Showing posts with label Son of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Son of God. Show all posts

Saturday 6 August 2016

Jesus is the ONLY Messiah



It is written – and the Scripture was fulfilled

It is written in the law.
It is written in the book of Psalms.
It is written in the prophets.

It is written

Jesus is the ONLY one who fulfilled all of the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. He revealed the prophecies concerning Himself to His apostles AND His disciples. This is in stark contrast to what the OAC believe today.

Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question 38 (page 68):
“Who can understand the scriptures?” (Sic)
Ans. Those whose spiritual eye has been opened by the spirit of God. We read in Luke 24 v. 45, with reference to the Apostles:-“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.”…”

Module 1 and Module 2 (earth, light, water and kingdom) give clear indications of how the term “opened he their understanding” is misused and abused to mean something else completely different. The OAC believe that only their “apostles” can reveal the “hidden mysteries” of the Bible.

Jesus did not reveal the Scriptures to His apostles only. He also appeared to two of His disciples on their way to Emmaus and expounded to them all the scriptures concerning Himself, beginning at Moses and all the prophets (Luke 24:25-27).

Let us read the single excerpt from Question 38 of the OAC catechism in conjunction with the other missing verses:
Luke 24:44-48 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.

Before He was crucified, His disciples did not fully understand the Scriptures pertaining to Him, it was only after His crucifixion and resurrection that they fully understood that He is the Messiah. Allow me to share a few examples.

It is written in the Law:
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

John 12:31-33 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

It is written in the Law:
Exodus 12:46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 22:1 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 22:16 ... they pierced my hands and my feet.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him...

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 22:17 ... they look and stare upon me.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 35:11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Mark 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Luke 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Mark 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 69:3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 69:19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

John 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 109:24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Matthew 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

It is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalms 109:25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:39-40 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

It is written in the Prophets:
Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Matthew 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

It is written in the Prophets:
Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

It is written in the Prophets:
Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

It is written in the Prophets:
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:13-14 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

It is written in the Prophets:
Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:57-60 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

It is written in the Prophets:
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Luke 23:33-34 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

It is written in the Prophets:
Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
John 11:49-52 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

It is written in the Prophets:
Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

It is written in the Prophets:
Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

It is written in the Prophets:
Zechariah 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 27:3-7 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

It is written in the Prophets:
Zechariah 12:10 ...and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced...

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Luke 23:35 And the people stood beholding...

It is written in the Prophets:
Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

And the Scripture was fulfilled:
Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Mark 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.

These were just a few examples. The Bible is shallow enough for a child to understand, yet deep enough for an educated adult to drown in.

Isaiah 53:1-12 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

If you can understand that the above verses are about Jesus our only Messiah, then your understanding has been opened and you understand the Scriptures. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.


Only by the Holy Ghost can someone say that Jesus is the Lord. It is that simple, there is no other Jesus. If anyone preaches any other gospel, let him be accursed (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:6-10).


The REAL Jesus




Jesus

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

According to Strong’s, the word “word” in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word logos and is defined as:
something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ): - account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.

In the beginning the Word already was which means the Word is eternal and existed before the beginning. Ten times in Genesis 1 we read “God said”. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made (Psalms 33:6). John sums these all up as the Word that created all things.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Notice that John (an apostle) is speaking in the past tense and he’s not referring to his own words or those of the other apostles or any other mere mortal. John is saying the Word dwelt among them, not inside them. Neither is he referring to his own flesh or that of the other apostles. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father and John was an eyewitness of Jesus the Messiah, whose name is called ‘The Word of God’ (Revelation 19:13). When John names the three that bear record in heaven, he calls Him ‘Word’ rather than ‘Son’ (1 John 5:7). Because Christ is the Word, it not only refers to the Father that begot Him but also to everything made by Him.

Jesus was miraculously conceived inside the virgin Mary in fulfilment of which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-35). Jesus’ birth was the result of the Holy Spirit working within Mary’s body. Some OAC members mock this point saying that they’ve never seen a woman conceive children without intercourse. Obviously that’s because there’s only ever been ONE Messiah born this way! Those who mock the virgin birth are usually also those who deny that God created everything from nothing and it makes me wonder if they have any belief or faith in prayer (Matthew 17:14-21).

Jesus received a physical body from Mary while at the same time being fully God with an eternal and sinless nature (Galatians 4:4-5, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 2:14-17, Hebrews 7:26). This is what some OAC members mockingly refer to as a “mixed salad” (natural plus spiritual). By His virgin birth the eternal God could become a perfect sinless man because He didn’t have a biological father (Romans 5:12, Romans 5:17, Romans 5:19).

A great deal is written about Jesus’ birth in the Bible. Then we read almost nothing about Him until the age of twelve. Then from the age of twelve upwards we read nothing about Him until He was about thirty years of age and started His public ministry. What was Jesus doing in between? Considering that Jesus was a Jew, we can get quite a good idea of what Jewish boys and adolescents during the time of Jesus were doing at each stage of their growth and development from Jewish sources (Avos 5:22 & Pirkei Avot 5:24).

At five years old they were ready to study Scriptures, at ten they studied Mishnah, at thirteen the commandments and observing the mitzvot (bar mitzvah), at fifteen the Talmud, at eighteen they were ready for marriage, at twenty they pursued a livelihood and at thirty they had strength and authority.

Each synagogue had its own “primary” and “highschool. Learning was memorization by constant repetition because writing materials were costly and scarce. Repetition of the passages was done by chanting them out loud to keep them from forgetting. The Rabbis believed repetition was the key to learning, because “one who repeats his lesson a hundred times is not like him who repeats it a hundred and one times” (Chagigah 9b). Lessons took place on every day of the week and would mostly consist of repeating earlier lessons.

We can gain a lot of insight as to what Jesus was doing during His early childhood and adolescence. He along with His peers were studying and committing vast quantities of information to memory such as Scriptures, Mishnah, Midrash, Halakah and all the available sacred literature of that time. Most Jews in those days had the whole Old Testament committed to memory.

By the time Jesus started His public ministry He was no ordinary Jew, He was a Rabbi and teacher well versed in the Scriptures and religious literature of that time (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35, Matthew 13:54, Matthew 19:16, Matthew 22:16, Matthew 22:23-24, Mark 1:39, Luke 4:15-16, Luke 7:40, Luke 10:25, Luke 12:13, Luke 13:10, Luke 18:18, Luke 19:39, Luke 20:21, Luke 20:27-28, John 1:38, John 1:49, John 3:2, John 6:25). Rabbis of that time walked the land, taught in parables, debated, interpreted Scriptures and taught disciples. Rabbis told parables (they still do to this day) which would include characters representing God such as a king, shepherd or farmer with a vineyard.

According to Strong’s, the word “Rabbi” in the New Testament originated from the Hebrew word rhabbi and is defined as:
my master, that is, Rabbi, as an official title of honor: - Master, Rabbi.

There were also other famous Rabbis from Galilee who were known for their rabbinic literature (Johanan ben Zakkai, Hanina ben Dosa, Abba Jose ben Hanin, Zadok, Halafta, Hananiah ben Teradion). The level of learning and education in Galilee at the time of Jesus seems to have exceeded that of Judaea.

John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Note that it doesn’t say the Word was light, but that the life was the light.
  • Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12, John 9:5)
  • Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)

The manifestation of the Word is the light of the world, namely Jesus.

John the son of Zebedee and also one of the twelve apostles was an original eyewitness of the life of Jesus (Mark 1:19-20, Mark 3:17, John 21:2). John’s purpose for writing the book is best described in his own words below.

John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Jesus did really exist as a physically tangible person here on earth, He did physically ascend to heaven and He will physically appear at the second coming. This is in stark contrast to what the OAC believe today.

Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question 27 (pages 62-63):
“Has Christ already come, or do we still expect him?” (Sic)
Ans. (a) Because the world expects that Christ will come on a natural cloud, they still look forward to his coming. From Matt. 16 v. 28, it is however clear, that Christ must already have come…”
Ans. (b) From 2 Tim. 4 v. 7-8 it is clear that Christ must already have come during Apostle Paul’s life on earth…”
Ans. (c) For us Christ has come, and we see Him, because it is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit and is our life…”

Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question 31 (page 65):
“On which clouds will Christ appear?”
Ans. We must not confuse these clouds with natural clouds... It is the cloud of witnessesIt is the same cloud under which the flock of God was led out of Egypt…”

OAC members believe their church is Christ

The OAC Sealing document under the heading ‘THE REBIRTH: SECONDLY BY THE BLOOD states: “...through the sacrificing of his blood today for me through his anointed officers who labored, sacrificed themselves for me by doing so were my transgressions blotted out I was reconciled onto God...”

The OAC Sealing document under the heading ‘THE REBIRTH: THIRDLY BY THE SPIRIT’ states: “...I am not the apostle but merely a servant of the Apostle (Hebrews 3 declares (“Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus) which is the entire church...”

When OAC members refer to “Jesus Christ”, then they’re referring to themselves. The “Jesus Christ” that the OAC believe in is not the same historical and Biblical Jesus Christ that Christians believe in.

Compare the statements above to what’s written in the Bible:
Luke 24:50-51 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

These people that saw Him ascend to heaven were His own disciples and apostles as recorded in the epistles. This contradicts the OAC’s doctrine.

OAC Confession of Faith: Jesus Christ: “...Appearance Nobody unto whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection recognised Him. The body in which He was resurrected, differs in appearance from the body that He had until His death. This “new” body is a “glorified body”. It is a spiritual body and appears externally like anyone that houses and reveals the Spirit of God; it can be an individual or a group of people; [I COR 12:12 &27 and 15:44-49 ]...”

What nonsense! Imagine for a moment that you witnessed a loved one being publicly tortured to death. Take a moment and let that thought sink in for a while. How would you react if you saw them walking around three days later (Luke 24:36-48)? Would you ask them about the weather as if nothing had happened, business as usual? Wouldn’t you also be in shocked disbelief and maybe think it’s someone else or perhaps a ghost? There’s only one Jesus, He didn’t become a group of people after 1926.

I remember how, as an active member in the OAC we would often mock Christians’ belief that they were still waiting for Jesus to return on a cloud because we (OAC) believed the OAC is Jesus. I remember one “apostle” service how the “apostle” joked that other churches would rather believe that God is up there somewhere because they don’t want Him so uncomfortably close. But that was ignorance on our part, we only read what we wanted to in the Bible, we never read the whole Bible, and the verses that we did read were not read in context.

2 Peter 3:3-7 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Members from the OAC will be quick to point out that the Bible is a “spiritual” book and needs to be understood “spiritually”. The OAC definition for “spiritual” is reading single verses out of context and ignoring everything else in between. A word is given a “spiritual” interpretation and then used throughout the Bible to mean the same thing despite the context in which the specific word is used. Popular words used out of context are “earth”, “light”, “water” and “kingdom”.  The word “earth” for example is defined as the “understanding of man” and “water” is defined as the “spoken word” (gnosis) uttered from the mouth of a mere mortal. Some OAC members believe that the secret to understanding the Bible is that the Bible must be interpreted as one big parable (Gnosticism). Some OAC members eventually take it to the point that Jesus becomes a parable that spoke parables to His parables!

If the Bible is “spiritual” according to the OAC definition, then other books by definition must be “natural” according to the OAC definition. The OAC definition of “natural” or “carnal” is any interpretation which could be understood literally.

With regards to Jesus’ existence as a physical person, there are also non-Biblical references to Him. That means that Jesus is not some kind of a parable, “HE is for REAL”, quite literally!

Outside of the Bible there are non-Christian Greco-Roman and Jewish references to Jesus (Thallos, Mara bar Serapion, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, Lucian of Samosata, Celsus, Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.200, the Talmud [baraitha Sanhedrin 43a-b]).
From these non-Christian references we read the following:
  • His name Jesus
  • His public ministry during Pontius Pilate’s governorship
  • His mother Mary
  • His controversial birth
  • His brother James
  • His fame as a teacher
  • His fame as a miracle-worker/sorcerer
  • His title of ‘Messiah/Christ’
  • His kingly status
  • His execution by crucifixion around the Passover festival
  • His death which involved both the Roman and Jewish leadership
  • His crucifixion which coincided with an eclipse
  • His appearances to His followers after His death
  • The growth of Christianity and the worship of Jesus after His death
These are obviously non-Christian references outside of the Bible written by people who never knew Jesus personally. His personal bibliography is recorded for us in the Bible.

This same Jesus IS the Christ (Messiah):
John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

This same Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This same Jesus was still a FLESH and BONES person after He was crucified and resurrected:
Luke 24:39-40 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

John 20:24-29 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Acts 1:2-3 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

At this point OAC members will be quick to point out that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God by quoting 1 Corinthians 15:50 out of context. By this they will try to imply that Jesus could not have physically ascended into heaven. That specific verse is not referring to the physical body of Jesus and needs to be read in context. By reading that verse with the subsequent verses (1 Corinthians 15:51-54) the context becomes very clear. At the last trumpet the dead shall be raised incorruptible and the mortal must put on immortality (Isaiah 25:8-9, Luke 20:34-38, Romans 6:7-12, Romans 8:9-11, 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, Hebrews 2:13-15, Revelation 20:12-15, Revelation 21:1-4). Jesus however is neither mortal nor corruptible because He had no sin (1 Peter 2:22-24, 1 John 3:5).

The days of the Son of man will be as visible as the lightning and as loud as the sound of trumpets. There’s nothing invisible or inaudible about the days of the Son of man. This is in stark contrast to what the OAC believe today.

Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question 4 (page 49):
“How will the Kingdom of God come?”
Ans. The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they (the world) say, Lo here: or Lo there: for behold, the kingdom of God is within you (the disciples). Luke 17 v. 21.)…”

This question implies that Jesus has already returned and no further explanation is given to the quoted verse or the subsequent verses. Compare the context as a single verse above to what’s written in the Bible with the subsequent verses:

Luke 17:20-30 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. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Notice that the Pharisees asked WHEN the kingdom of God should come and Jesus answered that it doesn’t come with observation. In other words it will be too sudden for them (the Pharisees), just like it was for the people in the days of Noah’s flood and the city of Sodom. Those people didn’t see what hit them till it was too late.

Jesus was in their presence when the Pharisees questioned Him, but they were too blind to see Him as the Son of God. They were unaware of how close the kingdom of God had come to them. See also Matthew 12:28 and Luke 10:8-11. In a spiritual sense the kingdom of God is in us because it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).

Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

False apostles and false prophets cannot forge or counterfeit the coming of the Son of man; the only way they can try is by attempting to deceive people with false interpretations. Jesus warns us not to follow them because they will say “Lo here” and then try convincing people that they (false prophets and false churches) are Christ.

Matthew 24:23-28 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Only by the Holy Ghost can someone say that Jesus is the Lord. It is that simple, there is no other Jesus. If anyone preaches any other gospel, let him be accursed (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:6-10).

Since the KJV Bible mentions Jesus 983 times, many believe His real name is actually Jesus. The name Jesus is the English transliteration of the Greek name Iēsous (Iησοῦς) which is the transliteration of the Hebrew name Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ). Remember that the KJV Bible is translated from Greek.

The pronunciation of Yeshua has no exact equivalent in Greek because the Greek alphabet has no “y” or “sh” sound. Therefore the “Ye” of Yeshua became “Iē” and the “sh” became “s”. Greek also didn’t allow a male name to end with an “ah” sound and the solution was to add an “s” to the end of the name, hence Yeshua in Hebrew became Iēsous in Greek.

The proper Hebrew name for Jesus is Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) which means salvation. Yeshua is a shortened form of the Hebrew name Yehoshua (יהושוע) which means the Lord saves, the Lord is salvation or the Lord will save.

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In Scripture, a person’s name is synonymous to the person’s character, nature and essence. Yeshua means salvation and that is the exact essence of who Yeshua/Jesus is. To call on the name or person of Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah is to call on salvation. Everyone who sincerely loves and follows the Jewish Messiah will receive salvation, irrespective of how they pronounce His name. In any language His name still means the same thing.

For example: In Afrikaans the word for Scripture is “Skrif”, in Zulu it becomes “Umbhalo” and in Xhosa it becomes “I Sibhalo”. The language and pronunciation may change but the object still remains the same.

Salvation comes through grace (Ephesians 2:8). Salvation is connected to believing in the character, reputation and essence of the person behind Yeshua/Jesus, who He is and what He did.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?