్త్రెంగ్తేనేడ్ విత్ పవర్ త్రౌగ్ హిస్ స్పిరిట్ ఇన్ ది ఇంవార్డ్ మాన్; తాత క్రైస్ట్ మే ద్వెల్ల్ ఇన్ యౌర్ హార్ట్స్ త్రౌగ్ ఫిత్: తో ది ఎంద తాత యు, బింగ్ రూతెద్ అండ్ గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ లవ్, మే బె స్త్రొంగ్ తో అప్ప్రేహేండ్ విత్ అల్ ది సైంత్స్ వాట్ ఇస్ ది బ్రేఅద్త్ అండ్ లెంగ్త్ అండ్ హేఇఘ్ట్ అండ్ డెప్త్, అండ్ తో క్నౌ ది లవ్ అఫ్ క్రైస్ట్ విచ్ పస్సెస్ క్నౌలెద్గే, తాత యు మే బె ఫిల్లెద్ ఉంతో అల్ ది ఫుల్నేస్స్ అఫ్ గాడ్." ఫ్రొం ది టెక్స్ట్ అబొవె వే ఫైండ్ తాత తేరే ఇస్ అనోతేర్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే విచ్ ఇస్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే (గినోస్కో) ఐ.ఎ. క్నౌలెద్గే విత్ కంప్లేతెనేస్స్ వితౌట్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి (తో బె సరే, పెర్సుఇవే, ఉన్దేర్స్తాండ్). థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ అక్కుఇరెద్ త్రౌగ్ రేవేలషన్; ఒనె దోఎస్ నాట్ నీద్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ కెపాసిటీ తో గైన్ థిస్ క్నౌలెద్గే. థిస్ ఇస్ సీన్ వెన్ సోమేఒనే హేఅర్స్ ది వర్డ్ అఫ్ స్క్రిప్తురే అండ్ స్తర్త్స్ క్రయింగ్. వై దోఎస్ ది పర్సన్ క్రీ? బెకాఉసే హి/శే హస్ బీన్ రేవేఅలేడ్ ది త్రుథ్. థెయ్ క్నౌ ఫర్ సరే వాట్ ఇట్ ఇస్ అండ్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే కాన్నోట్ బె ఎక్ష్పెరిఎన్కెద్ త్రౌగ్ హ్యూమన్ ర ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి. యు కాన్ బె అ ప్రొఫెసర్ ఇన్ తేఒలోగి ఫర్ మెనీ యేఅర్స్ అండ్ మే నాట్ హవె థిస్ కింద అఫ్క్నౌలెద్గే. ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే సుర్పస్సేస్ సైంటిఫిక్ (హ్యూమన్) క్నౌలెద్గే అండ్ తాత ది నతురల్ మాన్ కాన్నోట్ రేసుఇవే థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే; ౧ఒరిన్థిఅన్స్ ౨:౧౪ "నౌ ది నతురల్ మాన్ రెసుఇవేస్ నాట్ ది థింగ్స్ అఫ్ ది స్పిరిట్ అఫ్ గాడ్: ఫర్ థెయ్ అరె ఫూలిష్నెస్స్ ఉంతో హిం; అండ్ హి కాన్నోట్ క్నౌ (గినోస్కో) తెం, బెకాఉసే థెయ్ అరె స్పిరితుఅల్లీ జుద్గెద్".
తేరే ఇస్ అనోతేర్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే కాల్లెద్ "ఒఇడ ఆర్ ఎఇదో" ఇన్ గ్రీక్. థిస్ ఇస్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ అవారేనేస్స్. ఇట్ ఇస్ అ కింద అఫ్ కంప్లేషన్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే వ్హిలె గినోస్కో ఇస్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే. విత్ గినోస్కో యు హవె కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే బట్ యు అరె నాట్ అవర్. ఒఇడ ఇస్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ అవారేనేస్స్ విచ్ ఇస్ తో క్నౌ తాత సొమెథింగ్ ఎక్షిస్త్స్ బెకాఉసే యు నోటీసు ఇట్ ఆర్ రేఅలిసేడ్ తాత ఇట్ ఇస్ హప్పెనింగ్. వే కాన్ నౌ నోటీసు ది దిఫ్ఫెరెంస్ ఇన్ ది త్వో కింద్స్ (ఒఇడ అండ్ గినోస్కో) అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే. ౧ఒరిన్థిఅన్స్ ౮:౧: "నౌ కన్సుర్నింగ్ థింగ్స్ సక్రిఫిసుస్ తో ఇదొల్స్: వే నకో (గ్రీక్: ఎఇదో) తాత వేఅల్ హవె క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్ర్క్:గ్నోసిస్). క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్ర్క్:గ్నోసిస్) పుఫ్ఫెత్ అప్, బట్ లవ్ ఎదిఫిఎత్”. హియర్ ది స్క్రిప్తురేస్ సి వే అరె అవర్, వే నోటీసు, ఆర్ వే రెఅలిసె తాత వే అల్ హవె సైంటిఫిక్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఆర్ హ్యూమన్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్; బట్ థిస్ హ్యూమన్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్ పుఫ్ఫ్స్ అప్. థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఎఇదో ఇస్ గివెన్ త్రౌగ్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే (అండ్ నాట్ త్రౌగ్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి) అస్ వెల్ బట్ ఇట్ ఇస్ ది కంప్లేషన్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే. థిస్ ఇస్ క్నౌలెద్గే గైనెద్ ఫ్రొం ది స్పిరిట్ (గ్ర్క్: హగిఒస్ ప్నేఉమ), ఐ.ఎ. ది తెఅచింగ్స్ అఫ్ ది హోలీ ఘోస్ట్ అండ్ నాట్ హ్యూమన్ విస్దొం అస్ సీన్ ఇన్ ౧ కరింతిఅంస్ ౨:౧౨, ౧౩; “బట్ వే రికేఇవేడ్, నాట్ ది స్పిరిట్ అఫ్ ది వరల్డ్, బట్ ది స్పిరిట్ విచ్ ఇస్ ఫ్రొం గాడ్; తాత వే మిఘ్త్ క్నౌ (గ్ర్క్:ఎఇదో) ది థింగ్స్ తాత వేరే ఫ్రీల్య్ గివెన్ తో అస్ అఫ్ గాడ్. విచ్ థింగ్స్ ఆల్సో వే స్పెఅక్, నాట్ ఇన్ వర్డ్స్ విచ్ మాన్’స విస్దొం తెఅచేత్, బట్ విచ్ ది స్పిరిట్ తెఅచేత్; కంబినింగ్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ థింగ్స్ విత్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ [వర్డ్స్]”. ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ వే అరె అవర్ తాత ఫర్ తోసే వ్హో లవ్ గాడ్ అల్ థింగ్స్ వర్క్ తోగేతేర్ ఫర్ గుడ్. రోమాన్స్ ౮:౨౮ “అండ్ వే క్నౌ (ఎఇదో) తాత తో తెం తాత లవ్ గాడ్ అల్ థింగ్స్ వర్క్ తోగేతేర్ ఫర్ గుడ్, [ఎవెన్] తో తెం తాత అరె కాల్లెద్ అచ్కర్దింగ్ తో [హిస్] పుర్పొసె”. ది సమె వర్డ్ ఇస్ ఉసెద్ ఇన్ ౧ ఒహ్న౩:౧౪ “వే క్నౌ (ఎఇదో) తాత వే హవె పస్సెద్ ఔట్ అఫ్ డెత్ ఇంతో లైఫ్, బెకాఉసే వే లవ్ ది బ్రెథ్రెన్. హి తాత లోవేత్ నాట్ అబిదేత్ ఇన్ డెత్”.
అనోతేర్ వరిఅషన్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ దిఅగినోస్కో ఫ్రొం వ్హెరె ది ఇంగ్లీష్ లాంగ్వేజ్ బోర్రోవేడ్ ఇత్స్ వర్డ్ డయాగ్నోసిస్. దిఅగినోస్కో ఇస్ క్నౌలెద్గే గైనెద్ ఫ్రొం ఎవుఅల్షన్, ఓబ్జేక్టివే ఎవలుఅషన్ అఫ్ ది సబ్జెక్టు మేటర్. ఐ.ఎ. తో దేతెర్మినే సొమెథింగ్ ఫ్రొం ఎవలుఅషన్ అఫ్ ది డిఫరెంట్ ఇస్సుఎస్ రెలతెద్ తో ఇట్. అచ్త్స్ ౨౪:౨౨; “అన్ద్వ్హెన్ ఎలిక్ష్ హేఅర్డ్ తేసే థింగ్స్, హవింగ్ మోర్ పెర్ఫెచ్త్ క్నౌలెద్గే (ఎఇదో) అఫ్ తాత వే[], హి దేఫెర్రేడ్ తెం, అండ్ సైడ్, వెన్ ల్య్సిఅస్ ది చీఫ్ కెప్టెన్ షాల్ కం దోవ్న్, ఐ విల్ క్నౌ(గ్ర్క్: దిఅగినోస్కో) ది ఉత్తెర్మోస్ట్ అఫ్ యౌర్ మేటర్”.
తేరే ఇస్ థిస్ ఇమ్పోర్తంట్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే కాల్లెద్ ‘ఎపిగ్నోసిస్’ ఇన్ గ్రీక్. థిస్ ఇస్ ఫుల్ అండ్ ఎక్షక్త్ క్నౌలెద్గే. విత్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే, ది క్నోవేర్ పర్తిసిపతెస్ విత్ ది ఓబ్జేచ్ట్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే; తాత ఇన్ఫ్లుఎన్కెస్ అండ్ చంగెస్ ది అత్తితుడే అఫ్ ది క్నోవేర్. హియర్ ది క్నోవేర్ ఇస్ నో లాంగర్ క్యూస్షనింగ్, బట్ హి హస్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే. సో హియర్ ది క్నోవేర్ ఇస్ రెలతింగ్ విత్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే; హి హస్ నాట్ ఓన్లీ హద్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే బట్ హి ఇస్ అవర్ అండ్ ఇస్ రెలతింగ్ విత్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే. థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ అక్కుఇరెద్ త్రౌగ్ మేదితషన్; “ కలోసిఅంస్ ౧:౯; “ఫర్ థిస్ కుసే వే ఆల్సో, సైన్స్ ది డే వే హేఅర్డ్ [ఇట్], డో నాట్ సీజ్ తో ప్రి అండ్ మాక్ రిక్వెస్ట్ ఫర్ యు, తాత ఏ మే బె ఫిల్లెద్ విత్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే (ఎపిగ్నోసిస్) అఫ్ హిస్ విల్ ఇన్ అల్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ విస్దొం అండ్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్,”. థిస్ ఇస్ ఫుల్ దిస్సుర్న్మేంట్ అఫ్ గాడ్’స విల్ ఇన్ అల్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ విస్దొం అండ్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్; అండ్ థిస్ కాన్ ఓన్లీ బె అక్కుఇరెద్ త్రౌగ్ మేదితషన్, తాత ఇస్ వై ది అపోస్త్లె సయ్స్ థెయ్ వేరే సెఅసేలేస్స్లీ ప్రయింగ్ ఫర్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఫర్ ది చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ అత కలోస్సే. వే క్నౌ సి ది రేఅసన్ వై వే హవె తో కొన్తినుఔస్ల్య్ మెదితతె డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్ ఆన్ గాడ్’స వర్డ్ వ్హిలె ప్రయింగ్ సో తాత వే మే గైన్ థిస్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ హిస్ విల్; థిస్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇన్ విచ్ వే కాన్ రెలతె విత్.
తేరే అరె పీపుల్ వ్హో కుఒతె స్క్రిప్తురేస్ బట్ థెయ్ డో నాట్ చంగె తెం. థెయ్ అరె అవర్ తాత ది తింగ్ ఇస్ తేరే బట్ థెయ్’వె నాట్ రెలతెద్ ఇట్ తో తేఇర్ లైఫ్. ఎపిగ్నోసిస్ ఇస్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే తాత ఇస్ కంప్లేతే అండ్ తాత రెలతెస్ తో ది లైఫ్ అఫ్ ది క్నోవేర్. యు కాన్ బె క్రిస్టియన్ ఫర్ మెనీ యేఅర్స్ వితౌట్ క్నోవింగ్ తేసే థింగ్స్. తాత’స వై ది స్క్రిప్తురేస్ ఇందికాతే తో అస్ తాత వే ముస్త్ ప్రి ఫర్ గాడ్ తో గివె అస్ థిస్ క్నౌలెద్గే. ఇట్ ఇస్ నాట్ గైనెద్ ఫ్రొం ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి అస్ ది స్క్రిప్తురేస్ సి ది నతురల్ మాన్ కాన్నోట్ గైన్ థిస్.
వే అరె నౌ అబ్లె తో ఐడెంటిఫై అండ్ దిస్తిన్గుఇశ్ బిట్వీన్ గ్నోసిస్, గినోస్కో, ఎఇదో, దిఅగినోస్కో, అండ్ ఎపిగ్నోసిస్. తేసే అరె ది కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే అస్ ఉసెద్ ఇన్ స్క్రిప్తురేస్ అండ్ అత డిఫరెంట్ లెవెల్స్. ఏఅచ్ ఒనె హస్ ఇత్స్ లెవెల్; ది రేఅసన్ వై సం చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ అరె అబ్లె తో రెలతె విత్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ థింగ్స్ వ్హిలె ఒథెర్స్ అరె నాట్. వ్హిలె ఒథెర్స్ హవె గ్నోసిస్ (హ్యూమన్ ఇంతేల్లెచ్ట్), ఒథెర్స్ హవె ఎపిగ్నోసిస్ (కంప్లేతే రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే). ఎవెన్ అమొంగ్స్త్ చ్రిస్తిఅంస్, సం హవె గినోస్కో వితౌట్ ఎఇదో బెకాఉసే థెయ్ డో నాట్ రెఅలిసె ది ఓబ్జేచ్ట్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే. థెయ్ అరె నాట్ అవర్ అఫ్ ది థింగ్స్. ఎవెన్ సం వ్హో హవె గినోస్కో అండ్ అరె అవర్ (ఎఇదో), స్టిల్ లక్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే (ఎపిగ్నోసిస్) విచ్ కమ్స్ త్రౌగ్ మేదితషన్ అండ్ ప్రయెర్స్. థిస్ ఇస్ ది కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే వే చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ షౌల్ద్ బె వర్కింగ్ ఫర్. బింగ్ గాడ్’స బిల్డింగ్ (౧ఒర్.౩:౯) వే హవె తో బె గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ ది థింగ్స్ అఫ్ గాడ్; వే హవె తో హవె కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ హిస్ విల్ ఇన్ అల్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ విస్దొం అండ్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్ తో బె వెల్ సీసోనేడ్.
Why should we look at issues like this? Why bother about the kinds of knowledge when we know that knowledge is what we think it is? Oh yes, we have to look at it in detail because the word of God has to be grounded in us. We are God’s building and so must be built on solid grounds so that we can stand all seasons (1 Corinthians 3:9). The Bible says the scripture should not depart from our mouth but that we have to meditate on it day and night so that we may observe and do the things that are written in it. Most importantly, that we will grow, we will be prosperous and be successful if we meditate on scriptures. Joshua 1:8: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.
We have to grow in His revelation knowledge so that we would be one in Him. The Bible says he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17. The joined used in the scripture here is “kollao” in Greek which means to stick, cleave or join (self). But how can we join to the Lord without getting grounded in the things of God who is righteous? We therefore have to meditate on his word and observe the things therein; and the Bible says we will be one spirit (Greek: pneuma) with our Lord. We are now one with the lord, and so we shall no longer doubt anything because the truth is revealed in us. We also see this in 1John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God”. When we meditate on scriptures day and night we shall come to find the truth which only comes by revelation knowledge, and that it is Christ who lives in us and the life that we live in the flesh is by faith in Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me”; Galatians 2:20.
We shall find out that there are some kinds of knowledge that even professors in Theology may not have even though they are intellectuals. In this document we shall start by those kinds of knowledge that are less important to us Christians while moving to the most important kinds. The necessity of this is because of the limitations that we have in English. In the Bible we will find that the text is written ‘Knowledge’ but in the Greek language from where the English version was translated, it is written in a more precise way. The English translation is just sufficient for the Christian reader though not complete in clarity.
We now look at what is called GNOSIS in Greek. This is scientific knowledge. ie. Knowledge that requires intellectual activity. This is the knowledge seen in 1 Timothy 6:20 “O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto [thee], turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge (gnosis) which is falsely so called”. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus that he prays to the God the father to strengthen them in his spirit which is in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith to the end so that they may be strong to apprehend with all the saints the depths, and to know (Greek: ginosko) the love of Christ which passes scientific (human or intellectual) knowledge (gnosis). Eph 3:16-19; “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.”
From the text above we find that there is another kind of knowledge which is revelation knowledge (ginosko) i.e. knowledge with completeness without intellectual activity (to be sure, perceive, understand). This kind of knowledge is acquired through revelation; one does not need intellectual capacity to gain this knowledge. This is seen when someone hears the word of scripture and starts crying. Why does the person cry? Because he/she has been revealed the truth. They know for sure what it is and this kind of knowledge cannot be experienced through human or intellectual activity. You can be a professor in theology for many years and may not have this kind of knowledge. The Bible says this kind of knowledge surpasses scientific (human) knowledge and that the natural man cannot receive this kind of knowledge; 1 Corinthians 2:14 “Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know (ginosko) them, because they are spiritually judged”.
There is another kind of knowledge called “oida or eido” in Greek. This is the knowledge of awareness. It is a kind of completion of knowledge while ginosko is complete knowledge. With ginosko you have complete knowledge but you are not aware. Oida is the knowledge of awareness which is to know that something exists because you notice it or realised that it is happening. We can now notice the difference in the two kinds (oida and ginosko) of knowledge. 1Corinthians 8:1: “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know (Grk:eido) that we all have knowledge (Grk:gnosis). Knowledge (Grk:gnosis) puffeth up, but love edifieth”. Here the scriptures say we are aware, we notice, or we realise that we all have scientific knowledge or human understanding; but this human understanding puffs up. This kind of knowledge eido is given through revelation knowledge (and not through intellectual activity) as well but it is the completion of knowledge. This is knowledge gained from the spirit (Grk: hagios pneuma), i.e. the teachings of the Holy Ghost and not human wisdom as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13; “But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know (Grk:eido) the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words]”. The bible says we are aware that for those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28 “And we know (eido) that to them that love God all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose”. The same word is used in 1 John3:14 “We know (eido) that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death”.
Another variation of knowledge is diaginosko from where the English language borrowed its word diagnosis. Diaginosko is knowledge gained from evualtion, objective evaluation of the subject matter. I.e. to determine something from evaluation of the different issues related to it. Acts 24:22; “Andwhen Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge (eido) of that way[], he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know(Grk: diaginosko) the uttermost of your matter”.
There is this important kind of knowledge called ‘epignosis’ in Greek. This is full and exact knowledge. With this kind of knowledge, the knower participates with the object of knowledge; that influences and changes the attitude of the knower. Here the knower is no longer questioning, but he has complete knowledge. So here the knower is relating with the knowledge; he has not only had complete knowledge but he is aware and is relating with the knowledge. This kind of knowledge is acquired through meditation; “ Colosians 1:9; “For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge (epignosis) of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”. This is full discernment of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding; and this can only be acquired through meditation, that is why the apostle says they were ceaselessly praying for this kind of knowledge for the Christians at Colossae. We know see the reason why we have to continuously meditate day and night on God’s word while praying so that we may gain this complete knowledge of His will; this knowledge in which we can relate with.
There are people who quote scriptures but they do not change them. They are aware that the thing is there but they’ve not related it to their life. Epignosis is revelation knowledge that is complete and that relates to the life of the knower. You can be Christian for many years without knowing these things. That’s why the scriptures indicate to us that we must pray for God to give us this knowledge. It is not gained from intellectual activity as the scriptures say the natural man cannot gain this.
We are now able to identify and distinguish between gnosis, ginosko, eido, diaginosko, and epignosis. These are the kinds of knowledge as used in scriptures and at different levels. Each one has its level; the reason why some Christians are able to relate with spiritual things while others are not. While others have gnosis (human intellect), others have epignosis (complete revelation knowledge). Even amongst Christians, some have ginosko without eido because they do not realise the object of knowledge. They are not aware of the things. Even some who have ginosko and are aware (eido), still lack complete knowledge (epignosis) which comes through meditation and prayers. This is the kind of knowledge we Christians should be working for. Being God’s building (1Cor.3:9) we have to be grounded in the things of God; we have to have complete knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding to be well seasoned.
ది కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే అస్ సీన్ ఇన్ ది బైబిల్
వై షౌల్ద్ వే లుక్ అత ఇస్సుఎస్ లికె థిస్? వై బోతేర్ అబౌట్ ది కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే వెన్ వే క్నౌ తాత క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ వాట్ వే థింక్ ఇట్ ఇస్? ఓహ్ ఎస్, వే హవె తో లుక్ అత ఇట్ ఇన్ దెతైల్ బెకాఉసే ది వర్డ్ అఫ్ గాడ్ హస్ తో బె గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ అస్. వే అరె గాడ్'స బిల్డింగ్ అండ్ సో ముస్త్ బె బిల్ట్ ఆన్ సొలిద్ గ్రౌండ్స్ సో తాత వే కాన్ స్టాండ్ అల్ సీసొంస్ (౧ఒరిన్థిఅన్స్ ౩:౯). ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ ది స్క్రిప్తురే షౌల్ద్ నాట్ డిపార్ట్ ఫ్రొం ఔర్ మౌత్ బట్ తాత వే హవె తో మెదితతె ఆన్ ఇట్ డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్ సో తాత వే మే ఓబ్సేర్వే అండ్ డో ది థింగ్స్ తాత అరె వ్రిత్తెన్ ఇన్ ఇట్. మోస్ట్ ఇమ్పోర్తన్త్లీ, తాత వే విల్ గ్రౌ, వే విల్ బె ప్రోస్పెరౌస్ అండ్ బె సుచ్చెస్స్ఫుల్ ఈఫ్ వే మెదితతె ఆన్ స్క్రిప్తురేస్. జాషు ౧:౮: "థిస్ బుక్ అఫ్ ది లా షాల్ నాట్ డిపార్ట్ ఔట్ అఫ్ తి మౌత్, బట్ తౌ శాల్ట్ మెదితతె తేరేఒన్ డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్, తాత తౌ మఏస్ట్ ఓబ్సేర్వే తో డో అచ్కర్దింగ్ తో అల్ తాత ఇస్ వ్రిత్తెన్ తేరేయిన్: ఫర్ తెన్ తౌ శాల్ట్ మాక్ థెయ్ వే ప్రోస్పెరౌస్, అండ్ తెన్ తౌ శాల్ట్ హవె గుడ్ సక్సెస్".
వే హవె తో గ్రౌ ఇన్ హిస్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే సో తాత వే వౌల్ద్ బె ఒనె ఇన్ హిం. ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ హి తాత ఇస్ జిఒనేడ్ తో ది లార్డ్ ఇస్ oనే స్పిరిట్ . ౧ కరింతిఅంస్ ౬:౧౭. ది లిఒనేడ్ ఉసెద్ ఇన్ ది స్క్రిప్తురే హర్ ఇస్ "కాలో" ఇన్ గ్రీక్ విచ్ మేఅంస్ తో స్టిక్, క్లేఅవే ఆర్ జాయిన్ (సెల్ఫ్). బట్ హౌ కాన్ వే జాయిన్ తో ది లార్డ్ వితౌట్ గెత్తింగ్ గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ ది థింగ్స్ అఫ్ గాడ్ వ్హో ఇస్ రిఘ్తెఔస్? వే తేరేఫోరే హవె తో మెదితతె ఆన్ హిస్ వర్డ్ అండ్ ఓబ్సేర్వే ది థింగ్స్ తేరేయిన్; అండ్ ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ వే విల్ బె ఒనె స్పిరిట్ (గ్రీక్: ప్నేఉమ) విత్ ఔర్ లార్డ్. వే అరె నౌ ఒనె విత్ ది లార్డ్, అండ్ సో వే షాల్ నో లాంగర్ దౌబ్త్ అన్య్థింగ్ బెకాఉసే ది త్రుథ్ ఇస్ రేవేఅలేడ్ ఇన్ అస్. వే ఆల్సో సి థిస్ ఇన్ ౧ఒహ్న్ ౪:౧౫ "వ్హోసోఎవేర్ షాల్ కంఫెస్స్ తాత జీసస్ ఇస్ ది సన్ అఫ్ గాడ్, గాడ్ అబిదేత్ ఇన్ హిం, అండ్ హి ఇన్ గాడ్". వెన్ వే మెదితతె ఆన్ స్క్రిప్తురేస్ డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్ వే షాల్ కం తో ఫైండ్ ది త్రుథ్ విచ్ ఓన్లీ కమ్స్ బి రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే, అండ్ తాత ఇట్ ఇస్ క్రైస్ట్ వ్హో లివెస్ ఇన్ అస్ అండ్ ది లైఫ్ తాత వే లైవ్ ఇన్ ది ఫ్లెష్ ఇస్ బి ఫిత్ ఇన్ క్రైస్ట్. "ఐ హవె బీన్ క్రుసిఫిఎద్ విత్ క్రైస్ట్; అండ్ ఇట్ ఇస్ నో లాంగర్ ఐ తాత లైవ్, బట్ క్రైస్ట్ లివింగ్ ఇన్ మే: అండ్ తాత [లైఫ్ ] విచ్ ఐ నౌ లైవ్ ఇన్ ది ఫ్లెష్ ఐ లైవ్ ఇన్ ఫిత్,[ ది ఫిత్ ] విచ్ ఇస్ ఇన్ ది సన్ అఫ్ గాడ్, వ్హో లొవెద్ మే, అండ్ గావే హింసెల్ఫ్ అప్ ఫర్ మే"; గలతిఅంస్ ౨:౨౦.
వే షాల్ ఫైండ్ ఔట్ తాత తేరే అరె సం కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే తాత ఎవెన్ ప్రొఫెస్సొర్స్ ఇన్ తేఒలోగి మే నాట్ హవె ఎవెన్ తౌగ్ థెయ్ అరె ఇంతేల్లెక్టుఅల్స్. ఇన్ థిస్ డాకుమేంట్ వే షాల్ స్టార్ట్ బి తోసే కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే తాత అరె లెస్ ఇమ్పోర్తంట్ తో అస్ చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ వ్హిలె మూవింగ్ తో ది మోస్ట్ ఇమ్పోర్తంట్ కింద్స్. ది నేసుస్సితి అఫ్ థిస్ ఇస్ బెకాఉసే అఫ్ ది లిమితషన్స్ తాత వే హవె ఇన్ ది లోకల్ లాంగ్వేజ్. ఇన్ ది బైబిల్ వే విల్ ఫైండ్ తాత ది టెక్స్ట్ ఇస్ వ్రిత్తెన్ 'క్నౌలెద్గే' బట్ ఇన్ ది గ్రీక్ లాంగ్వేజ్ ఫ్రొం వ్హెరె ది ఇంగ్లీష్ వెర్షన్ వ్యాస్ త్రన్స్లతెద్, ఇట్ ఇస్ వ్రిత్తెన్ ఇన్ అ మోర్ ప్రేసిసే వే. ది త్రన్స్లషన్ ఇన్ ఔర్ లోకల్ లాంగ్వేజ్ ఇస్ జస్ట్ సుఫ్ఫిసిఎంట్ ఫర్ ది క్రిస్టియన్ రీడర్ తౌగ్ నాట్ కంప్లేతే ఇన్ క్లారిటీ.
వే నౌ లుక్ అత వాట్ ఇస్ కాల్లెద్ గ్నోసిస్ ఇన్ గ్రీక్. థిస్ ఇస్ సైంటిఫిక్ క్నౌలెద్గే. ఇఎ. క్నౌలెద్గే తాత రెకుఇరెస్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి. థిస్ ఇస్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే సీన్ ఇన్ ౧ తిమోతి ౬:౨౦ "ఓ తిమోతి, గార్డు తాత విచ్ ఇస్ కంమిట్టేడ్ ఉంతో [థీ], తుర్నింగ్ అవి ఫ్రొం ది ప్రోఫానే బాబ్బ్లింగ్స్ అండ్ ఒప్పోసిషన్స్ అఫ్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్నోసిస్) విచ్ ఇస్ ఫల్సెల్య్ సో కాల్లెద్". ది అపోస్త్లె పాల్ వ్రొతె తో ది చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ ఇన్ ఎఫేసుస్ తాత హి ప్రయ్స్ తో ది గాడ్ ది ఫథెర్ తో స్త్రెంగ్తేన్ తెం ఇన్ హిస్ స్పిరిట్ విచ్ ఇస్ ఇన్ ది ఇన్నెర్ మాన్, తాత క్రైస్ట్ మే ద్వెల్ల్ ఇన్ తేఇర్ హార్ట్స్ త్రౌగ్ ఫిత్ తో ది ఎంద సో తాత థెయ్ మే బె స్త్రొంగ్ తో అప్ప్రేహేండ్ విత్ అల్ ది సైంత్స్ ది దెప్త్స్, అండ్ తో క్నౌ (గ్రీక్: గినోస్కో) ది లవ్ అఫ్ క్రైస్ట్ విచ్ పస్సెస్ సైంటిఫిక్ (హ్యూమన్ ఆర్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్) క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్నోసిస్). ఎఫేసిఅంస్ ౩:౧౬-౧౯; "ఫర్ థిస్ కుసే ఐ బౌ మై క్నీస్ ఉంతో ది ఫథెర్ , ఫ్రొం వ్హొం ఎవెర్య్ ఫ్యామిలీ ఇన్ హేఅవెన్ అండ్ ఆన్ ఎఅర్త్ ఇస్ నమెద్, తాత హి వౌల్ద్ గ్రాంట్ యు, అచ్కర్దింగ్ తో ది రిచెస్ అఫ్ హిస్ గ్లోరీ, తాత ఏ మే బె స్త్రెంగ్తేనేడ్ విత్ పవర్ త్రౌగ్ హిస్ స్పిరిట్ ఇన్ ది ఇంవార్డ్ మాన్; తాత క్రైస్ట్ మే ద్వెల్ల్ ఇన్ యౌర్ హార్ట్స్ త్రౌగ్ ఫిత్: తో ది ఎంద తాత యు, బింగ్ రూతెద్ అండ్ గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ లవ్, మే బె స్త్రొంగ్ తో అప్ప్రేహేండ్ విత్ అల్ ది సైంత్స్ వాట్ ఇస్ ది బ్రేఅద్త్ అండ్ లెంగ్త్ అండ్ హేఇఘ్ట్ అండ్ డెప్త్, అండ్ తో క్నౌ ది లవ్ అఫ్ క్రైస్ట్ విచ్ పస్సెస్ క్నౌలెద్గే, తాత యు మే బె ఫిల్లెద్ ఉంతో అల్ ది ఫుల్నేస్స్ అఫ్ గాడ్." ఫ్రొం ది టెక్స్ట్ అబొవె వే ఫైండ్ తాత తేరే ఇస్ అనోతేర్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే విచ్ ఇస్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే (గినోస్కో) ఐ.ఎ. క్నౌలెద్గే విత్ కంప్లేతెనేస్స్ వితౌట్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి (తో బె సరే, పెర్సుఇవే, ఉన్దేర్స్తాండ్). థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ అక్కుఇరెద్ త్రౌగ్ రేవేలషన్; ఒనె దోఎస్ నాట్ నీద్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ కెపాసిటీ తో గైన్ థిస్ క్నౌలెద్గే. థిస్ ఇస్ సీన్ వెన్ సోమేఒనే హేఅర్స్ ది వర్డ్ అఫ్ స్క్రిప్తురే అండ్ స్తర్త్స్ క్రయింగ్. వై దోఎస్ ది పర్సన్ క్రీ? బెకాఉసే హి/శే హస్ బీన్ రేవేఅలేడ్ ది త్రుథ్. థెయ్ క్నౌ ఫర్ సరే వాట్ ఇట్ ఇస్ అండ్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే కాన్నోట్ బె ఎక్ష్పెరిఎన్కెద్ త్రౌగ్ హ్యూమన్ ర ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి. యు కాన్ బె అ ప్రొఫెసర్ ఇన్ తేఒలోగి ఫర్ మెనీ యేఅర్స్ అండ్ మే నాట్ హవె థిస్ కింద అఫ్క్నౌలెద్గే. ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే సుర్పస్సేస్ సైంటిఫిక్ (హ్యూమన్) క్నౌలెద్గే అండ్ తాత ది నతురల్ మాన్ కాన్నోట్ రేసుఇవే థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే; ౧ఒరిన్థిఅన్స్ ౨:౧౪ "నౌ ది నతురల్ మాన్ రెసుఇవేస్ నాట్ ది థింగ్స్ అఫ్ ది స్పిరిట్ అఫ్ గాడ్: ఫర్ థెయ్ అరె ఫూలిష్నెస్స్ ఉంతో హిం; అండ్ హి కాన్నోట్ క్నౌ (గినోస్కో) తెం, బెకాఉసే థెయ్ అరె స్పిరితుఅల్లీ జుద్గెద్".
తేరే ఇస్ అనోతేర్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే కాల్లెద్ "ఒఇడ ఆర్ ఎఇదో" ఇన్ గ్రీక్. థిస్ ఇస్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ అవారేనేస్స్. ఇట్ ఇస్ అ కింద అఫ్ కంప్లేషన్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే వ్హిలె గినోస్కో ఇస్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే. విత్ గినోస్కో యు హవె కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే బట్ యు అరె నాట్ అవర్. ఒఇడ ఇస్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ అవారేనేస్స్ విచ్ ఇస్ తో క్నౌ తాత సొమెథింగ్ ఎక్షిస్త్స్ బెకాఉసే యు నోటీసు ఇట్ ఆర్ రేఅలిసేడ్ తాత ఇట్ ఇస్ హప్పెనింగ్. వే కాన్ నౌ నోటీసు ది దిఫ్ఫెరెంస్ ఇన్ ది త్వో కింద్స్ (ఒఇడ అండ్ గినోస్కో) అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే. ౧ఒరిన్థిఅన్స్ ౮:౧: "నౌ కన్సుర్నింగ్ థింగ్స్ సక్రిఫిసుస్ తో ఇదొల్స్: వే నకో (గ్రీక్: ఎఇదో) తాత వేఅల్ హవె క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్ర్క్:గ్నోసిస్). క్నౌలెద్గే (గ్ర్క్:గ్నోసిస్) పుఫ్ఫెత్ అప్, బట్ లవ్ ఎదిఫిఎత్”. హియర్ ది స్క్రిప్తురేస్ సి వే అరె అవర్, వే నోటీసు, ఆర్ వే రెఅలిసె తాత వే అల్ హవె సైంటిఫిక్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఆర్ హ్యూమన్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్; బట్ థిస్ హ్యూమన్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్ పుఫ్ఫ్స్ అప్. థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఎఇదో ఇస్ గివెన్ త్రౌగ్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే (అండ్ నాట్ త్రౌగ్ ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి) అస్ వెల్ బట్ ఇట్ ఇస్ ది కంప్లేషన్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే. థిస్ ఇస్ క్నౌలెద్గే గైనెద్ ఫ్రొం ది స్పిరిట్ (గ్ర్క్: హగిఒస్ ప్నేఉమ), ఐ.ఎ. ది తెఅచింగ్స్ అఫ్ ది హోలీ ఘోస్ట్ అండ్ నాట్ హ్యూమన్ విస్దొం అస్ సీన్ ఇన్ ౧ కరింతిఅంస్ ౨:౧౨, ౧౩; “బట్ వే రికేఇవేడ్, నాట్ ది స్పిరిట్ అఫ్ ది వరల్డ్, బట్ ది స్పిరిట్ విచ్ ఇస్ ఫ్రొం గాడ్; తాత వే మిఘ్త్ క్నౌ (గ్ర్క్:ఎఇదో) ది థింగ్స్ తాత వేరే ఫ్రీల్య్ గివెన్ తో అస్ అఫ్ గాడ్. విచ్ థింగ్స్ ఆల్సో వే స్పెఅక్, నాట్ ఇన్ వర్డ్స్ విచ్ మాన్’స విస్దొం తెఅచేత్, బట్ విచ్ ది స్పిరిట్ తెఅచేత్; కంబినింగ్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ థింగ్స్ విత్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ [వర్డ్స్]”. ది బైబిల్ సయ్స్ వే అరె అవర్ తాత ఫర్ తోసే వ్హో లవ్ గాడ్ అల్ థింగ్స్ వర్క్ తోగేతేర్ ఫర్ గుడ్. రోమాన్స్ ౮:౨౮ “అండ్ వే క్నౌ (ఎఇదో) తాత తో తెం తాత లవ్ గాడ్ అల్ థింగ్స్ వర్క్ తోగేతేర్ ఫర్ గుడ్, [ఎవెన్] తో తెం తాత అరె కాల్లెద్ అచ్కర్దింగ్ తో [హిస్] పుర్పొసె”. ది సమె వర్డ్ ఇస్ ఉసెద్ ఇన్ ౧ ఒహ్న౩:౧౪ “వే క్నౌ (ఎఇదో) తాత వే హవె పస్సెద్ ఔట్ అఫ్ డెత్ ఇంతో లైఫ్, బెకాఉసే వే లవ్ ది బ్రెథ్రెన్. హి తాత లోవేత్ నాట్ అబిదేత్ ఇన్ డెత్”.
అనోతేర్ వరిఅషన్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ దిఅగినోస్కో ఫ్రొం వ్హెరె ది ఇంగ్లీష్ లాంగ్వేజ్ బోర్రోవేడ్ ఇత్స్ వర్డ్ డయాగ్నోసిస్. దిఅగినోస్కో ఇస్ క్నౌలెద్గే గైనెద్ ఫ్రొం ఎవుఅల్షన్, ఓబ్జేక్టివే ఎవలుఅషన్ అఫ్ ది సబ్జెక్టు మేటర్. ఐ.ఎ. తో దేతెర్మినే సొమెథింగ్ ఫ్రొం ఎవలుఅషన్ అఫ్ ది డిఫరెంట్ ఇస్సుఎస్ రెలతెద్ తో ఇట్. అచ్త్స్ ౨౪:౨౨; “అన్ద్వ్హెన్ ఎలిక్ష్ హేఅర్డ్ తేసే థింగ్స్, హవింగ్ మోర్ పెర్ఫెచ్త్ క్నౌలెద్గే (ఎఇదో) అఫ్ తాత వే[], హి దేఫెర్రేడ్ తెం, అండ్ సైడ్, వెన్ ల్య్సిఅస్ ది చీఫ్ కెప్టెన్ షాల్ కం దోవ్న్, ఐ విల్ క్నౌ(గ్ర్క్: దిఅగినోస్కో) ది ఉత్తెర్మోస్ట్ అఫ్ యౌర్ మేటర్”.
తేరే ఇస్ థిస్ ఇమ్పోర్తంట్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే కాల్లెద్ ‘ఎపిగ్నోసిస్’ ఇన్ గ్రీక్. థిస్ ఇస్ ఫుల్ అండ్ ఎక్షక్త్ క్నౌలెద్గే. విత్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే, ది క్నోవేర్ పర్తిసిపతెస్ విత్ ది ఓబ్జేచ్ట్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే; తాత ఇన్ఫ్లుఎన్కెస్ అండ్ చంగెస్ ది అత్తితుడే అఫ్ ది క్నోవేర్. హియర్ ది క్నోవేర్ ఇస్ నో లాంగర్ క్యూస్షనింగ్, బట్ హి హస్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే. సో హియర్ ది క్నోవేర్ ఇస్ రెలతింగ్ విత్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే; హి హస్ నాట్ ఓన్లీ హద్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే బట్ హి ఇస్ అవర్ అండ్ ఇస్ రెలతింగ్ విత్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే. థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇస్ అక్కుఇరెద్ త్రౌగ్ మేదితషన్; “ కలోసిఅంస్ ౧:౯; “ఫర్ థిస్ కుసే వే ఆల్సో, సైన్స్ ది డే వే హేఅర్డ్ [ఇట్], డో నాట్ సీజ్ తో ప్రి అండ్ మాక్ రిక్వెస్ట్ ఫర్ యు, తాత ఏ మే బె ఫిల్లెద్ విత్ ది క్నౌలెద్గే (ఎపిగ్నోసిస్) అఫ్ హిస్ విల్ ఇన్ అల్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ విస్దొం అండ్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్,”. థిస్ ఇస్ ఫుల్ దిస్సుర్న్మేంట్ అఫ్ గాడ్’స విల్ ఇన్ అల్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ విస్దొం అండ్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్; అండ్ థిస్ కాన్ ఓన్లీ బె అక్కుఇరెద్ త్రౌగ్ మేదితషన్, తాత ఇస్ వై ది అపోస్త్లె సయ్స్ థెయ్ వేరే సెఅసేలేస్స్లీ ప్రయింగ్ ఫర్ థిస్ కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఫర్ ది చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ అత కలోస్సే. వే క్నౌ సి ది రేఅసన్ వై వే హవె తో కొన్తినుఔస్ల్య్ మెదితతె డే అండ్ నిఘ్త్ ఆన్ గాడ్’స వర్డ్ వ్హిలె ప్రయింగ్ సో తాత వే మే గైన్ థిస్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ హిస్ విల్; థిస్ క్నౌలెద్గే ఇన్ విచ్ వే కాన్ రెలతె విత్.
తేరే అరె పీపుల్ వ్హో కుఒతె స్క్రిప్తురేస్ బట్ థెయ్ డో నాట్ చంగె తెం. థెయ్ అరె అవర్ తాత ది తింగ్ ఇస్ తేరే బట్ థెయ్’వె నాట్ రెలతెద్ ఇట్ తో తేఇర్ లైఫ్. ఎపిగ్నోసిస్ ఇస్ రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే తాత ఇస్ కంప్లేతే అండ్ తాత రెలతెస్ తో ది లైఫ్ అఫ్ ది క్నోవేర్. యు కాన్ బె క్రిస్టియన్ ఫర్ మెనీ యేఅర్స్ వితౌట్ క్నోవింగ్ తేసే థింగ్స్. తాత’స వై ది స్క్రిప్తురేస్ ఇందికాతే తో అస్ తాత వే ముస్త్ ప్రి ఫర్ గాడ్ తో గివె అస్ థిస్ క్నౌలెద్గే. ఇట్ ఇస్ నాట్ గైనెద్ ఫ్రొం ఇంటల్లెక్టుఅల్ అచ్తివితి అస్ ది స్క్రిప్తురేస్ సి ది నతురల్ మాన్ కాన్నోట్ గైన్ థిస్.
వే అరె నౌ అబ్లె తో ఐడెంటిఫై అండ్ దిస్తిన్గుఇశ్ బిట్వీన్ గ్నోసిస్, గినోస్కో, ఎఇదో, దిఅగినోస్కో, అండ్ ఎపిగ్నోసిస్. తేసే అరె ది కింద్స్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే అస్ ఉసెద్ ఇన్ స్క్రిప్తురేస్ అండ్ అత డిఫరెంట్ లెవెల్స్. ఏఅచ్ ఒనె హస్ ఇత్స్ లెవెల్; ది రేఅసన్ వై సం చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ అరె అబ్లె తో రెలతె విత్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ థింగ్స్ వ్హిలె ఒథెర్స్ అరె నాట్. వ్హిలె ఒథెర్స్ హవె గ్నోసిస్ (హ్యూమన్ ఇంతేల్లెచ్ట్), ఒథెర్స్ హవె ఎపిగ్నోసిస్ (కంప్లేతే రేవేలషన్ క్నౌలెద్గే). ఎవెన్ అమొంగ్స్త్ చ్రిస్తిఅంస్, సం హవె గినోస్కో వితౌట్ ఎఇదో బెకాఉసే థెయ్ డో నాట్ రెఅలిసె ది ఓబ్జేచ్ట్ అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే. థెయ్ అరె నాట్ అవర్ అఫ్ ది థింగ్స్. ఎవెన్ సం వ్హో హవె గినోస్కో అండ్ అరె అవర్ (ఎఇదో), స్టిల్ లక్ కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే (ఎపిగ్నోసిస్) విచ్ కమ్స్ త్రౌగ్ మేదితషన్ అండ్ ప్రయెర్స్. థిస్ ఇస్ ది కింద అఫ్ క్నౌలెద్గే వే చ్రిస్తిఅంస్ షౌల్ద్ బె వర్కింగ్ ఫర్. బింగ్ గాడ్’స బిల్డింగ్ (౧ఒర్.౩:౯) వే హవె తో బె గ్రౌన్దేడ్ ఇన్ ది థింగ్స్ అఫ్ గాడ్; వే హవె తో హవె కంప్లేతే క్నౌలెద్గే అఫ్ హిస్ విల్ ఇన్ అల్ స్పిరిచ్యువల్ విస్దొం అండ్ ఉన్దేర్స్తన్దింగ్ తో బె వెల్ సీసోనేడ్.
Monday, 21 July 2008
The rewards of purity
I Timothy 3:2,3,7: “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil”.
Some people do not consider immorality as sin. They think we who believe this are out of date, puritanical, and have an old-fashion interpretation of God. This we see in Hollywood, modern novels, television, magazines, advertising techniques, and even community practices.
There are many blessings which we can gain out of pure living such as happiness, success, honour, and eternal life. We can as well lose these, if we live an impure life. Gal.6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”. God’s provisions are abundant but the choice is ours.
Purity makes you worthy of the best in life. The pure deserve good, pure and noble life companion; best children, good jobs and responsible tasks.
Purity makes you trustworthy. You gain full confidence hence no misery, no distrust, no suspicion, and no trouble. Purity inspires confidence in the whole of your life as we see in proverbs 31:10,11: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil”. And proverbs 6:32,33: “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away”.
Purity qualifies you for Christian service. We read in 1Timothy 3:2,3,7 that purity is a prime requirement to qualify for leadership in Church. This we also see in Titus 1:7,8: “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;”. This is the same in community services and business world and many have disqualified themselves from these because of impurity.
Purity gives one true perspectives of values. The pure do not look back with regret. Sin weakens the will, distorts the vision, and enslaves the body. Impurity therefore blinds one to reality and the Bible warns against blindmness. Ephesians 4:17-19: “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”
Purity strengthens one physically, mentally, and spiritually. Must physical and mental illnesses are caused by impurity. Thoses practicing impurity do it in secret and it damages their consciences and often starts a chain of events that finally brings mental illnesses. The spiritual life is damaged because of the practice of sin.
Purity gives one real joy and happiness.
Purity gives you the best people for your friends. Note that “Birds of a feather flock together”. We are known by the kind of friends we have.
Purity helps God’s program. The pure are partners with God, they are on the side of righteousness and they are a benefit to society. The impure are instruments in Satan’s program of damning and destroying our world.
Purity is all gain, with nothing to lose. It is gain in time and eternity with no regrets, no misery and no suffering as a result of sinful sowing. Keep yourself pure. The pure shall enter heaven Psalm 24:3,4: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully”. Jesus says in matthew 5:8 that “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” If you are guilty of the sin of immorality, either by thought or deed, God waits to cleanse you from it if you are sincere enough to ask God for forgiveness. God says that we should come and reason together with him: Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”. How can we reason together with God? We have to be in relationship with him. We must create this relationship in order to reason with God; and He has promised us that he will cleanse us from our sins. He also would not only remove our sins but also to keep it away from us; He will never remember this against us as we see in Psalms:103:10-12: “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us”. We only get this when we turn away from our sinful life.
Some people do not consider immorality as sin. They think we who believe this are out of date, puritanical, and have an old-fashion interpretation of God. This we see in Hollywood, modern novels, television, magazines, advertising techniques, and even community practices.
There are many blessings which we can gain out of pure living such as happiness, success, honour, and eternal life. We can as well lose these, if we live an impure life. Gal.6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”. God’s provisions are abundant but the choice is ours.
Purity makes you worthy of the best in life. The pure deserve good, pure and noble life companion; best children, good jobs and responsible tasks.
Purity makes you trustworthy. You gain full confidence hence no misery, no distrust, no suspicion, and no trouble. Purity inspires confidence in the whole of your life as we see in proverbs 31:10,11: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil”. And proverbs 6:32,33: “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away”.
Purity qualifies you for Christian service. We read in 1Timothy 3:2,3,7 that purity is a prime requirement to qualify for leadership in Church. This we also see in Titus 1:7,8: “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;”. This is the same in community services and business world and many have disqualified themselves from these because of impurity.
Purity gives one true perspectives of values. The pure do not look back with regret. Sin weakens the will, distorts the vision, and enslaves the body. Impurity therefore blinds one to reality and the Bible warns against blindmness. Ephesians 4:17-19: “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”
Purity strengthens one physically, mentally, and spiritually. Must physical and mental illnesses are caused by impurity. Thoses practicing impurity do it in secret and it damages their consciences and often starts a chain of events that finally brings mental illnesses. The spiritual life is damaged because of the practice of sin.
Purity gives one real joy and happiness.
Purity gives you the best people for your friends. Note that “Birds of a feather flock together”. We are known by the kind of friends we have.
Purity helps God’s program. The pure are partners with God, they are on the side of righteousness and they are a benefit to society. The impure are instruments in Satan’s program of damning and destroying our world.
Purity is all gain, with nothing to lose. It is gain in time and eternity with no regrets, no misery and no suffering as a result of sinful sowing. Keep yourself pure. The pure shall enter heaven Psalm 24:3,4: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully”. Jesus says in matthew 5:8 that “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” If you are guilty of the sin of immorality, either by thought or deed, God waits to cleanse you from it if you are sincere enough to ask God for forgiveness. God says that we should come and reason together with him: Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”. How can we reason together with God? We have to be in relationship with him. We must create this relationship in order to reason with God; and He has promised us that he will cleanse us from our sins. He also would not only remove our sins but also to keep it away from us; He will never remember this against us as we see in Psalms:103:10-12: “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us”. We only get this when we turn away from our sinful life.
Photos
In the Office. ఇన్ ది ఆఫీసు
This is a picture of my team-nicknamed the BSAs; from the Billing system application developed for my company-AES Sonel; Cameroon. Some call it NASA!
WAS THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST NECESSARY?
I Corinthians 15:12-28
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 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.” KJV
The resurrection of Christ was necessary. Why was the resurrection necessary for the Christian faith?
1- It guarantees the gospel as the sweetest news
2- It announces and guarantees our own future resurrection.
Paul presented this message to the believers in Corinth because of the non-Christian teachings from radicals against the resurrection of the death. We see in I Corinthians 15:1-8 as Paul tells them that this is good news and that Christ showed himself to many people after his death including him who was the last of all who saw Him.
Christ’s resurrection was good news that has to be told because no founder of other religions has been resurrected from the death. Christ’s resurrection was necessary to guarantee our future. If we do not believe that he resurrected, then we are missing in our faith. We as Christians will resurrect in like manner with Christ. There are so many reasons why we have to believe that we as Christians shall resurrect in like manner:
1) In verse 13 of our chapter Paul says if we say that we shall not resurrect then we are saying that Christ did not resurrect.
2) Then our faith or believe is in vain.
3) Then the preachers have lied against God that he resurrected Christ
4) If our faith and believe is in vain, then our sins are not forgiven
5) Then those believers who are asleep (death) in the Lord are perished
6) And if there is no resurrection of the death then we are saying that Christ can only save us in this life
7) If we have hope in Christ only in this life then we Christians are to be pitied amongst all people on earth. We are to be the must miserable on earth
The fact is that Christ was raised from the death and so we are not miserable at all. Our faith is not for nothing. It is a fact that Christ was raised as we see in I Corinthians 15:20. He was not just raised but he is the first born; the first fruit of the death. The Bible insists that he is the first fruit and so we shall follow after his resurrection. It is a guarantee for Christians. So, one day we shall stand and look back at death and say “Oh death where is your strength?” Christ conquered death and so we Christians shall rise with him in the same way. That is why a Christian does not die; we say they are asleep in the Lord because they die a physical death but live spiritually for eternity because of the resurrection that is guaranteed to Christians. He who dies in the Lord (Christ) is asleep. He who dies without Christ is dead indeed. He has perished because there is no repentance after death.
Christ is the second and the last Adam. The first Adam brought sin and caused death, Christ has come as the second and the last and he offered the atonement for our sins by his death on the cross. He has then given us the assurance of eternal life in his resurrection. Through one man death came to us and through one man the resurrection of the death comes. Vs 21-22. This is a guarantee to those who are with Christ; Christians and not to non-Christians. Vs 23. Those who are in Christ shall resurrect in His coming.
Satan and his followers conquered and the Kingdom of God shall be delivered to God. Christ shall take the Kingdom to God the father even though he has been given authority over all things. We usually quote Philippians 2:10-11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” BUT we forget the essential end of this text which says to the Glory of God the father.
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It is to the glory of God the father. Everything shall be under Christ but Christ Himself shall be under God the father so that God the father will be all in all. This just shows that the Trinity which is three persons in one God, have one nature but different functions. God the father now has the power over all including his son Jesus Christ our Lord and savior as well as God the Holy spirit.Our resurrection is guaranteed in Christ’s resurrection. Jesus Christ is alive! Hallelujah!
Agape!
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 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.” KJV
The resurrection of Christ was necessary. Why was the resurrection necessary for the Christian faith?
1- It guarantees the gospel as the sweetest news
2- It announces and guarantees our own future resurrection.
Paul presented this message to the believers in Corinth because of the non-Christian teachings from radicals against the resurrection of the death. We see in I Corinthians 15:1-8 as Paul tells them that this is good news and that Christ showed himself to many people after his death including him who was the last of all who saw Him.
Christ’s resurrection was good news that has to be told because no founder of other religions has been resurrected from the death. Christ’s resurrection was necessary to guarantee our future. If we do not believe that he resurrected, then we are missing in our faith. We as Christians will resurrect in like manner with Christ. There are so many reasons why we have to believe that we as Christians shall resurrect in like manner:
1) In verse 13 of our chapter Paul says if we say that we shall not resurrect then we are saying that Christ did not resurrect.
2) Then our faith or believe is in vain.
3) Then the preachers have lied against God that he resurrected Christ
4) If our faith and believe is in vain, then our sins are not forgiven
5) Then those believers who are asleep (death) in the Lord are perished
6) And if there is no resurrection of the death then we are saying that Christ can only save us in this life
7) If we have hope in Christ only in this life then we Christians are to be pitied amongst all people on earth. We are to be the must miserable on earth
The fact is that Christ was raised from the death and so we are not miserable at all. Our faith is not for nothing. It is a fact that Christ was raised as we see in I Corinthians 15:20. He was not just raised but he is the first born; the first fruit of the death. The Bible insists that he is the first fruit and so we shall follow after his resurrection. It is a guarantee for Christians. So, one day we shall stand and look back at death and say “Oh death where is your strength?” Christ conquered death and so we Christians shall rise with him in the same way. That is why a Christian does not die; we say they are asleep in the Lord because they die a physical death but live spiritually for eternity because of the resurrection that is guaranteed to Christians. He who dies in the Lord (Christ) is asleep. He who dies without Christ is dead indeed. He has perished because there is no repentance after death.
Christ is the second and the last Adam. The first Adam brought sin and caused death, Christ has come as the second and the last and he offered the atonement for our sins by his death on the cross. He has then given us the assurance of eternal life in his resurrection. Through one man death came to us and through one man the resurrection of the death comes. Vs 21-22. This is a guarantee to those who are with Christ; Christians and not to non-Christians. Vs 23. Those who are in Christ shall resurrect in His coming.
Satan and his followers conquered and the Kingdom of God shall be delivered to God. Christ shall take the Kingdom to God the father even though he has been given authority over all things. We usually quote Philippians 2:10-11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” BUT we forget the essential end of this text which says to the Glory of God the father.
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It is to the glory of God the father. Everything shall be under Christ but Christ Himself shall be under God the father so that God the father will be all in all. This just shows that the Trinity which is three persons in one God, have one nature but different functions. God the father now has the power over all including his son Jesus Christ our Lord and savior as well as God the Holy spirit.Our resurrection is guaranteed in Christ’s resurrection. Jesus Christ is alive! Hallelujah!
Agape!
WRONG AND SINFUL PRACTICES- HOMOSEXUALITY: WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?
The scripture is inerrant and the word of God transmitted to humans through divine inspiration. It is not transmitted through a mechanical dictation but divine inspiration. From Genesis to Revelation, they are the canons inspired by God without error.
God is omnipotent! Meaning that he is all powerful with infinite power. Infinite power here is not an absolute quantum, but an exhaustless potency of power. God is omnipotent because He does what ever He wills to do and suffers nothing that He does not will to suffer. Note that God cannot lie, die, sin, change, nor DENY himself. This we can see in Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, II Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 6:18 and James 1:13,17. These are some of the things God cannot do because He can only do things that are logically possible. God can not change as we see from scriptures but we humans can change. If God makes his plan, he will fulfil it because he does not change nor fail. If he promises punishment, he will fulfil it!
God has defined the things which are good for us and those that are bad and abominable to him in scriptures; and He expects us humans to respect his rules concerning these forbidden things. He says if anyone eats meat with blood He(God) will turn against the person because the life of every living thing is in the blood. This was a command given by our unchangeable Lord to Moses (Leviticus 17:10,11). Most importantly God has defined forbidden sexual practices in Leviticus 18. He has clearly shown to us what is considered as incest and is unacceptable while telling us the acceptable practices in the RIGHT-MAN RIGHT-WOMAN relationship. I insist on the RIGHT-MAN RIGHT-WOMAN relationship which is that which is experienced in a divine union i.e. marriage. A relationship out of this is fornication or adultery which is sin and is not acceptable at all.
Looking at Leviticus 18:22, the Bible says “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination”. This is also seen in Lev. 20:13 where the punishment is levied. The Lie used in this text is Shaw Kab in Hebrew which means to lie down for sexual connection. So homosexuality whether between man and man or woman and woman is forbidden by God. God hates homosexuality to its roots as we see from scriptures. Further in Lev.18:5 God told the people that they will save their life by obeying these commands. You’ll lose your life if you live in or practice homosexuality. Note that God does not change and his promises for any sin must come to pass because He never misses. No man or woman should even have sexual relations with an animal Lev. 18:23, Exodus 22:19.
God is faithful to His promises. There’s no turning back because God does not regret his decisions. When the sons of Eli sinned against God by cheating on God’s offering and even sleeping with the women who worked at the entrance to the Tent of the Lord’s presence, God vowed to kill them; because they treated his offerings with disrespect and sinned more with the women. 1 Samuel 2:22-26. In 1Samuel 2:25b the scriptures say they would not listen to their father, for the Lord had decided to kill them. So they were hardened to their father’s advice because God had to fulfil his vow for those who sin against Him.
The same thing happened to Sodom and Gomorrah where fornication, adultery, incest, homosexuality, sodomy (unnatural sex relation; whether anal or with animal) and all forms of sin had consumed the city hence causing God to destroy the City but for Lot’s family. Why should anyone chose to drag the name of God to the mud? We carry God’s image; God who made us in his image for his Glory. If we get involved in sin, in homosexuality then we are not concern about God’s glory.
Our purpose on earth is not to safe souls but for God’s glory. That is the ultimate purpose. Yes, we have to safe souls from perishing because this is a step to this ultimate purpose. The value of human souls is based on God’s glory which is so associated with human souls. This is like a bank note (say the CFA). The bank note is a paper. The paper has no value but it is the CFA that is so associated to the bank note that gives it the value. Without the CFA, the paper has little or no value but just an ordinary paper. In like manner it is the association of God’s glory to human souls that gives value to the saving of human souls because the ultimate goal is God’s glory.
The book of Genesis tells us how God dealt with homosexuality in Sodom:
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, where are the men that came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him. And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing, forasmuch as they are come under the shadow of my roof (Genesis 19:5-8). When we look at this text it is clear that Sodom was destroyed for the sin of homosexuality. These people were given to what is called now Gay practices and HATED God, so God planned to destroy them (seen in the bartering of Abraham) which He did. The people asked Lot to bring out the Angels so that they may know ( Yaw dah in Hebrew) them. Yaw dah here imply sexual activity among unmarried persons. Lot wanted to give his daughters while preserving the angels but the people refused and insisted on knowing the visitors. So the Sodomites wanted to gang rape the angels; have homosexual activity with them, as Lot immediately knew what their intentions were. God Destroyed Sodom because of homosexuality which was confirmed by their intentions of having the angels.
Isaiah 3:9 says they have done evil unto themselves by sinning as Sodom: “The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have done evil unto themselves”. The apostle Peter says what happened to Sodom is an example of what might happen to sinners even these days. “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] lawless deeds): the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;”; 2Peter 2:6-9.
So if you sin say through the abominable act of homosexuality, you are putting God’s glory at stake, deviating His divine aim hence will face the wrath of God if you don’t repent from this. What we were saved from is less important than what we are saved for. We were saved from condemnation because of our sins for God’s GLORY. So our salvation from condemnation is less important than the Glory of God. Yes we were saved, then what next? God’s glory; what are we doing for his glory? Are you one of them who are blocking His glory through homosexuality, fornication, incest, adultery, and occultism? God says He HATES THAT!
Agape!
God is omnipotent! Meaning that he is all powerful with infinite power. Infinite power here is not an absolute quantum, but an exhaustless potency of power. God is omnipotent because He does what ever He wills to do and suffers nothing that He does not will to suffer. Note that God cannot lie, die, sin, change, nor DENY himself. This we can see in Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, II Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 6:18 and James 1:13,17. These are some of the things God cannot do because He can only do things that are logically possible. God can not change as we see from scriptures but we humans can change. If God makes his plan, he will fulfil it because he does not change nor fail. If he promises punishment, he will fulfil it!
God has defined the things which are good for us and those that are bad and abominable to him in scriptures; and He expects us humans to respect his rules concerning these forbidden things. He says if anyone eats meat with blood He(God) will turn against the person because the life of every living thing is in the blood. This was a command given by our unchangeable Lord to Moses (Leviticus 17:10,11). Most importantly God has defined forbidden sexual practices in Leviticus 18. He has clearly shown to us what is considered as incest and is unacceptable while telling us the acceptable practices in the RIGHT-MAN RIGHT-WOMAN relationship. I insist on the RIGHT-MAN RIGHT-WOMAN relationship which is that which is experienced in a divine union i.e. marriage. A relationship out of this is fornication or adultery which is sin and is not acceptable at all.
Looking at Leviticus 18:22, the Bible says “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination”. This is also seen in Lev. 20:13 where the punishment is levied. The Lie used in this text is Shaw Kab in Hebrew which means to lie down for sexual connection. So homosexuality whether between man and man or woman and woman is forbidden by God. God hates homosexuality to its roots as we see from scriptures. Further in Lev.18:5 God told the people that they will save their life by obeying these commands. You’ll lose your life if you live in or practice homosexuality. Note that God does not change and his promises for any sin must come to pass because He never misses. No man or woman should even have sexual relations with an animal Lev. 18:23, Exodus 22:19.
God is faithful to His promises. There’s no turning back because God does not regret his decisions. When the sons of Eli sinned against God by cheating on God’s offering and even sleeping with the women who worked at the entrance to the Tent of the Lord’s presence, God vowed to kill them; because they treated his offerings with disrespect and sinned more with the women. 1 Samuel 2:22-26. In 1Samuel 2:25b the scriptures say they would not listen to their father, for the Lord had decided to kill them. So they were hardened to their father’s advice because God had to fulfil his vow for those who sin against Him.
The same thing happened to Sodom and Gomorrah where fornication, adultery, incest, homosexuality, sodomy (unnatural sex relation; whether anal or with animal) and all forms of sin had consumed the city hence causing God to destroy the City but for Lot’s family. Why should anyone chose to drag the name of God to the mud? We carry God’s image; God who made us in his image for his Glory. If we get involved in sin, in homosexuality then we are not concern about God’s glory.
Our purpose on earth is not to safe souls but for God’s glory. That is the ultimate purpose. Yes, we have to safe souls from perishing because this is a step to this ultimate purpose. The value of human souls is based on God’s glory which is so associated with human souls. This is like a bank note (say the CFA). The bank note is a paper. The paper has no value but it is the CFA that is so associated to the bank note that gives it the value. Without the CFA, the paper has little or no value but just an ordinary paper. In like manner it is the association of God’s glory to human souls that gives value to the saving of human souls because the ultimate goal is God’s glory.
The book of Genesis tells us how God dealt with homosexuality in Sodom:
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, where are the men that came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him. And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing, forasmuch as they are come under the shadow of my roof (Genesis 19:5-8). When we look at this text it is clear that Sodom was destroyed for the sin of homosexuality. These people were given to what is called now Gay practices and HATED God, so God planned to destroy them (seen in the bartering of Abraham) which He did. The people asked Lot to bring out the Angels so that they may know ( Yaw dah in Hebrew) them. Yaw dah here imply sexual activity among unmarried persons. Lot wanted to give his daughters while preserving the angels but the people refused and insisted on knowing the visitors. So the Sodomites wanted to gang rape the angels; have homosexual activity with them, as Lot immediately knew what their intentions were. God Destroyed Sodom because of homosexuality which was confirmed by their intentions of having the angels.
Isaiah 3:9 says they have done evil unto themselves by sinning as Sodom: “The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have done evil unto themselves”. The apostle Peter says what happened to Sodom is an example of what might happen to sinners even these days. “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] lawless deeds): the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;”; 2Peter 2:6-9.
So if you sin say through the abominable act of homosexuality, you are putting God’s glory at stake, deviating His divine aim hence will face the wrath of God if you don’t repent from this. What we were saved from is less important than what we are saved for. We were saved from condemnation because of our sins for God’s GLORY. So our salvation from condemnation is less important than the Glory of God. Yes we were saved, then what next? God’s glory; what are we doing for his glory? Are you one of them who are blocking His glory through homosexuality, fornication, incest, adultery, and occultism? God says He HATES THAT!
Agape!
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