Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new StandingWatch program (#166) has been posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and YouTube.

The program is titled, “Food Shortage in the USA.”  In the program, Norbert Link discusses the incredible fact that the USA has begun to experience a once unthinkable phenomenon–food rationing. Many stores and retailers are limiting purchases of flour, rice, wheat, cooking oil, and other commodities. How did we get into this mess? And it’s not limited to the USA–we are also hearing of GLOBAL HUNGER and RIOTS because of lack of food and high food prices, including in countries such as Japan, Haiti, Indonesia, and several African nations. Has the biblical third horse of the Apocalypse–picturing worldwide famine–begun to ride?

Norbert Link’s video-recorded sermon, “Bible Study–Let There Be Light” (April 26, 2008), has been posted on Google Video.

Where Do I Begin?

by Cali Harris

Prior to and throughout the Spring Holy Days, I have been considering my educational, work, friendship, family and, especially, my spiritual goals. While analyzing so many different areas of my life, I have felt overwhelmed at times by the vast number of things that I need to work on, in order to attain my goals. I think, “Where do I begin?”

It is sometimes a challenge for me to realize how to best overcome obstacles and work toward goals—all too often I see the big picture, but fail to see that the big picture is made up of smaller parts. What I am learning is that the small steps I take are what give me momentum to move toward the bigger goals.

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” This wise saying is attributed to Plato, and it is a sensible reminder to myself that I have to take one beginning step toward my goals, no matter how “big” that step is. I can take beginning steps like writing a card to a friend, turning in a project at work, or praying for a Church member who is ill.

The answer to the question, “Where do I begin?” is actually a fairly simple one: “Begin with the first step!”

You explained in a previous Q&A (in Update #341) that Christ said to His disciples that they should only call Him their Teacher. But does not the Bible refer to ministers as teachers on numerous occasions?

The Scripture in question is Matthew 23:10, which reads: “And do not be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”

However, as you rightly point out, there are several passages, which speak of ministers as teachers.

For instance, 1 Corinthians 12:28-29 reads:

“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers… Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?…”

Ephesians 4:11-13 confirms:

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith…”

Notice, too, that Paul describes himself in 2 Timothy 1:11 as “a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles…”

Also, Hebrews 5:12 states:

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

In all the above-quoted passages, with the exception of Matthew 23:10, the Greek word for “teacher” is “didaskalos.” Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible defines this Greek word as “teacher” or “instructor.” It is clear from Scripture, then, that God’s ministers are, and can be referred to as “teachers” or “instructors” of the Word of God.

However, the Greek word used in Matthew 23:10 is a different word altogether. It is “kathegetes.” This word is only used three times in the entire New Testament, i.e., in Matthew 23:8 (once) and in Matthew 23:10 (twice). We have already seen the two usages of the word in verse 10. Surprisingly, perhaps, Christ is using the same word in verse 8 as well, where He says: “But you, do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher (“kathegetes”), the Christ, and you are all brethren.”

It is unfortunate that the New King James Bible translates this word “kathegetes” as “teacher.” The intended meaning is quite different. Note how the Authorized Version (AV) renders Matthew 23:8, 10:

“(Verse 8) But be ye not called Rabbi: for one is your MASTER, even Christ; and all ye are brethren… (Verse 10) Neither be ye called MASTERS: for one is your MASTER, even Christ.”

The Living Bible, the New American Bible (NAB) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV) translate the word “kathegetes” also as “master” in verse 10, but the RSV and the NAB inconsistently translate it as “teacher” in verse 8. The New International Version (NIV) and the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) confuse the issue even more, by translating the word as “master” in verse 8, but as “teacher” in verse 10.

Quite interestingly, the German Menge Bible explains that the word “kathegetes” actually could mean, “Fuehrer.” If the Germans would have had and applied that biblical understanding during the Third Reich, perhaps Adolph Hitler would not have been accepted as their political AND spiritual “Fuehrer” for that reason alone.

This discussion of the appropriate application of the words “teacher” and “master” illustrates important principles for correct Bible study, which we must apply when reading God’s Word:

(1) We must understand that the Bible never contradicts itself. Jesus said that “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). In order to comprehend the meaning of a particular passage, it is necessary to read it in light of additional biblical passages–“precept must be upon precept… line upon line… Here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:10, 13).

(2) We must begin with a clear and easy passage, using it as the foundation for our understanding of a particular concept, before trying to attempt to “explain” a seemingly more difficult passage. We explain seemingly difficult passages in the light of unambiguous Scripture, and not vice versa. Peter warns us not to be “confused” by passages which might be, at first sight, “hard to understand,” so that we don’t fall into the trap of “untaught and unstable people [who] twist [Scripture] to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16).

(3) When reading all relevant passages in context, most “inconsistencies” will resolve themselves. However, if there still remains a perception of a contradiction, we must realize that the problem might lie with the particular translation which we might be using. TRANSLATIONS ARE NOT INFALLIBLE. We should never arrive at a teaching or doctrine by exclusively relying on a particular translation. Especially modern translations must be read with caution. For instance, the Living Bible is more of an interpretation, rather than a translation. The same can be said for numerous passages in the NIV and the NAB.

In the English language, the AV (the “old” King James Bible) is perhaps the most reliable rendition, but because of its antiquated English, it may be difficult to read for the modern student–and even it contains errors. The language of the New King James Bible has been modernized, and it is perhaps the most reliable English rendition after the AV, but it has introduced errors of its own. As mentioned, the NIV and other modern translations are unreliable in many respects, and they should NEVER be used to ESTABLISH doctrine.

Returning to the issue at hand, we have seen from a reading of the pertinent Biblical passages in context, and in applying the intended meaning of the original Greek, that God’s ministers CAN be called teachers or instructors of the Word of God–but they should not be called or viewed as MASTERS or dominating FUEHRERS.

We explained this fact in our last Q&A (in Update #341), in quoting approvingly from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, as follows:

“‘Christ’s ministers must not affect the name of Rabbi or Master… to covet or accept the honour which they have that are in kings’ palaces… They must not assume the authority and dominion implied in those names; they must not be magisterial, nor domineer over their brethren, or over God’s heritage, as if they had dominion the faith of Christians: what they received of the Lord, all must receive from them; but in other things they must not make their opinions and wills a rule and standard to all other people, to be admitted with an implicit obedience… Christ is our Master, our Teacher, our Guide… the great Prophet, whom we must hear, and be ruled and overruled by; whose word must be an oracle and a law to us… And if he only be our Master, then for his ministers to set up for dictators, and to pretend to a supremacy and an infallibility, is a daring usurpation of that honour of Christ which he will not give to another…'”

God’s people had better heed Christ’s instructions, as explained, lest they be found guilty of violating the very words of their Master.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new StandingWatch program (#165) has been posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and YouTube. It is titled,  “‘Holy Father’ and ‘Holy Mass’–But What Does the Bible Say?” In the program, Norbert Link discusses the fact that while visiting the USA, Pope Benedict XVI has been referred to repeatedly as the “Holy Father” or “Your Holiness.” But are these spiritual titles appropriate, according to Jesus’ words, as recorded in the Bible? Also, what do the Holy Scriptures say about the “Holy Mass,” the “Eucharist” or the “Communion”? Did Jesus command His disciples to partake of the bread and wine at any time of their choice? And did He teach that these symbols change into His literal body and blood? The Biblical answers might SHOCK you.

The following video-recorded sermons by Norbert Link have been posted on Google Video:

BIBLE STUDY: The Power of the Tongue  (April 1, 2006)

BIBLE STUDY: Anger and Wrath   (April 20, 2008)

The following video-recorded sermon by Edwin Pope has been posted on Google Video:

BIBLE STUDY: Does Your Life Reflect Christ? (September 10, 2005)

We are in the process of reprinting our booklet, “Europe in Prophecy,” for an upcoming advertising campaign in Great Britain. This will be our third printing of the booklet.

The printing of our newest booklet, “Is That in the Bible? Man’s Holidays or God’s Holy Days” has been completed, and we should be able to send out copies within the next two weeks by mail.

Please explain Christ's sayings in Matthew 23:8-10.

Let us read the entire context of Christ’s sayings. Christ introduced the topic in reference to the scribes and the Pharisees (verse 2), but His application of His words were obviously much broader. He said, beginning in verse 6:

“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher [Leader], the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers [better: masters or leaders]; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Many of those commentaries which discuss this passage–and which don’t just ignore it–conclude that these passages deny hierarchical government in the church. They conclude that Christ was teaching that all brethren are “equal” in the sense that they can decide for themselves what to do, where to worship, and whom to follow. This is, however, not what Christ was saying. It is very clear, from other passages, that there is a difference in ranks and functions in the Church of God–both in regard to the relationship between ordained ministers, deacons and members, and in regard to ministers among themselves (compare Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28-29).

What Christ was addressing, however, was the danger of becoming proud, by accepting lofty and inappropriate religious titles. For instance, the word “Rabbi” means, “my great one” (“The New Bible Commentary–Revised”). Christ emphasized the fact that even though He bestowed on His ministry certain functions and responsibilities toward “feeding” the flock, the ministers are to understand that they are not in any way “better” than others; in fact, that they are to look at others “better” than themselves [compare Philippians 2:3]; that it is God who has given them such responsibilities; that they don’t “deserve” or are “entitled” to such functions, and that they are “nothing” in comparison with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Far too many ministers, including those in some Church of God organizations, have allowed themselves to become proud and to be filled with self-aggrandizement–whether or not they accept lofty religious titles–and Christ warns that this kind of an attitude will cause their ultimate downfall. Christ specifically said that ministers are not to exercise “lordship” over the flock [Luke 22:24-26; compare 1 Peter 5:3]; and that they must not accept “superior” religious designations and titles which are reserved for God–including titles such as “the Anointed One,” “the Lawgiver” “the Prophet,” “Doctor of Divinity,” “His Holiness,” “Father” or even “Holy Father.” The title “Reverend” should not be used by God’s ministers, either, as the Bible uses this word ONLY in reference to God (compare Psalm 111:9, Authorized Version). The same is true for the term, “Holy Father,” which is exclusively used for God (compare John 17:11).

We need to note too, that Christ told His disciples not to BE called “Rabbi” or “Master,” but He went a step further and instructed them not to EVEN CALL another human being “our Father.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible states the following:

“Christ’s ministers must not affect the name of Rabbi or Master… to covet or accept the honour which they have that are in kings’ palaces… They must not assume the authority and dominion implied in those names; they must not be magisterial, nor domineer over their brethren, or over God’s heritage, as if they had dominion over the faith of Christians: what they received of the Lord, all must receive from them; but in other things they must not make their opinions and wills a rule and standard to all other people, to be admitted with an implicit obedience… Christ is our Master, our Teacher, our Guide… the great Prophet, whom we must hear, and be ruled and overruled by; whose word must be an oracle and a law to us… And if he only be our Master, then for his ministers to set up for dictators, and to pretend to a supremacy and an infallibility, is a daring usurpation of that honour of Christ which he will not give to another…

“The fathers of our flesh must be called fathers, and as such we must give them [respect]; but God only must be allowed as the Father of our spirits… Our religion must not… depend upon, any man… Paul calls himself a Father to those whose conversion he had been an instrument of [1 Corinthians 4:15; Philemon 1:10] but he uses that [expression] to denote… affection… God is our Father… the Father of all lights [James 1:17], that one Father, from whom are all things, and we in him [Ephesians 4:6].”

Regarding Paul’s reference to himself as a “father,” we need to understand that he was strictly talking about the fact that GOD used him as an instrument to proclaim the truth and to teach and nourish those who listened. This spiritual “father-child” relationship is also expressed in other passages in Scripture, such as Philippians 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:11; and 1 Peter 5:13. As can be easily seen from these passages, the word “father” is used affectionately–and NOT in any way as a religious TITLE of superiority.

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible adds:

“‘And call no man your Father’… This does not, of course, forbid us to apply the term to our real father. Religion requires all proper honor to be shown to [him, Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4; Ephesians 6:1-3]. But the word ‘father’ also denotes ‘authority, eminence, superiority…’ In this sense it is used here. In this sense it belongs eminently to God, and it is not right to give it to people… Only God has supreme authority… Christ taught them that the source of all life and truth was God, and they ought not to seek or receive a title which properly belongs to [Him].”

Vincent’s Word Studies add the thought that the word “Father” is “Aimed at those who combed the title Abba, or Father. Compare the title Papa – Pope.”

In conclusion, we are to be careful what religious titles to use, or to accept. The safest way would be to use those titles which the Bible specifically mentions and applies approvingly to God’s ministers and deacons (compare passages such as 1 Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-2, 8-13; and Titus 2:5-7). Let us not go “beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6; New International Version), because if we do, including applying and embracing titles which only belong to God, we may “wander beyond the teaching of Christ [and] leave God behind” (2 John 9, Living Bible).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

"The Goal" and "Let There Be Light"

On Saturday, April 26, 2008, is the Last Day of Unleavened Bread. Dave Harris will give the sermon in the morning, titled, “The Goal.” Norbert Link will give the sermon in the afternoon, titled, “Let There Be Light!”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 9:00 am and 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 11:00 am and 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new StandingWatch program (#164) has been posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and YouTube It is titled, “Coming–The Great Depression?” In the program, Norbert Link discusses the fact that most Americans are worried about the economy. Many financial analysts and commentators around the world have similar fears. But what can YOU do in these times of recession and potential depression? How can you avoid going into debt, and how can you become debt-free? Does God, in His Word, the Bible, show you what you must do?

Norbert Link’s most recent video-recorded sermon, which was given on April 12, 2008, has been posted on Google Video. It is titled, “Bible Study–Paul’s Message to Corinth.”

ONE Constant

by Shana Rank

As I sit and ponder some of life’s challenges and experiences, there has always been ONE constant–more constant than friendships or living conditions, more reliable than a paycheck or automobile, and more patient than a diligent teacher. God, of course, is that ONE constant.  A truth I take much courage in, is that God does not change.

I, on the other hand, am not always constant–with family, friendships, attitudes or even paying bills. God’s perfect mercy understands the ebb and flow of my life, and waits to see growth.  I must bear fruit, and my labor must be with a happy heart.

Even though I will never achieve perfect consistency–I can still try!  My constant faith in God will insure His support through all of my life’s adventures.

Would you please explain Christ's saying in Matthew 26:26-28? Didn't Jesus clearly say that the wine and bread "are" His blood and body; therefore, aren't those correct who believe in the dogma of "transubstantiation"–that is, that every time when we eat the sacrificial bread and drink the sacrificial wine, that bread and wine change into the body and blood of Christ?

First of all, we need to understand that the Bible commands God’s disciples to eat a piece of unleavened bread and drink a small portion of red wine ONCE a year–at the annual festival of Passover. When Jesus instituted the new symbols of bread and wine, replacing thereby the Old Testament Passover lamb, He did so during the evening of Passover (Matthew 26:18-20; compare Luke 22:11-20). Christ did not teach that we should partake of the symbols of bread and wine, in memory of His Sacrifice, any time we please. It is to be observed annually–once a year (compare Leviticus 23:4-5).

When Christ said that the bread and the wine “were” His flesh and blood, He used symbolic language. He had stated earlier that His disciples were to “eat His flesh” and “drink His blood” in order to have life and lasting fellowship with Him (compare John 6:53-55). Jesus used this kind of language to TEST His disciples. He knew fully well that at that time, none of His disciples would understand the meaning of His saying. But He wanted to find out how many would leave Him, and who would stay with Him, even though nobody understood what He was teaching them. Sadly, “many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it’… From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:60, 66).

Jesus asked the twelve apostles whether they would also forsake Him. Peter did not understand Christ’s saying, either, but he knew who Christ was. And so, he answered for all of the twelve, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69).

Christ’s sayings in John 6, and His words at the last Passover which He kept with His disciples as a human being, were to be understood symbolically. They were not to be understood to mean that at the moment when Christ gave the bread and the wine to His disciples–and at the moment when we partake today of the symbols of bread and wine at Passover–those symbols were or are “transforming” or “changing” into the actual body and blood of Jesus. The Roman Catholic dogma of the “transubstantiation,” which was also believed in and taught by Martin Luther, is in fact unbiblical.

The reasons for our conclusion are many, including the following:

1) First of all, Christ is no longer today a human being. He WAS God (John 1:1), BECAME man (John 1:14), and was CHANGED again into a God being–a life-giving Spirit being–at the time of His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:45; Titus 2:13). Paul said that we do not know Jesus Christ any longer as a human being–“according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 5:16). As a Spirit being, Christ does not have flesh and blood. Therefore, the wine and the bread could not possibly change today into the flesh and blood of Jesus.

2) We also read that Jesus was offered ONCE to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28). His supreme Sacrifice was necessary, but also sufficient for the forgiveness of our sins. The claim that the bread and the wine change today–and have been changing for the last 2,000 years–into the body and blood of Christ would mean that Christ was and is being sacrificed again and again–every time when His disciples have been partaking of the symbols of bread and wine.

This concept is clearly contradicted by Scripture–in fact, the Bible contains a strong warning for those who attempt to sacrifice Christ again through their conduct or belief. We read in Hebrews 6:4-6: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, SINCE THEY CRUCIFY AGAIN FOR THEMSELVES THE SON OF GOD, AND PUT HIM TO AN OPEN SHAME.”

3) In addition, we are prohibited in God’s Word, the Bible, to consume any kind of blood (Acts 15:19-20, 28-29; 21:25; Leviticus 17:14). Therefore, the wine could not possibly change into the literal blood of Jesus, to be consumed by His disciples.

4) We should also note that when Christ spoke His words to His disciples, giving them the bread and the wine, He was a human being, and He–the human being–was present with His disciples. The bread and the wine were not “identical” with–but separate from His body; and they were not changed, in any way, to become (part of) His blood or body–as otherwise, Christ would have somehow “divided” Himself at that moment into eleven or twelve “components.”

Many commentaries have pointed out the utter absurdity of a belief in the dogma of “transubstantiation.”

a) Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible point out:

“It is not improbable that our Lord pointed to the broken bread, or laid his hands on it, as if he had said, ‘Lo, my body!’ or, ‘Behold my body!’ – ‘that which “represents” my broken body to you.’ This could not be intended to mean that that bread was literally his body. It was not. His body was then before them ‘living.’ And there is no greater absurdity than to imagine his ‘living body’ there changed at once to a ‘dead body,’ and then the bread to be changed into that dead body, and that all the while the ‘living’ body of Jesus was before them.

“Yet this is the absurd and impossible doctrine of the Roman Catholics, holding that the ‘bread’ and ‘wine’ were literally changed into the ‘body and blood’ of our Lord. The language employed by the Saviour was in accordance with a common mode of speaking among the Jews, and exactly similar to that used by Moses at the institution of the Passover [Exodus 12:11:] ‘It’ – that is, the lamb – ‘is the Lord’s Passover.’ That is, the lamb and the feast ‘represent’ the Lord’s ‘passing over’ the houses of the Israelites. It serves to remind you of it. It surely cannot be meant that that lamb was the literal ‘passing over’ their houses – a palpable absurdity – but that it represented it.

“So Paul and Luke say of the bread, ‘This is my body broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.’ This expresses the whole design of the sacramental bread. It is to call to ‘remembrance,’ in a vivid manner, the dying sufferings of our Lord. The sacred writers, moreover, often denote that one thing is represented by another by using the word is. See [Matthew 13:37:] ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man’ – that is, represents the Son of man. [Genesis 41:26:] ‘the seven good kine [cows] are seven years’ – that is, ‘represent’ or signify seven years… The meaning of this important passage may be thus expressed: ‘As I give this broken bread to you to eat, so will I deliver my body to be afflicted and slain…'”

b) Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible adds the following:

“‘This is my body’ – Here it must be observed that Christ had nothing in his hands, at this time, but part of that unleavened bread which he and his disciples had been eating at supper, and therefore he could mean no more than this, viz. that the bread which he was now breaking represented his body, which, in the course of a few hours, was to be crucified for them. Common sense, unsophisticated with superstition and erroneous creeds, – and reason, unawed by the secular sword of sovereign authority, could not possibly take any other meaning than this plain, consistent, and rational one, out of these words.

“‘But,’ says a false and absurd creed, ‘Jesus meant, when he said, Hoc Est Corpus Meum, This is my body, and Hic Est Calix Sanguinis Mei, This is the chalice of my blood, that the bread and wine were substantially changed into his body, including flesh, blood, bones, yea, the whole Christ, in his immaculate humanity and adorable divinity!’ And, for denying this, what rivers of righteous blood have been shed by state persecutions and by religious wars! Well it may be asked, ‘Can any man of sense believe, that, when Christ took up that bread and broke it, it was his own body which he held in his own hands, and which [he] himself broke to pieces, and which he and his disciples ate?’…

“Besides, our Lord did not say, hoc est corpus meum, (this is my body), as he did not speak in the Latin tongue… let it be observed that, in the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Chaldeo-Syriac languages, as used in the Bible, there is no term which expresses to mean, signify, denote, though both the Greek and Latin abound with them: hence the Hebrews use a figure, and say, it is, for, it signifies… And following this Hebrew idiom, though the work is written in Greek, we find in [Revelation 1:20:] The seven stars Are (represent) the angels of the seven Churches: and the seven candlesticks Are (represent) the seven Churches. The same form of speech is used in a variety of places in the New Testament, where this sense must necessarily be given to the word…”

c) John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible agrees, adding the following observation:

“Now when he says, ‘this is my body’, he cannot mean, that that bread was his real body; or that it was changed and converted into the very substance of his body; but that it was an emblem and representation of his body, which was just ready to be offered up, once for all: in like manner, as the Jews in the eating of their passover used to say… of the unleavened bread, this is ‘the bread of affliction’, which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Not that they thought that was the selfsame bread, but that it resembled it, and was a representation of the affliction and distress their fathers were in at that time: to which some think our Lord here alludes: though rather, the reference is to the passover lamb, which is frequently, in Jewish writings, called ‘the body’ of the lamb…

“And now it is, as if Christ had said, you have had ‘the body’ of the lamb set before you, and have eaten of it, in commemoration of the deliverance out of Egypt, and as a type of me the true passover, quickly to be sacrificed; and this rite of eating the body of the paschal lamb is now to cease; and I do here by this bread, in an emblematical way, set before you ‘my body’, which is to be given to obtain spiritual deliverance, and eternal redemption for you; in remembrance of which, you, and all my followers in successive generations, are to take and eat of it, till I come.”

In conclusion, the Bible does NOT teach the dogma or doctrine of “transubstantiation.” Rightly understood, that unbiblical teaching changes, and actually denies the very meaning and essence of Christ’s Sacrifice.

The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ is of unspeakable importance for us. It is God’s greatest gift to mankind. We must never belittle it by partaking of the symbols of bread and wine in an unworthy manner (compare 1 Corinthians 11:27-29); or by partaking of the symbols more than once a year; or by doing so on any other occasion than the annual Passover; or by falsely believing and teaching that the symbols of bread and wine change into the very body and blood of Christ.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

The People of God

On Friday evening, April 18, 2008, is Passover.

On the weekly Sabbath, April 19, 2008, Dave Harris will give the sermon, titled, “The People of God.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

On Saturday evening, April 19, 2008, is the Night to Be Much Observed.

On Sunday, April 20, 2008, is the First Day of Unleavened Bread. Rene Messier will give the sermon in the morning, titled, “Conformed to the Image of His Son.” Norbert Link will give the sermon in the afternoon, titled, “Anger and Wrath!”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 9:00 am and 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 11:00 am and 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

©2024 Church of the Eternal God