That's in the Bible

Click to expand transcript Voiceover: Next on That’s in the Bible! Patrick (Michigan, USA): Why is Easter in March? Nida (Phoenix, Arizona): What does Palm Sunday have to do with Easter? Brother Bob Pellien: The Bible’s response is simple and direct. Julie (Sydney, Australia): Hi, my name is Julie, and I’m from Sydney, Australia. And my question is “Should Christians really be celebrating Easter?” Brother Bob: How can we, in the true Church Of Christ participate in what comes from service to an ancient pagan goddess? [Show Open] Brother Bob: Hello, I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Thanks for joining us on this special episode of That’s in the Bible, where today we’ll answer people’s questions about the Easter holiday.  When is Easter weekend? Our first question for today comes from Patrick McDonald in Michigan. Let’s hear what Patrick asks about Easter. [Video begins]  Patrick: Why is Easter in March? [Video ends] Brother Bob: Thank you for your question, Patrick. You know, Easter is not always in the month of March. In fact, let’s take a moment to quote an excerpt from a book entitled My Catholic Faith written by Louis LaRavoire Morrow, and he writes—on behalf of the Catholic Church—their explanation about the choosing of the date of Easter. Here’s what’s cited in that book on page 81: [On-screen text graphics] [Source: My Catholic Faith, pg. 81] Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon of spring; the feast therefore is moveable, and can fall between March 22 and April 25. The Paschal season lasts till Trinity Sunday; till then joyous alleluia resounds. Brother Bob: So here, Patrick, the Catholic Church writes not only about the moveable date of the Easter, here in this book My Catholic Faith, they also write about a season that they have created that begins with Ash Wednesday, which is also a moveable season. But what is that season they call Lent? What’s it all about? They answer that in another of their books entitled The Visible Church. On page 184, they write: [On-screen text graphics] [Source: The Visible Church, pg. 184] Lent is a season of penance set apart by the Church in memory of the fast of our Lord in the desert,… The date of the beginning of Lent varies from year to year, according to the date of Easter. In Latin it is called Quadragesima (fortieth), from which are taken the Italian Quaresima and the French Carame. The English name is from Anglo-Saxon Lenten, which means Spring. Brother Bob: So there they speak of the season beginning with Ash Wednesday, which they call Lent. It’s a season of penance and that week [actually] leads up to Easter Sunday. They have Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. And during that week they have what they call Holy Thursday. They have also Good Friday, they have Holy Saturday, which are special holidays inside the Catholic Church all pertaining to Easter. Easter and Palm Sunday Which brings us right into the next question, which is a question specifically about that Palm Sunday from Nida who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Let’s listen to her question. [Video begins] Nida: What does Palm Sunday have to do with Easter? [Video ends] Brother Bob: Thank you, Nida. Palm Sunday, one week prior to Easter, is what was made by the Catholic Church and they write about it also in this book entitled The Visible Church. Let’s turn to page 171 where they write: [On-screen text graphics] [Source: The Visible Church, pg. 171] It is likely that the use of palms in our churches began in early Middle Ages… The palm is a symbol of victory. Among pagan nations victorious armies decked themselves and their chariots with palm branches. The Jews used palms to express rejoicing especially on their great Feast of Tabernacles. Brother Bob: Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, is a Sunday which they use a lot of palms in their mass, and it has its roots in ancient pagan culture wherein their pagan armies would use palms as a symbol of victory with their armies. And maybe they would say, “Well, we would want to use that ancient pagan custom and attach it to Christ for a victory. Let’s call it a victory of Jesus and let’s also use that pagan cultural tradition. Let’s turn to Holy Scriptures for the Bible’s response to that way of thinking. In Titus chapter 1 verse 14: Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. [Titus 1:14 New King James] Brother Bob: When the Jews of the first century incorporated those pagan practices and began to use them during the time of our Lord Jesus Christ—that being the use of palms—which is currently being used today, and Palm Sunday in the Roman Catholic Church, the Bible’s response is simple and direct. We should not implement, we should not use or give heed to such kind of Jewish fables and such and the commandments of men and not of course most especially the commandments and traditions of ancient pagan cultures. Palm Sunday is something that we should not participate in inside the true Church. Should Christians celebrate Easter?  Another question submitted by Julie from Sydney, Australia. Julie asks this: [Video begins] Julie: My question is should Christians really be celebrating Easter? [Video ends] Brother Bob: I think of all, that’s the most important question. Should we be celebrating it? Even if we will master all of its history, master all of the traditions attached to Easter, and understand all of their roots and origins, it follows [that] question that you ask. Should we participate in it? Should we incorporate that mindset that “well because it’s fun and because children enjoy it by having Easter eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies, and we have Palm Sunday, and we have Easter celebrations. Should true Christians of today participate? It’s important to understand the origins of the whole Easter [tradition]. The Catholic Church wrote inside their Encyclopaedic Dictionary on page 161 a very important piece of information that we have to consider when answering that question “Should we participate in it?” They wrote: [On-screen text graphics] [Source: The Catholic Encyclopaedic Dictionary, pg. 161]  EASTER (etymology uncertain: St. Bede derives it from Eastre, a forgotten dawn goddess). The English name for the Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord,… Meat, eggs, and other foods formerly forbidden in Lent are blessed and there are still numerous local customs, some of pagan origin. Brother Bob: In this Catholic Encyclopaedic Dictionary, they write about Easter, [mentioning] that it is derived from Eastre, a forgotten dawn goddess. Should we, whether it’s from Eastre or it’s from Ishtar, from Babylonian and ancient Egyptian times and if it has such kind of origin, how can we in the true Church Of Christ participate in what comes from service to an ancient pagan goddess? What does the instruction of God through the apostles have to say if there’s a tradition or if there’s something that is absent from the Bible (which Easter is absent from the Bible) if there is a holiday being practiced today called Easter with a season of Lent leading up to it having various practices of pagan origin? What are the instructions of the Lord for all who want to serve the Lord properly today? Apostle Paul wrote the following, I Corinthians chapter 10 and beginning in verse 20 it says: No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. [1 Corinthians 10:20 New International Version] Brother Bob: That’s a very powerful response of the Lord here, dear friends, through the apostles. “I do not want you to be participants with demons” and if in the eyes of the Lord participating in traditions and practices that have their origin and roots in service to ancient pagan goddesses—if he considers that a demonic practice, then as members of the Church Of Christ, we’ll follow that instruction of God through the Apostle Paul when he said, “I do not want you to be participants in that.” Here inside the Church Of Christ, we will not participate in the practices that are correlated with Easter traditions of today not found in the instructions of our Lord in the Holy Bible. In fact, there is another instance wherein Apostle Paul was addressing such things in his letter this time to the Ephesians. What did he write to them about these pagan traditions and pagan cultures? Should we allow them to be incorporated into Christian practices in service to the one true God? Here is what he wrote in his letter to the Ephesians. I quote 4:17: Therefore I say this—indeed, in union with the Lord I insist on it: do not live any longer as the pagans live, with their sterile ways of thinking. [Ephesians 4:17 Complete Jewish Bible] Brother Bob: Dear friends, the instruction is clear. Do not live in the ways of paganism. If these practices of Easter—being it with the rabbit, and the egg, and the Palm Sunday palms, and the various other elements and such holidays as Easter have their roots in paganism—God prohibits his people from participating.  Response of someone: “Hey, it’s no big deal. We’re just going along with the tradition for fun. We’re not connecting ourselves to its roots in paganism. We just want do it because it’s fun for the children,” they would say. Or “It’s just something that’s part of our lifestyle of today in service to the Lord.” If we will violate these principals of God and then try to call it a worship to Him, will He find it acceptable?  God’s answer was written in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Here in chapter 2 in verse 22 as well as 23. He writes: These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. [Colossians 2:22-23 New International Version] Brother Bob: If we

Click to expand transcript Is Tithing Applicable Today? [On-screen text graphics] Question: I know that Iglesia Ni Cristo members don’t give tithes to the Church or 10% of their income. However, many Protestant churches today are upholding that type of doctrine. Is tithing really still applicable in the Christian Era? Why or why not?  Ralph Joel Bayot Bacolod City, Philippines Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you so much, Ralph, for your question, and the opportunity to read to you the answer that’s here in the Holy Bible. Now, dear friends, as Ralph stated in his email—and it’s really true because many Protestant churches do, today, practice a Biblical doctrine called tithing, which by the way, is referring to the offerings to God—but his question specifically is whether or not that’s still applicable today. So before we get into the Bible’s answer to Ralph’s question, let’s just make sure that we properly define and understand the terms for everyone watching who might not yet fully understand what tithing is all about and who were really commanded by God to give tithes. Is that us? Is tithing still to be done by Christians today?  [On-screen text graphics] Question: What are tithes? Who were commanded by God to give tithes? Is tithing still to be done by Christians today? The truth about tithing in the Old Testament Brother Bob: So let’s get right to it, as I said, and what are tithes then as defined here in the Holy Bible? Well, we can read the answer recorded in the Scriptures here in Leviticus 20, chapter 27. We’re going to read verses 30, 32, as well as 34:  And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord…And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord…These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.  [Leviticus 27: 30, 32, 34 New International Version] Brother Bob: So dear friends, here, the Bible clearly explains that a tithe is the one-tenth, or the 10% of the harvest, the 10% of the livestock, or whatever source of livelihood that the children of Israel had during that time that was commanded to be offered to God.  [On-screen text graphics] Tithe 1/10 or 10% of the harvest, the livestock, whatever source of livelihood the children of Israel would offer to God. Brother Bob: This was God’s command to them, and, as we just read, through Moses. Because this is a command regarding the offering, God is very specific on how it should be performed.  Is there proof of this that He even makes very clear where, when, and how these tithes were to be done and performed? Yes. Let’s take a look at it. The first is where. Where was the nation of Israel instructed by God to bring their offerings or tithes? We can also read that answer in Deuteronomy chapter 12, verse 11, and it says that here like this: The Lord will choose a single place where he is to be worshiped, and there you must bring to him everything that I have commanded: your sacrifices that are to be burned and your other sacrifices, your tithes and your offerings, and those special gifts that you have promised to the Lord. [Deuteronomy 12:11 Today’s English Version] Brother Bob: So as we have just read here, dear friends, when it comes to the giving of offerings to God, like the tithes as was instructed to the nation of Israel, He instructed that it should be done in a single place that He chooses. He chose those to be brought to Him in the worship service offered to Him. This is what we have learned thus far. Let’s have a brief recap. First, who was commanded to offer? The Bible’s answer? God’s nation of Israel.  [On-screen text graphics] Who was commanded to offer? God’s nation of Israel Brother Bob: Number two, what was to be offered? The answer of the Bible? The result of their harvest or their herds.  [On-screen text graphics] What to offer? Result of harvest of herds Brother Bob: Number three, how much was to be offered? What was the answer of the Bible? The 10%, which the Bible called tithing.  [On-screen text graphics] How much to offer? 10% or tithes Brother Bob: How about when we asked where to offer? The answer of the Bible? In the place chosen to hold worship service.  [On-screen text graphics] Where to offer? In the place chosen to hold worship service Brother Bob: And how about the ‘’when’’ question? The answer of the Bible? During the worship service.  [On-screen text graphics] When to offer? During worship service Are Christians commanded to tithe today? Brother Bob: So now that we can better understand, first of all, what tithes are or the offerings that were commanded by God in the Old Testament to the nation of Israel, in order to answer Ralph’s question, however, he asks if tithes like that are still applicable in the Christian Era.  [On-screen text graphics] Is tithing still to be done by Christians today? Brother Bob: We need to learn, we need to understand what are God’s commands regarding these things in the New Testament all that God has instructed regarding offering now.  Well, let’s go ahead and open up the Bible once again. To begin responding, we turn to the writings of Apostle Paul,  II Corinthians 9:7, which reads this way:  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. [2 Corinthians 9:7 New International Version] Brother Bob: Here we can see, dear friends, what God commands the Christians. He was specific. He specifies, first of all, who should give. What did He say? Each one should give. What else was the instruction? How much should each one give? What was the Bible’s answer? We just read it together. He said, “What he purposes in his heart.” So not 10% anymore. Now it’s what the person purposes in his heart. It’s from their heart.  What does the Bible say about offering? Brother Bob: And what else was answered in this verse? How one should feel when he does offer. What’s the expectation of God that we just read through the writings of Apostle Paul here? He’s looking for a cheerful giver.  What other instructions are given to Christians regarding their offerings? We can also read in I Corinthians. This time we read in I Corinthians, chapter 16, verse 2. This commandment of the Lord concerning offerings is given:  On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. [I Corinthians 16:2 New International Version] Brother Bob: In this verse, what is to be offered? What is it? Is it still the fruit of the land as we read in the early verse concerning tithing? Is it still a one-tenth of the herd of livestock? Is that what it is? What did we read in the Christian Era? Money was set aside in accordance with their income. How about the question [of] how it should be prepared? Apostle Paul also answered that. It should be set aside or budgeted weekly. How about God’s command on the place where one should give their share, give [the] offerings they have set aside for Him? That is answered in Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 13, verses 15 and 16, wherein this is instructed:  Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. [Hebrews 13:15-16 Revised Standard Version] Brother Bob: So, dear friends, it’s quite obvious that these verses are referring to worship service offered to God. Why are we sure? Well, it speaks of praising God. It speaks of acknowledging His name to the fruit of our lips, for example, praying and hymn singing of praises to the Lord. And we can see that God gave a commandment concerning offering. What did He say? Don’t neglect. Don’t forget to bring your share or sacrifice offering. And that’s what we do when we come before Him in worship as members of the Church Of Christ, as one purposes in their heart, they cheerfully bring their sacrifice offering, not a tithe that was commanded specifically 10% in the ancient times as God dealt with the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, if there are Protestant groups, be it Seventh Day Adventist or other groups that set aside a commandment to their people on how much they will offer, that’s wrong based on what the Bible teaches. So just as in the Old Testament, the command given to us today is to bring our offerings. Bring it in the place of worship. Bring it during the worship service. But the difference? It’s not a tithe. It’s a free will, voluntary, sacrifice, offering that one cheerfully brings as their offering to God. [On-screen text graphics] It’s NOT a tithe. It’s a free will, voluntary, sacrifice. It’s an offering that one cheerfully brings to God.  Brother Bob: So, dear friends, this is what we have learned about God’s command concerning offering in the New Testament. We’ve learned who was commanded to offer. What was the Bible’s answer? God’s nation in the Christian Era.  [On-screen text graphics] Who was commanded to offer? God’s nation in the Christian Era Brother Bob: We posed the question, “Where should our offerings be brought?” And the Bible answered again. It should be brought in the place chosen by God to hold worship service.  [On-screen text graphics] Where to offer? In the place chosen to hold worship service Brother Bob: We asked the question, “When should we offer?” And the Bible answered that too: during the worship service.  [On-screen text graphics] When to offer? During worship service Brother Bob: We asked the question, “What should be offered?” And the Bible again gave a response: the monetary offering set aside from our income.  [On-screen

Click to expand transcript [On-screen text] That’s in The Bible Live Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you for being here! Thank you for being here and being our studio audience today here in Burlingame studios. We appreciate it really, very much. [On-screen text] Brother Bob Pellien | Minister of the Gospel Brother Bob: I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Welcome to everyone here. Welcome to everyone viewing us on the internet as well as on Direct TV channel 2068. Thank you all and welcome. As you know, on this show, That’s In The Bible, we explore the Bible’s teachings on all things relevant to salvation and eternal life. As it was mentioned earlier, questions do really pour in from all over the globe, and we always turn to the pages of the Holy Scriptures, and we get our answers directly from this book, from the Bible. Today we actually have three questions, but all of the three questions that we’ll be addressing, they have the same interwoven theme. Let’s take a look at the first two questions. [Video question] [On-screen text]  Idris Bashil London, England  Idris: Why God, as a Father, had to send His Son, Jesus to die for our sins, including mine? In the world today, nobody can be guilty for anybody’s sin. We all pay penalties for our sins. So why does Jesus have to die for my own sins if He’s innocent? [Video ends]  [Video question] [On-screen texts] Jon Seligmda San Diego, CA Jon: And my question is, If Jesus is not God, then Him dying on the cross—what significance is that? How does that save us from our sins? [Video ends]  Brother Bob: Those are very good questions, do you agree? Audience: Yes. Brother Bob: Our final question was written by Cathy Do. She’s from Hampton Park, Australia, and she had a very similar question. She wrote it in via e-mail and she simply asked the question that was very much like that. She asked, “Why was Jesus Christ crucified?” [On-screen text] Why was Jesus Christ crucified? Cathy Do Hampton Park, Australia Brother Bob: Well, thank you very much Idris. Thank you very much Jon. Thank you very much Cathy, and even all of the others that have reached out to us via email or letters with questions all along these same lines. The Biblical event where our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, well that’s not a secret. That’s very well known almost to all people and of course especially those within so-called Christianity. But what’s unclear to many, which prompted these kinds of questions, is “why?” Why did that happen? Even though there might be some that they can site the verse in the Bible, for example 1 Corinthians 15:3, that says that Jesus died for our sins, it still leaves many perceiving it to be an [incomplete] answer. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [1 Corinthians 15:3 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Many still beg for more of an explanation because they really want to understand fully. So, since many already know that Christ died on the cross, they have heard that He died for the forgiveness of sins. In order for us to really understand why, what’s that all about, there’s some important preliminary information that we got to receive first. For example, what’s “sin” in the first place and why is that so bad? What kind of consequences and results does committing sin actually bring? [On-screen text] Why did Jesus have to die? Brother Bob: So let’s answer those questions first and we’ll be taking the questions that they have addressed there and answering them in phases. First, what’s “sin” in the first place? Let’s begin turning to the pages of the Holy Scriptures and we do so at the outset of our study, reading 1 John 3:4. The definition of sin, if you will: Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is a breaking of the law. [1 John 3:4 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: Very simple and direct Biblical answer, right? Sin, according to the Bible, is when one breaks God’s law. And when it comes to laws, we know that ignorance of the law is no excuse. That’s a very common saying as well. Therefore, since we all live under the law, it’s our responsibility to seek, a responsibility to learn, a responsibility to understand how to live within the confines of the law. What are the consequences if one sins or breaks the laws of God? How bad are the results of that? This is very important. I’m going to ask you to please remember this as our lesson unfolds. The consequence of sin? [Verse] 59:2 the Prophet Isaiah writes this: It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him. [Isaiah 59:2 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: That’s so important, audience. Please remember that. We’re going to come back to that. If I will ask you during the course of our study, what happens because of sin? What’s the answer? He doesn’t hear you. It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him. [Isaiah 59:2 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: There’s a consequence to sin. A separation from God. According to the Bible, there’s a dividing wall that’s now there. We’re separated from God. He no longer hears, He no longer listens. One then could be praying, one then could be worshiping, doing all kinds of things, but when that wall of separation is there, that’s it. A person is no longer acceptable to God and He said, “I won’t even hear.” But, of course, then one might think or say, “Hey, I’ll just pray. I’ll just ask God to forgive me.” But we can’t forget what we just learned here. He’s no longer listening to the prayers or listening to the worship. [Of] whom? Those that have committed sin, those who have violated His laws. So a sinner has no more relationship with the Creator because of sin that has divided and separated from God. Remember that because that’s an integral part of the unfolding of our answer to the questions that we have heard from those posing questions for our study today. So it was asked earlier, what’s so bad about committing sin? Why is it so serious? Why is it so tragic? Why is such a brutal response such that God will no longer even listen, we will be separated from Him? It is because of sin we’re separated, but it gets much worse than that. We know that when one breaks the law he’s got to pay for it, right? Agreed? Audience: Yes Brother Bob: You go to pay for it. When anyone breaks the law, what’s the payment? What’s the price to be paid according to the Holy Scriptures? We often read this verse because it’s so important, but let’s go ahead and do so once again in our study for today. [Romans] 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, … [Romans 6:23 New king James Version] Brother Bob: Read it with me audience. What does it say? Audience: Death. Brother Bob: The wage or price to be paid for sin is death. The Bible makes clear that the payment for committing sin, it’s not an insignificant payment. It’s death. Now one might be thinking like this for example, “Hey. Come on. That’s not so bad. I thought it was going to be much worse than that. I’m going to die anyway so I guess when I die my sins are all going to be finished. It’s all going to be paid for.” Not necessarily so because is death, the mere ending of our biological existence, is that the full payment for sin? The death that we all know is when a person stops breathing, right? Somebody says you’re going to die, everybody knows what that means. The wage or price for sin is death, but not just the ending of our breath. What death is the Bible calling the payment or the price to be paid for sins that we have committed, and how long is the payment? How long is this sentence of the punishment? We turn to the Bible once again. In the Book of Revelation 20:14,10: Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. [Revelations 20:14,10 New King James Version] Brother Bob: It’s not merely then just the ending of our biological existence, the ending for our breathing, but the Bible mentions a second death, and that’s a very serious event, that’s a second death in the lake of fire, and one would be tormented there. The sentence is eternal torment. That’s very tragic. That’s very serious. Breaking God’s law places a person into such a horrific predicament that we would find ourselves in because of sin. What we need is to find a way out of that, right? We got to change that. We got to find a way so that we don’t have to face the consequence. Because facing that consequence and avoiding that consequence has to become—and I think everybody here would agree—has to become the top priority of a person who has committed sin. Do you agree? What do you say? Audience: Yes. Brother Bob: That’s got to be top priority for sure. This is where one will see then and this is where the role of our Lord Jesus Christ starts to enter in and become so extremely important to understand. OK. So a recap of our initial segment of our study. [On-screen text] >> 1. Committing sin or breaking God’s law is no trivial thing. [On-screen text] >> 2. The moment one commits sin—knowingly or unknowingly—he or she is separated from God. Brother Bob: What happens to our relationship with God? It becomes what? It’s severed, it’s separated, severed, cut, or whatever word you want to use. It is no more. [On-screen text] >> 3. They must then pay the price, in the lake of fire forever and ever. Brother Bob: There’s a price to be paid for that and that price to be paid is a death, second death, eternal torment in what the Bible calls a lake of fire. This is serious stuff. This is very, very important. When people ask those questions that were posed and they asked, “Well why did Jesus die on the cross?” Because of what we have just di

Click to expand transcript Who Can Preach the Gospel? [On-screen text graphic] Kristina Larsen: How can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor? Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you so much Kristina for that very insightful question. We say insightful because there might be some who have never been concerned with or even thought to wonder if their pastor, their priest, their bishop, their minister or whatever they call their preacher is actually preaching the true word of God to them. And of course on the flip side of that is the mentality, which is that well there doesn’t even need to be a preacher in order to hear the word of God.  Dear friends as we always do in this program and in every program produced by the Church Of Christ we will address these questions by reading the answers right here recorded in the Holy Bible. Kristina’s question of how can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor. [On-screen text graphic] Question: How can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor? Brother Bob: It’s actually perfectly aligned with the instruction to us from the apostles. And let’s read one of those in this recorded in 1 John chapter 4, verse 1: My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere. [1 John 4:1 Good News Translation] False Preachers Brother Bob: According to what is written here, dear friends, we should not believe—were instructed not to believe just anyone who may be claiming to have the spirit or presents [themselves] as a messenger sent by God. Why? Because there are many false prophets according to the Apostle John, many false prophets who have gone out into the world. Therefore, Kristina you are on the right track or Kristina has the proper frame of mind to ask that question, how can I tell? How can we tell, dear friends, know even if the one is sent by God or not? [On-screen text graphic] Question: How can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor? Brother Bob: The Bible’s instruction was clear. He said test them to find out. So obviously the next question that we have to pose together is, what’s the test and how do we test those who would be presenting themselves as a preacher or a spokesperson of God, true preacher? [On-screen text graphic] Question: What’s the test? How do we test those who present themselves as a “preacher” or a “spokesperson” of God? Brother Bob: But before we delve into the Bible’s explanation of how to test the preacher to see if he’s really sent by God, let’s first understand, why is it so important to do that?  “How can they hear without a preacher?” Brother Bob: Why do we need to know that? Dear friends, because what would be the harm if one ended up listening to and following a preacher that is not sent by God? Maybe many would think that, “Well, they’re safe as long as they’re holding, as they’re reading from the Bible. That should be good enough.” But listen to the response of the Holy Scriptures, this time in the writings of Apostle Peter. Second Peter 3:16, he wrote: This is what he says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. There are some difficult things in his letters which ignorant and unstable people explain falsely, as they so with other passages of the Scriptures. So they bring on their own destruction. [2 Peter 3:16 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: So we can clearly see here, dear friends that there are people who are explaining the passages of the scriptures, but doing so falsely. And although all you know they might sound like they know what they are saying, what did the Bible call them? The Bible calls them ignorant and stated here that they are bringing on their own destruction. So consider this, if the false preacher is headed to destruction where do you think all those who listen, all those who follow him are also heading? Destruction too, of course. Exactly. [On-screen text graphic] It’s so vital to know if a preacher is truly from God. Brother Bob: That’s why it’s so vital to know if a preacher is truly sent by God. So dear friends, what is the benefit of actually hearing a genuine preacher of God? Again, we go to the Bible for the answer and this time is recorded in the book of Romans, Chapter 10, in fact verses 14 and 15. It says this: How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? . . . [Romans 10:14-15 New King James Version] Who can preach the gospel? Brother Bob: So the benefit of hearing a genuine preacher of God is actually learning then how to properly call upon God. Notice the sequence of events that was recorded in these verses in the Bible so that that could happen. First, one cannot properly call to God or have his or her prayers heard by Him if they don’t believe in the Biblical instructions that God established to be heard. [On-screen text graphic] One cannot properly call to God if he doesn’t believe in God’s biblical instructions. Brother Bob: Then next, there’s no way that one would be able to believe in those biblical instructions if in fact they have never been taught those instructions. [On-screen text graphic] One cannot believe in those biblical instructions if he has never been taught those commands. Brother Bob: And one would not correctly be taught God’s commands if they never encounter or hear a genuine preacher sent by God. [On-screen text graphic] One would not correctly be taught God’s commands if he never encounters or hears a genuine preacher from God. Brother Bob: Therefore, dear friends, finding a genuine preacher is the first step that one has to take in order to be able to call upon God. Again, that’s why it’s so vital to know if a preacher is truly from God or not. So we should take notice that a genuine preacher has the authority from God to preach. [On-screen text graphic] A genuine preacher has an authority from God to preach. Brother Bob: It’s not just their own proclamation, “I’m a preacher.” Why? Because God is the one who sends him. That’s what we just read. And if one is not sent by God he will not be able to correctly preach God’s words. That’s what the Bible says. And how so they preach unless they are sent?  Preaching the gospel: The difference between true and false preachers Brother Bob:So now that we know the value of a true preacher sent by God, let’s find out, [how] are we going to be able to tell if one is true or not true? Well what’s the test that only a true preacher, one who has the spirit and is truly sent by God? What is the test that only he can pass? Well, listen to what’s recorded here in the Holy Scriptures. The writings of the Prophet Isaiah 8:20 says: To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word. It is because there is no light in them. [Isaiah 8:20 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Dear friends, the Bible clearly states that one has to speak according to the law and speak according to the testimony, in order to prove that there is light or truth in him. It’s the criteria that a preacher has to meet in order to prove or demonstrate that they are indeed sent by God to preach. So what is that law mentioned here? What’s the law and what is that testimony referred to here in the prophecy of Isaiah that will serve the evidence that a preacher is truly sent by God? Let’s take a look at those two criteria. Let’s find out first, what is that law that was mentioned there and how would a true preacher speak according to the law? [On-screen text graphic] Question: What is the law and how would a true preacher of God speak according to the law? Brother Bob: Jesus Christ, of course being an undisputed true preacher sent by God, well he’s the one who gives the answer and he does so here in John Chapter 7 verses 16, 17 and 18. I quote: Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory on the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. [John 7: 16-18 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Here, dear friends, Jesus Himself explains that we would be able to know who is true. How? Concerning that doctrine or God’s law. Jesus did not preach His own doctrine. [On-screen text graphic] Christ, being a true preacher from God, spoke only to God’s law and not His own. Brother Bob: Christ Himself, of course being a true preacher sent from God, spoke only according to God’s law and not His own. It’s already known that God’s laws and doctrines are written right here in the Holy Bible. A true preacher sent by God to preach God’s words will teach by reading God’s words written here in the Bible. Then if someone is preaching claiming that what they’re preaching is from the Bible, he must then read it to prove that he is speaking according to the law. If he cannot read what he is preaching then it’s a clear sign that he is not speaking from God, but instead is speaking from Himself. And of course then this would prove that he’s not sent by God to preach and would automatically then disqualify him from the test. In short he fails the test. There are many preachers that are well versed in the Bible even if they could memorize it you know, citing different biblical passages in their sermons. We have already learned very important truths. Number one: false preachers will also use the Bible but will explain it falsely. That’s why we read that from Apostle Peter. [On-screen text graphic] 1. False preachers will also use the Bible but will explain the meaning falsely. 2. Reading the Bible is not the only criteria of the test. Brother Bob: Number two: reading the Bible is not the only criteria of the test.

[Video starts] Travis: Hi my name is Travis, from San Leandro, California and I just wanted to know if cremation is practiced by the people of God. [Video ends] Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you, Travis, for your question. Death is something that no one living in this world can avoid. It’s important to note first off that here—there’s no religious rituals that are performed for any member of the Church Of Christ who passes away. For example, there’s no prayers of the dead, there’s no religious ceremonies or services that members of the Church Of Christ take part in after losing a loved one. Why not? Well according to the Bible the dead will never again take part in anything that happens in this world. That’s mentioned in the Bible in Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 6: They will never again take part in anything that happens in this world [Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: Nevertheless, the bereaved of the dead strive to give a proper or decent burial for their deceased loved ones, and well, this is understandable and of course very reasonable as well. But, Travis, everything that we do, all of our actions during this highly emotional moment in one’s life as to be—which by the way, is often influenced by cultural norms, whatever those actions may be, they have to be guided by God who is the One who, of course, then will be the One to comfort people in their time of loss by means of the power of the Holy Spirit. Should we cremate our deceased loved ones?                   What is cremation? Brother Bob: First, well, what does that even mean? Through cremation the remains of the deceased will be burned, and the ashes will be placed in an urn or sometimes dispersed over soil or water. [On-screen graphics]  cre-mate  past tense: cremated; past participle: cremated dispose of (dead person’s body) by burning it into ashes, typically after a funeral ceremony] What happened to people who died in the Bible? Brother Bob: Let’s take a look at how the people of God have set the example for us regarding this. We turn to the book of Genesis verses 1-4 we’ll also read verses 10 and 11 Good News Bible: Sarah lived to be 127 years old. She died in Hebron in the land of Canaan, and Abraham mourned her death. He left the place where his wife’s body was lying, went to the Hittites, and said, “I am a foreigner living here among you; sell me some land, so that I can bury my wife.” Ephron himself was sitting with the other Hittites at the meeting place at the city gate; he answered in the hearing of everyone there, “Listen sir; I will give you the whole field and the cave that is in it. Here in the presence of my own people, I will give it to you, so that you can bury your wife.  [Genesis 23:1-4, 10-11 Good News Bible] Brother Bob: So, Travis, dear friends, burial was clearly the practice of God’s people, for example, in this case of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Abraham, well he mourned her death and buried her body into the ground. There [are] so many more examples in the Bible that really show to us God’s people burying their loved ones into the ground. For example in the book of Genesis 50:26: They embalmed his body and put it in a coffin.  [Genesis 50:26 Good News Bible] Brother Bob: As well in the book of Joshua 24:32: Now they buried the bones of Joseph,  [Joshua 24:32 Amplified Bible] Brother Bob: In those verses the Bible speaks about the processes that Joseph’s family went through, so as to obey God’s expectations or commandment of burying those who had served the Lord God in ancient times. One of the most famous individuals mentioned in the Bible is Moses, of course. Everyone has heard of Moses. What did God himself do with Moses after he died? Did He burn him, cremate him, and sprinkle his ashes? Let’s turn to the book of Deuteronomy this time wherein the Bible gives a response to that, verses 5 and 6. Let’s take a look at what’s recorded there: So Moses, the LORD’s servant, died there in the land of Moab, as the Lord had said he would. The LORD buried him in a valley in Moab, opposite the town of Bethpeor, but to this day no one knows the exact place of his burial.  [Deuteronomy 34:5-6 Good News Bible] Brother Bob: So, dear friends, clearly God himself even took the act of burying Moses to further emphasize how important burial really is. So it’s a normal practice of burying those who have passed away.  How about our Lord Jesus Christ, the savior, in the Christian Era of time?  Was there any example given in the Holy Scriptures or any information provided to us about Jesus himself regarding this topic? Here in the book of John chapter 19, verses 40, 41, and 42: The two men took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices according to Jewish custom of preparing a body for burial. There was a garden in the place where Jesus had been put to death, and in it was a new a new tomb where no one had ever been buried. Since it was the day before Sabbath and because the tomb was close by, they placed Jesus’ body there. [John 19:40-42 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: So dear friends, Travis, even our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of God, was also buried after He passed away. So if God’s people are to be buried is there any record in the Bible which shows how God himself then feels about cremation, or the burning of bodies.  What does the Bible say about cremation? Brother Bob: Is there anything that the Bible shows us wherein God would not approve of that option? Let’s again turn to the Holy Scriptures in the book of Amos chapter 2, 1 and 2 it says: The LORD says, “The people of Moab have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They dishonored the bones of the king of Edom by burning them to ashes. I will send fire upon the land of Moab and burn down the fortresses of Kerioth. The people of Moab will die in the noise of battle while the soldiers are shouting and trumpets are sounding.  [Amos 2:1-2 Good News Bible] Brother Bob: So clearly God was angry with the people. Why was He angry with the people of Moab? Because of what they had done with the king of Edom. What did they do? They burned his bones. The Bible makes very clear that they had dishonored his bones by burning them to ashes.  Hinduism practices cremation  Brother Bob: So, dear friends, if God is truly angered by the burning of the deceased, how then did cremation come about in the first place? What religious custom is the burning of the dead or cremation connected to? If it’s not connected to God, and not connected to the Bible (and that is what God’s people are supposed to be doing), how did it come about? In the Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions here on page 268: In HINDUISIM in India, cremation is the preferred form of disposing the dead. The placing of the body into the fire is regarded as a kind of final sacrificial offering, and the burning of the body is often understood to begin the process of REINCARNATION;” [Britannica Ency. Of World Religion p. 268 (2006)]  Brother Bob: Therein lies the truth: cremation is the practice of Hinduism because they believe it’s the start of the reincarnation process, which of course is not in the Bible, and it is not in accordance with God’s teachings.  Resurrection of the dead Brother Bob: But what can a true servant of God hope for if they pass away and are properly buried? Here in Psalms 49:15, the following is recorded: But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me. [Psalms 49:15 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Travis, dear friends, they will be redeemed, they will be resurrected from the grave, not from an urn or from ashes being sprinkled somewhere, but they will be resurrected from the grave to life, true life in the kingdom of heaven. We, inside the Church Of Christ, believe in these biblical teachings. We follow these instructions as well. Why, dear friends? Because that’s in the Bible.  Thank you, Travis, for your question, and if anyone viewing the program today has questions of your own, please send in your videos to us here at the email shown on the screen: answers@incmedia.org.  [On-screen text graphic] Do you have questions about the Bible? Send us your videos to: answers@incmedia.org Brother Bob: Visit our site incmedia.org because there you’re going to find many shows similar to this one wherein the true teachings of our Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ are upheld by the true Church, the Church Of Christ, the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Thanks for watching. I’m Brother Bob Pellien. We’ll see you next time on That’s in the Bible.

Click to expand transcript Is God’s Love Conditional? Announcer: We’d like to introduce to you our host for that for That’s in the Bible Live, Brother Richie Juatco! Brother Richie: Hello Seattle! How’s everyone? How’s everyone today? Welcome to That’s in the Bible Live. We’re actually live here on location in beautiful Seattle, Washington. And we’re here at the INC Media Experience event or INCMX.  For those that don’t know what That’s in the Bible is, it’s a program where we take questions from people all around the world, wondering what is in the Bible and how it applies to our lives. Now, prior to this event, we actually sent out a camera crew to your beautiful city to find out if there was anyone in the city that had any questions that they’ve been wondering for some time. And they were hoping that they could find an answer from the Bible. So first of all, we would like to thank all those that asked questions to our camera crew, even those that reached out to us via email. But we wouldn’t especially like to thank Robert, Mark and Tyswanekwa, because the questions that they asked, we’re going to feature on our show today.  [On-screen graphic] Topic: Following The Rules Set By A Church Robert Nichols  Bothell, Washington Topic: Spiritual vs. Religious  Mark Sokup Topic: Conditions On Who To Love Tyswanekwa Crosby Federal Way, Washington Brother Richie: Now these are the questions that they asked. Robert, the topic of his question was following the set rules by a church. So he wanted to know did he have to follow those rules. Mark asked about spiritual versus religious, there might be some of us that have heard that or someone wondering the difference between that; and Tyswanekwa, she asked conditions on who to love. She wanted to know if there was anything in the Bible that made her have to love someone a certain way.  We’re going to use those three questions, to answer an overarching question, which is: Is God’s love unconditional? And we hear that all the time, right? We hear that “God’s love is unconditional. No matter how you choose to live your life, He’s going to love you just the same.” And it’s so nice to hear, it makes you feel good. But we want to know: what’s in the Bible? Is that according to the Bible?  What is a “condition”? So what we’re going to do is we’re going to find that out. But before that, let’s find out what “condition” is. What’s the definition of “condition” [and let’s find out if God has any for His love]. So [a condition] is something that must exist before something else can happen. Another word to say that is a “prerequisite” or a “requirement” or “rule” or “restriction.” So does God not have [conditions]? We’ll find out. Let’s go to Tyswanekwa’s question first. We can actually hear it from her:  [Video starts] So even when I was at my grandma’s church yesterday, they made this statement that God did not make man and man to be together, woman and woman to be together. But I believe God [doesn’t] make mistakes…It’s almost like you make Him less comforting, less inviting. So I’m grateful that I’ve decided to have my own relationship outside of church…but I don’t agree with making them feel bad…Where in the Bible does it tell us to be conditional lovers? Where does it tell us to only love someone “this” way or if they are like “this”? Tyswanekwa Crosby Federal Way, Washington [Video ends] Does the Bible give conditions on who to love? Brother Richie: So again, we’d like to thank Tyswanekwa for her question. And just so that we can see if we can know where she’s coming from. Let me see a raise of hands: who here wants someone to give them conditions on who to love? Is there anyone here that wants to be told who to love? So we can kind of see where she’s coming from, right? Because when it comes to love, if someone is going to give their love, he or she is going to come up with their own conditions that someone has to meet to give that love, right? Love can’t be forced, you can’t force someone to love someone else.  For example, this gentleman here, you can’t be forced to love this lovely lady, right? By the way, are you two married? You are, so you do love each other! You love each other because you had your own conditions to be met, and you met those conditions. And that’s how it is, right? It’s your love, it’s your life, it’s your choice.  And there are many people, they choose who to love without worrying about what is written in the Bible. So why are there some [that asked] that question from the Bible? Why is it that, not only Tyswanekwa, but many people, [want] to know what is in the Bible regarding that? Well, to many, the ideal situation is: choose who to love, and have God’s love upon you and upon the one that you love as well, right? Because that would actually be [a] great situation.  Who does God choose to love? So when it comes to God’s love…now we’re on the topic of God’s love. Does He have conditions? We all have conditions for our love. And many people say, “No, God’s different. He doesn’t have any conditions. Well, we don’t want to answer for God because His words are written in the Bible, we’ll just read His answer.  When it comes to God giving His love, what is it that [He] requires, if He does have any requirements. Let’s read what is written in the Bible, we’re going to read from what’s recorded here in Deuteronomy. We’ll read chapter 7. We’ll read it together here, we’ll put it on the screen. Here in verse 6 to 7, it says: You are a holy nation. The Lord your God has set you apart for himself. He has chosen you to be his special treasure. He chose you out of all the nations on the face of the earth to be his people. The Lord chose you because he loved you very much…  [Deuteronomy 7:6-7 New International Reader’s Version] Brother Richie: When it comes to God giving His love, how is it that the Bible describes that? Well, here we can read that He did give His love to the ancient nation of Israel. Now, what’s the proof that He loved them? Well, according to what we’ve read, it says He chose them to be His people. Some might say, “I don’t understand” or “aren’t we all God’s people? God created all of us.” And that’s true. God created every single one of us. But as we have learned, He doesn’t love everyone the same. What’s the proof? It says that He chose some to be His special treasure. He set them apart to be His people.  So, now when it comes to God giving His love, just like the rest of us, that’s His choice, right? It is His choice. He’s the one that comes up with the conditions that have to be met. And really God’s love…that’s what we want. Right? That is so important to have. If there’s anyone’s love that we’re going to work for, that we’re going to try to win over, it should be God’s.  Now, some might think, “Why? Well, what’s so great about having God’s love?” Well, if that’s the question, why is that such a wonderful situation to have God’s love in our life? Again, let’s go to what is recorded. We’ll read the situation that God makes for those that He does choose to love. We’re going to read from what is recorded here in the book of Psalm, Chapter 91, we’re going to read verses 14 to 15. It says:  “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  [Psalm 91:14-15 New International Version] What does it mean to love God? Brother Richie: According to the Bible, what kind of a situation is it if God chooses to love someone? That’s a wonderful situation. Our God Himself said that the one He loves, he’s going to protect, He’s going to deliver, He’s going to honor, He’s going to rescue those that love Him. If they call to Him, He’s going to answer them. If they’re in trouble, He’s going to be with them in trouble. Who here wants that situation? Who here wants God to be with them always? We all do. But just because we want it, does it mean we get it? Well, this particular servant, how come he got it? Well, God gave the answer. He answered and He said, “Because he loves me.”  So there was a condition met. Our God gave him the love and the protection that he needed. So, if someone thinks, “Well, I love God, too.” And we can all say that (we should say that) we all love God. But we know that love is much more than words. There’s a saying that we all know when it comes to talk, right? They say talk is…”talk is cheap.” Anyone can say that. The ladies that are here: If someone says they love you, is that all you need to believe it? No, even us as human beings, right? For us to believe someone that they love us, they’ve got to prove it. So when it comes to God’s love, does that have to be proven? Again, some might say, “No, God is different!” Well, wait a second, let’s use God’s words. If someone loves God, what does that mean? Let’s read His words. From what is written here in 1  John, we’re going to read chapter 5, verse 3. This is what it actually says:  For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us,  [1 John 5:3 Good News Translation] Brother Richie: What is the biblical definition of loving God? Well, according to what we have read, it says it means we obey His commands. So His commands are what we need.  Someone might think, “Well, what are God’s commands? I thought [there’s] only ten?” There [are the] first ten commandments that were written down. But God has a whole Bible of commandments. For our life, from the very first time we receive life to the time that we lose it. Our God gives us commandments, He gives us instructions, He shows us how to live our life the way that He intended. He shows us how to think when we’re in trouble. When we face certain challenges, He shows us how to surround ourselves with the right people. He is the one that is guiding us and instructing us. And if we follow all those commands we prove that we love Him.  Now in a

Click to expand transcript Is Jehovah the True Name of God? Brother Bob Pellien: Hello, and welcome everyone to this program That’s in the Bible. I’m Bob Pellien. [On-screen text] Brother Bob Pellien Minister of the Gospel Brother Bob: In our episode for today we’ll be responding to a question of a Mr. Randy Capilitan who asks—which is a very common question that we receive here—but Randy asks, “What is the true name of God? Is [Jehovah] the name of God? Is it necessary to call Jehova as His name?”  Different variations of this question have, like I said, often been received here [at] our program and asked. So today we’re going to use once again the Holy Bible as a basis to respond to Randy’s question and questions regarding the name of God that we’ve been receiving regularly concerning the different names of God.  How does Jesus want people to address God? How should we address God, dear friends? Does God even have a name? This is a very important question on our episode for today, and it’s especially important for those who want to properly worship God. So for us living in this day and age in the Christian Era, we follow the lead of our Lord Jesus Christ since He’s the begotten Son of God, He’s the one of course qualified to teach us how to approach God as His children. And Lord Jesus Christ does truly teach us this and let’s read His words. In the Book of Matthew 6:9:  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,… [Matthew 6:9 New King James Version]  Brother Bob: Dear friends, Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray. He said “in this manner, pray.” And if we read all the subsequent verses following that, [it’s] all the different guidance that He gave them relative to proper prayer. What was the first that we just read? How to address God. What did He teach? He said, “Our Father in heaven.” So He taught His disciples (likewise, all of us), He taught us how to pray and how to address God. And He does so by showing us how to call upon God. And what He taught was to call Him (God) “Father.” We call God our Father.  Now, did Christ put into practice what He instructed His disciples concerning how to address God, when Jesus Himself prayed? Did He use a personal name of God when He addressed God? Let’s, let’s check in the Book of John 17:1:  Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, [John 17:1 New King James Version] Brother Bob: What did Jesus do when He prayed to God? He addressed God as “Father,” not any specific personal name. Now, how else can we call God? The apostles gave us some important additional insight on that. How did the apostles also call God in the Book of Acts 4:24:  So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,  [Act 4:24 New King James Version] Brother Bob: The apostles also prayed to God, and likewise addressed Him as “Lord.” So we’re also taught then to refer to our Creator as “Lord.” And that’s because He’s the One and Only true and Almighty, all-powerful God that we all came from. Therefore, He is our Father, and we should obey Him, because He is our Lord God.  Are there different names for God in the Bible? Brother Bob: Now, dear friends before we start reading additional biblical passages here regarding the name or names of God, a couple of things we should understand regarding the significance of a personal name. Now without getting into them, the specific meaning of any particular name, let’s just understand first: what’s the basic purpose of a personal name in the first place? Is it not to be able to identify one person from another? This is why there’s always a link between name and identity. And the truth is that names are a part of every culture, and they’re of great importance, both to the individual who receives the name or has been named, and to the societies that have given them a name. Why? Because it’s what helps distinguish one individual from another. That distinction is made by virtue of name.  OK, with all that having been said, because there is only one true God, with no one else to mistakenly identify as another god, there’s only one God. He does not have, nor does He need to have a personal name like the rest of us do. Again, why? There’s only one true God so there’s no need to distinguish Him from any other.  So in view of this, let’s study the different names or appellations, that the Bible does attribute to God and their meanings. For example, the Holy Scriptures [introduce] various names and appellations of the one true God throughout the history in the Holy Scriptures. For example, in Exodus 3:14, God addressed Himself to Moses. Did God address Himself to Moses with a personal name? What did He say? “I am who I am.”  And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” [Exodus 3:14 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Or in some other translations of the Bible, when God introduced Himself to Moses, He said, “I will be what I will be.” We can see how [the Bible] makes very clear here that there was no one else that could be referred to as God. There was no need for God to give a personal name. He just said, “I am who I am.” “I am who I will be.” That’s it. He is God. He is the Father. He is the Creator in Isaiah 42:5 and 8. He also called Himself as “Lord”:  Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it:…I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. [Isaiah 42:5,8 New King James Version] Brother Bob: And also in the book of Exodus 34:14. He likewise used the name “Jealous”: (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), [Exodus 34:14 New King James Version] Brother Bob: In Amos 5:27 [and] Amos 4:13, He was also named “God of hosts”:  Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts….For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what [b]his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth—The Lord God of hosts is His name. [Amos 5:27, 4:13 New King James Version] Brother Bob: In Isaiah 57:15. He is also named as “Holy”:  For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. [Isaiah 57:15 New King James Version] Brother Bob: What can we see? We can see here that when it comes to the names of God, the Bible gives so many various names. It would be wrong to just hone in on any one of them and say, “That’s the ultimate.” No, there’s no such basis for that.  Where did the name “Jehovah” come from? Should we call God Jehovah? Brother Bob: We find it necessary for a moment here, dear friends, let’s pause and tackle the claim of some who say things like this: “Jehovah. That’s His one and only name, Jehovah.” And there’s another group popping up nowadays [and] they’re using the term“Yahuah.” And they’re insisting that’s the one and the only name of God and the only name that should be used in reference to God.  Since we already stated that God does not have a personal name like we do.  [On-screen text] God does NOT have a personal name Brother Bob: Why? Because there’s no other true God to distinguish Him from. Let’s learn how this term “Jehovah” came about, and how it has also came to be viewed in the way that it’s being viewed by others in the world nowadays.  Dear friends, if we reference Hebrew manuscripts; Hebrew of course being the language of the Old Testament, one of the names of God cannot be pronounced and it cannot be pronounced because it consists of four Hebrew consonants: Y, H, V, H.  [On-screen text] 4 Hebrew consonants: Y H V H Brother Bob: The Hebrew letters: Y, H, V, H, commonly referred to as the Tetragrammaton. So when the Scriptures were being read during that time and when one came across these four consonants (Which were not intended to be pronounced. They’re consonants.) What would be pronounced [instead] is one of the other names of God. For example, as we read earlier when God said, “I am who I am,” or “I will be what I will be,” or simply, “Lord.” [On-screen text] I am who I am – Exodus 3:14 NKJV I will be what I will be – Exodus 3:14 CJB Lord – Isaiah 42: 5, 8 NKJV Brother Bob: None of these are, of course, a personal name. Where and when did the name “Jehovah” come about? It was over 1,000 years after the Bible’s completion. It appears first and about 1520 A.D. when some thought these four consonants (which was, as I said earlier, not intended to be pronounced at all), they thought, “Well, it should be pronounced.” So you might wonder how did they pronounce a word or come to pronounce a word that has only four consonants and no vowels? Well, what did they do? They simply just used the vowels of another word. And we can read this in the New international Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Let’s take a look at what’s recorded here in Volume 2 pages 69 and 70:  [On-screen text] The form Jehovah arose out of a misunderstanding which in turn arose out of the reluctance of pious Jews to pronounce the divine name (c. 300 BC). Instead they uttered the word ‘adonay, my Lord. In the MT [Masoretic Text] the divine name was written with the consonants of YHVH and the vowels of ‘adonay, as a reminder to say the latter whenever the word was read. The divine name appears as yehowah in the MT…. The form Jehovah is thus a malformation giving what is virtually a transliteration of a wo

Click to expand transcript [Show open] Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you very much everyone for joining us in our studio audience here for That’s in the Bible Live. We appreciate [you] joining us in our study, and we believe that we will spend this time together and it will be beneficial for everyone. On this show, That’s in the Bible, we explore the Bible’s teachings on just about any topic imaginable and questions come into us from places all over the globe. We always get the answers to all these questions directly from here–the Holy Scriptures, also known as? Audience: [Mixed answers] Brother Bob: The Bible, yes. You’re a very funny audience. I can tell this is going to be a very nice session. Our question for today, let’s take a look at it first. It proposes a very interesting question that we’ll address and talk about today. Let’s take a look at it. [Video begins] [On-screen text graphics] Why are there so many different Christian teachings and Churches? Feraidoon Hezoda Feraidoon Hezoda: So many church[es], but so many bibles. So many teach the people. Why don’t [they] teach the people one thing if one Bible [comes] from God? [Video ends] Brother Bob: Well we thank Mr. Hezoda for that really wonderful question. We’d like to thank him for his question and we hope to receive many more questions as we go along. It’s really not surprising from someone, or anyone, viewing Christianity from outside of it. They would be perplexed or even confused when they see all the different denominations, all the different churches, all the different religions, so a full spectrum of religious beliefs all under the umbrella of so-called Christianity. And that’s very confusing to many people. So, we’re very thankful for that question because it’s a really relevant question in the minds of many people nowadays.  A Bible-based Church where there’s only one God It’s our belief, inside the Church Of Christ, that there is only one true faith, one set of true doctrines, and one true service to God. Not many. We believe in that adamantly. Only one basis of faith, one sole basis of faith, and that, of course, is the Bible.  Although the Bible may be translated—it’s been said in an article not too long ago, it’s been actually translated into 1,854 different languages and dialects all over the world. It remains for us the absolute sole basis of our faith. Why do we believe that to be the sole basis of our faith? Why do we believe that there is only one faith that one must embrace when wanting to serve the one true God? Okay, let’s turn to the Holy Bible and begin researching the responses to the important question posed by Mr. Hezoda. In Ephesians chapter 4:4-6: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [Ephesians 4:4-6 New International Version] Brother Bob: There are a lot of times in that verse where the word one, o-n-e, is used. I would like to ask the studio audience here this afternoon, reading the verses along with us on the screen, how many faiths are there based on what we just read? How many faiths, studio audience? Audience: One. Brother Bob: One faith. How many bodies, studio audience?  Audience: One. Brother Bob: How many Lords? Audience: One. Brother Bob: We believe there is only one true faith. Why? Because? Audience: That’s in the Bible. Brother Bob: We believe that there is only one true God because?  Audience: That’s in the Bible.  Brother Bob: We believe that there is only one body because?  Audience: That’s in the Bible. Brother Bob:  Because that’s in the Bible. What’s being referred to as that one body? We often read in Colossians 1:18, here in this program: “And he is the head of the body, the church;…” Brother Bob:  What is it? Audience: The church. Brother Bob:  The church. One faith, one body, one church according to the Holy Scriptures. And that’s what we believe. Again, once more, studio audience. Why? Because? Audience: That’s in the Bible. Brother Bob: Here’s the thing, if all of that is so clearly indicated in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible, why do things get all twisted up? Why do things become confusing and why do people become so perplexed as they view the religious scene of the world nowadays? What’s happened? What we read was not so complicated. That’s pretty direct. Do you agree? Audience: Yes. Brother Bob: What has transpired? Allow me to cite, this time, the writings of Apostle Peter. II Peter 3:16: Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures. [2 Peter 3:16 Amplified Bible] Beware of people trying to mislead you Brother Bob: Why is it all so perplexing for so many people who are trying to serve God and understand the truth? Answer of the Bible, what was it? Because there are preachers who are misinterpreting, there are preachers who are twisting, and there are preachers who are misconstruing things that they see and read. And, of course, therefore leading people away from the truth. And they do so because they are not understanding what they are reading. So, what was the warning? Verse 17 will explain. We will continue reading: Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard,… [2 Peter 3:17 Amplified Bible] Brother Bob: Dear friends, that’s a very important warning from the Lord. That’s not from me or from the kind of individual that invited you to join our study here this afternoon. That’s the Lord Himself through the apostle Peter saying, let me warn you, you need to guard against something. What? Let’s continue: Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]. [2 Peter 3:17 Amplified Bible] Brother Bob: What was the warning? The warning was that there could be those that would mislead you and try to carry you away from the spiritual condition you need to remain in. It happens because there are preachers who are teaching but not understanding what they are teaching. So what do they end up doing? They end up misinterpreting, as we all read it together, and twisting the message.  So, by show of hands, how many of you have seen preachers online, or turning on the television on a Sunday morning, and you could see them preaching the most confusing and perplexing ideological principles and trying to convince people to believe? How many of you have seen this confusion that we just read about being done by preachers in the world nowadays? A lot. That’s why the question from Mr. Hezoda is such a common question. Why [are there] so many religions? Why are [there] so many things being taught? And there’s the Bible’s answer. There are those who are twisting and teaching false things.  The question now we pose together is this: well if that is what is transpiring, why [are] there are so many people that are becoming so easily victimized and led by such individuals who have unscrupulous ideologies and unscrupulous intentions when they put and hold the Bible in their hand? Why are people allowing themselves to become victims? Okay, you’re with me on the question, right?  Follow along, as God inspired the apostle Paul to give an answer to that. In Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy. Here in II Timothy chapter 4, let’s read together verse 3: For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction,… [2 Timothy 4:3 Amplified Bible] Brother Bob: Allow me to pause. What was the prediction of the Lord, here, through the apostle? Prediction about people? What did he say? They’re not going to tolerate sound doctrine. They are not going to want sound biblical truth anymore. So what did He say would transpire? …but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, [2 Timothy 4:3 Amplified Bible] Brother Bob: Why do people become victims? Because they embrace this exact principle forewarned by the Lord through the apostle. They gather for themselves preachers who will tell them what they’re itching to hear, or preachers that will tell them what they believe is okay. Let’s just consider a very obvious example, and that’s the mantra of Protestantism. What’s Protestantism? What’s the mainstay of Protestantism? Faith alone. “Just believe. Just accept Jesus as your Lord and personal savior and that’s it. You will be saved.” A person will hear that. Consider the verse we just read together, right, people will gather preachers that will tell them what they’re itching to hear. “Faith alone? I just need to believe and I will be saved? That’s easy! I like it. I think i’ll go join that religion.” No longer discerning whether or not that principle is true or not.   So what have these preachers done, not in our measurement, but what have these preachers done in the eyes of God? It’s not for us to give answers to these questions. We just turn to the pages of the Holy Scriptures for the answers. This is [always] our way. Mark chapter 7, verse 6 and 7: Jesus answered them, “How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you! You are hypocrites, just as he wrote: ’These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away from me. It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!” [Mark 7:6-7 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: They may have tried to honor the Lord, but they failed. Why did they fail? Well, Mr. Hezoda not

[Show open] [Video starts] Chuck Horner: I’m Chuck Horner, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in South Hayward. My question is what must we do to be right with God to be saved? [Video ends] Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome everyone, and thank you particularly so much, Mr. Horner, for your question for today. And your question is a question that’s, well, it’s often heard from people who are really seeking to understand about God’s ways. The problem is that many people, however, have made the mistake of drawing their own conclusions, even their own strategies, let’s say, about how to put themselves right with God.  [On-screen text graphic] QUESTION: What must one do to be put right with God? Brother Bob: But as always, here in the Church Of Christ, and on this program, That’s in the Bible, the answer to your question will always come from this book—the Holy Scriptures. Can devotion alone lead to being saved? So what has the Apostle Paul, for example, said, Mr. Horner, about your question? Did he provide any warning or guidance to us? We turn to the book of Romans 10, verse 2 and 3. He gave this warning: I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge. They have not known the way in which God puts people right with Himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they did not submit themselves to God’s way of putting people right. [Romans 10:2-3 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: So Chuck, the answer to your question is not, therefore, just being devoted to God as so many people think. Chuck, what will be the danger if one would just choose their own way of putting themselves right with God? Their own strategy to do that? Here in Proverbs 14, and let’s listen together what’s recorded here in verse 12. It says this: There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. [Proverbs 14:12 New King James Version] What does the Bible say about the second death? Brother Bob: So clearly here, Chuck, the Bible teaches that although it may seem right to a person—their own strategy, their own idea, maybe just being devoted or whatever—but the Bible says what seems right to a person may in fact lead them to death. And it’s not only the death referred to here. It’s not only the ending of our biological life, it’s also the infliction of a second death—a death. And how does the Bible further describe that death? It’s mentioned in the book of Revelation chapter 20, verse 14 like this: Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [Revelation 20:14 New King James Version] Brother Bob: The Bible calls it a second death, a death in the lake of fire. So in fact, what if a person will decide to make the next step and say, “Well then I guess if it’s not my own strategy that I need to implement to make myself right with God, then what do I need to do?” Maybe they’ll conclude, “Well I just need to be worshipping God. As long as I’m worshipping God, then I’ll be right with God.” The Lord Jesus answers that question, Chuck, like this. In the book of Matthew 15, verse 9, he said it like this: And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ [Matthew 15:9 New King James Version] All have sinned Brother Bob: So although they may make their own conclusion like, “Well all I need to do is to be worshipping,” Jesus responds how? He said, well, their worship will be in vain. Why would it be in vain? If they’re still using doctrines or commandments of men as the basis of their worship that makes the worship vain or useless. So we must acknowledge that this vain worship is the result of man’s being separated from God in the first place. Separated from God due to what? The iniquities and sins, as was mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah in 59: 2. Because of sin, because of iniquity, man has become separated from God: But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. [Isaiah 59:2 New King James Version] Brother Bob: In fact, if we read Apostle Paul’s statement in Colossians 1: 21, what did he call people that have been separated from God because of sin? He referred to them as, “enemies:”  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet know He has reconciled [Colossians 1:21 New King James Version] Brother Bob: And who has committed sin? Romans 5:12 makes mention all people have committed sin. People need to be reconciled to God, need to have themselves put right with God.  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned- [Romans 5:12 New King James Version] Brother Bob: But it is not just by saying, “Well I’m going to worship, I’m going to be devoted, I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that.” If then, it’s not just following what we, ourselves, may think is the good way or think is the right way of serving God, putting ourselves right with God, maybe following some trending, religious ideology of the times. Then what must you mean all people do to achieve the needed reconciliation with God? Is it, like others would say, is it just proclaiming that we have faith in God, faith in Jesus, and then automatically we’ll be saved? Again we turn to the Holy Scriptures once more to the words of our Lord Jesus in the book of Matthew chapter 7, verse 21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. [Matthew 7:21 New King James Version] Joining the body of Christ Brother Bob: What’s to be done? We have got to do the will of the Father in heaven. What is the will of the Father in heaven that all must do in order to put themselves right with God? Again we turn to the Bible. Ephesians 1:9 and 10: Having made known to us, the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth- in Him. [Ephesians 1:9-10 New King James Version] Brother Bob: So Chuck, that’s the will of God that you, me and all people have to comply with. The will of God that all would be gathered together in one, in Christ. When the first century followers of Christ in the Apostles heard the Apostles teaching these things, how did they comply? How did they fulfill that will of God and thus make themselves right with God? Romans 12, verse 4, verse 5: For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. [Romans 12:4-5 New King James Version] Brother Bob: What did they do? They all joined together in one body with Christ as the head. They joined together. Although they were many, they joined as one in Christ. And they joined in that one body. All of them were so many. What was the one body into which they joined together? In Colossians 1: 18, the body was identified: And He is the head of the body, the Church [Colossians 1:18 New King James Version] Brother Bob: That body is the Church. Which Church is the body of Christ, according to the Bible? Here in Acts 20, verse 28, the name of the Church is made mentioned like this: Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ, which he has purchased with His blood. [Acts 20:28 Lamsa] Brother Bob: The Church? Church Of Christ. So then, Chuck, the Bible responds to your question, how do we put ourselves right with God? The Bible tells us how not to do it and the Bible tells us how to do it. [On-screen text graphic] Find a congregation near you: iglesianicristo.net/directory Brother Bob: And the Bible tells you, me, and all people who want to be saved to fulfill the will of God, which is to be part of the body of Christ, the Church He shed his blood for, the Church Of Christ, the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Chuck, that’s in the Bible. [On-screen text graphic] Do you have questions about the Bible? Send us your videos: answers@incmedia.org Brother Bob: There’s no question that is too basic, no question that cannot be answered by the Bible when it comes to our lives and of course, our salvation. And we’ll respond to them here on this program. If you’d like to learn more about these basic, fundamental teachings found here inside the Church Of Christ, visit incmedia.org. There, you’re going to find various religious programming that will answer your spiritual questions. Thank you for joining us today and we’ll see you again next time on That’s in the Bible.

  Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you all very much! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome everyone to this program That’s in the Bible Live today.  I’m Brother Bob Pellien and we thank you all for joining us today, being our studio audience. We are very thankful, as well, to all those who will be watching this recorded broadcast later on in various Church mediums like Direct TV, incmedia.org, INCTV America, and several others.  Now those who have been tuning into our program on a regular basis, you know already that in this show, That’s in the Bible, we explore the Bible’s teaching on many topics. Topics relating to salvation and relating to proper service to God.  Today’s topic: [On-screen text graphics] What Does Celebrating Easter Say About You? Brother Bob: If you’re celebrating Easter, you’re probably one of three types of people. You may be like the first: you’re fully aware of everything about Easter, you’re aware of the origins of the Easter holiday, and, for you, it’s really nothing that you’re too concerned about.  [On-screen text graphics] 1 – You’re fully aware of the origins of this holiday and it’s really nothing that you’re too concerned about. Brother Bob: Or you might be the second type of person. Maybe it could be described like whether or not you know the origins, or you really know the history of Easter in the essence of this holiday for you, but it’s just fun, right?  [On-screen text graphics] 2 – Whether or not you know its origins or history, in essence the holiday is just a fun thing to participate in. Brother Bob: It’s nice to participate in the various traditions of Easter. Or you might be a third kind of person. You maybe don’t know much yet about Easter or the origins of the various Easter traditions, but you are interested to find out. [On-screen text graphics] 3 – You don’t know much about Easter or the origins of its traditions, but are interested to find out. Brother Bob: We challenge you. We ask you today to fit yourself into one of those personas as we go on in our study together. Our That’s in the Bible team went out right here in the San Francisco Bay trail. They gathered some video interviews of real people just talking about how they celebrate Easter. I’m very sure that many of the things that you’re about to hear may seem very familiar to you. Let’s take a moment and look. [Video Starts] [On-screen text graphics] Do you celebrate Easter? Interviewee 1: We celebrate Easter every year.  Interviewee 2: Personally, my husband and I don’t really celebrate it. Interviewee 3: I celebrate it at church and with my family. [On-screen text graphics] How do you celebrate Easter? Interviewee 4: I celebrate it with the family. That’s the most important thing. So friends and stuff like that little most important family. Interviewee 2: I don’t celebrate Easter by going to church, but I certainly do plan Easter egg hunts for my kids.  Interviewee 1: I not only celebrate Easter at church, but I also celebrate with my family.  Interviewee 4: You know, of course the Easter egg basket though traditional stuff, but some of us go to church. Some don’t. Then we just get together and just eat and have a good time and celebrate. Interviewee 3: Last year I did little goodie bags [that] said ‘Jesus is alive.’  Interviewee 5: Being Christian I go to church and put my family together. We pray. But of course, being here in Western country you have to do what kids like. So egg hunt for the kids! [On-screen text graphics] How do you prepare for Easter? Interviewee 1: Well before that is Lent, I believe, and you’re supposed to give up stuff for Lent. Interviewee 3: And as far as 40, the Lent thing, I grew up Catholic so I kind of used to do that but I didn’t really understand it.  Interviewee 1: I was going to give up sweets or something this year, but anyway, not really good at giving up anything.  Interviewee 2: We just try to say, “Hey, remember you celebrated Easter,” but not really opening up a Bible or something to explain to them what it is because we ourselves are not very educated in that area. Interviewee 3: My family does that. It kind of kicks off the 40 days before Easter, which is the day Jesus rose from the dead. [On-screen text graphics] What do you know about Easter?  Interviewee 2: So I don’t know. It’s just happy, fun, bunnies and stuff. Where I grew up from…grew up at and I’m not Christian so we were not educated with it.  Interviewee 3: I think it’s just mostly [a] time of just really reflecting on the reason why all this was happening and who Jesus was. Interviewee 2: We still try to educate them [on] what it what it is. It’s not all about candy, right? But we certainly try to make it fun. Interviewee 3: I’ve had funny stories like I’ve taught Sunday school on Easter, and we’ve asked the kids, like, “Where did the Easter eggs come from?” And one kid said, “Jesus laid them,” which is really funny, but, we had to tell them what the meaning was behind that. It’s just all symbolism, but what does it really mean? it just means new life that, you know, Jesus died so that we can live again with him. [Video Ends] Brother Bob: So there you go, a full spectrum of ideas and perceptions of about Easter and how to celebrate it, and things like that, right? Now whether or not you celebrate Easter for its religious aspect, as you heard a couple of them say, or you’re just into it because well, it’s family fun time.  As we saw, there’s a lot of ways to celebrate Easter being undertaken in the world nowadays. So what does celebrating Easter—back to our original question right? What does celebrating Easter, what does it really say about you?  Easter symbols, traditions, and practices Brother Bob: What we will do is briefly go over a few of the popular symbols, or let’s call them traditions, practices of this holiday called Easter. Let’s first start with the term itself—Easter. You might be surprised about the meaning of that term. According to the New Catholic Encyclopedia, let’s take a moment to read what is recorded here on on page 6:  Since Bede the Venerable (De ratione temporum 1:5) “the origin of the term for the feast of Christ’s Resurrection has been popularly considered to be from the Anglo-Saxon Eastre, a goddess of spring.  [New Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 5 Page 6] [On-screen text graphics] Pagan Fertility Goddess Ishtar (Babylonian) Ashtaroth (Hebrew) Astarte (Greek) Eastre (Anglo-Saxon) Easter (English) Brother Bob: Easter was also known to the Babylonians and others as Ishtar, Easter, and other similar names in ancient religions, all connected to what is now been Christian-ized into mainstream Christianity today. [On-screen text graphics] “Easter” – goddess of Fertility Rabbit – Symbol of Fertility Brother Bob: What’s another tradition of Easter? They said it on the video. Easter eggs.  Audience: Eggs. Brother Bob: And bunnies. Audience : Bunnies. Brother Bob: Easter eggs and Easter bunnies. By the way, just a little side biological note, bunnies don’t lay eggs. They’re mammals. But that’s another whole discussion.  Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, and the symbols all of those kinds of symbols, which are quite synonymous with the Easter holiday. In this Catholic Dictionary on page 169, what is noted here regarding those traditions like Easter eggs, Easter baskets, and things like that, it’s not of course into Holy Scripture. So, where then, what then, is it all about? Take note: [On-screen text graphics] Easter eggs may possibly be a “baptized” pagan custom, since they are an obvious symbol of fertility, and many places it is still the practice to paint the eggs and bring them to church and decorated baskets for a blessing before or after mass. Chocolate eggs and such like-fooleries are a degeneration of no significance.  [A Catholic Dictionary Page 169] Brother Bob: That is the official book of Roman Catholicism. These things are from what origin? The Bible? No, they are from pagan origins. But what’s paganism in the first place? What’s the big deal? That’s what a lot of people say. “Pagan. So what?” Can we say so what? What do we need to understand about paganism? What is a pagan? Here’s one definition. You can see it on the screen from dictionary.cambridge.org. The Cambridge Dictionary says: [On-screen text graphics] paganism noun a religion that worships many gods, especially a religion that existed before the main world religions Brother Bob: Easter bunny, Easter egg, the Easter goddess of fertility from the Babylonian goddess of fertility, Easter, Ishtar, those are ancient pagan gods and goddesses that come not from the Bible.  What does it say, then? I pose this question to everyone: what does it say about anyone who is okay with that? In the New Encyclopedia Britannica and on page 605, what do they have to say about some of these origins of various Easter traditions? I quote: [On-screen text graphics] As at Christmas, so also at Easter, popular customs reflect many ancient pagan survivals-in this instance, connected with Spring fertility rites, such as the symbols of the Easter egg, and the Easter hare or rabbit.  [New Encyclopedia Britannica MACROPEDIA, 15th Edition, Vol 4 Page 605] Brother Bob: So the Easter egg [and] the Easter rabbit are symbols of spring fertility rites used in ancient pagan worship to ancient goddesses of fertility, not anything that has to do with Jesus and His death and resurrection whatsoever.  Lent Brother Bob: Everyone has heard about Lent, and, a couple of those that we interviewed outside here on the trail, as you saw [in] the video, they spoke about the 40 days of Lent. We all know that it’s the 40 days of fasting done in the Catholic Church in preparation for Easter. In the Catholic Encyclopedia on page 69. This important statement was made:   [On-screen text graphics] No distinct traces of the quadragesimal observance are discernible until the fourth century. The decrees of the Council of Nicea in 325 contain the earliest mention of Lent.  [The Catholic Encyclopedia Vo

Should We Observe The Sabbath? [On-screen text graphic] I’ve read that the Bible indicates that the Sabbath is on Saturday. Why then is the Sabbath celebrated on a Sunday instead of Saturday, even though the Lord told us to keep the Sabbath? Sulamithe Zurich, Switzerland Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you so much, Sulamithe, for your question, and it’s so nice to receive a question all the way from Zurich, Switzerland. I think this is the first time that we’ve had a question from Switzerland and we’re very thankful and we welcome you all from Switzerland. Regarding your question concerning the Sabbath, there are so many questions that come up about the Sabbath and a lot of those questions are just like yours.  [On-screen text graphic] Sabbath Brother Bob: The questions are also asked by many preachers and people who have just not yet fully understood the topic about the Sabbath. So we’ll turn to the Holy Scriptures and ask these important questions that you’ve raised. To begin with, Sulamithe, your question already assumes that we should all be adhering to the Sabbath and the Sabbath rules in our era of time, albeit on a Saturday, Sunday, or any day at all for that matter. The very first thing we need to address is do we need to define who God commanded, really, to first observe the Sabbath in the first place?  [On-screen text graphic] Question: Should we be celebrating the Sabbath? Brother Bob: The second part of the question is, until when? Well we have to determine that first before we can claim whether or not we should even be celebrating that ourselves and then determine, as your question posed to be done on a Saturday or a Sunday.  [On-screen text graphic] Question: Should we even be celebrating it? What Does the Bible Say About the Sabbath Day? Brother Bob: What does the Bible say about the Sabbath?  [On-screen text graphic] What does the Bible say about the Sabbath? Brother Bob: Let’s begin turning to the pages of the Holy Scriptures. Malachi in chapter 4, verse 4: “Earnestly remember the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and the ordinances which I commanded him on [Mount] Horeb [to give] to all Israel. [Malachi 4:4 Amplified Bible] Brother Bob: So dear friends the Sabbath was definitely a commandment of God—was one of the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. No question about that.  Who Should Observe the Sabbath? Brother Bob: But to be observed by whom?  The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. [Exodus 31:16 New International Version] Brother Bob: Answer of the Bible: to be observed by the people of ancient Israel. Why? As a symbol of the Lord’s covenant with them. It was also an observance commanded by God to commemorate something else. What’s that? Let’s turn to Deutoronomy 5:15: Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. [Deutoronomy 5:15 New International Version] Brother Bob: So dear friends, God commanded the Israelites to celebrate the Sabbath and to commemorate how God delivered them out of Egypt.  [On-screen text graphic] God commanded the Israelites to celebrate the Sabbath Brother Bob: Are you an Israelite that was enslaved in Egypt? Because the instruction was very clear: to remember that he brought them out of their enslavement in Egypt. If you were there, if you were a slave in Egypt, you should be celebrating the Sabbath. If not, well, then not.  God Commands to Stop Observing the Sabbath Brother Bob: In fact can we even pinpoint in the Bible specifically where God actually gave the instruction to stop it, where he took away or retracted the commandment?  [On-screen text graphic] God gave the instruction to stop the Sabbath Brother Bob: In Hosea 2:11, the Bible answer this way: “I will put an end to all her festivities—her annual and monthly festivals and her Sabbath celebrations—all her religious meetings.” [Hosea 2:11 Today’s English Version] Brother Bob: Dear friends, that was God himself speaking very clear saying they got to put a stop to it. The Prophet Jeremiah also gave testimony further to God’s decision to put an end to the observance of the Sabbath. What did he have to say? The prophet Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations, chapter 2 verse 6: “He smashed to pieces the Temple where we worshipped him; He has put an end to holy days and Sabbaths. King and priest alike have felt the force of his anger.” [Lamentations 2:6 Today’s English Version] Brother Bob: So dear friends, what does this show? Well it shows that after the Israelites turned away from God, their observance of the Sabbath had become actually abominable in the sight of God.  [On-screen text graphic] The Sabbath became abominable to God Brother Bob: The Sabbath ended completely and the Sabbath was never again commanded to be observed after the time of the Israelites. God put a total and complete end to that commandment.  Does the Sabbath apply today? Should Christians keep the Sabbath? Brother Bob: Inasmuch as we’re living much later, was there any guidance from Jesus and His disciples concerning the Sabbath in this, what is known as the Christian era of time, and thus would be followed by the Church?  [On-screen text graphic] Question: Is there a Sabbath in the Christian time? Brother Bob: There is. The Lord Jesus himself stated that it’s lawful to do good on the Sabbath.  How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. [Matthew 12:12 New International Version] Brother Bob: He was criticized harshly for that. He healed sick people on the Sabbath day and so many other things. When the Pharisees saw him doing this on the day that, well the Jews had considered a sacred day, they accused him of not even being from God. But we all know that our Lord Jesus Christ did not commit any sin when he did not observe the Sabbath. Why not? He knew there was no more Sabbath. He knew it. The Christians in the Gentile world, likewise, they too did not celebrate the Sabbath. Let’s take a look at the evidence for that. Here in Colossians chapter 2, verse 16, we’ll also read verse 23: “Let no one criticize you in matters of food or drink or for not observing festivals, new moons or the Sabbath. “These doctrines may seem to be profound because they speak of religious observance and humility and of disregarding the body. In fact, they are useless as soon as the flesh rebels.” [Colossians 2:16, 23 Christian Community Bible] [On-screen text graphic] Apostle Paul considered the Sabbath useless Brother Bob: So dear friends, here Apostle Paul regarded the observance of the Sabbath as useless, a useless doctrine. Those who observe the Sabbath, despite having known the true God and been in the true faith, are turning back and are being again enslaved by weak and miserable principles by observing special days, special months, special seasons, special years, or Sabbaths. We have learned the instruction for the Sabbath [has] nothing to do with what day Christ was risen from the grave as you, Sulumithe, posed in your question. Maybe some other preachers may be teaching that or suggesting that in their service.  Was the Saturday Sabbath Changed to Sunday? Was the Sabbath observance changed from Saturday to Sunday?  [On-screen text graphic] Was the Sabbath changed from Saturday to Sunday?  Brother Bob: Simply, no, because the real question is whether a Christian should even be observing the Jewish Sabbath to honor God’s covenant with His ancient nation. A covenant which they ended up breaking anyway. When that covenant was broken, so too was God’s instruction to observe it’s remembrance. It was God himself who put an end to the observing of the Sabbath. [On-screen text graphic] It was God Himself who put and end to the Sabbath Brother Bob: Sulumith, from Zurich Switzerland, and everyone of us joining us in this program, that’s in the Bible. Thank you so much for your question about the Sabbath and we hope that you will also send more questions to this program.  [On-screen text graphic] Do you have questions about the Bible? Send us your videos to: answers@incmedia.org Brother Bob: There’s no question, in fact, that is too basic, no question that cannot be answered by the Bible when it comes to our lives, when it comes to our salvation. If you’d like to know more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church Of Christ, please visit incmedia.org.  [On-screen text graphic] incmedia.org Brother Bob: There you’ll find a variety of programs, just like this one, dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. Thanks for joining us. I’m Bob Pellien. We’ll see you next time on That’s in the Bible.

Was Thomas Wrong in John 20:28? Brother Bob Pellien: Thomas, often referred to as “Doubting Thomas,” took one look at the resurrected Jesus and said “My Lord and My God”, and that’s recorded in John 20:28. Dear friends, was he wrong, or was he right?  [Show open] Brother Bob: The Bible, the basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible! [On-screen text graphic] Brother Bob Pellien Minister of the Gospel Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien, and welcome to the program That’s in the Bible. We received a comment on YouTube from a viewer making the argument that Jesus is God, specifically referencing that verse John 20:28. Here’s his comment: “You forgot what St. Thomas said, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Did anyone complain, or stop, or correct St. Thomas? Even our Savior didn’t correct or deny what St. Thomas said. But rather, the Lord said, ‘You believe because you saw Me. Blessed are those who did not see and yet believe.’” That came from Jonathan. Well, thank you, Jonathan, for your comment and the opportunity here today to clear this up for you. Let’s frame our topic of discussion around these sub-questions: Why did Apostle Thomas say to Jesus, “My Lord and My God”?  Was Apostle Thomas the only one who made this assumption? Is it true that Jesus Christ did not correct Apostle Thomas and the other apostles? What did Jesus Christ teach to Thomas and to all His disciples regarding the difference between God and Himself?  Well, the verse that Jonathan referenced is recorded in the writings of the Apostle John, as I mentioned, in John 20:28. Let’s go ahead and take a look at the verse. You’ll be able to see it there on the screen. John 20:28 reads this way.  And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” [John 20:28 New King James Version] Brother Bob: So, dear friends, why did Thomas react this way? Why did he say such a thing to Jesus after seeing Him? You have to remember, they had all witnessed, they knew, Jesus had been crucified. They saw Him die there on the cross. Yet, here He was standing there, right in front of them. It’s important at this point that we read the verses prior to Thomas’s reaction, which is at the core of our discussion, right? Let’s do that, back up to verse 24, same chapter: One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. [John 20:24 Good News Bible] Brother Bob: So, let’s pause here for a second, dear friends. Wait a minute. We can see here that Jesus had already appeared to some of His disciples, prior to this moment. But what else can we notice? Thomas was not among them at the time. So, when Thomas finally saw Jesus after His resurrection it was already the second time that Jesus had shown Himself to them. Considering that, let’s continue verse 25: So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” [John 20:25 Good News Bible]  Brother Bob: So, we can see the mindset, or the way of thinking, that Thomas had and is recorded here in this verse. Thomas did not believe that Christ was resurrected back to life. What happened when Christ appeared again to the disciples, this time with Thomas, present? Let’s continue, verse 26 and 27.  A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!” [John 20:26-27 Good News Bible]  Brother Bob: So, after Jesus showed the doubting Thomas He was really there, or truly resurrected from the dead, what then was the reaction of Thomas? In verse 20:28: Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” [John 20:28 Good News Bible]  Brother Bob: So, dear friends, after learning the context, or the full situation, we can understand the startled reaction of Thomas. In this verse we just read, Thomas is not preaching that Jesus Christ is God, as if that is what Christ had taught him. But rather, he said it from his shocking amazement that Jesus is there, standing in front of them alive again.  But the vital question here, dear viewers, is simply this: Was Thomas even correct in saying that, “My Lord and my God” when referring to Jesus? He was not. Why are we certain? First of all, was Thomas the only one who made such a wrong conclusion when they saw the resurrected Jesus? No. What’s the proof? Let’s turn to the Book of Luke, chapter 24, verse 33, where here the Apostle Luke, he wrote about the same incident from his vantage point. He wrote in 24:33 the following: So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [Luke 24:33 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Let’s pause again. Here, we can see that in this gathering where Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, all the other apostles were present. Now, did the other disciples react any differently from Thomas? Let’s continue in verse 36 and 37: Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. [Luke 24:36-37 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Friends, according to the Bible here, the writings of Apostle Luke, it was not only Apostle Thomas that was startled but the others as well. The Bible said that “they were terrified and frightened.” What did they suppose they were seeing? As we read here, they supposed that they had seen a spirit.  We can see that the other disciples had the same kind of reaction as Apostle Thomas. Why can we firmly say that they had the same reaction? Because Jesus already had taught His disciples about the nature of the true God, and that was recorded back in John 4:24, where He taught them that God is Spirit.  The mere fact, this is important dear friends, the mere fact that they think that Christ is a spirit, God is a spirit, so they jumped to that sort of equivalency, they jumped to the conclusion, therefore, Christ is God. And that’s incorrect. It was the same big mistake that Apostle Thomas made by calling Jesus God. The commenter on YouTube said Jesus Christ didn’t correct Thomas. But is that true? Did Jesus correct Thomas and, in fact, correct all the disciples from thinking that He is God or a spirit? What we need only to do is to continue reading the answers and clarifications from the Holy Bible. Verse 38 and 39, same chapter, Luke 24: And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” [Luke 24:38-39 New King James Version]  Brother Bob: Jesus points out here, dear friends, the doubt that was in their hearts. What did he ask them? He asked them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?”  But the argument of some people is, for example Jonathan and his comment on YouTube that began our discussion, their comment is that Christ did not correct them, because they cannot read in the very next verse that Christ issued an immediate correction there. So, they jumped to the conclusion that, therefore, Jesus accepted the statement of Thomas.  We would like to make very clear, right here, that Jesus, in fact, did correct Thomas, and the rest of the disciples for that matter, who made the wrong assumption of Him. Although the correction was not recorded in the writings of Apostle John, Apostle Luke recorded the same event, and shows us Christ’s response to all those who made such wrong assumptions about Him.  Again, how did Jesus correct Thomas, and the others, when they jumped to the wrong conclusion that Jesus was a spirit or therefore God? Did Jesus allow them to think that way, or did He correct them? What did He say? As we read, He said, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit,” and as He clarified, God is a spirit, “a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” He corrected Thomas, He corrected the other disciples. How did he do that? He made the clear distinction between Himself and God, who is a spirit. Having already taught them that God is spirit, Christ proved that’s not what He is by telling the apostles, he said come on, handle me, touch me, you’ll see.  Christ made it, therefore, very clear, right there and then, the difference between Himself and God. We repeat, He showed His disciples that a spirit, or God, does not have flesh and bones, “as you see I have,” said Jesus. And what further did Jesus mean when He said that He, Himself, He has flesh and bones? He answers that here in John, chapter eight, recorded here in John 8:40, let’s quote the words of our Lord Jesus:  But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. [John 8:40 New King James Version]  Brother Bob: When He said He has flesh and bones, when He said that to His disciples, He was teaching them what? He was teaching that He is a man, and not God. Did He ever teach His disciples that, in fact, He is their God? Absolutely not. In fact, He taught them He is a man. In fact, if we go back to that verse where Thomas says, “My Lord and My God,” that’s John, chapter 20, verse 28. But in that same Book of John, in fact, same chapter 20, let’s just back up a couple of verses. And listen, dear friends, listen closely to the words of Jesus as He clarifies who their God is. I quote, John 20:17, it says: Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and you

Click to expand transcript Brother Philip: I’m Brother Philip Velasquez and thank you for joining us on this podcast episode of That’s In The Bible, where your questions are answered straight from the Holy Scriptures. Our question for today comes from Yolanda in Sacramento, California, and she asks, “If God created us in His image, was He man or spirit?” What is the image of God? Thank you for that question, Yolanda. Before we go on to answering that question, let’s first read the actual verse in the Holy Scriptures. Here in Genesis 1:27 this is what we could read: So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. [Genesis 1:27 New International Version] Brother Philip: No wonder why Yolanda asked this question. Since we humans were created in God’s image then others would ask, “Is God human?” Well, dear friends, the answer is no. God is not human but a spirit, as attested to by our Lord Jesus Christ written here in John 4:24: God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” [John 4:24 New King James Version] Brother Philip: Our Lord Jesus Christ described our Almighty God as being a spirit. What did our Lord Jesus Christ mean when He said that God is spirit? Let’s go to Luke 24:39. This is what the Holy Scriptures teaches us, our Lord Jesus Christ himself: for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” [Luke 24:39 New King James Version] Brother Philip: According to our Lord Jesus Christ, a spirit has no flesh and bones just like human beings have. And because God is without flesh and bones, as He is a spirit, what did Apostle Paul say about Him? Let’s go to Apostle Paul’s testimony here in 1 Timothy 1:17: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [1 Timothy 1:17 New King James Version] Brother Philip: Apostle Paul explained that God is invisible, meaning He has no physical image. So in Genesis 1:27, the verse we read earlier on, when it says that we were created in God’s image, it wasn’t His physical image being referred to. In what sense then, are we said to have been created in the image of God? In what way did God intend us to be like Him or in His image when we were created? Let’s read 1 Peter 1:15-16: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” [1 Peter 1:15-16 New King James Version] How did mankind fail to live up to God’s image? Brother Philip: Apostle Peter quoted a command of the Almighty God to His people or creation. What did God say? “Be holy for I am holy.” So we human beings were created in the image of God, not physically, but in holiness just as God, our Creator, is holy. It is in that sense that man was created in the image of God. But is it the question now? Did we human beings live up to be in God’s image as He intended us to be that we be holy like Him? The answer is no. We all have failed and we can read this in Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [Romans 3:23 New International Version] Who lived up to the image of God? Brother Philip: Because of our sins or breaking the commandments of God, we have all fallen short of God’s expectations and intentions in creating us. We are not able to live up to God’s image. Who was the only one who lived up to God’s image according to His plan? Who was the one who lived up to be found in the image of God in holiness? Let’s go 2 Corinthians; we can get the answer there. [chapter] 4, [verse] 4, this is what apostle Paul teaches us: whose minds the gods of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. [2 Corinthians 4:4 New King James Version] Brother Philip: Our Lord Jesus Christ is the image of God. Why was he said to be so? What quality did our Lord Jesus Christ have, which is why He is the only who has met God’s expectation of man whom he created to be in His image? Well the answer can be found here in 1 Peter 2:21-22: For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; [1 Peter 2:21-22 New King James Version] Brother Philip: Christ committed no sin and therefore He is holy. He is perfect; the only one who is able to live up to God’s image of being holy. How about us, the rest of humanity? Does that mean there is no way for us to be reconciled to God and be restored to live up to the reason why we were created to be the image of God in holiness? There is a way and here’s how. Let’s read Romans 8:29: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. [Romans 8:29 New King James Version] How can we conform to the image of God in holiness? Brother Philip: How can we be the image of God as He first intended when He created us, in spite of our sins, and in spite of us being unholy and being separated from Him? Well this can happen through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, remember, Who is God’s image. So, by conforming to the image of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we will be restored to be in God’s image in holiness. And how did our Almighty God intend to conform us to the image of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ? By making us a part of the one new man of which Christ is the head the Church is His body. What’s the name of this Church, which is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of which we should become members in order to conform to the image of God in holiness? Let’s read here in Ephesians 4:11-13: And he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, some to be evangelists, others preachers or teachers. The common object of their labor was to bring the Christians maturity to prepare them for Christian service and the building up of the church of Christ, until we all reach the unity of the faith and a fuller knowledge of the son of God and attain to maturity even to the measure of stature of the fullness of Christ. [Ephesians 4:11-13 Norlie’s Simplified New Testament] Brother Philip: Dear friends, we were created in the image of God, not in His physical image, but in holiness, meaning God intended for us to be holy like Him. But because we failed to live up to this, and were consequently separated from Him, the only way to be reconciled to Him once again and be conformed to His image of holiness and to live up this expectation is to be a part of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, a member of The Church of Christ. Well that’s all that we have time for this episode. We hope that you’ll tune in next time where we will be able to answer more of your questions from the Holy Scriptures. Please feel free to e-mail your questions to answers@incmedia.org. Matthew 7:7 of the New International Version: Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open to you. [Matthew 7:7 New International Version] Brother Philip: That’s in the Bible. Thank you for joining us on this podcast episode of That’s In The Bible.

Brother Bob Pellien: Hello, and welcome, everyone! [On-screen text graphics] Brother Bob Pellien | Minister of the Gospel Brother Bob: I’m Brother Bob Pellien and thanks for joining us today in this episode of That’s in the Bible. Today we’re going to be addressing what you may have seen on social media recently. There’s quite a debate brewing. A lot of elementary schools are removing Halloween, and the parents are in quite an uproar about it saying things like, “Well, schools are just taking away the fun for the children. It’s a nice candy day for the kids.” Dear friends, there would not be such a debate if in fact everyone really understood the symbolism of Halloween, the origin, the history, and what it is all about. That’s precisely what was written into our program by Dianey. She wrote and she asked us this question, “Why shouldn’t we celebrate Halloween, and how did it start?”  [On-screen text graphics] Question: Why shouldn’t we celebrate Halloween, and how did it start? Dianey Why shouldn’t we celebrate Halloween, and how did it start? Brother Bob: Well, Dianey, we’re not going to turn to the Holy Scriptures to find the origins of Halloween.  [On-screen text graphics] We’re NOT going to turn to the HOLY SCRIPTURES to find the ORIGINS of HALLOWEEN Brother Bob: Why, you may ask? This is the program That’s in the Bible. Well it’s because that’s actually not in the Bible.  [On-screen text graphics] HALLOWEEN’S NOT in the BIBLE Brother Bob: In fact, it has its origins in ancient pagan cultures, otherwise known as non Christians who are worshipping multiple gods.  [On-screen text graphics] Brother Bob Pellien | Minister of the Gospel Brother Bob: So dear friends, before you place any of ourselves on either side of that ongoing debate, we need to educate ourselves. So together, let’s take a look into Halloween’s history. Where did Halloween come from?  [On-screen text graphics] Where did Halloween come from? Brother Bob: In a book entitled Catholic Customs & Traditions, which is a popular guide written by Greg Dues. Here on page 196 this is what’s written: There are several possibilities for the origin of the tradition of giving treats as part of trick or treating…The more probable origin lies in the pagan New Year celebration among the Celts. It was thought that the ghosts who roamed freely that night would be satisfied with a banquet table laid out in homes. For a while after Christianity arrived in Celtic lands, there was an attempt to transfer this custom to the eve of All Souls Day (November 2). Masked children would go from door to door to pray for the departed loved ones in return for a treat. [Catholic Customs & Traditions: A Popular Guide, pg. 196] Brother Bob: So here, dear friends, we could see then, and Dianey, thank you for your question, the origin of Halloween and some of its customs in trick or treating and such, the origin of Halloween is not in the Bible at all, but rather it has its roots in ancient pagan cultures.  [On-screen text graphics] The ORIGIN of HALLOWEEN is NOT in the BIBLE at all  What is the history of Halloween? Brother Bob: What is this Halloween holiday all about? Let’s delve into a little bit further so you know which side of that debate you should put yourself on. If we look further into the history of Halloween, for example, if we turn to the very popular Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume II, page 15, right here it says the following about Halloween: HALLOWEEN (in Medieval times “All Hallows”) kept on October 31, the eve of All Saints’ Day, was the Celtic festival at the end of summer named Samhain. It was connected with…the practice of divinations and its association with the dead, whose souls were supposed to revisit their homes on this day. [Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume II, pg. 15] Brother Bob: So, once again, it did not have and does not have a biblical origin. But as we just read there, history tells us it instead has its origin in ancient pagan cultures, and refers back to particularly a Celtic festival at New Year’s time, the end of summer at the end of the year, called Samhain, and it was connected with divination. [On-screen text graphics] Why shouldn’t we celebrate Halloween, and how did it start? Brother Bob: Now, the dead souls at that time—and this is an important thing—because the dead souls were supposed to return to their homes during that festival. [On-screen text graphics] Brother Bob Pellien | Minister of the Gospel What every Christian should know about Halloween Brother Bob: Does the Bible have anything to say about these practices of Halloween, the divination, ghosts returning to the homes, the trick or treat and all the various things like that? All right then, let’s go to the Holy Bible. We turn to Leviticus 19:26 wherein it says the following: “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. “‘Do not practice divination or sorcery.  [Leviticus 19:26 New International Version] So the Bible does have a response regarding these things. It says first of all, “Don’t do that.” This is what every Christian should know about Halloween. The Bible specifically prohibits such things. [On-screen text graphics] Why shouldn’t we celebrate Halloween, and how did it start? What about Trick or Treating? Brother Bob: And what about the pagan practice to prepare a banquet table for the dead returning to their home, which contributed to the current customs of receiving treats when you go to the homes and yell, “Trick or treat!” Trick or treating is an important and popular part of the Halloween festivities. Dear friends, the Bible also addresses that and does so here in the book of Job chapter 7:  As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore. [Job 7:9-10 New King James Version] Brother Bob: So dear friends, the Bible makes it very clear [that] there’s no returning to the home anymore as a ghost or as a skeleton or such things like that, the kind of costumes that parents put their children in, ghosts and skeletons and all that things is part of the traditions of this history we’re discussing here.  [On-screen text graphics] Why shouldn’t we celebrate Halloween, and how did it start? Brother Bob: And they do so to get treats from the banquet table on that particular night. So, Dianey, we again, thank you for your question. Understand, the Bible clearly teaches against such things. So that is why Christians shouldn’t celebrate Halloween.  [On-screen text graphics] Christian should NOT celebrate HALLOWEEN. Brother Bob: But let’s continue with both sides of the debate because some will say, “Well, even though it has those kind of pagan cultural origins, it’s just a fun thing for children to do. Why take it out of the schools?” They say, “Why not encourage the children to participate? It’s just fun. It’s an old tradition.” They say, “Kids love it.” We get it. We understand that side of the debate.  [On-screen text graphics] Brother Bob Pellien | Minister of the Gospel Brother Bob: But look, here’s what the what the Scriptures and has to say. It was Apostle Paul’s a letter to Timothy where he addressed it in these terms. Let’s take a look here at 1 Timothy chapter 4, it says in verse 7 the following:  But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. [I Timothy 4:7 New King James Version] Halloween and the Devil Brother Bob: So the biblical instruction is very explicit, dear friends. It says to reject such kind of fables and exercise, instead, godliness. There’s another element of Halloween that I suppose many do not know, and that element of Halloween was described [also] in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Let’s take let’s take a look at it. It’s recorded in Volume II  also on page 15:  The autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, fairies and demons of all kinds…It was the only day in which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes. [Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume II, Pg. 15] Brother Bob: Imagine that, dear friends? Imagine Halloween was the day [on] which they were able to invoke or ask, and that was the practice, to ask the assistance of none other than the devil himself. Obviously we here inside the Church Of Christ use these reasons for not celebrating Halloween. How could we?  [On-screen text graphics] Why shouldn’t we celebrate Halloween, and how did it start? Brother Bob: But then, maybe there would be those who would want to say, “Well look, we’re not thinking of it’s pagan origins and we’re certainly not going to invoke the help of the devil, of course. So we’re just doing this because it’s cute to see the children wearing costumes of the devil, costumes of ghosts, and costumes of all these different things and the children enjoy going to Halloween parties and they get all kinds of candy for their kids.”  [On-screen text graphics] Brother Bob Pellien | Minister of the Gospel What does the Bible say about pagan practices? Brother Bob: So is there any biblical guidance that God would want us to know and understand as we listen to the ongoing debate at schools whether or not Halloween should be something Christians should participate in? Dear friends, we turn again to the Holy Bible and this time it’s Apostle Paul’s letter. He wrote the following to the Ephesians. Ephesians 4:17 which reads this way: Here then is my word to you, and I urge it on  you in the Lord’s name: give up living as pagans do with their futile notions. [Ephesians 4:17 Revised English Bible] Brother Bob: Does the Bible give any instruction? Does the Bible give any guidance? What’s the instruction? Absolutely it gives us instruction. And what was it? He said, “Give up all those things that have to do with pagan origin.” [On-screen text graphics] GIVE UP all those things that have to do with PAGAN ORIGIN Brother Bob: That’s the instruction, dear friends. So if we’re going to consider the ongoin

Does God Accept Me? Voiceover: You might find yourself devoted to doing what you are really convinced and believe is the right thing, and trying your very best to be a good person. But, does it seem sometimes like God is not by your side? Does it feel like He isn’t accepting you? And when you pray, asking for help from God, does He answer? Unfortunately, this has left many asking the question: Why won’t God help me?  Let’s find the answer in the Bible.  [Show Open] Brother Bob Pellien: Hello, everyone, welcome. Welcome to That’s in the Bible. The basis of the teachings here in the Church Of Christ is first and foremost, the Bible or the Holy Scriptures. So, we want to clarify that well, even if the Bible is asked and posed every imaginable question, but it does not answer just any and all questions. But regarding proper worship, regarding the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation; those answers are definitely here in the Holy Bible.  Dear friends, as people continue to encounter deep heartbreak in life, some have begun to pose questions, as we’ve said, like “Why won’t God help me?” Many are feeling rejected by God or that He refuses to accept them. People believe that God should be hearing them and God should be responding to their prayers, helping them get through tough times in life. Because they’re in a church, they’re in a religion that’s offering up a kind or form of service to Him.  Others believe it doesn’t matter to God which religion the person belongs to, or how the service that they’re rendering to God is done. Why? Well, because they believe what matters is that one will just be dedicated to serving God in the religion of their own choice. Though, to understand why God may not be accepting or listening to you, despite how devoted you may be to serving Him, well, we’re going to turn here to the Holy Bible, for the responses for the answers.  There, we’ll study together: If God isn’t helping you, does that make one’s worship of God useless?  Is there a proper way of following what God wants from all of us?  Who, then, will be accepted by God?  Let’s turn to the Holy Bible for the answers. What we’ll read is here in Matthew 15:9, it says:  And in vain they worshipped Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” [Matthew 15:9 New King James Version] Brother Bob: So dear friends, in rendering worship to God, one must make sure that this basis for doing so is not the commandments or the teachings of men. Why? God does not want and will never accept any worship that is based on man-made doctrines. Even if a person deeply believes in certain teachings, if those teachings are wrong, if those teachings are based upon man-made doctrines, their service rendered, becomes vain, or useless. Therefore, anyone who is worshiping God must understand that God will not accept his worship, and it is done based on man’s own instruction, rather than God’s will. What else must be considered? What if you think that you already know and recognize God? And maybe we know a lot of people who think that way. “I know God, I recognize God, then there’s no need for me to really determine if the teachings believed in are true or not, or if the need to obey God’s pristine commandments…well, that’s not what’s important,” others might think. How does the Bible respond to anyone holding on to that way of thinking?  And the Bible’s response is recorded in I John 2:3-4:  If we obey God’s commands, then we are sure that we know him. If we say that we know him, but do not obey his commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us. [I John 2:3-4 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: So on the other hand then, dear friends, one who claims that by saying they know God, but does not obey Him, is called a liar. By whom? That’s written here in the Holy Scriptures, and of course, therefore cannot truly please God. Why not? Because the Bible said, “there’s no truth in [him].”  There are those who are very devoted [to] bowing down to statues and images. But God said, do not bow down to statues and images. Therefore, those who would render worship within the context of following commandments that are not from God, [they renders] their worship in vain. That’s just one example. So dear friends, that person then, like so many others, has fallen into the wrong way of recognizing and the wrong way of serving God. Why? Because he’s not submitted to the righteousness of God, which is right here. The Gospel, as is mentioned in Romans 1:16-17, the righteousness of God, that’s the gospel.  Well, what have they done, then? What have they done, instead of following the gospel instead of submitting to the righteousness of God? Let’s turn to the Bible’s answer once again, and we do so reading Romans 10:2-3: I can assure you, that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge. They have not known the way in which God puts people right with himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they did not submit themselves to God’s way of putting people right.  [Romans 10:2-3 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: Therefore, any recognition or service that they render to God, it’s not based on his words recorded here in the Bible. But instead, based on the ideas or the interpretations of people, their opinions, their own idea of righteousness; that kind of worship, prayers offered by those who are worshiping God from that mindset become what? Worthless or vain in the sight of God.  So dear friends, if you’re going to worship God, no one can simply do it their own way. It must be done God’s way. How’s that? That’s by obeying His commandments. But you know, there are those who claim their basis of faith and their basis of serving God, well [what do they say]? “It’s rooted here in the Holy Bible and the word of God.” However, what did they do? They failed to comply with the policy or the rule of God regarding His commands. What’s that policy or rule? It’s recorded here in Deuteronomy 12:32, and it says this:  “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; You shall not add to it, nor take away from it.  [Deuteronomy 12:32 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Therefore, dear friends, when a person is serving God, and what do they do, they add to it, or they take away from His commands—maybe by injecting their opinions or their interpretations or something like that—then they’re not observing carefully the rules, [the] commands of God. And then they render their worship and their service. But what happens to it? Their worship and services [become] unacceptable to God. But some ask this: “Can’t I just worship God anywhere I want, anywhere I choose?” We’ll tell you right at the outset, dear friends, the answer is what? No. Why are we so sure about that? Because one of the commandments that God has given one of the commandments that He made, has to be observed by anyone and everyone who wishes to perform true and acceptable service to Him. And what’s that instruction? It concerns the specific place that the Lord has chosen, where His people should perform their services to Him. Where they could rightfully obey His commands and then that service would be acceptable to the Lord.  So we’ll read the response of God, dear friends, here in Deuteronomy chapter 12, verse 5, then we’ll also go directly reading as well, verses 13 and 14: Out of the territory of all your tribes the Lord will choose the one place where the people are to come into His presence and worship him. You are not to offer your sacrifices wherever you choose; you must offer them only in the one place that the Lord will choose in the territory of one of your tribes. Only there are you to offer your sacrifices that are to be burned and do all the other things that I have commanded you.  [Deuteronomy 12:5, 13-14 Good News Bible] Brother Bob: So dear friends, services performed by anyone that [is] not in the place chosen by God, well, they become unacceptable, worthless before His sight. It’s, therefore, necessary for one to examine first if his services to God are based on God’s commandments and if he’s offering those services in the one place chosen by God, where He promised to accept them.  What else must be considered, dear friends? Who has the right to serve God and be confident it is the right way to worship God? They are the ones who truly serve God, and have been appointed or chosen, given the right to do so, the privilege to perform true service to Him. But you know, many would hesitate to accept that very direct statement. But let’s turn to the Holy Bible and hear what the Apostle Paul has written regarding this. I Timothy 1:12, it says this: I gave thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him,  [I Timothy 1:12 Good News Translation] Brother Bob: Dear friends, he was appointed to serve; didn’t just decide and choose and do it any just way, no, he said there was a choosing there was an appointment to serve. What else proves that one cannot just offer their service to God and the Lord is going to find that acceptable without yet being appointed to do so first. Evidence of the Holy Scriptures is recorded also in the writings of Apostle Paul, this time in Colossians 1:12-14 It reads: giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. [Colossians 1:12-14 New Kings James Version] Brother Bob: Dear friends, we have to remember that ever since man committed sin, he’s lost that right to serve, lost the right to worship God. Man has been separated from God—in Isaiah 59:2 that’s stated very directly—when a man has been separated from God because of his iniquities, because of sin. So there’s a need to be for

Brother Bob: I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Thank you for joining us on this podcast episode of That’s in the Bible. Our next set of questions comes from two individuals. And in fact, there are many who often ask questions like this. Let’s hear the first one from Ryan Foster from San Diego, California. His question is this: [Video question] Ryan Foster: My question is, who’s to say the Bible isn’t fictional? [Video ends] What is the identifying characteristic of the word of God? Brother Bob: And we have a lot of very similar questions. Let’s post up another one that comes from Magda Staunch from the faraway land of New Zealand. Here’s her question: “You get all your answers from the Bible. How do you know that it is the right book? What about the Quran and other religious books?”  Brother Bob: Well, it’s true that there’s a lot of world renowned religions that use so many different books and claim those books to be the foundation of their faith because they are from God via the Quran of the Islam religion or be at the Catechism of Catholicism or other religious world renowned books that people use as the foundation of their faith. If all of those books were piled up in front of us on a table, and there they are all claiming to be the word of God in order to find which one truly is, one has to know the identifying characteristic of the word of God. For example, if a person was given the assignment to find an automobile, but they don’t know what an automobile looks like, they don’t know how big it is, what it sounds like, what material it’s made of, they might go out on the street and get run over by an automobile and wouldn’t know yet that they have found an automobile because they need to know it’s identifying characteristics. The same with the word of God. So what did Jesus mention regarding the identifying characteristic of the word of God in the book of John 17:17 he said: Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. [John 17:17 New King James Version] How is truth measured? Brother Bob: Identifying characteristic: truth. That’s where many would probably want to inject and say, “Well what is true? Your definition of truth? My definition of truth? Or what is truth? Is truth measurable by what a yardstick?” How can truth be measured and verified? Let’s consider what was quoted by the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 46, verse 11, it says: Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. [Isaiah 46:11 New King James Version]  Brother Bob: How is truth measurable? Not by a yardstick or some kind of measuring instrument like that. Truth is verifiable by its fulfillment. Like here, the prophet Isaiah quoting God saying, “What I have spoken, I will bring it to pass.” Very different than the word of men; we can say, “We will do this tomorrow, we will do that tomorrow or next week.” We don’t even know if we’ll be alive tomorrow or next week, it may not be within our human capacity to fulfill what we say. And therefore what we say, could not be verified as truth until it actually happens. The fulfillment is the evidence, the tangible verification that what was spoken is truth.  So now we have that characteristic, the identifiable characteristic of the word of God. It’s truth. Of all the books there piled in front of us, one of them has to emerge and prove itself to really be true. True and proven so by the fulfillment of what is recorded therein. And we can cite so many, many [pieces of evidence] of that—what’s recorded here in the Bible. We are the mere eyewitnesses to their fulfillment; therefore proving what’s contained here is true. Truth is the word of God.  What is a truth fulfilled in the Bible? But let’s just take a couple of brief examples, like the character of people in the particular timeframe that we all live in nowadays.There was a prophecy stated in the writings of Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy, 2 Timothy 3, beginning in verse 1: But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! [2 Timothy 3:1-5 New King James Version] Brother Bob: There’s a prophetic statement of Apostle Paul regarding the nature of people. And we are all the living eyewitnesses that clearly describe the nature of people nowadays. If we took time to read for example, Daniel chapter 12 verse 4 [it mentions] our technological advancements because of the increase [of] the knowledge of mankind fulfilled in our time.  Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke all throughout chapter 24 of Matthew, regarding events like World War I, World War II and other events which we can clearly see fulfilled, all of which prove the Bible is true, the Bible is the word of God. All the other books may be nice reading, might discuss how to interact with people, love your neighbor, all such things, but do not pass the “truth test.” Only the Bible passes the truth test. Only the Bible therefore, is worthy of our trust as the word of God. Thanks for listening. I’m brother Bob Pellien, and we hope you join us next time on That’s in the Bible. Please feel free to email your questions to answer@incmedia.org. For more programming of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ and to find a local congregation near you, please visit incmedia.org.  

Why Use a Different Bible Translation? Brother Bob Pellien: I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Thank you for joining us on this podcast episode of That’s in the Bible! Let’s go straight to our first question for today, which comes to us via email from Odessa in San Diego, California. Her question is: “Why does the Church Of Christ use different versions of the Bible to answer questions?” Why are there different versions of the Bible Brother Bob: Odessa, thank you very much for your question. The Church Of Christ uses not any one particular Bible, for example our own translation and say, “We’ll just use this version.” We will use any and many different translations and it’s important to know they’re translations because the original writings that God inspired His chosen writers were written in Hebrew, the Old Testament is in Hebrew and the New Testament primarily in Greek with some sprinkles of Aramaic. And those translators over the years, there have been many who have translated from those original languages. And as long as the translator did not deviate from what was originally written in Hebrew, what was originally written in Greek and the manuscripts that we have from those original Hebrew and Greek writings, well then, that is truly Bible. Bible translation comparison Brother Bob: If ever there are translations that are slightly different from one another, did God give any instruction to use so one can be sure what their receiving is accurate and pure? He gave this instruction recorded by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, chapter 2. Now let’s listen together to what’s recorded here in verse 13 of that chapter: These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [I Corinthians 2:13 New King James Version] Brother Bob: The rule of God, Odessa, is that spiritual things must be compared with spiritual things. What then is recorded here are spiritual truths and to know it for sure that what is recorded there is accurate, the instruction is to compare these spiritual things with spiritual things. Because what if one does not accept these spiritual truths? 1 Corinthians 2:12 gives this insight: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. [I Corinthians 2:12 New King James Version] Brother Bob: What’s one thing we must not do when comparing the spiritual truths with spiritual truths? We must not accept the things of this world—man’s wisdom, man’s opinions, man’s ideas. We have to follow the instruction that God has given, because how would the world receive these spiritual truths from God? Verse 14: But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [I Corinthians 2:14 New King James Version] Brother Bob: That’s why many would consider the spiritual truths in the Holy Scriptures as just foolishness, but even the Church of Christ we will use that law of God comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. We read often for example, Acts 20:28 on this program and other programs of the Church Of Christ. Wherein it, it [mentions] that Christ, the name of the Church, Church Of Christ was purchased with His blood. If we read other translations, it will say Church of God, purchased with His blood, Church of the Lord, purchased with His blood. Different versions of the Bible explained and how to compare spiritual truths Brother Bob: What then are we to do? Applying what we just read, the instruction of the Lord? Compare spiritual things, spiritual truths, with spiritual truths. God is spirit. Christ is the one that had flesh and bones and blood. So we are very sure then to use the translations of the Bible that will say Church of Christ, which He purchased with His blood because it’s Christ that had blood. Comparing the spiritual things with spiritual things, there will never be a conflict. There will never be any confusion. So applying that rule which we do in the Church of Christ, Odessa, we will always come to the knowledge of the truth. Thanks for listening. I’m Brother Bob Pellien. And we hope you join us again next time on That’s in the Bible. Please feel free to email your questions to answers@incmedia.org For more programming of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, to find a local congregation near you, please visit incmedia.org.

[Show open] [On-screen text graphics] What is the Bible’s stance on war? Can killing people to protect your country be justified? Kyma Morera London, UK [Video starts] Tom: My name is Tom from Bremerton, Washington. What does the Bible say about military personnel who kill for their country? [Video ends] What does the Bible say about murder? Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you very much Kyma, Tom, and all the others who have emailed in and asked very similar questions regarding this particular topic about military service. You know, dear friends, we’re really sure that there’s a lot of people in the military or the armed services, or maybe even have friends and family members that are in the military. And you know, they are also God fearing people. People who have these same questions as you in their mind.  And dear friends for those who might not see the conflict or maybe are wondering why so many are asking these questions about the military, let’s start off by asking first—what is God’s command in the Bible regarding killing or taking another’s life? So let’s get right to it. The Bible clearly states here in Exodus 20, verse 13, the following:  “You shall not murder. [Exodus 20:13 New King James Version] Brother Bob: So here Dear friends, God gives a very simple, very short, yet nevertheless very direct answer. We can see that God prohibits anyone from committing murder or taking the life of another.  What does the Bible say about killing in war to fight for your country? Brother Bob: Which brings all the questions regarding being in the military, of course or the armed forces. Why? Well, we know because if one is in the military, they’re prepared, of course to defend the nation in times of war. And if war occurs, unfortunately, killing may very well be involved. Therefore, is serving as a soldier for your country, is it against the teachings of the Bible?  The direct answer to that question is no. But what’s the proof that God is really not against that? Let’s continue our study. We can read the Biblical evidence here, dear friends wherein God is distinguishing the difference between committing murder and serving in the military for one’s  state or nation. What does He say? Let’s turn to the book of Joshua chapter 4, verse 12 and 13. Wherein it says this: And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. [Joshua 4:12 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Well, let’s pause for a second, dear friends because we’d like to point out here briefly that Reuben, Gad, Manasseh—were Israelites. And Israel was God’s nation before these people. They were God’s people. It was God’s nation. Let’s continue: About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. [Joshua 4:13 New King James Version] Brother Bob: So you can read in these verses God’s people before, they did not only compose a religious organization, but [also], they were a nation. They were a nation with a military; they were soldiers. Therefore, we are sure, serving as a soldier for one’s country—[is] not against the Bible. Obviously fighting in battle to serve your nation and just committing murder—they are not the same thing, they’re different.  You know, there are instances in the Bible where God’s nation went to battle with numerous armies and sometimes against many armies all at once. And they had God’s protection, God’s guidance.  Many of you may still remember one well known servant of God, a shepherd named David. What did he do? He defeated and killed the giant Philistine warrior, Goliath. But you know dear friends there are those who pose the argument, “Well, this is a completely different era of time from those events of David killing the soldier Goliath or God using His nation against others in time past.” Can a Christian serve in the military today? Brother Bob: In the New Testament times dear friends, that we are living in today, is there a different instruction from God regarding soldiers? Has it been changed? Has it been updated in any way? Let’s also ask this: Is serving in the armed forces in the New Testament time forbidden by God? Let’s again turn to the Holy Bible for answers to these questions. And here we can read the instruction of God to some soldiers in the New Testament times. God’s will was made known through His servant, John the Baptist; and that conversation is recorded here in Luke 3:14. Let’s take a look:  Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”  [Luke 3:14 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Dear friends, we can notice the instructions here given to the soldiers. Soldiers who were asking what they needed to do to be worthy of forgiveness. John the Baptist said, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” We can also notice here what he did not say. He did not say, “Stop being a soldier.” If being a soldier is prohibited in the New Testament he would have answered, “Quit being a soldier. It is against God’s law.” But that’s not what he said. Therefore, although there might be people that strongly believe that being a soldier or joining the military is against the Bible, we can clearly see that there is no such prohibition given by God.  Is it okay for us to hate each other? Brother Bob: But then the rebuttal of some to that Biblical truth, sometimes goes a little bit like this, “So you’re saying that it’s okay for us to hate each other. It’s okay for us to kill anyone that we consider an enemy of the state?” We want to make clear, that’s not what we’re saying nor is that what we read here in these verses of the Holy Bible. In fact what’s the Lord Jesus Christ’s instruction to His disciples regarding their enemies? We can read here in Matthew 5:44 this from the words of our Lord Jesus:  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, [Matthew 5:44 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Dear friends, according to Christ we, we’re the disciples, we’re the followers, we’re not given the liberties to hate our enemy and all the more be the ones to take revenge, all the more be the ones to kill them. That’s not our place. It’s not for us, the followers, to do that. We’re the disciples. So what was God’s instruction in Romans 12:19 the Bible says this: Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  [Romans 12:19 New King James] Brother Bob: But dear friends, how will God repay those who have done wrong? Because He said very clearly, “Vengeance is Mine,” said the Lord. Is it God Himself that will come down and implement His wrath or will He send or use instruments to implement the vengeance or the punishment? Again, we turn to the Bible and we can read the Bible’s answer likewise in the book of Romans, and what we can read here is chapter 13 verses 1 through 4: Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist who will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. [Romans 13:1-4 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Dear friends, the Bible is clear and teaches that governing authorities are appointed by none other than God Himself. And those appointed to rule, as the Bible mentioned, they will be a terror for evil doers. The appointed authorities bear the sword that God uses to avenge and to execute His wrath. Therefore we’re not to take it upon ourselves and decide to end someone else’s life. This is the reason why serving as a soldier in the military and just simply committing murder, it’s not the same thing.  Although God clearly states in the Bible, is strict prohibition of committing murder; this does not mean He forbids his people to enter the military or the armed forces.  Fighting for one’s country is not the same as simply murdering someone. The governing authorities, they’ve been appointed by God to lead and therefore should be granted the respect and the loyalty of those under their jurisdiction. We follow our nation’s leaders up to the point that they are aligned with what God commands. If there’s a contradiction between the two, true Christians follow God and not man. These are the teachings and the commands that we should believe in and follow. Why? Because that’s in the Bible.  Brother Bob: So dear friends, when you’re ready to learn more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church Of Christ, please visit incmedia.org.  There you’ll find various series of programs dedicated to answering your spiritual questions.  You know you can also follow our Facebook pages, IglesiaNiCristoNewsandUpdates and IglesiaNiCristoMedia.  And to view more of our shows and see how the Church gets involved in the community visit incgiving.org. Where you will also find various volunteer opportunities.  And to find a house of worship near you, visit iglesianicristo.net. Dear friends if you have questions that you’d like answered on the show, please email them to answers@incmedia.org. Well, thank you all for joining with us today and we’ll see you again next time on That in the Bible.  

[Show open] Next on That’s in the Bible. [Video starts] Chuck: Is this God the only God,  or is everybody right with all of their own gods?  [Video ends] Brother Bob Pellien: We believe here in the Church Of Christ, to know and understand the true God, we must turn to the pages of the Holy Scriptures. [Video starts] Idris:  I don’t understand the concept of God being three. The God [the] Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  [Video ends] Brother Bob: This is from Melissa Hatfield in Seattle, Washington. Why is Jesus Christ important? [Show open]    Brother Bob: Hello, I’m Brother Bob Pellien,  and thanks for joining us in this episode of That’s in the Bible. Let’s go directly to our first question, which comes today from Chuck Swift from San Diego, California. Let’s hear what Chuck asks: [Video starts] Chuck Swift: Is this God the only God, or is everybody right with all of their own gods?  [Video ends] One God or many? Brother Bob: Thank you for your question, Chuck. And you’re very correct in such that there’s a lot of people who are coming up with their own ideas and perceptions and understandings of God. We believe here in the Church Of Christ, to know and understand the true God, we must turn to the pages of the Holy Scriptures. So let’s do that directly. In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 4. Let’s see if the Bible [mentions] many gods we can all just pick and choose whatever God we want or come up with our own understanding. How many true gods does the Bible discuss? Deuteronomy, chapter 4, verse 35, reads this way: To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him. [Deuteronomy 4:35 English Standard Version] Brother Bob: The Bible clearly [mentions] here that there is but one God and there is no other. There could be an innumerable number of people coming up with their own understanding of God and in fact, even preaching and teaching about different gods and perceptions of God and who God truly is. But the Bible is clear. There is one God. So dear friends, here in 1 Corinthians, chapter 8, verse 6, the Apostle Paul wrote the following which is a very important statement regarding this topic in verse 6, he said: yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. [I Corinthians 8:6 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Here was the Apostle Paul addressing the first century Church, telling them for us. Who [is] “us”? The Church, the true servants of the Almighty God, that for us, there is only one God and then He told us who that one God is, and that is the Father. Chuck, in your question you clearly [mentioned] that there are so many others who have other perceptions of God and other gods. You know the concept of “many,” is that it “doesn’t really matter as long as you believe in the existence of God.” It matters. Why? The Holy Scriptures teaches us the following this time in the letter of Apostle Paul, to the Ephesians. Wherein he wrote the following in chapter 4, verse 6: one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. [Ephesians 4:6 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Because God is only one, and because God is the Father, and because the one God the one Father is one God and Father of all. It’s not for anyone to just pick and choose and say, “No, excuse me, I’ve got another God.” There is only one, there’s no other options, there’s no other other choices. But a lot of people have come up with other perceptions of who that one true God is, which leads us into our next question from Idris Bashil, from London, England. He sent us this question: [Video starts] Idris: I don’t understand the concept of God being three. The God [the] Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  [Video ends] How is God 3 in 1? Brother Bob: Thank you. That, too, is a wonderful question because it is not the only you that I have difficulty understanding what oftentimes mainstream Christianity terms as the Trinity that being: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and the three of them together, compose one God. A triune entity. There was a Catholic priest to try to explain this. And let’s just take a moment to cite his explanation for a moment. It’s recorded in a book entitled Father Smith Instructs Jackson, written by the priest of the Catholic Church named John Francis Noll. He writes on page 29 the following: [On-screen graphic – Father Smith Instructs Jackson, pg. 29 Most Rev. John Francis Noll , D.D. LL.D.]  It means that in the One God there are three Divine Persons, called respectively God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Brother Bob: Well, that’s mainstream Christianity, the Catholic Church being from which we have quoted there, but so many of the Protestant organizations, independent Christian organizations as well, teach and believe the same that God is composed of three entities: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Here inside the Church Of Christ, we believe in the one true God, the Father. From what origin do we receive that important understanding that the Father is the one true God? It comes from Jesus Himself, the Son of God. What did Jesus say? Let’s read His words. It’s recorded in John, chapter 17, where in Jesus pronounced very categorically the following: Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. [John 17:1,3 New King James Version] Brother Bob: What’s the important pronouncement here of Jesus? He made a pronouncement concerning two things that had direct relevance to the attainment of eternal life. He said, “Father that they may know You the only true God and Jesus whom You have sent.” They’ll have eternal life if they know that the Father is the only true God and that they know that Jesus is the one who has been sent by the Father.  If, then, one comes up with another perception of God and teaches that and says “No, no, no, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit together, the three of them make up the one God.” That’s a different god. And the gentleman who posed the question to our program for today, seemed very confused about when he views the religions in this world who are teaching these other perceptions of God. And it’s not surprising that you’re a bit confused, because when they teach a Trinitarian god, they’re teaching something that is very categorically different than what Jesus just taught, as we all read there together.  Who is Jesus to God? Brother Bob: Who does the Bible teach Jesus to be? In fact, the it was, again, the Apostle Paul, we turned to this time, when he stated the following in 1 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 5: For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,  [2:5 New King James Version] Brother Bob: It clearly taught who Jesus is a man Who’s mediating between God and mankind. He is the Mediator. And how about the Holy Spirit? It was also our Lord Jesus Christ who described and tells us about the Holy Spirit. And He does so in these terms recorded in John, chapter 14, He was quoted here in verse 26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. [John 14:26 King James Version] Brother Bob: Here Jesus taught to us the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, whom the Father will send to comfort to give strength to all who may be weary and tired and need the inner strength of the Spirit of the Lord, the Lord the Father above will send that Spirit to comfort and to strengthen and to help us. The true God is the Father, Jesus is the one mediating us unto the Father, and the Holy Spirit is the one sent by the Father to comfort and strengthen us: these are the biblical truths we embrace inside the Church.  What is the importance of Jesus Christ? Brother Bob: Let’s hear our last question for today. This is from Melissa Hatfield in Seattle, Washington. She submitted to us this written question, she wrote:  “Why is Jesus Christ important?” And it’s a very important question that Melissa writes, because when we teach that Jesus is different than God, there are those who sometimes conclude that, “I guess that means the Church Of Christ is just belittling Jesus and throwing Him away as if He’s of no value anymore,” when in fact, nothing could be farther from the truth for what does the Bible teach to us about the value and importance of Jesus, the Son of God? Let’s begin in the Book of Acts, chapter 5, verse 31, tells us this important quality about Christ: Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [Acts 5:31 New King James Version] Brother Bob: He was given to be Savior for mankind. And as I’ve read a moment ago, nevertheless, I’ll spend the moment to read it again. He’s not just an ordinary person like us, we’re not taking Him down, throwing Him into the mud, so to say, no. 1 Timothy, 2, 5,  also attributes this quality to Jesus: For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,  [1 Timothy 2:5 New King James Version] Brother Bob: He’s our Mediator and the only Mediator between God and mankind. So He’s our Savior, He’s our Mediator. In fact, what else? Does the Bible attribute to this our Savior Jesus Christ in the Book of Acts, chapter 2, verse 36: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” [Acts 2:36 New King James Version] Brother Bob: He was also made Lord. Jesus is so very important, Melissa. He’s our Lord. He’s our Savior. He’s our Mediator, Son of God, and in fact when it comes to His relationship to the church, does He have any

Brother Bob Pellien: I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Thank you for joining us on this podcast episode of That’s In The Bible.  Our next question comes from Sherwin Fowler from Buena Park, California. He asks via email the following, “Are all sins equal to God? Because [in] the Catholic Church, when you confess your sins, you have to pray longer to repent for your sins.” Sherwin, your experience in the Catholic Church is not unique. Millions of members in the Catholic Church are being taught that there’s different levels of sin. There’s venial sin, there’s mortal sin, there’s original sin, different levels and different kinds of sin, each of which gets a different kind of punishment, which they call penance [wherein] the priest will issue various repetitive prayers. Say for example, ten “Hail Mary’s” and twenty “Our Father’s,” which are memorized prayers that they would be instructed to recite [as] a payment for their sins. It’s important to know, Sherwin, what a sin is.  What is sin? Does the Bible introduce sin in three different levels? 1 John 3:4 describes sin. In fact, it gives the definition of sin. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. [1 John 3:4 King James Version] Brother Bob: There’s no mention here of three different kinds of sins. There [isn’t] going to be a small sin, a medium sized sin, and a big sin, and each of them are going to have a different level of penance that one will have to perform with repetitive prayers. How else or what else does the Bible have to say about sin, Sherwin? In Romans 6:23 the Bible [mentions] the following:  For the wages of sin is death,… [Romans 6:23 New International Version] Brother Bob: It did not say the wages of mortal sin or only the biggest most serious kind of sin. Sin is sin. Sin is a transgression of the law and it will be paid for by death. The Bible makes mention of a second death in the lake of fire.  What is the improper way to pray for forgiveness of sins? Are we instructed by the LORD to be reconciled by means of repetitious prayer? That we’re going to just repeat and repeat ten “Hail Mary’s,” twenty “Our Father’s,” three “Act of Contritions,” or whatever the priest will prescribe as our so-called penance and that’s going to remove that payment of sin? Jesus answers in Matthew chapter 6. It’s the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sherwin, that we should always embrace and follow. Here’s what He had to say about that in verse 7:  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. [Matthew 6:7 New King James Version] Brother Bob: Jesus gave this instruction, “when you pray, do not use vain repetitions.” In fact He made mention that those who do that are the heathens and they’re doing it because they think they’re going to be heard for the [repeated] prayers that they offer. Sherwin, sin is sin. There are no levels of sin and repetitive prayer is not the way to be forgiven [of] sins. Sins are forgiven by the blood shed by Our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross for the Church. He gave his life for the Church Of Christ. Thanks for listening. I’m Brother Bob Pellien and we hope you join us next time on That’s In The Bible. Please feel free to email your questions to answers@incmedia.org. For more programming of Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, and to find a local congregation near you, please visit incmedia.org.