Posted on 10/26/2009 9:22:24 PM PDT by DouglasKC
What is the message Jesus Christ brought and taught? It seems like a simple enough question, but most people don't give it much thought. They know Jesus preached a "gospel"— which comes from the Old English godspel, meaning "good news" or "good message"—but what is that message?
This is where things can get a little murky. Many think that the gospel of Christ is a gospel exclusively about Christ. In doing so they focus almost entirely on the messenger while neglecting the message He brought. Is the distinction that important? Absolutely. If we fail to understand His central message, we will fail to grasp the whole point of His teachings, the reason for His coming and why He promises to come again to earth.
We will also fail to comprehend dozens of vital prophecies throughout the Bible. Jesus'message ties all of these things together in a theme that is truly good news that has great implications not only for your future but for that of the entire earth.
So what was Jesus'message? Let's go through some of His statements to be sure we understand it.
We find Christ's message summarized in Mark 1:14-15: "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel'" (emphasis added throughout).
Jesus' teaching, we see, centered on the gospel—the good news—of the Kingdom of God. He also taught that people must believe that message and repent of their sins. Repentance is a prerequisite to entering the Kingdom of God.
Other verses confirm that the Kingdom of God was at the heart of Christ's message. Matthew 4:23 tells us that "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, [and] preaching the gospel of the kingdom . . ." Several chapters later Matthew adds, "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, [and] preaching the gospel of the kingdom . . ." (Matthew 9:35).
After Jesus'crucifixion and resurrection, He appeared to His disciples, "being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). Luke 4:43 records Jesus saying, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."
It's clear from the Scriptures that Jesus' teaching focused on the Kingdom of God. As Luke recorded, Christ said God sent Him to proclaim this specific message.
There should be little doubt about what Jesus taught. Regrettably, that isn't the case. People have differing ideas of what the Kingdom of God is. Some believe it is all of Christianity. Some view it as the sum total of all that is good and right in the world. Others think that the church is the Kingdom of God.
Regarding the latter, notice how The Catholic Encyclopedia explains this common perception: ". . . The 'kingdom' means not so much a goal to be attained or a place . . . It is rather a tone of mind . . . At one time the 'kingdom'means the sway of grace in men's hearts . . . As men realized that this kingdom stood for a certain tone of mind, and saw that this peculiar spirit was enshrined in the Church, they began to speak of the Church as 'the kingdom of God' . . . The kingdom of God means, then, the ruling of God in our hearts; it means those principles which separate us off from the kingdom of the world and the devil; it means the benign sway of grace; it means the Church . . ." (1908 edition, "Kingdom of God").
Did Christ intend for us to be confused about the central theme of His teaching? Can it be whatever we want it to be? Can we find a clear biblical explanation?
Christ's teaching about the Kingdom of God becomes clear when we understand that Jesus was building on the message God had revealed centuries earlier through the prophets of Israel. God inspired these men to write of a coming world-ruling government—a physical, literal kingdom—in which the Messiah would administer God's laws and way of life to bring peace and prosperity to humanity.
The prophet Daniel, for example, saw a vision in which the Messiah receives this Kingdom: "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14; see also Daniel 2:44).
Isaiah also wrote of the coming Messiah and His Kingdom: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever . . ." (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Did Christ's followers understand that His teaching about God's Kingdom concerned a literal, world-ruling kingdom?
Indeed they did. Notice this promise He gave to His disciples: "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28; see also Luke 22:28-30).
After God resurrected Jesus from the dead, the disciples had a burning question for Him: "Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, 'Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?'And He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority'" (Acts 1:6-7).
They obviously understood that a part of Jesus'mission involved a restoration of a literal kingdom, with Christ as ruler and the disciples reigning under Him. Jesus told them, however, that the timing of the establishing of that kingdom is known only to God the Father (Matthew 24:36).
In Revelation 11:15 we read that this kingdom will be established at the seventh prophetic trumpet: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'"
What does this kingdom have to do with you and me? It concerns us a great deal in every way.
Jesus Christ explained that He will return at a pivotal time in history—when humanity staggers on the brink of annihilation. In His remarkable prophecy in Matthew 24, He tells us He will intervene in a period of world crisis, "a time of great distress, such as there has never been before since the beginning of the world, and will never be again." Conditions will be so grave that "if that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive . . ." (verses 21-22, Revised English Bible).
Reading the rest of His prophecy (and parallel accounts in Luke 21 and Mark 13) is remarkably like reading today's headlines. Yet most people are unaware of the seriousness of the times in which they live.
The time of His return, Jesus said, "will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth" (Luke 21:35). He makes it clear that this will be the most horrifying and deadly epoch in mankind's history, one that few would live through. Only after human beings have learned painful lessons will they be humbled enough to willingly submit to Jesus'reign as the Messiah.
Jesus had much more to say about the Kingdom of God. In the first passage we read, Mark 1:14-15, a vital part of Christ's message was an exhortation to "repent, and believe in the gospel."
Two millennia later those words are just as important and meaningful as ever. Although the good news of Christ's coming world-ruling kingdom is truly good— in that humanity will at last see a world of peace, happiness and purpose and an end to war and other violence, starvation, disease and every other form of suffering— there's more to the story. (To learn more of how the world will be transformed by the Kingdom of God, be sure to read "Coming: An End to Suffering" "The Coming Age of Grace" and "The Feast of Prosperity" in this issue.)
The ultimate purpose of this literal, world-ruling government of which Christ spoke—and the ultimate purpose of our learning and surrendering to God's laws and ways in this life—is to enable us to enter God's eternal spiritual Kingdom as His children, resurrected to eternal life in His family. God says, through the apostle Paul, "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18).
To enter that Kingdom, God must transform us from physical and mortal to spiritual and immortal. As Paul explains: ". . . Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:50-53). Jesus says of those who are transformed in this way: "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). Jesus the Savior, glorified and immortal, now shines as the sun at full strength (Revelation 1:16). If we are willing to repent and believe, as He commands, He extends to us the opportunity to be glorified as He is (1 John 3:2).
Those to whom God gives eternal life will live and reign with Christ in that Kingdom (Revelation 20:4, 6). They will be "kings and priests to our God . . . reign[ing] on the earth" to teach and bring others into this eternal Kingdom (Revelation 5:10). Jesus promises us, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:21).
As the prophet Daniel had written centuries earlier: "Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him" (Daniel 7:27).
This is an overview of the wonderful news of a future of awesome power and purpose revealed in the gospel of the Kingdom of God Jesus Christ taught. Would you like to share in that future? The choice is up to you! GN
While all that is certainly true how do you reconcile it with the multiple times scripture shows that Christ and the disciples taught that the good news was the coming kingdom of God?
I try not to assume what a person means so I ask since I have a somewhat different view of the subject.
And .. if I didn’t read the article ..?? Do I get banished to outer Mongolia or something ..??
The question was, “What is the Gospel that Jesus Christ taught?” I can answer that question without having to “read the article”.
It’s just that you didn’t like my answer .. sorry!!
I see Christ's Gospel as telling us that God is LOVE. That God loves us and doesn't want us to be his automatons (like how Alllah treats his worshipppers -- IZlam means "submission" and that's what ALLLah wants his worshippers to do, OUR God doesn't want submission), he gave us free will to choose him or not.
While all that is certainly true how do you reconcile it with the multiple times scripture shows that Christ and the disciples taught that the good news was the coming kingdom of God?
The gospel (i.e. good news) of Jesus Christ to humankind is, ... certainly, of His coming (and existing) kingdom on the earth and in heaven, ...
... and how He has made life within His kingdom available to us, His followers, ...
... through the giving of His life for us ...
... because of His great love for us.
Leave out any of these facets ... and the gospel message is incomplete.
Well no, but since the discussion thread is presumably to be based upon the article it helps to know what points you agree or disagree with in the article.
The question was, “What is the Gospel that Jesus Christ taught?” I can answer that question without having to “read the article”.
You didn't.
It’s just that you didn’t like my answer .. sorry!
Your answer was incomplete. It never answered the question:
But .. if you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you have eternal life - YOU HAVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!
Why is that so difficult for you to understand ..??
The “Gospel” is accepting Jesus as your Savior, receiving eternal life, and spending eternity with God in his Kingdom.
Without Jesus - THERE IS NO GOSPEL!
The good news he brought was that there was a future kingdom of God, a kingdom of heaven. He taught about how to get there. He taught about what is needed to get there. His main message was about the coming kingdom of God.
Traditional Christianity often make Christianity a message about the man Jesus and not about what he taught. A part of the gospel is certainly that. But JUST teaching that guarantees confusion and deception:
Mat 7:21 KJV - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 KJV - Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 KJV - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Without understanding the kingdom of God, the gospel that Jesus taught, people are in danger of becoming one of those whom Jesus never knew.
Traditional Christianity often make Christianity a message about the man Jesus and not about what he taught. A part of the gospel is certainly that. But JUST teaching that guarantees confusion and deception:
I don't agree with you here.
The most widely made claim against Traditional Christianity is that we focus too much on the peripherals to Jesus ... so that we tend to lose focus on the character of Jesus Himself.
Matt 7:21 KJV - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt 7:22 KJV - Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matt 7:23 KJV - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Without understanding the kingdom of God, the gospel that Jesus taught, people are in danger of becoming one of those whom Jesus never knew.
Once again ... I disagree.
The priority for the christian is knowing and spending time in fellowship with Jesus. If we make this our priority, Jesus would never claim that he didn't know us.
The knowledge of His kingdom would follow from spending time in communion with Jesus.
After all, that's how the Apostles learned.
He didn't send them off to study. He mandated that they spend time with Him.
I certainly agree with the sentiments expressed in your post.
My point was that if one relies on gaining knowledge from some spiritual communion with Jesus and neglects scripture, history and the teachings of the church then it DOES lead to deception. There needs to be a balance because Satan is actively working to deceive:
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
If Christian teachings don't match up with what God reveals through scripture than at the best it's tradition and at the worst it's lies. C
It’s so simple .. you have missed the point.
The Kingdom of God IS JESUS. Remember, Jesus told us, “No one comes to the Father except BY ME”. Therefore, to get to the Kingdom of God - you must go through Jesus.
If a person accepts Jesus as their personal Savior, and believes that Jesus is the son of God, that Jesus died for their sins, and was raised from the dead .. and sits at the right hand of the father .. THAT PERSON HAS ALREADY ENTERED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Jesus also told the mothers of the deciples that “the Kingdom of God is not low here or low there, IT IS WITHIN.
Therefore, I not only answered your question, I have Jesus’ own words as my witness that I answered your question.
If a person accepts Jesus as Savior, they will be someone that Jesus knows .. and the only people who have to worry about not being known by Jesus are THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED HIM.
You have missed the point because knowing God is how you become a part of the Kingdom of God - and if you don’t know Jesus .. you cannot see the Kingdom. It’s really that simple. I pray you find that out before you have to stand before Jesus and he says, “I never knew you”.
I don't think I'm missing the point. I do think that you're not understanding my point. :-) The Kingdom of God IS JESUS. Remember, Jesus told us, “No one comes to the Father except BY ME”. Therefore, to get to the Kingdom of God - you must go through Jesus.
It's certainly true that nobody can come to the FATHER except through Christ:
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
And it's true that you can't enter the kingdom unless you come to the father through Christ.
If a person accepts Jesus as their personal Savior, and believes that Jesus is the son of God, that Jesus died for their sins, and was raised from the dead .. and sits at the right hand of the father .. THAT PERSON HAS ALREADY ENTERED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Here's either where you veer off or don't understand the kingdom of God. There's two questions: When do Christians enter the kingdom of God and what is the kingdom of God?
1. When do Christian enter the kingdom of God?
1Cr 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
If you're mortal, flesh and blood, says Paul, you can't inherit the kingdom. When does this happen?
1Cr 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Cr 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Cr 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
We get changed, become immortal, at the last trumpet...when Christ returns.
When does Christ say we inherit the kingdom?
Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
So Jesus Christ tells us WHEN and Paul agrees with him of course. We inherit the kingdom, enter the kingdom, when Christ returns. There's much more scripture than this that supports it.
Jesus also told the mothers of the deciples that “the Kingdom of God is not low here or low there, IT IS WITHIN.
Actually he was talking to the Pharisees:
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Is it logical that Christ was telling the Pharisees that they had the kingdom of God within them? They wanted to kill him. He called them whitewashed tombs full of corruption. He called them evil. He said their father was the devil. They didn't have the kingdom in their hearts. They didn't have Jesus in their hearts.
So what did Jesus mean "within". A good explanation can be found here. I've excerpted a part:
Luke 17:21 is a text that many do not understand. Therefore, it can be regarded as a “hard saying.” We pick up the account in verse 20: “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” What did He mean, “the kingdom of God is within you”?
The Jewish people anticipated a Messiah who would free them from the Roman yoke and restore the kingdom of Israel. They completely misunderstood the reason Christ came. He did not come at that time as the conquering King of kings; He came as the sin-bearer of the world. The Pharisees misunderstood this purpose and so asked the question cited in the above paragraph. We notice Jesus’ answer. He said the Kingdom of God would not come by “observation.” Notice, the marginal rendering is “with outward show.” Keep in mind, the Jews were continually looking for a sign. Jesus told the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God would not come in any physical manner that would allow them to observe its development. Rather, when the Kingdom of God comes, it will be sudden and dramatic (Rev. 11:15).
Then, Jesus made the strange statement: ” . . .the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). What did He mean? Notice again the marginal rendering. The word “within” should be translated “among.” What He was saying was that the Kingdom of God is “among you” now, or “in your midst.” Why did Jesus say this? The answer is that in the Bible the words “king” and “kingdom” are synonymous. Compare Daniel 7, verses 17 and 23. Christ, as the coming King of kings, and the representative of God’s Kingdom, was already among them. But they had no sense of this reality. Christ had no intention of establishing the Kingdom of God during that time, or according to any Jewish ideas. Christ will do that at His second coming. But for present, their king was indeed among them.
If a person accepts Jesus as Savior, they will be someone that Jesus knows .. and the only people who have to worry about not being known by Jesus are THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED HIM.
True that...
You have missed the point because knowing God is how you become a part of the Kingdom of God - and if you don’t know Jesus .. you cannot see the Kingdom. It’s really that simple. I pray you find that out before you have to stand before Jesus and he says, “I never knew you”.
Thank you for our prayers.
I think what's NOT being taught is that Jesus WILL return and actually setup a world ruling government of God on earth....a KINGDOM OF GOD. It's true that Christ IS the king of Christians and it's true that we have the down payment of his spirit for eternal life which subjects us to his kingship and his power and glory.
BUT the gospel of the kingdom is really about the world to come, that day when Christ will return and claim his own.
1 Corinthians
15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Thank you for posting those scriptures.
Well .. the message of the Gospels is NOW! You said I didn’t answer the question .. but I did .. the problem is that you will not accept my answer.
Since we do not agree .. and you are insistant upon the Kingdom of God being something in the future .. I’m going to end this conversation.
After all .. we’ll all find out fairly soon who is right and who is wrong. We could both be right or wrong.
This conversation is over.
The article is home sourced to the United Church of God which is a splinter group of Herbert Armstrong’s cultic World Wide Church of God, faithfully teaching his doctrines. Spiritual discernment is necessary regarding their definitions as they couch their terms using terms familiar to orthodox Christianity.
1. When do Christian enter the kingdom of God?
1 Cor. 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
If you're mortal, flesh and blood, says Paul, you can't inherit the kingdom.
We are not only flesh and blood.
We are also spirit ... and our spiritual lives (which are eternal) ... are reborn when we enter into union with Christ.
We are already a new creation ..."Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)We are already a royal priesthood in the kingdom of God.1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
...
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
You mean, as in:
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive [past tense] together with Christ— by grace you have been saved [past tense] — and raised us up [past tense] with him and seated us [past tense] with him in the heavenly places [kingdom?] in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved [past tense] through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [how?] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [Why?] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2
If someone says the kingdom is a future government, and not being with Him in the heavenly places, then consider:
Mat 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Mat 16:28 “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
The first 16 verses of Matt 20: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2020&version=ESV
“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” - Luke 17
“And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” - Luke 23
36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” - John 18
Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son
2Ti 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
That's interesting language. You may want to read A Brief History of United Church of God
From that page:
Many of the current ministers and members of the United Church of God were once members of the Worldwide Church of God, a nonprofit corporation under the leadership of Herbert W. Armstrong until his death in 1986. A subsequent unwarranted shift toward nonbiblical practices and beliefs led numerous ministers and members to leave the fellowship of that organization.
Concerned with uneven administrative practices of the former assembly, more than 100 ordained ministers developed a new administrative structure that was more directly accountable to members and the ministry. A new 12-person Council of Elders, elected by a general assembly of all ordained ministers in United, was tasked with reviewing and independently documenting all core beliefs and doctrines of the Church, which above all must be true to the biblical record and not reliant on later divisive philosophical and theological traditions that were developed centuries after the original apostles.
Although many did consider Wordwide Church of God to be "cultic", United Church of God is not the same organization, doesn't have the same administrative structure, and doesn't have the same leadership.
Spiritual discernment is necessary regarding their definitions as they couch their terms using terms familiar to orthodox Christianity.
Spiritual discernment should be used for ALL religious teaching and should be verified that it matches up with scripture. Since you have no response to the article am I to assume you agree?
I'm not going to have time to address all of the scriptures before heading to worship service, but I did want to address this:
Mat 16:28 “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
The verses following this fulfill this prophecy. Peter, James and John saw the Son of Man coming in his kingdom in vision.
Mat 16:28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Mat 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
Mat 17:2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Mat 17:4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
These disciples were given a vision of the future glory of Jesus Christ coming into his kingdom.
Peter confirms this later:
2Pe 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Vision, or reality?
Let us consider the prayer as taught by Yah'shua in the original Hebrew.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Our father in heaven
may your name be sanctified
may your kingdom be blessed
your will shall be done in heaven and on earth
give us our bread continually
forgive us the debt of our sins
as we forgive the debt of those who sin against us
do not bring us into the hands of a test
and protect us from all evil
amen
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.