Another deep and sceptical question we meet in the Bible is this:
“How can we be sure we are not confusing an angel with God’s presence itself — like the Angel of the Lord in Exodus 3:2–6?”

When Moses stood before the burning bush, Scripture first tells us: “The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.” Yet only a verse later it says, “God called to him from the midst of the bush.” Was it an angel, or was it God Himself?

Here lies the mystery. The Bible sometimes describes appearances of the Angel of the Lord where the line between angel and God’s very presence seems to blur. For example, when Hagar fled into the wilderness, the Angel of the Lord spoke to her, and yet she later declared, “I have seen the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). When Gideon encountered the Angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face!” (Judges 6:22). The Angel spoke with divine authority, received worship, and even forgave sin — things no ordinary angel was ever permitted to do.

So how can we understand this?

The answer lies in the way God chooses to reveal Himself. Ordinary angels are messengers, servants, and guides. They never accept worship (Revelation 22:8–9). But the Angel of the Lord in these special moments is different. Many Bible teachers and scholars see these appearances as Christ before His incarnation — the eternal Word of God taking a visible form before He was born in Bethlehem. Not simply an angel, but the Lord Himself, wrapped in a messenger’s form, to prepare His people for the day when He would truly come in flesh.

Think about it: Abraham entertained three visitors, and one of them spoke as the LORD. Jacob wrestled with a “man” all night, yet afterward said, “I have seen God face to face” (Genesis 32:30). Joshua encountered a heavenly commander with a drawn sword, who commanded him to remove his sandals, for he stood on holy ground (Joshua 5:13–15) — the same command Moses received at the bush. These are not contradictions but revelations. They are glimpses of Christ stepping into time before time’s fullness.

The greatest confirmation came when Jesus Himself walked among us. No longer veiled as an angel or appearing in temporary form, He was born of a woman, lived as a man, and revealed God perfectly. Hebrews 1:1–3 tells us that in the past God spoke through angels and prophets, but now He has spoken through His Son, who is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.” In Christ, the confusion is gone. We no longer have to ask, “Is this God or His messenger?” for Jesus declared plainly: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

This truth is deeply practical. When God sends an angel, it is to guide, protect, or strengthen. But when He reveals Himself in Christ, it is to save. Angels may bring bread for the journey, as they did for Elijah, but only Jesus can say, “I am the Bread of Life.” Angels may guard us, but only Jesus can say, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Angels reflect His glory, but Jesus is the Glory of God in human flesh.

So, how do we avoid confusion? By remembering that angels point us to God, but Jesus reveals God. Angels serve, but Jesus saves. Angels visit, but Jesus abides. Whenever we encounter the divine, whether in Scripture, in prayer, or even in life’s mysterious moments, we measure it against Christ. If it points us to Him, it carries heaven’s truth. If it distracts us from Him, it is not the voice of God.

And so, the sceptical question becomes an invitation. The mystery of the Angel of the Lord was never meant to leave us uncertain but to prepare us for certainty. Those glimpses in the Old Testament pointed to the greater reality: Emmanuel — God with us. Not in the shadow of an angel, not in the flame of a bush, but in the living Son who walked, ate, wept, and died for us.

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✨ Reflection:
In the Old Testament, the Angel of the Lord hinted at God’s presence. In the New Testament, Jesus is God’s presence. Angels may bring us to holy ground, but Jesus Himself is our Holy Ground. In Him, the line between heaven and earth disappears, because heaven has come down to dwell among men.

One of the most thought-provoking questions we find in the Bible is this:
“If angels are spiritual beings, how can they appear in human form and even eat food?”

Genesis 18 gives us a powerful account. Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw three visitors. He hurried to prepare bread, meat, and milk, and they sat with him, and “they ate.” Later, we discover that one of these was the Lord Himself and the other two were angels. This was no dream, no imagination — it was heaven visiting earth in a way Abraham could touch, see, and serve.

This shows us that although angels are spiritual beings, God sometimes allows them to take human form to accomplish His purposes. They don’t eat because they need food, but because God wants to confirm the reality of His nearness. When Abraham watched them eat, he knew he was truly hosting messengers of the Almighty, not shadows of his imagination.

The Bible repeats this mystery. When Lot welcomed two travelers into his house in Sodom, he baked bread for them and they ate with him. It was only later revealed that they were angels sent to rescue him. A meal became the bridge between the seen and the unseen, between the ordinary and the divine. And centuries later, after His resurrection, Jesus Himself walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him until He sat at the table, blessed the bread, and ate with them. In that breaking of bread, their eyes were opened. What angels foreshadowed — the Word taking part in human fellowship — was fulfilled in Christ, God truly in the flesh, walking, eating, and dwelling among us.

The lesson is clear: God chooses to come close. Sometimes He comes through His angels, who take on a form we can recognize. Sometimes He comes through His Son, who became fully human, yet without sin. In every case, the purpose is the same — to remind us that heaven is not distant. God walks into our world, sits at our tables, and even partakes in our ordinary bread to show that He is Emmanuel, God with us.

The writer of Hebrews reflects on this mystery when he says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it.” A simple act of kindness can become an encounter with the divine. It reminds us that what looks ordinary — a guest, a stranger, a traveler — may carry heavenly significance. Jesus Himself taught that whatever we do for “the least of these,” we do for Him. Perhaps we do not only entertain angels unaware, but also serve Christ in disguise.

And yet, this question of angels eating points us beyond angels themselves to Jesus. For angels, the eating was a sign of identification; for Jesus, it was the reality of incarnation. Angels could appear in flesh for a moment, but Jesus took on flesh forever. He ate, drank, wept, rejoiced, and suffered as one of us, not to pretend humanity, but to redeem humanity. Angels bring messages, but Jesus is the Message. Angels bring bread to strengthen men, but Jesus Himself is the Bread of Life.

So when we ask, “How can angels eat if they are spirits?” we are really asking, “How can the invisible God touch the visible world?” The answer is found in the same truth that angels reveal and Christ fulfills: God makes Himself accessible. He bends down into our world. He is not content to remain distant.

Therefore, every table, every act of service, every piece of bread broken in kindness becomes holy ground. For who knows? Perhaps in such a moment you are meeting not just an angel unaware — but Christ Himself in the mystery of your brother, your neighbor, or even a stranger.

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✨ Reflection:
The angels remind us of God’s nearness. Jesus reveals God’s nearness. Angels eat to show us they are real. Jesus eats with us to show us He is ours. The spiritual touches the physical because God refuses to be far away. Heaven has come down to earth, and Christ sits at our table.

When the Apostle Paul spoke about redemption, he used the Greek word ἀπολύτρωσις (apolýtrōsis), which literally means “release by paying a ransom price.” In ancient Greek culture, this could refer to freeing a slave, buying back captives, or paying off a debt to restore someone’s freedom. For Paul, this word carried a deeply spiritual meaning: Jesus Christ Himself is the ransom that liberates humanity from sin, death, and separation from God.

Redemption is not abstract or symbolic—it is a real act of liberation. Humanity stood captive under sin, unable to free itself. Imagine a prisoner who cannot pay the impossible bail set against him. Then, someone steps in—someone who owes nothing—and pays the full amount to secure his freedom. This mirrors what Jesus did for us. He entered into the “marketplace of humanity,” not merely forgiving sins, but buying back the soul itself and setting it free to belong wholly to God.

Paul emphasizes this in Ephesians 1:7:

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Redemption is both legal and relational. Legally, the debt of sin is paid; relationally, we are restored to God as His children. Consider a family whose home is about to be seized because they cannot pay their mortgage. Out of nowhere, a benefactor steps in and clears the debt entirely. The family keeps their home—not because they found the money, but because someone else bore the cost. This is exactly how Christ’s sacrifice removes the debt of sin, giving us legal freedom and restoring us to God’s care.

Imagine a slave in the ancient marketplace. She has no hope of purchase, yet a wealthy stranger buys her freedom and hands her a certificate saying, “You belong to no one now—go live free.” Like this slave, those redeemed in Christ are freed from the ownership of sin and restored to live as God intended. Every redeemed life carries the evidence of the ransom paid, the chains broken, and the personal relationship restored.

Or picture a king offering himself in exchange for prisoners captured during a war. He willingly takes their place so that they may walk out of captivity into safety. Christ did the same—He gave Himself as the ransom, taking the place of humanity so we could be freed. Redemption is a demonstration of God’s intentional love: we are chosen, bought, and restored, not because of our merit, but because of His sacrifice.

Finally, think of someone who has been wronged and enslaved by circumstances, yet another person steps in and fully restores them—clearing the debt, removing the chains, and giving them back dignity. Redemption is continuous—it begins the moment we accept Christ and continues as we live as children of God, fully aware that our liberation came at the highest cost.

In every aspect of life—legal, relational, spiritual—redemption is active and personal. It is not a distant or symbolic idea; it is a real, transformative transaction with eternal consequences. Jesus’ sacrifice paid for every chain, cleared every debt, and brought humanity back into the Father’s care, completely and wholly.

Introduction

Right after the first sin in Eden, God announced not only judgment, but hope. In Genesis 3:15, He said to the serpent:

“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.”

This one verse is the foundation of the spiritual battle that has run through all of history — from the garden to the cross to the final victory. It is also the first announcement of the Gospel.

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The Meaning of “Seed” in the Bible

The Hebrew word zera means:

1. Physical descendants – children and generations.
2. Spiritual descendants – those who carry the same nature, spirit, and allegiance.

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Thy Seed — The Serpent’s Offspring

“Thy seed” is not literal children of Satan. Scripture is clear: Satan is an angel (Ezekiel 28:14; Revelation 12:9), and angels do not marry or reproduce (Matthew 22:30). The seed of the serpent refers to those — both human and demonic — who take on his character: lying, rebelling, and resisting God’s will.

Jesus said in John 8:44:

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth…”

From Cain killing Abel (Genesis 4:8) to the religious leaders rejecting Christ, the serpent’s seed has always fought against the righteous. It’s like a poisonous vine that keeps spreading in the field, wrapping itself around every healthy plant it can find, trying to choke the life out of it.

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Her Seed — Eve’s Offspring

The “her” in Genesis 3:15 is Eve, not Mary. The promise was that from the line of Eve, one day the Redeemer would come — not through man’s seed, but by God’s miraculous power.

Some claim “her seed” means Jesus inherited sinful flesh from Mary. This is wrong for several reasons:

The prophecy is about the lineage starting from Eve — Mary is simply the vessel chosen for the virgin birth.

Luke 1:35 says the child conceived in Mary was by the Holy Ghost, and was called “holy” from the womb.

Hebrews 7:26 describes Jesus as “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.”

“Seed” here refers to promised offspring, not the transmission of sin.

Pharaoh’s war against Israel in Exodus is a picture of the serpent’s hatred for the woman’s seed — a constant effort to keep God’s people in bondage. Yet just as God delivered Israel with a mighty hand, Christ delivers His people from Satan’s power.

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The Heel and the Head

The serpent would bruise the heel — a wound that hurts but doesn’t kill. This points to Christ’s suffering on the cross.
The woman’s seed would crush the serpent’s head — a mortal, final blow — fulfilled in Christ’s death, resurrection, and ultimate victory (Colossians 2:15).

David’s defeat of Goliath mirrors this — one strike to the head ended the enemy’s reign of terror. The serpent’s reign ends when the promised seed strikes.

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The Ongoing War

The war between the two seeds continues: temptation, persecution, and deception are the serpent’s weapons. But Christ’s followers — as part of the woman’s seed — overcome by faith, obedience, and the Word of God.

In the wilderness temptation (Matthew 4:1–11), Satan tried to bruise the heel of the promised seed with lies, but Jesus crushed his attacks with the truth of Scripture. That same victory is now available to us.

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Conclusion

Genesis 3:15 is the first announcement of the Gospel — a promise that from Eve’s line would come One who would destroy the serpent’s power. “Thy seed” is not literal children of Satan, because angels cannot reproduce. It refers to those who bear his rebellious nature. “Her seed” is not Mary in a fleshly sense, but the promised Redeemer through Eve’s lineage, born by the Spirit’s power. This war still rages, but the final victory belongs to Jesus Christ and all who are in Him.

In politics, diplomacy often preserves peace. It is the art of speaking carefully, balancing relationships, and avoiding offense. This skill has value when used to prevent unnecessary quarrels or to bridge cultural gaps.

But when diplomacy replaces truth in spiritual matters, it no longer preserves peace — it erodes it. What should be the sharp two-edged sword of God’s Word becomes a dull, polished stick, harmless to sin but also powerless to save.

I call this diplomatic spirituality — a faith that chooses silence over confrontation, softness over clarity, approval of people over approval of God.

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The Sea That Swallows Truth

Imagine the sea swallowing a fisherman’s net. The net is still there — whole and strong — but now tangled and useless under the waves.
Some believers and even Bible teachers are like that sea. They receive truth, hold it in their hearts, but when the moment comes to speak, they let it sink beneath vague words, cautious smiles, and calculated politeness.

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1. The Bible’s Clear Position

Jesus did not practice diplomatic spirituality.

When Peter tried to divert Him from the cross, Jesus said plainly, “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23).

When the Pharisees twisted God’s law, He didn’t cushion His words with compromise — He called them whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27).

Paul echoed this courage in Galatians 1:10:
“If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

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2. Examples — The Cost of Silence

Example 1
A young man drifted into alcoholism. His church friends noticed but chose not to confront him — fearing they might “push him away.” Years later, at his funeral, one whispered, “I wish I had said something when I saw the signs.” Their silence felt kind then, but it was cruelty in disguise.

Example 2
A Bible teacher was invited to speak at an interfaith event. To avoid controversy, he removed every mention of Jesus as the only way to salvation. The audience applauded his “inclusive message,” but heaven did not. He had pleased the crowd but misrepresented the King.

Example 3
In ancient Ethiopia, a court adviser knew the king’s new law was unjust and against God’s principles. Yet, because the king favored him and provided generously, he kept quiet. When the kingdom descended into chaos from injustice, his silence contributed to the ruin.

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3. Real-Life Examples — When Diplomacy Becomes Dangerous

A pastor avoids preaching about repentance because wealthy donors might feel targeted.

A church leader hears false teaching from a guest speaker but stays silent to avoid embarrassing them.

A Christian counselor sees a young couple in sexual sin but says only, “Follow your heart,” instead of calling them to purity.

In every case, truth is sacrificed at the altar of comfort.

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4. Why It’s Dangerous

Diplomatic spirituality is dangerous because:

It avoids offense but also avoids correction.

It keeps peace temporarily but invites destruction eventually.

It wins human applause but risks God’s disapproval.

Proverbs 27:5 reminds us:
“Open rebuke is better than hidden love.”

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5. The Balance of Truth and Love

Speaking truth is not a license to be harsh. Jesus could call Pharisees whitewashed tombs yet speak tenderly to the woman caught in adultery. The secret is in Ephesians 4:15 — “Speak the truth in love.”

Truth without love is cruelty.
Love without truth is deception.
Truth spoken in love is salvation.

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6. A Challenge to the Reader

Ask yourself:

Have I kept quiet when God wanted me to speak?

Have I watered down truth to avoid losing relationships?

Do I fear people’s reaction more than I fear God’s silence?

If so, remember: God did not call you to be a spiritual diplomat who negotiates truth. He called you to be His ambassador — to speak the message of the King faithfully, even when it stings.

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Final Thought

Diplomatic spirituality might save face today, but it will not save souls tomorrow. Silence in the face of error is agreement with it. Love is not the absence of offense — love is the courage to tell the truth, even when it costs you.

Let us be people who love enough to speak, wise enough to know when to speak, and bold enough to never bury truth beneath the waves of politeness.

There are moments in history, Scripture, and life where the natural order bends—not because it fails, but because the One who wrote it steps in. Laws—whether universal, spiritual, or man-made—are not self-existent. They exist because a Lawgiver set them in place. And when the Lawgiver speaks, even the law itself obeys.

The laws of nature are constant. Gravity pulls. Fire burns. Water drowns. Time moves forward. But the One who made them is not bound by them—He governs them. When God intervenes, the impossible happens, not because the law breaks, but because the Author of the law overrides it for His purpose.

The law of biology says conception requires union, yet the virgin Mary conceived because the Spirit of God breathed life into her womb (Luke 1:34–35). The law of gravity says a man will sink on water, yet Peter walked on the waves at the command of Jesus (Matthew 14:28–29). The law of time says the sun must rise and set, yet at Joshua’s prayer, it paused for victory (Joshua 10:12–14). Nature says birds feed themselves, yet ravens carried bread and meat to Elijah by God’s order (1 Kings 17:4–6).

On the road, we all obey traffic lights—red means stop, green means go. But if a traffic officer stands in the intersection and waves you through on red, you move without argument. Why? Because the owner of the rule has the authority to suspend or override it. In the same way, when God steps into our lives, He can wave us forward when the system says “stop,” or hold us in place when everything says “go.”

Fire consumed countless sacrifices on Israel’s altars, yet when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, the flames lost their power because the Son of God walked with them (Daniel 3:27). Walls normally fall by siege or decay, yet Jericho’s walls collapsed at the sound of a trumpet and a shout, because God commanded it (Joshua 6:20). A dead body never brings life, yet when a man touched Elisha’s bones, he revived—because the Giver of life decided it so (2 Kings 13:21). Shadows move forward with the day, yet for Hezekiah, God made the shadow go backward as a sign of His promise (Isaiah 38:8).

Even in human affairs, we instinctively follow rules until a higher voice of authority directs otherwise. A judge enforces the law, but can also pardon—just as God pardons sinners, not because He ignores justice, but because He fulfills it through mercy. A captain trusts the set route of his ship, yet in a storm he changes course to save lives—just as God may alter the path we expect for the sake of our salvation. A teacher sets a test date, yet grants a sick student a new day—just as God delays or accelerates seasons for His people. A farmer expects harvest in due time, yet God can send rain early to bring an unexpected blessing. A king closes the bridge at night, yet commands it open for his child—just as our King opens doors no one can shut (Revelation 3:7).

Faith works on this very principle: the believer moves when the Creator speaks, even if every circumstance insists it’s impossible. Laws are real, but the Lawgiver is greater. And when His voice overrides the system, the system itself yields in obedience to Him.

Today, there’s a lot of confusion about what the church really is.
Some say the church is a building.
Some call it a house of prayer.
Some church leaders speak as if the church means “the leadership board” — saying things like, “The church has decided…” when they mean the elders or committee.

But if we go back to the Bible, we find something far deeper and more beautiful.

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The Biblical Word for Church

In the New Testament, the Greek word for church is ἐκκλησία (ekklesia), meaning “the called-out ones.” It’s not about bricks and mortar — it’s about people.

The early church was made up of believers redeemed by Jesus, called out of the world to live for God’s purposes.
📖 1 Peter 2:9 — “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”

When Saul persecuted the early church in Acts 8:3, he didn’t attack buildings. He attacked people.
For example, during Ethiopia’s Dergue regime, many church buildings were locked or heavily restricted. Yet Christians met quietly in homes, praying and worshiping together. The government could close the doors of the building, but it could not close the church — because the church was the people.

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The Church Is a Spiritual House

The Bible is very clear that the church is a living temple, made of people in whom God’s Spirit dwells.

📖 1 Peter 2:5 — “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…”
📖 Ephesians 2:21–22 — “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

The church is not built from stone, concrete, or wood — it’s built from redeemed hearts joined together by Christ. An example of this truth is seen in Acts 16, where Paul and Silas were imprisoned, yet at midnight they prayed and sang hymns to God. There were no pews, no pulpit, no stained glass — but the presence of God filled that place, and the jailer’s entire family came to faith. That prison cell became a living church because God’s people were there.

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What About the “House of Prayer”?

When Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13), He was quoting Isaiah 56:7 and referring to the temple in Jerusalem.

Biblically, “house of prayer” was the temple — a physical place for worship and sacrifice under the Old Covenant. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, God’s dwelling moved from a physical temple to His people (1 Corinthians 3:16).

The New Testament never formally calls the church “a house of prayer.” However, the church continues the function of prayer. The early believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). That’s why even when there is no official church building — such as during times of persecution in various nations — believers still gather and pray, proving that prayer is a vital ministry of the church, but not its definition.

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Why Some Say “The Church” When They Mean Leaders

In some churches, leaders speak as if “the church” is the leadership board or council. You may hear, “The church has decided to…” when in reality, a small group of elders or a committee made that choice.

This creates two problems:

1. It confuses authority with identity — the leadership may guide the church, but they are not the whole church.
2. It removes the congregation from being seen as the living body of Christ.

📖 1 Corinthians 12:27 — “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

For example, in one African town, church leaders decided to close the youth program and announced, “The church has decided to end it.” A young member asked, “When did we decide together?” That simple question reminded the leaders that the church is not just the boardroom — it is the whole family of believers.

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The Clear Truth

The church is not a building — it’s the people.

The church is not just the leaders — it’s the whole body of Christ.

The church is not originally called “house of prayer”, though prayer is one of its main purposes.

The church is God’s dwelling place, made of living stones, joined together in Christ.

📖 Matthew 18:20 — “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

If every building burned down tomorrow, the church would still live — because the church is not a place we go, it’s a life we live. It’s the redeemed people of God, carrying His presence wherever they go.

Psalm 8:4 asks a question that humbles the soul:
“What is man, that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You care for him?”

Man is fragile — like dust in the wind, easily broken, often tempted, here today and gone tomorrow. Yet, in God’s hands, this fragile being becomes a vessel for His glory. The mystery is this: God’s choice is not based on our strength, beauty, or performance. It is His will alone.

When He chooses, no one can stop Him. Not the devil, not people, not even our own reluctance.

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Chosen Without Our Choice

The Bible is full of stories of people chosen by God without asking for it:

Abraham – Living among idol worshippers, called to be the father of nations.

Moses – Hiding in the desert, sent to deliver Israel.

Jeremiah – Appointed before birth to be a prophet.

Mary – A village girl chosen to bear the Messiah.

Paul – Persecutor turned apostle.

Cyrus – A pagan king used to free Israel.

God’s choice is not a job application you fill; it is a divine appointment He writes in heaven.

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When Human Effort is Zero

Romans 9:16 says:
“So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.”

Peter fished all night and caught nothing — until Jesus said, “Cast your net on the right side.”
In a moment, his empty net overflowed.
Without God, effort is empty; with God, even emptiness becomes abundance.

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When God Chooses, No One Can Stop Him

Isaiah 14:27 declares:
“The LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him?”

God’s will overrides human plans, opposition, and fear.
When He seals your destiny, it is beyond the reach of any enemy.

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Our Response

When God chooses you, the best response is Mary’s:
“Be it unto me according to your word.”

Stop trying to earn the call — obey it.

Stop comparing — rejoice in God’s wisdom.

Stop resisting — rest in His plan.

Romans 11:29 reminds us:
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

If He has chosen you, it is final. His favor is unearned. His purpose is unstoppable.

The real question is: Will you accept His choice and walk in it, or resist and wrestle against it?

Chosen by God – Living Worthy of the Calling

When God chooses a person, it is never because they worked harder, prayed longer, or proved themselves better. The Bible says in Romans 9:16, “It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”

Abraham didn’t apply to be the father of nations. Moses didn’t volunteer to face Pharaoh. Mary didn’t request to carry the Messiah. Paul didn’t ask to be an apostle to the Gentiles. God’s choice is sovereign, free, and unstoppable.

But here is the danger: some people hear “God chose me” and think they can now relax, live carelessly, and do nothing. That’s not the biblical picture. God’s choice is not a license for laziness — it is a call to responsibility.

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The Responsibility of the Chosen

Ephesians 4:1 says: “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
Being chosen is like being invited to a royal banquet. You didn’t earn the invitation, but you are expected to come dressed in the royal garments the King provides. Refusing to prepare is dishonoring the King.

Jesus said in John 15:16: “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.”
If we are chosen, we must produce fruit in our lives: good works, transformed character, and service to others.

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Grace and Effort Working Together

Philippians 2:12–13 gives us balance:

“God works in you” — that’s His choice and His power.

“Work out your salvation” — that’s our responsibility to obey, grow, and persevere.

Grace is not permission to do nothing. Grace is the power to live differently.

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What God Expects from His Chosen People

Obedience – “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Faithfulness – “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Endurance – “…run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Holiness – “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

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Final Challenge

If God has chosen you:

Be humble — it’s His mercy, not your merit.

Be faithful — His choice is an appointment, not an award.

Be fruitful — the world should see the King through your life.

2 Peter 1:10 says: “Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

God’s choice is the beginning of the journey, not the end. Being chosen is a call to serve, not a license to sleep.

A Deep Revelation for Those Seeking to Understand

One of the most frequent and sincere questions people ask is:
“If Jesus is truly God, why did He eat, sleep, feel tired, and even die?”

At first glance, this seems like a contradiction. But when we carefully look into the Scriptures and how God works through revelation and manifestation, we find an answer so rich and beautiful that it humbles the heart.

God, who fills the heavens and the earth, cannot be limited by space or time. He is Spirit. And yet, out of love for humanity, He chose to be revealed in the form of a man—not to stop being who He is, but to dwell among us in a way we can touch, see, and follow.

The Scripture says:

“Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”
— 1 Timothy 3:16

Let’s unfold this mystery through some powerful real-life reflections.

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1. The President in the Village

A president of a wealthy nation wants to know how the poor in remote villages live. He doesn’t send a letter or just give aid. He puts on the clothes of a farmer, lives among them, eats their food, works with them, and even sleeps in their huts. The villagers wonder, “If he’s the president, why does he suffer like us?”
They don’t understand—he didn’t stop being president, he just came close in a way they could relate with.

Likewise, when God came in flesh, He didn’t stop being the Almighty. He simply clothed Himself in our form—eating, sleeping, walking, feeling pain—not because He was limited, but because He wanted to experience and redeem every part of our condition.

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2. The Sun and the Lightbulb

A bright sun powers a small lightbulb inside a tent through a solar panel. The villagers admire the light and say, “It’s so small—how can this be the mighty sun?”
But the lightbulb never claimed to be the whole sun. It only declared, “The sun is in me and works through me.”

Jesus said, “The Father that dwells in me, He does the works” (John 14:10).
He ate, slept, prayed—not because He lacked power—but because the visible form was a vessel, a tabernacle, through which the invisible worked.

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3. The Pilot Disguised as a Passenger

A skilled pilot boards his own plane as a passenger to observe how the crew serves others. He goes through check-in, waits, gets served like others, and even shares snacks. A child notices him and says, “If he’s the captain, why isn’t he flying the plane?”

The child doesn’t know: the one sitting quietly is the same person who designed the flight plan.

When Jesus calmed the storm, forgave sins, and raised the dead, He revealed what only God can do. But when He wept or felt hunger, He showed that He truly walked our journey, not just observed it from heaven.

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4. The Artist in the Painting

Imagine an artist painting a beautiful scene. Suddenly, he decides to step into the painting to save a broken figure inside. The other painted figures ask, “Why are you limited like us now?”
He responds, “I stepped in to bring you out.”

That’s what Jesus did. He entered our timeline—not to be served, but to serve and save. His birth was real. His pain was real. His death was real. But His identity remained divine.

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5. The Fire in the Bush

When Moses saw the burning bush, it was aflame but not consumed. The fire—symbol of God’s presence—chose a lowly bush, not a majestic tree.
God said, “I am that I am.”

In the same way, when Jesus walked the earth, He chose a lowly form. He got tired, yet He gave rest to the weary. He hungered, yet He is the Bread of Life. He died, yet He rose in power.

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6. The King with a Towel

During a banquet, a mighty king takes off his royal robe, wraps a towel around his waist, and starts washing the feet of his servants. The guests are shocked. “How can he be king and serve like this?”

But that’s the very nature of his greatness. He stoops to lift.

Jesus knelt, washed feet, forgave failures, and was crucified—not because He lost His throne—but because His love was greater than our logic.

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7. The Seed That Must Die

A farmer holds a seed in his hand. It looks small and lifeless. But when it’s planted and dies in the ground, it rises as a tree full of fruit.

Jesus said,

“Except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.”
— John 12:24

His death wasn’t weakness. It was divine strategy for redemption.

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🌟 Final Thought

Jesus ate, slept, and died—not because He wasn’t God, but because He was fulfilling the greatest plan ever written. He chose the path of humility, so we could walk in glory. He entered our suffering, so He could bring us into His victory.

Let’s not stumble over His gentleness and miss His greatness.

“In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
— Colossians 2:9

He is the Almighty, revealed in a form we could see, hear, touch—and follow.

Life has a way of surprising us. Sometimes, it’s a gentle breeze of opportunity. Other times, it’s a sudden storm that shakes everything we thought was secure. But in all seasons — calm or chaotic — there is one unshakable truth: the quality of our life is shaped far more by the state of our mind than by the events we face.

Our mind is not just a container for thoughts; it’s the control center of our entire existence. It decides what we focus on, how we interpret events, and what actions we take. When we train and guard it well, it becomes a steady compass in unpredictable seas.

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The Power of Perspective

Two people can face the same challenge and end up with completely different results. Take James and Daniel, for example. They both lost their jobs on the same day. James decided it was the end for him; he withdrew from life and gave up searching for new opportunities. Daniel, though shaken, saw it as a doorway to something new. He invested time in learning new skills and stayed active in his search. Months later, he was thriving in a better role than before.

The situation was identical — but the mindset was worlds apart. This is the quiet power of perspective.

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The Field You Choose to Water

An old farmer once had two fields: one fertile, the other full of weeds. Each day he chose which one to water. The fertile field rewarded him with abundance; the weed‑filled field repaid him with overgrowth and trouble.

Our thoughts are exactly like that. Whatever we feed will grow. If we constantly water fear, resentment, and self‑doubt, they will spread until they choke our joy. But if we water gratitude, hope, and solutions, our inner life flourishes — and our outer life follows.

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Freedom in the Darkest Places

Viktor Frankl, a prisoner in a World War II camp, endured unimaginable suffering. Everything outside his control was stripped from him — his freedom, his possessions, even his health. Yet, he realized one powerful truth: no one could take away his ability to choose his thoughts. He chose to think about the people he loved, to imagine himself teaching students again, and to hold onto hope. Those thoughts kept him alive and gave his life meaning even in the darkest place.

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The Breakthrough That Almost Didn’t Happen

Two workers dug a tunnel from opposite sides of a mountain. For weeks, they saw no sign of progress. Villagers mocked them, saying they were wasting their time. Discouraged, they almost stopped — but pressed on for just a little longer. One morning, they finally broke through, only two meters from where they had almost quit.

How many times in life do we stop digging just before the moment of breakthrough?

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The Science of a Changed Mind

Modern science confirms what wisdom and experience have whispered for centuries: the mind is not fixed. Through a process called neuroplasticity, our brain physically changes depending on how we use it. Repeated patterns of thought strengthen certain neural pathways. If you consistently practice gratitude, hope, and problem‑solving, your brain becomes wired for those responses. This is why changing your thoughts changes your life — not just emotionally, but biologically.

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Training the Mind for a Better Life

No one is born with a perfectly disciplined mind. It’s something we build. And like any skill, it improves with practice:

Guard what you feed your mind — limit toxic influences, choose uplifting ones.

Practice gratitude — daily, deliberately, even for small things.

Challenge unhelpful thoughts — ask, “Is this thought helping me or harming me?”

Act on good ideas quickly — before fear talks you out of them.

Stay consistent — small, daily steps train the mind more than big, occasional efforts.

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Your Mind, Your Life

Your circumstances may not always be in your hands, but your perspective always is. The thoughts you choose today will quietly shape tomorrow’s reality.

So the real question isn’t, “What will happen to me?” but rather, “What will I decide to think about what happens?”

Train your mind, and you’ll discover that life changes — not because the world becomes easier, but because you become stronger.

When Africans worship, they don’t just sing. They live the song.
They don’t just preach. They proclaim like a story unfolding before your eyes.
They don’t just pray. They cry out, body and soul engaged in conversation with God.

This isn’t just a style. It’s a cultural heartbeat that has been beating for generations.

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1️⃣ Worship as a Whole‑Body Experience

In many African cultures, music, storytelling, and rhythm are inseparable from daily life. We clap when we rejoice, drum when we celebrate, sway when we sing, and respond aloud when a story touches our heart. Worship naturally flows from this way of life.

📜 Example: Ethiopian Orthodox Church

In Ethiopia, the Orthodox Church is centuries old, tracing back to the 4th century.

Chanting in Ge’ez — an ancient language of Scripture — is not just music but sacred history being sung.

Worshippers stand for hours, bow, kiss the cross, and chant together because the body is as involved as the soul.

The kebero drums, sistrum, and ceremonial movements aren’t “add-ons” — they are part of a holy tradition that shapes spiritual identity.

Even abroad, Orthodox believers often struggle to adapt to quieter, shorter services because their worship is tied to a long, reverent rhythm of sound, movement, and ancient chant.

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2️⃣ The Power of Testimony and Preaching

African preaching often combines biblical teaching with storytelling, proverbs, and vivid imagery. This reflects the oral tradition, where truth is passed down through stories rather than just written words.

📜 Example: Pentecostal Churches

In many African Pentecostal services:

Preaching is interactive — the congregation shouts “Amen!”, “Preach it!” or “Hallelujah!”

Stories of God’s deliverance are told with tears, laughter, and sometimes dramatic reenactments.

Music flows between the sermon and the altar call because in African thought, preaching is part of worship, not separate from it.

When African Pentecostals move abroad and encounter sermons read from a manuscript in a calm voice, they may feel as though something essential is missing — the fire.

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3️⃣ Worship as Community Life

In African worship, it’s rarely “me and God alone.” It’s “us and God together.”
Everyone participates — clapping, dancing, singing in harmony, praying aloud at the same time. This isn’t just for joy; it’s how African community works: shared emotion, shared faith, shared experience.

📜 Example: Rural Protestant Churches

In some rural African congregations, Sunday is more than worship — it’s the village’s weekly family gathering.

People walk long distances, dressed in their best.

Songs may last 10–15 minutes, with verses repeated until the whole room feels lifted into God’s presence.

Even the announcements are done joyfully, with thanksgiving and encouragement.

When members of these churches migrate, they may find themselves in a place where church feels formal and distant, with little chance to “join in.” This can feel spiritually isolating.

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4️⃣ Why Many Choose Culture Over Denomination Abroad

One of the most striking realities among African believers in the diaspora is that many do not simply attend the nearest church of their doctrinal background.
Instead, they seek out fellowships where their language is spoken and their cultural worship style is preserved.

For example:

An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian moving to a Western country may pass by several Orthodox churches of other ethnicities but will travel hours to attend one where the liturgy is in Amharic or Tigrinya.

A Ugandan Pentecostal in London may choose a Ugandan-founded church even though a Pentecostal church of the same belief is just around the corner — because the local one sings with the drums, dances in the same patterns, and preaches with the same lively passion they know from home.

A Congolese believer may prefer a Swahili- or Lingala-speaking church rather than an English-speaking one of the same faith, simply because worship in their heart language connects more deeply.

Why?
Because worship is not just belief — it is expression, identity, and comfort.
Hearing familiar songs, praying in your first language, eating with fellow countrymen after service — these things bring a sense of home that doctrine alone cannot provide.

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5️⃣ Cultural Influence Runs Deep

This choice is not a sign of spiritual immaturity; it’s a sign of how deeply faith and culture are intertwined in African life.
In Africa:

Faith is taught in your mother tongue.

Songs of worship often have the same rhythms as folk celebrations.

Testimonies use the same storytelling forms as community history.

When people move abroad, these familiar forms help them keep their faith alive and emotionally connected. Without them, faith can feel distant, even if the theology is the same.

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6️⃣ Biblical Foundations for Expressive Worship

The Bible itself shows worship as expressive, participatory, and communal:

Psalm 47:1 — “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”

Psalm 150 — drums, cymbals, dancing — all instruments and all people are called to praise.

2 Samuel 6:14 — David danced before the Lord with all his might.

Acts 2 — The early church worshipped together loudly, joyfully, and in unity.

African worship simply lives out these scriptures with cultural authenticity.

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7️⃣ A Story to Tie It Together

I once met an Ethiopian Orthodox believer who had been living in Europe for five years. He told me:

“When I go to church here, my lips say the prayers, but my heart feels far away. In Ethiopia, I smell the incense, I hear the kebero drums, I chant in Ge’ez, and my soul says, ‘This is home.’”

Similarly, a Ugandan Pentecostal pastor shared:

“Abroad, they told me to keep my sermon to 15 minutes. I tried. But the Word in me is like fire in my bones — I cannot keep quiet.”

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8️⃣ Final Thought

African worship is not just a way of worshiping. It is a language of the soul.
It carries history, identity, and the heartbeat of a people who believe God deserves all the body, all the voice, and all the emotion.

Wherever Africans go — whether in Addis Ababa, Kampala, London, or Toronto — they carry that worship with them. It may clash with local styles, but it remains a living testimony that worship is not just about method… it’s about heart and heritage.

Key Scripture:

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
— John 4:23–24

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1. Understanding Worship in Spirit

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He broke a centuries-old mindset. People believed worship was tied to a place (Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim) and a ritual (sacrifices, festivals, traditions). Jesus said worship would no longer be about location or tradition — but about connection.

To worship in spirit means:

Worship flows from your inner being, not just your lips.

It is led by the Holy Spirit, not human performance.

It is genuine and God-focused, not about impressing people.

It is a daily posture, not a Sunday-only event.

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2. Why Many Equate Shouting, Dancing, and Volume with Worship

Across cultures — especially in passionate, expressive societies — worship is often demonstrated through:

Loud singing or preaching

Dancing with joy

Shouting “Hallelujah!” or “Amen!”

Intense drumming and music

These are not wrong in themselves — David danced before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14), and people shouted in victory at Jericho (Joshua 6:20).
The danger is when people equate the volume and activity with the measure of spirituality.

Someone can shout and dance without truly connecting to God in their heart — and another person can worship silently, yet be deeply in God’s presence.
Volume is expression; the spirit is connection.

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3. Emotion vs Spirit in Worship

Emotion Spirit

Comes from human feelings Comes from God’s presence
Can be stirred by music or atmosphere Inspired by the Holy Spirit
May fade quickly after service Leaves lasting change
May be driven by crowd energy Rooted in personal intimacy with God

Emotion is a gift — God made us to feel joy, tears, excitement — but it is not the foundation. True worship begins in the spirit, and emotion may follow.

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4. Three Stories that Reveal the Difference

Story 1 – The Loud Church
A young woman attended a church known for its loud music, dancing, and shouting. She enjoyed the energy but often left feeling empty. One day, a guest preacher spoke softly but with deep conviction. She found herself in tears, convicted to change her life. She realized the Spirit had touched her in a way the noise never had.

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Story 2 – The Silent Room
In a small prayer meeting, there was no music — only people kneeling quietly. At first, it felt awkward. But soon, the silence was filled with a sense of God’s presence so strong that people began whispering prayers, repenting, and weeping softly. It was proof that God doesn’t need noise to speak — He needs an open heart.

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Story 3 – The Dancing Man
David danced before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14) when the Ark was brought to Jerusalem. His wife criticized him, thinking it was undignified. But David said, “I will celebrate before the Lord… I will become even more undignified than this.”
David’s dancing wasn’t for show — it was from a heart of gratitude and love for God. This is the difference: dancing in the Spirit vs dancing for the crowd.

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5. Speaking and Preaching in Spirit

The Bible clearly shows that Spirit-led speaking is biblical:

Acts 4:31 — The apostles spoke the word with boldness after being filled with the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:4 — Paul’s preaching was not with human wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and power.

Mark 13:11 — Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would give words to speak in critical moments.

Speaking in Spirit means:

Praying before you speak, asking God to lead your words.

Allowing the Spirit to guide your tone and direction.

Speaking truth even when it’s uncomfortable, because the Spirit gives boldness.

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6. How to Worship in Spirit, Not Just Emotion
7. Begin with Prayer — Invite the Holy Spirit before singing, dancing, or speaking.
8. Focus on God’s Presence — Whether loud or quiet, direct your heart to Him.
9. Let Scripture Guide You — Spirit and Truth go hand-in-hand.
10. Avoid Comparing Styles — God receives worship in many forms.
11. Seek Connection, Not Performance — God desires your heart, not your show.

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7. Final Encouragement

You can worship with tears, with shouts, with dance, or in silent awe. But remember — it’s not how high you jump; it’s how deep you bow in your heart.

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” — John 6:63

Whether you are speaking, singing, or dancing — let it be Spirit-born. Because the Father is still seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

One of the most thought‑provoking questions in Bible study is:

When the Word became flesh, did He take that flesh from Mary, or did God create it in a completely unique way?

At first, it might sound like a fine point of theology, but it is more than a biological curiosity. It is connected to a much deeper subject — the doctrine of original sin and the nature of salvation itself.

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Why This Question Comes Up

The central issue is not simply about Mary — it is about the nature of sin and how it touches every person.

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If Original Sin Exists

This view teaches that all people inherit a sinful condition from Adam at the moment of conception.

This would mean even newborn infants — though innocent in actions — are born under the shadow of sin and in need of redemption.

Example: Imagine a poisoned spring. Every drop of water from it carries the poison, no matter how clear it looks. If human nature is like that poisoned spring, then everyone born from it inherits the poison — unless God works a miracle to purify it.

Therefore, if Jesus received His flesh directly from Mary and if she shared in Adam’s corrupted nature, some argue that He would have inherited the same condition unless His flesh was created in a separate and holy way.

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If Original Sin Does Not Exist

This view teaches that sin is not inherited but chosen.

Infants are born innocent; they only become sinners when they personally choose to disobey God.

Example: Think of a blank notebook. Nothing is written in it at birth. Sin is like writing wrong stories in that notebook — it happens later, by personal choice.

In this understanding, Jesus could receive His flesh from Mary without any problem, because birth itself does not transmit sin. His perfect holiness came from the fact that He never sinned.

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What the Bible Clearly Says

The Bible does not give a biological explanation of how Jesus’ flesh was formed, but it makes three truths crystal clear:

1. The Word became flesh – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

He did not merely appear to be human. He truly entered our world in flesh and blood, yet in a manner unique and holy.

2. His conception was supernatural – “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:35).

His entrance into the world was by divine action, not by the will of man.

3. He was entirely without sin – “…yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

However His flesh was given, it was pure, holy, and free from sin.

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Why It Matters

If original sin is real:

We must explain how Jesus could truly be in the flesh and yet remain sinless.

The question reaches beyond Jesus to include infants, the meaning of redemption, and the very heart of salvation.

If original sin is not real:

The urgency of this debate fades, but it still inspires awe at the mystery of the Incarnation.

It reminds us that Jesus’ sinlessness flows from His perfect obedience and divine nature, not simply from the source of His flesh.

---

Two Illustrations to Help Us Picture This

1. The Royal Bloodline Illustration
   Imagine a royal family with a hereditary disease. Every child born into the family will carry the disease unless the chain is broken.

If sin is inherited like that disease, then Jesus’ flesh must have been formed in a way that completely broke the chain.

2. The Garden Soil Illustration
   Plant a seed in contaminated soil, and the plant will carry the effects of that soil. But plant it in clean soil, and it will grow pure.

If birth itself does not pass on sin, then Jesus could take His flesh from Mary and still be holy.

---

The Unshakable Truth

Whether one believes His flesh came directly from Mary or was uniquely created apart from her, one truth stands firm:

Jesus Christ became flesh — truly and fully — yet remained perfectly holy.
His flesh was the very vessel prepared for the cross, through which salvation came to the world.

The mystery of His flesh is not meant to stir endless quarrels, but to lead us into deeper worship of the One who “took part of the same” so that through His death He could destroy the one who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).

---

📦 Original Sin in Brief

Definition: The belief that all humans inherit a sinful condition from Adam as part of their nature.

Key Verse Used: “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men” (Romans 5:12).

Implication: Even infants are considered under the curse of sin, needing God’s redemption.

Alternative View: Sin is not inherited but chosen; infants are born innocent and only become sinners when they knowingly choose wrong.

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💡 Why This Discussion Still Matters Today

1. It Shapes How We View Infants and Childhood
   If original sin exists, even the smallest child is in need of redemption from birth. If it doesn’t, children are innocent until they choose wrong.
2. It Affects How We Understand Salvation
   Is salvation simply about forgiving individual acts, or also about cleansing a condition we were born with?
3. It Deepens Our Wonder at the Incarnation
   Whether His flesh was from Mary or specially created, Jesus stands as the only One who entered our world in flesh yet without sin — a mystery that should fill us with awe.
4. It Reminds Us of the Holiness of Christ
   The method of His flesh’s creation matters less than the result: a perfectly pure Savior who could bear the sins of the world.

---

---

This view teaches that all people inherit a sinful condition from Adam at the moment of conception.

---

If Original Sin Does Not Exist

This view teaches that sin is not inherited but chosen.

Infants are born innocent; they only become sinners when they personally choose to disobey God.

Example: Think of a blank notebook. Nothing is written in it at birth. Sin is like writing wrong stories in that notebook — it happens later, by personal choice.

In this understanding, Jesus could receive His flesh from Mary without any problem, because birth itself does not transmit sin. His perfect holiness came from the fact that He never sinned.

---

What the Bible Clearly Says

The Bible does not give a biological explanation of how Jesus’ flesh was formed, but it makes three truths crystal clear:

1. The Word became flesh – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

He did not merely appear to be human. He truly entered our world in flesh and blood, yet in a manner unique and holy.

2. His conception was supernatural – “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:35).

His entrance into the world was by divine action, not by the will of man.

3. He was entirely without sin – “…yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

However His flesh was given, it was pure, holy, and free from sin.

---

Why It Matters

If original sin is real:

We must explain how Jesus could truly be in the flesh and yet remain sinless.

The question reaches beyond Jesus to include infants, the meaning of redemption, and the very heart of salvation.

If original sin is not real:

The urgency of this debate fades, but it still inspires awe at the mystery of the Incarnation.

It reminds us that Jesus’ sinlessness flows from His perfect obedience and divine nature, not simply from the source of His flesh.

---

Two Illustrations to Help Us Picture This

1. The Royal Bloodline Illustration
   Imagine a royal family with a hereditary disease. Every child born into the family will carry the disease unless the chain is broken.

If sin is inherited like that disease, then Jesus’ flesh must have been formed in a way that completely broke the chain.

2. The Garden Soil Illustration
   Plant a seed in contaminated soil, and the plant will carry the effects of that soil. But plant it in clean soil, and it will grow pure.

If birth itself does not pass on sin, then Jesus could take His flesh from Mary and still be holy.

---

The Unshakable Truth

Whether one believes His flesh came directly from Mary or was uniquely created apart from her, one truth stands firm:

Jesus Christ became flesh — truly and fully — yet remained perfectly holy.
His flesh was the very vessel prepared for the cross, through which salvation came to the world.

The mystery of His flesh is not meant to stir endless quarrels, but to lead us into deeper worship of the One who “took part of the same” so that through His death He could destroy the one who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).

---

📦 Original Sin in Brief

Definition: The belief that all humans inherit a sinful condition from Adam as part of their nature.

Key Verse Used: “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men” (Romans 5:12).

Implication: Even infants are considered under the curse of sin, needing God’s redemption.

Alternative View: Sin is not inherited but chosen; infants are born innocent and only become sinners when they knowingly choose wrong.

---

💡 Why This Discussion Still Matters Today

1. It Shapes How We View Infants and Childhood
   If original sin exists, even the smallest child is in need of redemption from birth. If it doesn’t, children are innocent until they choose wrong.
2. It Affects How We Understand Salvation
   Is salvation simply about forgiving individual acts, or also about cleansing a condition we were born with?
3. It Deepens Our Wonder at the Incarnation
   Whether His flesh was from Mary or specially created, Jesus stands as the only One who entered our world in flesh yet without sin — a mystery that should fill us with awe.
4. It Reminds Us of the Holiness of Christ
   The method of His flesh’s creation matters less than the result: a perfectly pure Savior who could bear the sins of the world.

---

If you want, Hana, I can make this even more expandable by adding a diagram showing the two main views side‑by‑side:

Original Sin Exists → diagram of how it could work for Jesus.

Original Sin Does Not Exist → diagram of how it could work for Jesus.

Many people believe the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has always been exactly the way we see it today. But history reveals a deeper journey — one that began through Egyptian influence and later developed into a distinct Ethiopian Church.

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🏛️ The Beginning: Egyptian Connection

When Christianity came to Ethiopia in the 4th century, it was not through an independent Ethiopian movement. It came through Alexandria, Egypt — a center of early Christian teaching.

Frumentius, a Syrian Christian, helped convert King Ezana of Aksum.

After Ezana’s conversion, Frumentius went to Egypt and was ordained by the Patriarch of Alexandria (Coptic Pope).

From then on, every head bishop (Abune) in Ethiopia was sent from Egypt, for over 1,600 years!

📌 This shows that Ethiopian Orthodoxy was under the spiritual authority of the Egyptian Church for centuries.

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🧭 How Deep Was Egyptian Influence?

1. Doctrine & Theology:
   The Ethiopian Church adopted Miaphysite Christology (Jesus has one united divine-human nature), the same as the Coptic Orthodox Church.
2. Bishop Appointments:

All Ethiopian bishops were appointed and ordained by the Coptic Pope until 1959.

Ethiopians could not appoint their own Patriarch.

3. Liturgy & Calendar:

Ethiopian practices reflect some Alexandrian Church models, like the fasting periods, the festivals, and the liturgical structure (though adapted into Ge’ez and local customs).

4. Church Law and Structure:

The Ethiopian Church followed the Alexandrian canons, with Egyptian influence on church order, clergy structure, and monastic life.

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🕊️ Ethiopian Independence (1959): A New Chapter

In 1959, under Emperor Haile Selassie, Ethiopia finally received the right to appoint its own Patriarch — Abune Basilios became the first native Ethiopian head of the Church.

Since then, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has been autocephalous (independent), with full control over its leadership and decisions.

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⚖️ So Is Ethiopian Orthodoxy Egyptian?

👉 Historically, yes — in origin and early structure.
But over time, Ethiopian Orthodoxy developed:

Its own language of worship (Ge’ez)

Unique saints, holy books, and fasting rules

Strong Ethiopian cultural identity

Distinctive architecture, music, and traditional beliefs

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✍️ Final Thoughts

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church began as a branch under the Egyptian Coptic Church, but it became a living symbol of Ethiopian spirituality and independence.
It is one of the oldest Christian institutions in the world — African in soul, influenced by Egypt, and uniquely Ethiopian.

Many people today confuse ancient Christian terms with modern institutions. Let’s clarify the history and meaning behind names like Orthodox, Catholic, and Apostolic — and how they differ from today’s religious groups.

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📌 1. The First Church Had No Denomination

When Christianity began after the resurrection of Jesus (around 33 AD), there were no Catholics, no Orthodox, and no Protestants. The early followers of Christ were simply called:

Believers

Disciples

The Way (Acts 9:2)

Christians (Acts 11:26)

This first church was apostolic — meaning it followed the teachings of the apostles — but it was not yet called Apostolic Church as a denomination.

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📌 2. The Term Catholic Was First Used in the 2nd Century

The word “Catholic” means “universal”. It was first used by Ignatius of Antioch around 110 AD to describe the whole body of Christ’s followers across different cities.

⚠️ It did not refer to the Roman Catholic Church as it exists today.

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📌 3. The Word Orthodox Also Came Later

The word “Orthodox” means “right belief” or “correct worship”. It was used to defend the teachings of the early Church against heresies.

But the Eastern Orthodox Church (as a separate branch) officially took form after the Great Schism in 1054 AD, when:

The Western Church became Roman Catholic

The Eastern Church became Eastern Orthodox

This means: ✅ The early Church was apostolic and holy
❌ But it was not called “Orthodox Church” or “Catholic Church” as institutions.

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📌 4. Ethiopia’s Church: Unique in History

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has a special path:

Christianity entered Ethiopia in the 4th century during King Ezana’s reign (around 330 AD), through Frumentius (Abba Selama) from Egypt.

At that time, Ethiopia became one of the first Christian nations.

But this church was connected to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt (which also wasn’t called “Orthodox” in modern sense yet).

Ethiopia received independence in 1959, appointing its own Patriarch.

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📌 5. Ethiopian Orthodox ≠ Other Orthodox Churches

Even though they all use the word “Orthodox”, they differ:

Eastern Orthodox Churches (like Greek or Russian) follow the Chalcedonian tradition.

Ethiopian, Egyptian, Armenian, and Eritrean Orthodox Churches are part of the Oriental Orthodox family, which rejected the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD).

So, Ethiopian Orthodoxy is: ✅ Apostolic in root
✅ Linked with Egypt
✅ Independent in leadership (since 1959)
❌ Not the same as Greek or Russian Orthodox
❌ Not like the Catholic Church in theology or structure

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📌 6. The Ethiopian Eunuch Was Not Orthodox

The Ethiopian eunuch baptized in Acts 8 by Philip was not part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church — because it didn’t exist yet.

He was a New Testament Christian, just like the other apostles and early disciples.

The organized structure of Ethiopian Christianity came 300 years later, under King Ezana.

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✅ Conclusion:

The first Church was simply Christian — based on faith in Christ and apostolic teaching, not church buildings or formal names.

The terms Catholic, Orthodox, and Apostolic came later to defend beliefs — but have since evolved into different denominations.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is historically rich, but not the same as the ancient Church of Acts — just as Catholics and Protestants aren’t.

“They claim they are the true Church—but their faith, life, and fruit do not match the apostles.”
— Inspired by Matthew 7:21, Acts 2, and Jude 1:3

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🔍 INTRODUCTION

In the beginning, there was one Church, founded by Jesus Christ and led by the apostles. It had no denominations, no division, no political power, no false doctrines.
Today, many religious groups call themselves:

Orthodox

Catholic

Apostolic

But the question is not what they call themselves — the question is:

❓Do they live, teach, and believe like the apostles of Christ?

Let us examine each one carefully.

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1️⃣ ORTHODOX — “Right Faith”?

🕊️ THEN (Early Church):

Held correct doctrine based on the apostles’ teaching

Opposed heresies like Arianism and Gnosticism

Walked in power, humility, and holiness

Believed in one united nature of Christ (like Tewahedo)

🏛️ NOW:

🔸 Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Preserves many ancient truths: fasting, Sabbath, Ge’ez liturgy, reverence, modesty

Still rejects the Council of Chalcedon, keeping Miaphysite doctrine (Tewahedo = united nature)

Emphasizes saints, angels, Mary, and holy tradition

However:

Some believers rely on rituals more than repentance

Few read the Bible personally

There are areas of idolatry, where holy objects or saints are over-honored

Some priests and churches are spiritually lukewarm, politically aligned, or materialistic

🔸 Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian, etc.)

Strong in tradition and beauty of worship

But follow Chalcedonian doctrine (different from Ethiopia)

Reject the Pope

Often struggle with spiritual pride, coldness, and national politics

✅ Truth: The word “Orthodox” means right faith, but many today do not live according to apostolic simplicity and power.

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2️⃣ CATHOLIC — “Universal Church”?

🕊️ THEN:

The term “Catholic” was first used around 110 AD by Ignatius of Antioch.

It meant universal — the one worldwide Church of Christ

Before division, all true believers were part of this universal body

🏛️ NOW:

🔸 Roman Catholic Church

Follows the Pope as supreme authority

Believes in doctrines added centuries later, such as:

Papal infallibility

Purgatory

Immaculate Conception of Mary

Praying to saints

Indulgences

In some places, priests live in luxury, and the Church is tied to political power

Many believers are baptized as babies but live without personal repentance or rebirth

✅ Truth: While Roman Catholicism claims apostolic roots, its doctrines, leadership, and power structures have drifted far from the early Church.

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3️⃣ APOSTOLIC — “Sent by Christ”?

🕊️ THEN:

The apostles were:

Holy, bold, persecuted, humble

Preachers of truth, not entertainers

Filled with the Holy Spirit, doing miracles

Builders of people, not empires

📖 Acts 2:42–47 — They lived in unity, shared everything, prayed constantly, and preached repentance.

🏛️ NOW:

🔸 Many “Apostolic” Churches Today

Call themselves “Apostolic,” but:

Focus on titles, money, and church business

Preach prosperity, not holiness

Are filled with emotional show, but no real transformation

Many “apostles” today are not sent by God, but by ego or money

✅ Truth: To be apostolic is not to have a title — it is to walk in the Spirit of the apostles, preaching truth without fear, living holy without excuse.

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💡 4️⃣ THE TRUE CHURCH — BEYOND NAMES

The true Church of Christ is not defined by:

Title: “Orthodox”, “Catholic”, or “Apostolic”

Building size

Government recognition

History alone

It is defined by:

🔥 Truth, holiness, love, humility, and the power of the Holy Spirit

✅ Jesus said:

“You will know them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:16)

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🔚 CONCLUSION: “Let Everyone Examine Themselves”

Many churches carry ancient names, but have abandoned the apostolic faith.

Today, the true Church may be:

In houses, prisons, underground movements

Among the poor, the rejected, the hungry for truth

Not famous, but faithful

Not rich, but righteous

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🧾 FINAL MESSAGE:

“The first Church is our pattern. Let us return to the fire of Acts, not the form of religion.”
“Don’t be deceived by names — seek the truth, walk in the Spirit, and follow Christ in full surrender.”

In a world bursting with beliefs, opinions, and emotional experiences, we often pride ourselves on “seeking truth.” But pause for a moment and ask:
Are we truly pursuing truth—or are we clinging to what feels familiar, comforting, or culturally acceptable?

1. Truth vs. Comfort

It’s tempting to embrace beliefs that give us peace, security, or identity. But truth is not always comfortable.
A God who calls for repentance, sacrifice, and change doesn’t always feel “good” to our emotions. Truth can disturb us before it sets us free. As Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). But freedom often comes after discomfort.

Story: The Rich Young Ruler

A wealthy young man came to Jesus, seeking eternal life. But when Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow Him, the man walked away sorrowful. He wasn’t ready for truth—he wanted a path that didn’t cost him comfort or status.
Sometimes the truth demands what we’re not ready to surrender.

2. The Identity Trap

We often inherit religion from culture or family. It becomes a part of who we are, not necessarily what we’ve tested. So, are we loyal to truth—or just loyal to tribe?

Story: Paul the Apostle

Before meeting Christ, Paul (then Saul) was convinced he was defending the truth by persecuting Christians. But his zeal was rooted in tradition, not truth. When confronted by Jesus, he radically changed, despite the cost to his identity.
Real truth challenges everything, even our religious pride.

3. Comfort or Conviction?

Are we using faith as a blanket to soothe us—or as a light to expose us?

Story: The Samaritan Woman

She had theological questions, but Jesus went deeper—into her hidden life and personal pain. She realized truth isn’t about debating mountains or temples—it’s about facing the reality of our hearts. And in that moment, she met the Messiah.

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Final Reflection

Truth doesn’t always affirm us. It refines us.
Comfort may soothe the present, but only truth saves the soul.

As you reflect today, ask yourself honestly:
Am I seeking truth—even when it hurts? Or am I just seeking a god who agrees with me?

This is one of the most difficult and emotionally loaded questions in theology, philosophy, and human experience. After all, if heaven is a place of perfect peace, love, and joy—and if God is truly good—why wouldn’t He let everyone in?

Let’s go deeper, thoughtfully and honestly.

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🌿 1. God Doesn’t Send People to Hell—People Choose It

Heaven isn’t just a destination; it’s a relationship with God. Imagine someone who’s spent their entire life rejecting God—His ways, His love, and His truth. Now, suppose that person stands before God and is offered eternity in His presence. Would that feel like heaven—or hell?

C.S. Lewis put it powerfully:

“The gates of hell are locked from the inside.”

Hell, in this understanding, is not God’s cruelty, but the tragic consequence of free will—God honoring the choices of people who didn’t want Him.

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🔥 2. Love Requires Freedom—Even the Freedom to Reject

If everyone were automatically allowed into heaven, it would cancel the gift of free will. True love requires the option to say “no.” God doesn’t force anyone to love Him, worship Him, or follow Him. If He did, that wouldn’t be love—it would be control.

God desires genuine connection, not robotic compliance. Those who spend eternity apart from God do so not because He didn’t want them, but because they didn’t want Him.

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🧭 3. Heaven Is Not Just a Place—It’s a Prepared People

A loving, just, and holy God cannot simply allow evil, rebellion, and sin to enter a place of eternal perfection. Would you want a heaven where cruelty, lies, injustice, and pride are also present?

Heaven is not for the “perfect,” but for the forgiven—those who have accepted the transforming grace of God. Jesus said:

“I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)
But He also prepares you for that place.

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📖 Story: The Wedding Guest Who Refused the Clothes

Jesus once told a parable (Matthew 22) about a king who invited many to a wedding. One guest came, but refused to wear the wedding garment provided for him. The king didn’t throw him out because he was unworthy—but because he refused the gift that made him worthy.

God offers grace freely—but not everyone receives it.

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🙋‍♂️ Final Thought:

The question is not, “Why would a good God send people to hell?” but rather:
Why do people reject a good God who offers heaven freely through Jesus Christ?

Heaven is God’s home—but also a choice. And it begins with a relationship, not just a reward.

It seems strange at first. Why would a vast, eternal, all-powerful God care whether a person told a lie, ate certain foods, or spoke harshly? After all, aren’t these things too small for an infinite Being to notice?

But consider this:

🧠 1. Small things reveal the heart.

Jesus said in Luke 16:10:

“Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much…”

In other words, small actions reflect deep truths about our character. A parent notices a child’s tone of voice or choice of words not because they’re petty, but because it reflects what’s going on in their heart. Likewise, God cares not just about what we do—but why we do it.

A lie may be “small,” but it can shatter trust. A careless word can wound deeply. A single decision in secret can reshape someone’s destiny.

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🏛️ 2. God is not only powerful—He is holy.

Holiness means perfection in love, justice, and truth.
God’s standard isn’t about big vs. small, but about right vs. wrong, life vs. death, truth vs. deception. A God who ignored “small sins” would not be truly holy.

Imagine a judge who says, “Well, it was just a little theft,” or “Just a little abuse.” We would say that judge is corrupt.

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🫀 3. Human life is sacred in all parts.

The Bible teaches we are made in God’s image. That means every part of our lives—body, soul, mind, spirit—matters to Him.
What we eat, how we speak, how we treat our bodies or others—all of it connects to our worship and our witness.

Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

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📖 A Simple Story:

A man once worked in a palace kitchen. One day, the king walked in and asked, “Why are you so careful to wash even the smallest herb leaf before preparing my food?”

The cook answered, “Because you are my king, and your table deserves nothing careless, even in the smallest details.”

The king smiled. “That’s why I trust you with greater things.”

In the same way, the “small” details of our lives can be our way of honoring the One who watches in love.

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💡 In Short:

God cares because He sees the heart.

Holiness includes every detail.

Our choices shape us and others.

“Small” things can become eternal seeds.

a Holy and Just God?

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” – Matthew 7:15

This question shakes the hearts of many. People are wounded not by God, but by those who claim to represent Him. The contradiction is painful: how can someone preach humility, honesty, and holiness—yet live in greed, dishonor, and indulgence?

Let’s dig in, honestly and spiritually.

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🔥 1. God Does Not Approve of Corruption, Even from Religious Leaders

From the days of Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 2:12–17) to the Pharisees in Jesus’ time (Matthew 23), Scripture shows us that not all who wear the robe are righteous. God rebukes spiritual leaders who misuse their position.

God is not silent. He judges corruption—even if the judgment is delayed.
Judgment delayed is not judgment denied.

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🧠 2. Free Will Includes Preachers Too

Just like everyone else, pastors, priests, and prophets have the freedom to choose between right and wrong. God doesn’t force them to walk righteously. Many begin well but fall into pride or greed.

“Let the one who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” – 1 Corinthians 10:12

God doesn’t override their will. He gives warnings, sends convictions, even raises voices against them—but some choose power over purity.

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📜 3. People Often Follow Charisma Over Character

In 2 Timothy 4:3, Paul warns:

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

People sometimes elevate leaders based on gifts (preaching, healing, etc.) rather than fruit (love, humility, justice). The crowd may support corruption by blindly following without discernment.

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📖 4. Jesus Already Warned Us This Would Happen

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom… I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” – Matthew 7:21–23

Many false ministers will preach in His name, but their hearts are far from Him. We are not to be shocked, but to be watchful, discerning, and grounded in the Word.

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✍️ Three Realistic Stories (Inspired and Reflective)

🧍‍♂️1. The Famous Prophet

He filled stadiums, prophesied accurately, and performed miracles. But he also abused his followers, demanded money for blessings, and lived in luxury while his congregation starved. Years later, hidden affairs and money scandals were exposed. Many left the faith—not because God failed—but because their faith was in the man, not the Master.

👩‍⚖️2. The Simple Woman

She lived in a poor village, quietly serving God, helping widows, and teaching children. A nearby preacher mocked her for not “sowing seeds” to his church. But her life bore fruits of love, joy, and peace. She died unknown—but heaven rejoiced. The true servants are often unseen by men but honored by God.

🧑‍🎓3. The Young Seeker

A university student saw pastors driving luxury cars, while church members were told to “give sacrificially.” Disillusioned, he turned to atheism. But later, a mentor challenged him to read the Gospels. There, he saw Jesus—humble, poor, yet powerful. He realized: Jesus is not defined by those who misuse His name.

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🙏 Final Reflection:

God will judge all injustice—including that which happens in His name. Don’t let the counterfeit keep you from the real Christ. The Church has failures, yes, but Jesus remains pure.

Test the spirit. Follow the fruit. Worship the Lord—not the man with the microphone.

This question sits at the edge of mystery, pain, and theology.

“If God is all-knowing, why create people who will curse Him?”
“Why give life to those who will reject Him, harm others, and even end up in hell?”

It’s a fair, honest question. And while we may not have a full answer this side of eternity, we can find clues in Scripture, stories, and truth that point us toward a deeper understanding of God’s purpose and character.

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🔍 1. Knowing the Outcome Doesn’t Remove the Purpose

Just because God knows a choice doesn’t mean He caused it.

God created humans with free will—the ability to choose love or reject it. Love that is forced is not love at all. A world without choice would be full of programmed robots—not sons and daughters.

Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I have set before you life and death… now choose life.”

God knowing a person will reject Him doesn’t mean He made them for rejection. He still gives them life, opportunity, and grace.

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🌱 2. Even Those Who Reject Him Serve a Greater Story

Think about Pharaoh in Exodus. He hardened his heart—but God still used him to display His power and deliver His people.

Or Judas—the one who betrayed Jesus. Though Jesus knew from the beginning, Judas still walked with Him, ate with Him, and saw miracles. His betrayal became part of the redemption story.

God, in His wisdom, can even use those who turn away to fulfill a greater plan.

Romans 9:22-23 – “What if God… bore with great patience the objects of His wrath… to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy?”

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🧊 STORY 1: The Block of Ice That Carved a Canyon

A river once flowed freely until a massive block of ice dammed its path. The people feared disaster. But over time, the ice redirected the water—cutting a new channel and forming a beautiful canyon that later became a source of life and tourism.

Lesson: What first looked like a useless obstacle became a tool of transformation.

Likewise, even those who resist God can be part of shaping others, teaching patience, or pointing others to truth.

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🌄 3. Creation Was Always a Risk—Because Love Is a Risk

God didn’t create to show off power. He created to love.

Love takes risk. Parents know this well. They bring children into the world knowing:

The child might disobey.

The child might walk away.

The child might break their heart.

But they still choose life—because love is worth it.

God loves us enough to risk rejection.

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🔥 STORY 2: The Artist and the Shattered Sculpture

An artist once sculpted a beautiful piece, only for it to fall and break. Friends told him, “Why waste time making fragile things?”

He replied, “Even if it broke, the act of creating it was love. And from the broken pieces, I can still create beauty.”

Lesson: God doesn’t discard the broken. He redeems them—or even uses their fall for something greater.

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🕊️ 4. God Gives Everyone a Chance—Even If He Knows the End

God is not unfair. He gives every soul a real opportunity to seek, find, and choose Him.

2 Peter 3:9 – “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

His foreknowledge doesn’t cancel our responsibility. He lets people live, love, fail, and even rebel—because in that freedom lies the possibility of redemption.

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💔 STORY 3: The Son Who Came Back Too Late

A wealthy father knew his son was reckless. The son demanded his inheritance and left. For years, the father waited at the gate.

One day, a letter came: the son had died in a far land. The father wept. He had known the son might never return—but he still waited, hoping love would draw him home.

Lesson: God knows who may never return—but He still waits, still loves, still gives life.

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🌈 Final Thought

Yes, God knows.
Yes, some will reject Him.
But He is love, and love takes the risk.

He gives life not to fill hell—but to offer heaven. He allows freedom because without it, there can be no real relationship.

“God did not create us to be puppets. He created us to be people—free to choose, free to love, and yes, free to walk away.”

And yet… He still offers Himself.

That’s not weakness. That’s holy love.

Does an All-Powerful Being Really Care About Humans Singing to Him?**

It’s a fair—and sometimes skeptical—question:

“If God is really all-powerful, self-sufficient, and eternal, why does He command worship?”
“Is He insecure? Does He need people to sing to Him to feel worthy?”

At first glance, it may sound like worship is for God’s ego. But when we look deeper, we discover that worship is not about God needing us—it’s about us needing Him.

Let’s explore why.

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🔥 1. God Doesn’t Need Our Worship—But He Deserves It

God is not lonely. He is not lacking in self-worth.

Acts 17:25 – “He is not served by human hands as if He needed anything…”

But just as a blazing sun doesn’t need people to acknowledge its light, yet it still radiates glory, God’s nature is to be glorified.

Worship is the natural response of created beings to the Creator.

You breathe. He gives breath.
You live. He gave life.
You’re forgiven. He paid the price.

It is not need—it is right.

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🎵 2. Worship Transforms Us

God doesn’t ask for worship to get something from us—but so that He can give something to us through it.

Worship re-centers us. It reminds us who God is—and who we are not.

In worship, pride breaks.

In worship, fear melts.

In worship, truth shines.

Psalm 73:16-17 – “When I tried to understand this, it troubled me deeply… until I entered the sanctuary of God.”

Worship lifts our eyes above problems. It heals the heart. It calms the soul.
God doesn’t ask for worship because He’s incomplete without it—but because we are incomplete without Him.

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👑 3. Worship Is a Relationship, Not a Ritual

Imagine a loving parent whose child says “thank you” not out of duty, but delight.

That’s what God desires. Not empty songs. Not forced praise. But a living connection.

John 4:23 – “The Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

He doesn’t want your voice without your heart. He wants both.

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📖 STORY: The Musician Who Found Freedom

A Ugandan musician once said:

“I sang in clubs for money. But when I began to worship God, I found joy that no stage or spotlight gave me. I realized worship wasn’t about what I gave God—it was about what I received: freedom, identity, and peace.”

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🪞 4. Worship Redirects Our Glory Addiction

Every human worships something—money, fame, people, comfort, self-image.
We were created to adore. If we don’t worship God, we’ll worship something less.

Worship is not just singing—it’s surrender, love, honor, trust.

When we worship the wrong things, our soul becomes sick.
When we worship God, we are aligned with the truth of the universe.

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✨ Final Thought

God doesn’t need a choir. He doesn’t need applause.
But He invites us to worship—because in doing so, we become what we were made to be.

Worship is not about God’s lack—it’s about our alignment.
Worship doesn’t feed God’s ego—it heals our soul.

“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” – Psalm 95:6

It’s a fair question—one that both skeptics and seekers ask:

“If God is real, and one religion is true, why does the world have so many religions?”
“Why do so many beliefs contradict each other—and yet all claim to be right?”

It can feel overwhelming. Like walking into a market with a thousand voices shouting, “Buy from me—I’m the only original!”
Who do you trust?

Let’s dive into this spiritual confusion and try to uncover a few solid truths—with stories and clarity.

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🧭 STORY 1: The Marketplace of Masks

Imagine a man searching for his long-lost father. He enters a city filled with statues—each one claiming, “I’m your father.”

He’s confused. Some statues are kind. Others are terrifying. Some demand money. Others offer promises.

Then one day, a real man walks into the marketplace—not a statue. He says,

“I am your Father’s Son. I’ve come to take you home. You don’t need to guess anymore.”

The man touches Him—He’s alive. He listens—His words match the old letters his father once wrote. He follows Him—and finds truth.

Lesson: Many statues may claim to be god, but only one came in person to find us: Jesus Christ.

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🌍 So Why So Many Religions?

1. Because Humanity Is Searching

Humans are wired to worship. Deep in our soul, we know this life is not all there is. Every culture in every age has reached for something higher.

But like blindfolded people describing an elephant by touch, many arrived at different ideas—pieces, not the whole.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “God has set eternity in the human heart…”

The presence of many religions doesn’t prove they’re all true—just that we are all longing.

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2. Because Truth Has Counterfeits

Wherever there is real gold, there are fake coins.
Wherever God’s truth exists, Satan sows confusion.

John 8:44 – “He is a liar and the father of lies.”

The devil doesn’t always fight God by denying religion—he floods the world with false religions to confuse, distract, and divide.

Multiple truth-claims don’t cancel truth—they point to a battle over it.

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3. Because Human Pride Invents Its Own Way

Many religions were born not from revelation—but from human imagination.

“I want a god who fits my ideas.”
“I want a religion that makes me feel good.”
“I don’t want a God who tells me what to do.”

So people made gods in their own image, created systems they could control, and called it “truth.” But a god made by us cannot save us.

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🕊️ STORY 2: The Student Who Asked the Imam

A university student in North Africa once asked his Islamic teacher:

“How do we know which religion is from God?”

The Imam answered, “Look for the one where God came down to man—because only the True God has power to reach us.”

That night, the student began reading the Gospel of John. He wept when he read:

“The Word became flesh and lived among us.” – John 1:14

He whispered, “This is not man searching for God… this is God searching for man.”

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💡 What Makes Christianity Different?

In religion, man tries to reach God.

In Christ, God comes down to man.

Religion says, “Do this, follow this, try harder.”

Christ says, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Religion builds ladders.

Jesus built a cross.

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🪨 STORY 3: The Rock in the River

A wise man once told a parable:

“Truth is like a solid rock in a river of beliefs. The waters of opinion, philosophy, and culture may rise—but the rock remains unmoved. You don’t decide truth by the number of people who disagree with it. You find it, and you stand on it—even if you’re alone.”

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🧭 Final Thought

The existence of many religions doesn’t cancel the idea of one truth—it reveals the world’s hunger for it. But not all roads lead to the same place.

Jesus said:
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6

Not one idea among many, but the Truth among confusion.

Choose not popularity—choose truth.

This question aches from the soul. It’s whispered by the lonely widow at night… cried by the refugee walking through fire… asked by the young man praying for direction.

“I pray… but no answer.”
“I cry… but Heaven is quiet.”
“I seek God sincerely… but I feel nothing.”

If God is real, loving, and near—why does He seem so hidden?
Let’s walk into this question with truth, tenderness, and three powerful stories.

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👣 STORY 1: The Blind Man in the Tunnel

A boy once fell into a deep underground tunnel. He cried out, “Is anyone there?” Hours passed. No one answered. He sat in fear and silence.

Then a rope was lowered, and a voice shouted, “Hold on! We’ve come for you!”
The boy asked, “Why didn’t you answer earlier?”
The rescuer said:

“I was climbing through darkness to reach you. Just because you didn’t hear me, doesn’t mean I wasn’t coming.”

Lesson: God’s silence is not always absence—it may be the quiet before rescue.

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🌱 STORY 2: The Woman Who Waited 30 Years

A woman named Rahila prayed for her alcoholic husband daily—for 30 years. She cried, fasted, begged God to intervene. Nothing changed. She felt like her prayers hit a wall.

One day, her husband had a seizure, was hospitalized, and during his recovery, he encountered a chaplain… and gave his life to Christ.

He wept and said, “I always heard your prayers—I just didn’t know how to respond. But I believe God chased me through your tears.”

Lesson: God’s silence may be a delay—not a denial. He works in hearts, not just moments.

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🌤️ STORY 3: The Silence Before the Voice

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah was broken and afraid. He hid in a cave, desperate to hear from God. First came wind, then earthquake, then fire—but God was not in them.

Finally…

“After the fire came a gentle whisper.” – 1 Kings 19:12

Elijah realized: God doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, He whispers—so we have to lean in closer.

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✨ So Why Is God Silent or Invisible?

1. God Is Training Us to Walk by Faith, Not Feelings

“We live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

God is not a magic show—He is a Father shaping our trust. His silence forces our roots to grow deeper.

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2. He May Be Speaking in Ways We Didn’t Expect

Sometimes we wait for a voice, but God speaks through Scripture, a song, a stranger, or a moment of peace.

“My sheep hear My voice…” – John 10:27
But are we listening?

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3. God’s Presence Is Often Felt Best After the Silence

Ask any mature believer—they’ll tell you: some of their strongest moments with God came after a long silence. The pain taught them to wait. The waiting taught them to love deeper.

Just because God is quiet, doesn’t mean He is absent.
Sometimes He’s closer than we think—watching how we wait.

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🌈 Final Thought

God is not hiding from you—He may be hiding for you. So that when you find Him, you’ll know it was real. Not emotional. Not forced. But divine.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13

Keep seeking. Even in silence, He is speaking.

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This is perhaps one of the hardest questions in human experience. We see pain, injustice, war, disease, betrayal—and we wonder:

“Where is God in all this? And if He’s listening, why is He silent—especially to those who trust Him the most?”

This question has emotional weight, not just intellectual confusion. It’s asked in hospital rooms, funeral homes, prisons, and even on pillows soaked with tears.

But Scripture, history, and real life all whisper a deeper truth: God is still good—even when suffering doesn’t go away.

Let’s explore this with three real stories, followed by three powerful truths.

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🌿 STORY 1: The Silence of the Syrian Pastor

In war-torn Syria, a Christian pastor named Elias led a small underground church. Bombs rained down regularly, and many of his friends had fled or died. Still, he stayed—to serve, to pray, to hope.

One day, his church was bombed. He lost his wife and daughter in the attack. People asked, “Why didn’t your God protect you when you’ve been faithful?”

His answer?

“God didn’t save me from pain—but He stayed with me in it. He gave me strength to live, forgive, and still preach peace.”

Lesson: God doesn’t always deliver us from the fire—but like Daniel’s friends, He walks with us in it.

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🌱 STORY 2: The Girl Who Lost Her Legs but Found Purpose

In Uganda, a young girl named Apiyo was hit by a drunk driver and lost both legs. Her mother had been praying that day for her safety. Many mocked her faith. “Where was your God?” they sneered.

But years later, Apiyo began giving motivational talks in schools, sharing how God gave her strength, not just legs. She said:

“God didn’t answer my mother’s prayer the way she wanted—but He answered it in a deeper way: He gave me a voice that walks into hearts.”

Lesson: Sometimes, suffering shapes us into something stronger than we ever imagined.

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🌾 STORY 3: Jesus in the Garden

Even Jesus, the Son of God, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane:

“Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me…” – Matthew 26:39

And yet, the suffering came. The cross came. The betrayal came. God the Father did not remove the pain—but He redeemed it through resurrection.

Lesson: Even unanswered prayers can lead to the fulfillment of God’s greater plan.

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🌤️ Three Biblical Truths About Suffering

1. Suffering is not proof of God’s absence—but of this world’s brokenness.
   Pain is the result of sin, death, and a fallen world—not God’s failure.
2. God uses suffering to refine, not to destroy.

“When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” – Job 23:10
The fire that burns also purifies.

3. God promises His presence, not always our preference.

“Though I walk through the valley… You are with me.” – Psalm 23:4

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🌈 Final Thought

Suffering is real, but so is God. And He does not ignore the cries of His people. He often answers—not by removing the storm, but by anchoring our soul through it.

The cross of Jesus proves that God doesn’t stand far from pain—He steps into it.

Maybe the question isn’t “Why is there suffering?”
But rather, “What can God do through it?”

In today’s world, religious pluralism is often praised. Many believe it’s safer to “honor all gods”—just in case. But is this approach wisdom—or confusion masked as tolerance?

Let’s dive deep into this modern spiritual mindset.

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The “Spiritual Insurance” Mentality

Some people worship many gods not because they believe in each one—but because they’re afraid of offending the “wrong one.” It’s like spiritual insurance:

“What if the god of money gets angry if I don’t offer something?”
“Let me light a candle here, burn incense there, just in case.”

This approach is rooted in fear, not faith.

But imagine trusting a doctor while secretly keeping poison at home—just in case the doctor fails. That’s not protection. That’s confusion.

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Truth Isn’t Found in Multiplication

Believing in many gods doesn’t increase your spiritual safety. It multiplies your spiritual confusion.

1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.”

True faith isn’t scattered—it’s focused.

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The One True God Doesn’t Compete

God never shares His glory with another. In fact, the Bible is clear:

Isaiah 45:5 – “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.”

To worship many gods while claiming to believe in the True God is spiritual adultery. It’s like being in a marriage and still dating others—just in case.

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Fear or Faith: Which One Drives You?

Believing in many gods may seem safer on the surface, but ask yourself:

Is it driven by faith in truth or fear of punishment?

Is it about seeking relationship or checking religious boxes?

The One True God does not want a fearful crowd—He wants a faithful heart.

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Jesus: The End of Confusion

When Jesus came, He didn’t say, “I am one of many ways.” He boldly said:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6

This is either absolute truth—or absolute arrogance. It can’t be both.

But if it’s true, then every other god is either false, powerless, or man-made.

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Conclusion: Choose Clarity Over Confusion

Believing in many gods might feel like spiritual security—but it’s really spiritual insecurity. The truth is not found in the crowd of voices but in the One who spoke the universe into existence.

Don’t settle for insurance—choose assurance in the living God.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” – Exodus 20:3

In every corner of the world, from ancient civilizations to modern metropolises, humanity has consistently reached out to the divine. But the question remains: why do people seek many gods instead of One? What drives the human heart to carve idols, name spirits, or imagine a god for every need?

Let’s explore the deep roots behind this tendency—and what it reveals about our spiritual thirst.

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1. A Desire to Control the Unknown

People often invent or embrace multiple gods because they want to control or explain life’s mysteries. The god of rain, the god of war, the god of fertility, the god of wealth—each one represents a specific human need or fear. Rather than trust an unseen, all-powerful God who works beyond our understanding, many prefer “gods” they can define and manage.

Example: In ancient Egypt, over 2,000 gods were worshiped—each assigned to a role. When crops failed, they blamed one god and prayed to another. It was like switching customer service agents, hoping one might respond faster.

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2. The Human Tendency to Personalize the Divine

People want gods that feel close and relatable. When they cannot grasp the immensity of the True God, they make gods in their own image—angry gods, jealous gods, beautiful gods, gods with human drama.

It’s not always rebellion—it’s often a cry for connection. Sadly, instead of lifting their hearts to a holy God who made them in His image, they bring God down to their level.

Romans 1:23 says:
“They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”

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3. Cultural Inheritance and Pressure

Many people worship multiple gods because of tradition. They were born into homes or societies where polytheism is the norm. Questioning that belief would feel like betraying ancestors.

But tradition does not equal truth. A deeply rooted lie is still a lie.

John 4:22 – Jesus said, “You worship what you do not know…”
True worship must be based on revelation, not repetition.

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4. Convenience Over Commitment

One God means one truth, one Lord, one standard. That requires full surrender. Many gods allow flexibility—you can choose which one to serve based on mood or situation.

People want a custom-made religion:

A god who blesses me but doesn’t correct me.

A god who gives me money but doesn’t ask for holiness.

A god who says “yes” but never “no.”

But the Living God is not a vending machine. He is a Father, King, and Judge.

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5. Satan’s Strategy to Confuse and Divide

Let’s be clear—many gods is not just a human idea. It’s a spiritual deception.

Satan knows that when people turn to false gods, they walk away from the only One who can truly save. The enemy does not mind people being “religious” as long as they are wrong.

1 Corinthians 8:5-6 reminds us:
“Even if there are so-called gods, yet for us there is but one God, the Father… and one Lord, Jesus Christ.”

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So What’s the Answer?

We must return to the One True God, who does not change, who sees all, who created all things, and who alone can satisfy the human soul.

He does not need a statue or symbol—He walked among us in the person of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t demand many offerings—He gave Himself as the offering. He is not many gods—He is God Almighty, eternal, loving, holy, and near.

People may chase many gods, but only One came down to find us.

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Final Thought

If you’re tired of switching gods like apps on a phone, try the Only God who hears, sees, and saves.
He is not far. He is calling you home.

“I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.” – Isaiah 45:5

🌀 This is not just a philosopher’s question — it’s the foundation of how we see life, God, and meaning.

If the universe had a beginning, what caused it?
If nothing created everything, how?
Why does anything exist at all?

Let’s break it down — spiritually, logically, and practically.

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🌌 1. Nothing Can’t Create Something

Think of absolute nothing — no matter, no time, no space, no laws.
Can such “nothing” produce a universe filled with stars, gravity, DNA, and consciousness?

🧠 Example: A blank canvas can’t paint itself. Nothing doesn’t explode, doesn’t think, and doesn’t plan.
👉 Something eternal must exist outside the universe to bring it into being.

The Bible says:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
It makes more sense than “nothing did it.”

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⚖️ 2. Everything That Begins Has a Cause

This is the Law of Causality — a foundational truth of science.
The universe began. Therefore, it must have a cause.
That cause cannot be made of matter, space, or time — it must be eternal, powerful, intelligent, and outside the system.

💡 Sounds a lot like… God.

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❤️ 3. Meaning and Morality Demand More Than Atoms

If we are just particles from a cosmic accident, why do we care about love, justice, beauty, or truth?
Why do we even ask, “Why am I here?” if there is no purpose?

✝️ Example: A computer doesn’t cry over loss. But a soul does.

We long for purpose — because we were created with it.

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🔁 4. The Bible’s God Answers the Question

Only God — eternal, uncreated, outside of time — explains why anything exists at all.
He is not just “a being,” but the Source of being itself.

“For by Him all things were created… all things were created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16

Without Him, the universe has no foundation, no cause, no meaning.

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✨ Final Thought:

The question isn’t just why is there something instead of nothing —
The real question is:
➡️ What are you doing with the life you’ve been given?
Because the One who gave it… wants to walk with you.

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📌 Many atheists or skeptics believe that people only turn to God out of emotional weakness — to feel comfort, escape death, or find meaning in a chaotic world. But is belief in God simply a psychological coping mechanism? Or is there something deeper?

Let’s reason together — not from blind emotion, but from observable patterns, logical design, and human experience.

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🔍 1. Order in the Universe Can’t Be Accidental

Look around — the Earth is precisely the right distance from the sun, gravity is constant, DNA is coded language, and nature functions with precision. Is it rational to say this all happened by accident?

🧠 Example: If you saw a detailed book written in perfect grammar and meaning, would you assume it made itself? No! The presence of design always implies a designer. In the same way, creation points to a Creator.

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🤯 2. Consciousness and Morality Go Beyond Evolution

Why do humans have deep thoughts, creativity, a sense of right and wrong, and a hunger for meaning — while animals don’t? Even the fiercest atheist values love, truth, and justice. But why, if everything is just atoms and chance?

💡 Example: A computer follows code; it doesn’t wonder about its purpose. But humans ask, “Why am I here?” That hunger points to something — or Someone — higher than us.

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💬 3. The Historical Jesus Can’t Be Ignored

Jesus of Nazareth is the most documented person in ancient history — not a myth. His teachings changed the world, and His followers were willing to die rather than deny seeing Him alive after death.

🧪 Example: In court, truth is confirmed by eyewitnesses. Jesus’ resurrection had hundreds. You don’t need blind faith — it’s historically supported.

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❤️ 4. Atheism Often Avoids the Real Question: “If There’s No God, What Then?”

If there’s no Creator, no afterlife, no purpose — then nothing really matters. Morality is just opinion. Hope is imaginary. Is that truly satisfying?

🧭 Example: Even when people deny God, in pain or near death, they often cry out to someone. That shows that deep inside, we know.

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🔁 Conclusion:

Faith in God is not just emotion or tradition — it’s the most reasonable explanation for life, purpose, order, and truth.

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” – Psalm 14:1
But the wise person asks, “What if He’s real — and I ignored Him my whole life?”

Exploring the Mystery of the Tempted yet Sinless Savior

One of the most thought-provoking questions in Christian theology is:
“If Jesus is God, how could He be tempted?”
Especially when James 1:13 clearly says, “God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does He tempt any man.”

To answer this, we must explore the mystery of God manifesting Himself in flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). This is not God becoming a second person or separate being, but God choosing to reveal Himself through a body—a body with real weaknesses, real hunger, real emotions, and yes, real temptation.

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🔍 The Nature of Temptation

Temptation targets the flesh, not the Spirit. When Jesus fasted for 40 days, He became physically weak, hungry, and vulnerable (Luke 4:2). That’s when Satan came to tempt Him—not His Spirit, but the flesh He dwelt in.

Let’s clarify something crucial:

God cannot be tempted in His divine nature.

But flesh can be tempted—and that’s exactly what God took on so He could become our perfect High Priest (Hebrews 4:15).

This is no contradiction—rather, it reveals God’s humility and plan of redemption.

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💡 Example to Understand

Imagine a king who wears armor and walks into a battlefield—not because he needs to, but to fight alongside his people. The armor gets scratched, the king feels the heat, but his royal strength is not diminished. Likewise, the flesh of Jesus faced real pressure, but God inside never yielded.

Jesus was tempted:

To turn stones into bread — appealing to physical hunger

To worship Satan — appealing to ambition and authority

To throw Himself down — appealing to pride and showmanship

Yet in all these, He said, “It is written…” showing us how the Word overcomes the weakness of the flesh.

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📖 Scriptural Harmony

Let’s put this together with Scripture:

Hebrews 2:18 – “He himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.”

Hebrews 4:15 – “Tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin.”

Romans 8:3 – “God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh… and condemned sin in the flesh.”

Note: It doesn’t say He was sinful—it says He came in likeness of sinful flesh, meaning He looked like us, but did not sin like us.

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🕊️ Why Did God Allow This?

1. To be a relatable Savior – so we could never say, “God doesn’t understand me.”
2. To show us how to overcome – that temptation can be resisted.
3. To become our perfect substitute – a Lamb without blemish.

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🙌 One God, One Victory

This does not mean there are two minds or two persons. It was one God working through the limitations of flesh, to show His power and love. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:19:
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.”

So the temptation wasn’t to God Himself—it was to the flesh He used as a tool to walk among us. And He never once allowed that flesh to sin.

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✅ Summary

Jesus was tempted in the flesh, not in His divine nature.

God did not send someone else to face our battles—He came Himself.

The temptation of Jesus shows the power of God’s Spirit over the weakness of flesh.

He is not distant from our struggles—He lived them and conquered them.

Many readers of the Bible pause when they encounter this striking phrase in Revelation 22:16, where Jesus says:

“I am the Root and the Offspring of David.”

At first glance, it seems like a contradiction. How can someone be both the source (Root) and the descendant (Offspring) of the same person? Does this mean Jesus is two different beings? Is He before David or after him? The answer unfolds not through human division, but through understanding the unity and manifestation of God in time.

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A Deep Statement, Not a Confusing One

When Jesus said He is both Root and Offspring of David, He wasn’t creating confusion — He was revealing identity.

As the Root of David, Jesus is the source of David’s life and kingdom — because He is the one eternal God who created all things.

As the Offspring of David, Jesus came in the flesh through the lineage of David — born of a woman, living among us.

It’s not two persons; it’s one God expressing Himself in two roles — eternal and human.

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Example 1: The Architect and the Doorway

Imagine an architect who designs a massive, beautiful house. Then, in order to rescue someone trapped inside, he builds a special door and personally enters that house through it.

He is the source of the house.

Yet he also comes through a specific point to enter it.

In the same way, Jesus — who was with God as the very thought and plan of God from the beginning — entered His creation through the doorway of the seed of David.

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Example 2: The Author and the Story

Think of an author writing a novel. She creates a king in the story — a character with power and wisdom. Then the author writes herself into the story as the king’s son.

The author is before the king, as his creator.

But she also becomes after the king, as his child — in the narrative.

Likewise, Jesus is the one who existed before David — yet entered history as David’s descendant to fulfill the plan of redemption.

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Example 3: The Seed and the Tree

In nature, a tree comes from a seed. But what if the tree also produces the seed? This cycle — seed to tree to seed — shows continuity, not contradiction.

David was born by God’s will. And later, God came into the world through David’s line as Jesus.

Jesus is the divine root — and at the same time, the human branch.

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No Need for Multiple Divine Beings

This truth doesn’t require us to imagine multiple divine figures or eternal companions. God doesn’t multiply to work in history — He reveals Himself.

The Bible never says:

“They are the Root,” or

“They became flesh.”

But it says:

“The Word was God… and the Word became flesh.” (John 1:1,14)
“God was manifest in the flesh.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

It was the same God — the invisible, eternal Spirit — who chose to take on flesh and fulfill the promise to David.

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The Glory of One God Revealed in Jesus

Jesus is not just from David — He is the reason David existed.

He is not just a man who lived 2,000 years ago — He is God revealed in time, whose identity bridges heaven and earth, Spirit and flesh, eternity and history.

The statement, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David,” is not a contradiction — it’s a divine revelation. The One who created David came through David’s lineage to save the world.

Many have wondered about the phrase “Let Us make man in Our image” in Genesis 1:26. Does this statement point to multiple divine beings? Could it be evidence of more than one God? Let’s take a closer look—not with assumptions, but with a careful examination of Scripture, reason, and practical understanding.

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📜 The Verse in Question

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” (Genesis 1:26)

At first glance, the plural language—“Us” and “Our”—may seem to suggest more than one creator. But let’s examine a few critical points that can clarify the matter without jumping to conclusions.

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🔎 1. Language and Majesty in Ancient Times

In many ancient cultures, rulers used what’s called a “plural of majesty”—a way of speaking that shows dignity, greatness, and authority. This is still used in formal monarchies today: a king might say, “We have decided…” even when he’s speaking alone.

This kind of speech reflects greatness, not a group. So when God says, “Let Us make,” He could be using that same majestic form—expressing the fullness of His power, wisdom, and authority.

📌 Example: A single president may say, “We declare a state of emergency,” though it’s one voice, one decision-maker. The weight of the office is behind the plural.

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🔎 2. God Speaks with His Own Wisdom and Word

In Scripture, God’s Word and Spirit are often spoken of as expressions of Himself—not separate beings.

For example:

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” (Psalm 33:6)

This verse shows that God created through His own Word and Breath (Spirit), not by using someone else. Just as your mind and your words are not other persons beside you, but expressions of who you are, so is God’s Word.

📌 Example: A potter says, “Let us shape this clay” as he uses both his mind and his hands. It’s not two people. It’s one person working through different functions.

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🔎 3. God Often Involves His Heavenly Court

Throughout the Old Testament, God is seen surrounded by angels or a heavenly council (Job 1:6; 1 Kings 22:19). He sometimes speaks in their presence, not because they are equal to Him, but as witnesses or messengers.

But when it comes to creating man in His own image, the Bible never says angels had a part.

“So God created man in His own image…” (Genesis 1:27)

Notice the shift: even though He said “Let Us,” the action is singular—God created. Only one divine source made humanity.

📌 Example: A teacher may say to her class, “Let us prepare to start the lesson,” but she is the one writing on the board and teaching. The invitation is communal; the action is individual.

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🔎 4. Scripture Interprets Scripture

When we read the rest of the Bible, especially Isaiah 44:24:

“I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.”

God leaves no room for confusion—He created everything alone, by Himself. This eliminates the idea of multiple divine creators.

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💡 Conclusion

The phrase “Let Us make man” does not point to multiple divine persons, but rather reflects the richness, power, and depth of the one true God. Whether it’s His Word, His Spirit, or His wisdom—these are not separate beings but the expressions of the same divine will.

When we allow Scripture to explain itself, the message becomes clear:

There is one Creator, one God, who made man in His image—not “their” image.

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🔁 Reflection Questions

Why did God use plural language when acting alone?

Can a person express themselves in many ways without becoming multiple beings?

How can understanding God’s image help us understand our own identity?

Is it One—or More? A Deep Look into the Throne Room

When we read Revelation 4:2, we are drawn into a breathtaking scene:

“And, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

This verse is foundational. It doesn’t describe three thrones. Not even two.
Just one throne—and One seated on it.

But for many, this raises questions:

What about Jesus, the Lamb of God?

What about the “Father” and the “Spirit”?

Is there a divine council of three ruling from heaven?

Let’s examine this from different angles:

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🔍 1. The Language of the Throne – One, Not Plural

Revelation uses clear singular terms:

“One sat on the throne.”
Not “three persons sat on three thrones.”

There is never a scene in Scripture showing three divine beings seated together.

Compare Daniel 7:9:

“I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated…”
This seems to allow more than one throne. But who fills them?

Let’s look deeper.

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🕊️ 2. Jesus and the Throne—Co-Ruler or the Same?

Revelation 3:21:

“To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

Notice: it doesn’t say “My throne and My Father’s throne.”
It says His throne—singular.

Jesus is not sitting next to the Father.
He is seated in the Father’s throne.

Why?
Because Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15).

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🔁 3. God’s Progressive Revelation

In the Old Testament, God is invisible Spirit.
In the Gospels, He reveals Himself in the flesh (Jesus).
In Acts and beyond, He indwells believers through the Holy Spirit.

These are not three gods or separate beings.
They are different manifestations of the same God working in time.

Like water—ice, liquid, vapor—three modes, one essence.

Or like sunlight:

The sun is the source (Father)

The light is the expression (Son)

The heat is the power within us (Spirit)

You cannot separate the sun from its light or heat—it’s one in essence, just experienced differently.

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📖 4. Jesus Said, “I and the Father are One” (John 10:30)

Not “we are united,” but “we are one.”

Jesus is not a second divine being sitting next to the Father.
He is the embodiment of the Father.

John 14:9:

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

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✝️ 5. Revelation – The Lamb is Worshipped

You might say, But the Lamb is separate in Revelation 5.

Let’s examine that:
The Lamb is introduced in symbolic vision to show the redemptive work of Christ.
It doesn’t mean there’s a second eternal being in heaven.

By Revelation 22:3-4, we see this:

“…the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face…”

Though two titles are mentioned (God and the Lamb), the pronouns return to singular:
“His servants… serve Him… His face.”

Why? Because the Lamb is the visible expression of God Himself.

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👑 So, Who Sits on the Throne?

The One Eternal God, now revealed through Jesus Christ.
Not three divine beings, not a divine council.

Only One.

Just like Isaiah 6 saw:

“I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up…”

Just like Stephen saw when being stoned:

“…saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.”
This vision showed the authority of Jesus—not a second deity next to the Father.

Right hand = Power and authority, not physical distance.

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🔥 Final Truth:

There is One throne in heaven, and the One sitting on it is Jesus Christ, the visible image of the invisible God—King of kings and Lord of lords.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is One Lord.” – Deuteronomy 6:4
“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty…” – Jude 1:25

At the cross, Jesus cried out:
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” — Matthew 27:46

Many assume this proves separation between Jesus and another divine being. But look deeper…

Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1, a prophetic psalm describing the suffering Messiah.
He wasn’t confused. He was revealing His identity through Scripture, even in agony.

So, to whom did He cry?

He cried out in His human nature, not because He stopped being God, but because He was fully experiencing what we deserve—separation, pain, and judgment.

Yet God was still in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).
There was no division in the Godhead—only the suffering of the flesh.

This cry wasn’t from a second divine being to another—but the Lamb slain, expressing the depths of love, fulfilling prophecy, and opening salvation.

One God. One plan. One sacrifice.
The same God who felt the pain is the God who forgave from the cross.

Many say the Father raised Jesus from the dead, suggesting someone separate brought Him back. But what does Jesus Himself say?

John 10:17–18 – “I lay down my life, that I might take it again… I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

Jesus didn’t say someone else would raise Him—He said He had the power to do it.

In John 2:19, He declared: *“Destroy this temple, and in three days *I will raise it up.” The temple He spoke of was His body.

So, was it the Father? Yes.
Was it the Spirit? Yes.
Was it Jesus Himself? Yes.

Why? Because the Father, Son, and Spirit are not three separate beings—they are the One Eternal God working in perfect unity, revealed in the flesh of Jesus Christ.

God didn’t send someone else to die and rise for us. He came Himself, took on flesh, tasted death, and then raised Himself in glory!

The One who said “I am the resurrection and the life” proved it.

Many people have asked: “If God is One, and not three persons, why do we hear of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?” And another question follows: “Why then is the name Jesus used in baptism and prayer instead of saying all three names?”

Let’s explore the power of One Name — the name that carries all the fullness of the Godhead: Jesus.

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📜 Biblical Clarity: Not Three Names, But One Name

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 28:19:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Notice — He didn’t say names, but name — singular.

So what is the name of the Father?
What is the name of the Son?
What is the name of the Holy Spirit?

When the apostles went out and obeyed this command, how did they baptize? Every baptism recorded in the New Testament was done in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5). That’s because Jesus is the revealed name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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🔥 God Revealed His Name

God had many titles throughout the Old Testament — Elohim, El Shaddai, Yahweh — but these were not the saving name.
In Isaiah 9:6, the prophecy said:

“Unto us a child is born… and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

That child’s name was JESUS.

So we see:
✅ The Son was born — that’s Jesus.
✅ He’s called the Everlasting Father — still Jesus.
✅ He is the Counselor, which is the Holy Spirit — again, Jesus.

It’s not three persons — it’s One God with One Name revealed in different ways for different purposes.

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💡 Think of It This Way

A man can be a father, a son, and a builder, but still have one name. His roles differ, but his identity is the same. Likewise, God operated as Father in creation, as Son in redemption, and as Spirit in regeneration — but His saving name is still JESUS.

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🙏 Why It Matters

This is not just theological detail — it’s the foundation of salvation.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

We pray in Jesus’ name, we are baptized in Jesus’ name, and demons flee at the sound of Jesus’ name — because it carries all the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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📖 Final Word

To know the name of God is to know His nature, His purpose, and His power. The mystery is no longer hidden — the fullness of the Godhead is revealed in Jesus (Colossians 2:9).

Jesus is not just the name of the Son — it is the name of the One True God.

Does prayer mean He’s not divine? Or does it reveal something deeper about His role and mission?

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When people read the Gospels and see Jesus praying, they often ask: “If He is truly God, who was He talking to?” It’s a good question — but not a complicated one when we return to what the Scriptures actually show.

Jesus praying doesn’t prove He was someone different from God. Instead, it reveals the depth of His mission — that He came not only as God, but also as a man. The key to understanding this is realizing that Jesus wasn’t pretending to be human. He truly became human — with a body, emotions, and a mind that experienced hunger, tiredness, pain, and even the need to pray.

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📜 Scriptural Insight

Let’s consider Hebrews 5:7:

“In the days of His flesh, He offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death…”

This verse shows Jesus praying in the days of His flesh. That’s not a contradiction to His divine nature — it’s an affirmation that He truly took on human experience. He prayed as a man, not because He was separate from God, but because He was expressing perfect humanity.

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💡 Think of It This Way

Imagine the sun shining through a window. The sun in the sky is vast and powerful. But when its rays enter the room, they come through a narrow opening. They don’t become something other than the sun — but they express the sun in a limited way we can see and feel.

Jesus is like that — not separate from God, but the focused expression of the invisible One. His prayers show submission and dependence, not separation. As the Son (meaning the visible expression of God’s plan), He showed us how to walk in obedience, how to trust in the Father’s will, and how to overcome through prayer.

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📖 Jesus Taught Us How to Be Sons

Philippians 2:6-8 says He “humbled Himself.” That humility included praying, not because He lacked divinity, but because He modeled obedience.
He didn’t pray because He was unsure. He prayed because He was fully invested in the human journey — even though He carried the fullness of God inside.

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🔍 Conclusion

So, why did Jesus pray? Because He came as a man, to show us what it means to walk with God. His prayers don’t reduce Him — they reveal Him. They show how deep His mission was: not to pretend, but to fully live as the Redeemer.

He wasn’t praying to another being in the sky. He was expressing trust, obedience, and alignment with the invisible God — the very One who dwelled in Him.

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself…” – 2 Corinthians 5:19

John 1:1 says,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

At first glance, some people read this and assume that the “Word” was a separate divine being, as if two different gods were beside each other from the start. But when we slow down and actually examine what the verse says — and how Scripture defines “Word” — we begin to see something deeper, more beautiful, and completely consistent with the idea that God is One.

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What Is “The Word”?

In Greek, the word used is “Logos” — which means much more than simply “a spoken word.” It refers to a thought, a plan, a logic, or an intention. So when we read, “The Word was with God”, it’s not talking about a separate being beside Him — it’s describing God’s own mind, His plan, His wisdom. Just like your thoughts are with you — yet they are still you — the Word was with God, and was God.

It’s not a second entity; it’s God’s own expression, destined to become visible in time.

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The Word Became Flesh

John 1:14 continues:

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

That’s the moment God’s eternal plan took on a body — Jesus the Messiah was born. God’s plan didn’t become a second being. It became a man — a human life through which God would reveal Himself.

It’s like a song that was always in the heart of a composer — and finally, one day, it is sung aloud. It didn’t become another person. It simply became manifest.

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Jesus: Not Beside God, But God Revealed

Jesus didn’t speak as someone alongside God. He spoke as one who embodied God’s own authority, character, and power.

He forgave sins — something only God can do.

He said, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

He called Himself the I AM — the same name revealed to Moses at the burning bush.

He was not merely sent by God — He was God come to us, walking in a body of flesh.

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Let’s Think About It Like This:

1. The Blueprint & The Building
   Before a house exists, an architect creates a blueprint. The blueprint is with the architect and reflects his vision. But when the house is built, the plan becomes reality. The house isn’t a second architect — it’s the visible result of the original mind.
2. The Mind & The Voice
   Before you speak, the words form in your mind. Your voice expresses your inner thoughts. No one thinks your words are a different being than you — they are you being made known.
3. Light & Its Source
   We don’t separate sunlight from the sun. Light flows from the source — but it is not another entity. Jesus is called the Light of the world, not because He’s separate from God, but because He is God shining into our darkness.

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Conclusion: Not a Second Being, But One God Revealed

John 1 does not introduce a new divine figure. It declares the eternal God making Himself known to the world — not by sending another, but by revealing Himself in Christ.

There’s only one God. And that one God has always had a plan — a plan that was with Him, and was Him — and in time, that plan became flesh and walked among us.

This isn’t about division — it’s about expression. God, known through Jesus — not two divine identities, but one God, made known.

John 1:1 says, By Wongelu Wolde

The baptism of Jesus is often misunderstood. Some assume it reveals “three individuals” working in harmony, yet the Scriptures never say that. Let’s walk carefully through this moment and see what’s really being revealed — without assumptions or added layers.

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🔹 The Scene at the Jordan

Jesus is baptized by John. As He comes out of the water, the heavens open. A voice is heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” A visible sign like a dove appears and rests on Him.

Many have rushed to say: “Look! Three! Jesus in the water, a voice from above, and something coming down!” But is that really three separate divine beings? Or is it one God expressing Himself in more than one way at the same time?

Let’s compare with what we see every day.

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🔹 Example 1: One Sun, Many Effects

Think about the sun. It gives light, heat, and even allows us to see colors and growth.
When you see light, feel warmth, and see the flowers bloom — do you think there are three suns?
Of course not. It’s one sun, showing its power in different ways.
Likewise, the God who created the sun can shine in different ways too — without being divided.

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🔹 Example 2: A Voice, a Face, a Presence

Imagine a king addressing his people. He stands before them, his voice echoing across the land. The people hear him, see his seal on the letter, and feel the effect of his word.
Would we say: “There must be three kings — one speaking, one writing, and one sending the wind”?
Or do we understand: One king is at work, in more than one way?

In the same way, when Jesus is baptized, the voice is from the Father, the body is the Son in flesh, and the Spirit’s symbol is seen descending like a dove.
But the Bible never tells us there are three different divine persons acting independently.
Rather, this is one God revealing Himself in action — in heaven, on earth, and through the Spirit — all at once.

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🔹 Example 3: One Mind, Many Expressions

Even within ourselves, we can experience different expressions. You can speak out loud, feel something inwardly, and act with your body — all at the same moment.
Would we then say, “I must be three people”?
Not at all. We say: “This is me.”

So why do we think God, who is far greater, must be divided in order to appear in different ways?

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🔹 What Did the Early Disciples Believe?

When the apostles preached after Jesus’ ascension, they didn’t explain the baptism as proof of a division within God.
They declared boldly: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
They didn’t say “God and Christ,” but “God was in Christ.”
That means the same God who spoke from heaven was also working in the body of Jesus.

It’s not confusing when we let the Bible speak for itself, without inserting extra layers.
God doesn’t need to split into separate “selves” to operate — He is mighty enough to speak from heaven and still be fully present in the Son.

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🔚 Final Thought

The baptism of Jesus does not show three separate beings.
It reveals one Almighty God in action — manifesting Himself in a body, speaking from above, and sending His Spirit.
Not divided. Not multiple. Just one — working in fullness and power.

Some say Jesus never said, “I am God,” so they assume He is just a prophet, or a messenger, or someone lesser than God. But did He really need to use those exact words? Or did He reveal His divine nature in a deeper, more powerful way?

Let’s look at the evidence from His own words and actions.

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1. His Words Spoke Beyond a Prophet

When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), He wasn’t just talking about age. He was using the very name God used at the burning bush: “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The people listening didn’t miss His point — they picked up stones to kill Him for what they called blasphemy. Why? Because they understood what He meant: He was placing Himself in the identity of the Eternal God.

Also, He said:

“I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30

Again, the reaction was violent. Not because He spoke kindly of God — prophets always did — but because He was identifying Himself with God’s very being.

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2. His Actions Revealed Who He Was

Jesus didn’t just say it — He showed it.

He forgave sins, something only God could do (Mark 2:5–7).
He calmed the sea with a word (Mark 4:39), and His disciples were terrified, asking:

“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

He raised the dead, healed the blind, and accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38).
No angel, no prophet, no servant of God ever did that — because that would be robbing God of His glory.

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3. His Identity Confused Many Then — and Still Does Now

In John 14:8, Philip said, “Show us the Father.”
Jesus replied,

“Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” – John 14:9

He didn’t point away from Himself — He revealed that God had come close in Him.
Not as a second person.
Not as a separate figure.
But as the invisible God made visible.

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Example: The Mirror and the Light

Imagine trying to look at the sun directly — you’d be blinded.
But if that sun shines through clean glass, you see its light, warmth, and power without harm.

Jesus is like that clear, perfect glass — He shows us the full brightness of God in a form we can understand, hear, and touch.

That’s why the Bible says:

“In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” – Colossians 2:9

Not part. Not a portion. Not a reflection.
All. In one body.

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Final Thought

Jesus didn’t walk around saying “I am God” in slogans. He showed it in every word, every miracle, every act of mercy, and in His power over death itself. His identity was not a mystery of confusion, but a mystery now revealed — that God has come to us, not beside us, but as one of us.

When we look at Jesus, we see not just the Son of God — we see God, the Savior.

Some say Jesus was just a prophet, others say He was a second divine being. But when Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), what did He mean?

Let’s walk carefully through this.

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🔹 Jesus Didn’t Say “I Was” — He Said “I Am”

In normal grammar, we would expect someone to say:
“Before Abraham was, I was.”

But Jesus didn’t say that. He used the name “I AM” — the exact phrase God used when speaking to Moses at the burning bush:

“Tell them I AM has sent you.” (Exodus 3:14)

This was not just a claim of age or time. It was a declaration of identity.

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🔹 The People Understood What He Meant — That’s Why They Picked Up Stones

Right after Jesus said “Before Abraham was, I am,” the crowd picked up stones to kill Him. Why?
Because they knew He was making Himself equal with God — not as another being or assistant — but claiming the very name of God.

This was serious. To them, it was blasphemy.
But to Jesus, it was truth.

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🔹 God Appeared Before — Now He Has Come in the Flesh

Throughout the Old Testament, God appeared in different forms:

A burning bush

A pillar of fire

A still small voice

An angel who spoke as God Himself (Judges 13:22)

These were not separate beings — it was one God showing Himself in ways people could understand.

Now, in Jesus, that same God walked among us, clothed in flesh.

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🔹 Example: The Voice Behind the Curtain

Imagine a great leader always speaking to his people behind a curtain. They hear His voice, they see signs, but never His face.

One day, He steps out from behind the curtain. Same voice. Same authority. But now, the people can see Him.

Some say, “This must be someone else — not the one we used to hear!”
But those who truly knew His voice say, “This is Him. He has come to us.”

This is what happened when Jesus came.
Not another divine person — but the same God stepping into time.

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🔹 The Same God, Fully Seen

The Bible says:

“No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son… has declared Him.” (John 1:18)
“In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

Jesus didn’t come to introduce another divine being.
He came to reveal the One true God.

The One who spoke to Moses — the “I AM” — is the same One who walked in Galilee, healed the sick, raised the dead, and gave His life for all.

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✅ Conclusion

When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” He wasn’t pointing to a second being beside God.

He was revealing who He truly is — the God who was, who is, and who came to dwell among us.

Not a part of God. Not one-third.
But the I AM — fully revealed.

Many ask: If Jesus is fully God, why did He pray? Was He talking to Himself? That question is honest and deserves a clear, Scripture-rooted explanation.

Let’s walk through this together, simply and reasonably.

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🔸 Example 1: The Role of a Mirror

Imagine a mirror placed in front of sunlight. The light reflects brightly, but the mirror is not the sun itself — it only reveals it.

Now think of Jesus: He was the express image of the invisible God. He wasn’t a second person in God — rather, He was God revealing Himself in flesh. When He prayed, He prayed from His humanity, like the mirror humbly turned toward its source of light.

The mirror isn’t pretending. It’s simply in position. Jesus, as a man, perfectly reflected the divine will and purpose — teaching us to rely on God in prayer, even as He Himself demonstrated submission.

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🔸 Example 2: A King Writing a Law

Suppose a king writes a law and later comes to live among the people as one of them. He follows the law He wrote, not because He’s confused about who He is — but to fulfill righteousness and set an example.

Jesus, being God in the flesh, lived as the perfect man. His prayers were not confusion within Himself. Rather, He humbled Himself to demonstrate what we must do — submit, obey, and commune with God.

He was not a separate being trying to reach another. He was God’s Spirit in human form, fulfilling His own purpose in a real, human body.

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🔸 Example 3: A Shepherd Entering the Sheepfold

Think of a shepherd who decides to live with the sheep. He puts on the same coat of wool, walks their path, and eats what they eat — not because He’s no longer the shepherd, but because He loves them enough to experience their life.

That’s what happened when God came in the body of Christ. Jesus prayed because He walked as one of us. His prayers were not theatrical, but real expressions of a perfect Man — the Lamb of God — showing us how to draw near to the Father.

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🔸 What the Scriptures Show

Jesus said, “The Father who dwells in Me does the works.” (John 14:10) — He was never disconnected from God.

He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” (John 5:30) — not because He lacked power, but because He lived in full dependence, showing us how to live.

Hebrews 5:7 speaks of Jesus offering prayers “with strong crying and tears” — because He was truly human, though fully filled with the Spirit of God.

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🔸 Conclusion

So when Jesus prayed, He was not having a conversation between two divine personalities. He was the perfect example of a human being filled with the fullness of God. His prayers were sincere, not staged — revealing His deep submission, not confusion.

This invites us into a greater mystery — not a contradiction, but a beauty: that God didn’t stay far away. He came near, took on flesh, and spoke with the voice of a man — while still being the eternal Spirit within.

That is not a puzzle. That’s the glory of Emmanuel — God with us.

“Three in One?” – What Does the Bible Actually Say About God’s Nature?

Many today are taught to believe that God exists as a sort of “threefold being”—distinct persons yet somehow one God. But is this explanation found in Scripture, or is it something added later? Let’s explore carefully what the Bible teaches about God’s nature, what Jesus said about Himself, and how early followers understood it.

📜 What Does the Bible Really Say?

The foundation of all understanding about God should begin with what God said about Himself:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” – Deuteronomy 6:4

There is no verse in the Old or New Testament that says God is “three in one.” On the contrary, Scripture is consistent in declaring God is one, not in parts or shared roles, but in identity and being.

💬 What Did Jesus Say About Himself?

Jesus never said, “I am a second person of a divine team.” Instead, He made statements that shocked the religious leaders because He claimed the very identity of God:

“Before Abraham was, I am.” – John 8:58

“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” – John 14:9

These are not cryptic sayings. Jesus wasn’t pointing to another divine being beside Himself. He was revealing God had come in visible form, walking among us. The One who had always been invisible now made Himself known.

He didn’t point to a divine companion when asked about authority or origin—He spoke as God Himself come to save.

🧠 Why This Matters for How We See God

The idea of splitting God into three roles or identities—even with good intentions—leads to confusion. Imagine a child growing up believing that “the Father loves me, but Jesus died for me, and the other one helps me.” The love and salvation of God start to feel divided or departmentalized.

But when we see God as One, who loved, came, and gave Himself for us, there is no distance between the Creator and the Savior.

It’s not about multiple beings in harmony. It’s about One God in full expression.

📖 Examples to Help Understand

1. The Author and the Story

A writer doesn’t become many people when telling a story. The author may narrate, enter the story as a character, and direct its ending, but it’s still one person expressing different roles.

In the same way, God wrote the plan of salvation, entered time through Jesus, and now guides us by His Spirit. All Him. All One.

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2. The Sun in the Sky

The sun gives us light, heat, and energy, yet we don’t say there are three suns. It’s one sun, manifesting in different ways.

Likewise, God reveals Himself in ways we can experience—as Creator, Savior, and Helper—but it’s all the same Divine Presence.

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3. The Father and the Name

Jesus taught baptism in His Name (Matthew 28:19) and His apostles baptized in the Name of Jesus (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48). Why? Because the name expresses the fullness of who God is.

Not multiple names for multiple roles. But One Name that reveals the fullness of God’s identity.

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🕊️ What Did the Early Believers Understand?

The early church never separated God into categories. They preached:

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” – 2 Corinthians 5:19

They baptized in the name of Jesus, prayed in His name, and died declaring that Jesus is Lord—not one Lord among others, but the One Lord of all.

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✅ So, Is God Three in One?

Not according to Scripture.

God is One, undivided, revealed fully in Christ, and still with us today. Not a group, not a partnership, not a mystery of layers — but a revelation of love and power in a single, living God.

And that truth doesn’t divide us. It draws us closer to the One who made us, saved us, and still lives in us today.

Many Christians use the phrase “God the Son” as if it’s a biblical truth — something taught by Jesus and the apostles. But let us pause and think carefully: Is that really how Scripture presents Jesus?

Or is there a difference between what the Bible teaches and what later traditions have added?

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📖 What the Bible Actually Says

The Bible never uses the phrase “God the Son.” Not even once.
But it repeatedly calls Jesus:

The Son of God (Luke 1:35)

The Son of Man (Matthew 26:64)

The Lamb of God (John 1:29)

The Word made flesh (John 1:14)

Jesus Himself prayed to the Father, said “the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28), and described Himself as sent by the Father (John 5:30).

That means Jesus never claimed to be a second divine person within a Godhead. Instead, He always pointed back to the One God of Israel — and identified Himself as the visible expression of that God in human form.

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🔍 Key Differences in Meaning

Let’s break it down carefully:

Term Biblical or Not? What It Implies

Son of God ✅ Yes Jesus is the human expression of God, born in time
God the Son ❌ No Jesus is a second divine person, eternal and separate from the Father

So, why does this matter?

Because one view shows God as One, and the other begins to divide Him into separate eternal roles that were never taught by Jesus or the apostles.

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🧠 Real-Life Examples to Clarify

Let’s use real, practical examples — from daily life — to understand these deep truths.

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Example 1: The Smartphone and the Voice

When you call someone, you hear their voice through your phone. That voice is not another person, and it doesn’t mean there are two people talking — the person and the phone.

📱 You don’t say, “This is Phone the Caller.” You say, “This is the caller through the phone.”

In the same way, Jesus is God’s voice and presence made visible to us. He is not a second God. He is God revealed in a human body.

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Example 2: Government Office and Its Representative

Suppose the President of a country sends his top representative to speak on his behalf. The representative says, “I speak not of myself, but of the one who sent me.”

Everything he says carries the full authority of the President — but he’s not a second president.

🧾 That’s how Jesus functioned. He said:

“The words I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.” (John 14:10)

He wasn’t another God. He was God’s authority expressed in human form.

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Example 3: Blueprint and the Building

An architect draws a building on paper. That drawing exists in vision, long before the real building stands. But the building only becomes real and physical after time and labor.

Before Jesus was born, God had a divine plan — the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8). But the Son of God came into existence when the Word became flesh (John 1:14), not before.

🏗️ The blueprint is not the building.
Likewise, the Son was not co-existing from eternity, but brought forth in time, according to God’s plan.

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🔁 Common Misunderstanding: “Wasn’t Jesus There in the Beginning?”

Yes — but not as the “Son.”

What was in the beginning? The Word (John 1:1).
What is “the Word”? God’s plan, purpose, and mind — not a second person.

Then John says:

“The Word became flesh…” (John 1:14)

So the Word, which was with God and was God, became the Son when it took on flesh. Jesus is the full expression of God’s Word in a human body.

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🛑 Why “God the Son” Is Problematic

Using “God the Son” instead of “Son of God” changes the nature of God into something the Bible never describes. It:

Creates a second eternal being alongside the Father

Undermines the truth that God is One (Deut 6:4)

Confuses the roles: who died on the cross? If “God the Son” died, then did God really die?

The correct, biblical understanding is this:

God (who is Spirit) came into the world through a human body He prepared — and we saw Him as Jesus, the Son of God.

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📚 What the Early Church Believed

In the Book of Acts, the apostles never baptized in the name of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
They baptized in the name of Jesus Christ — because they understood that Jesus is the name that carries the full authority of the Father who revealed Himself in the Son.

Acts 2:38

Acts 8:16

Acts 10:48

Acts 19:5

They preached One God, revealed through Christ — not three co-equal persons.

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✅ Summary: So Who Is Jesus?

Jesus is God made visible

He is the Son of God, born of a woman (Gal 4:4)

He is the Word made flesh, not another being

He is not “God the Son,” but the Son of the living God — who reveals the Father fully

This truth brings peace, clarity, and power. It aligns us with the original Gospel — not later inventions. We see the love of the Father in the face of Christ. Not two. Not three. Just One God, and Jesus is His name revealed.

Many Protestants around the world, including in Africa and Ethiopia, often say: “We all believe in salvation through Jesus Christ.” On the surface, this unity sounds reassuring. But once you go deeper—into their teachings, practices, and church structures—you quickly realize: they are not the same.

So, if salvation is the same, why do Protestants still disagree on so many things?

Let’s explore this contradiction historically, theologically, and practically—especially from an African and Ethiopian context.

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1. The Illusion of Doctrinal Unity

Most Protestant churches trace their roots to the Reformation in the 1500s, when Martin Luther broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. The core issue? Salvation by faith alone—Sola Fide.

While this foundation remains central in Protestant circles, it has since splintered into hundreds, even thousands of denominations—each interpreting Scripture slightly differently.

Even though they say “we are united in Christ,” their practices, traditions, and theological emphases vary widely.

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2. Examples of Key Protestant Differences

Here are some essential differences among major Protestant groups—especially visible in Africa and Ethiopia:

a. Baptism

Baptists teach adult baptism by full immersion—after a personal confession of faith.

Lutherans and Presbyterians baptize infants, claiming it as a covenantal act similar to circumcision in the Old Testament.

Pentecostals see baptism as symbolic but stress the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a separate experience, often evidenced by speaking in tongues.

b. Holy Spirit and Gifts

Pentecostal and Charismatic churches emphasize prophecy, healing, tongues, and deliverance.

Reformed churches and many Evangelicals believe most of these gifts ceased after the apostolic age (Cessationism).

Others avoid emotional expressions entirely, focusing on teaching and order.

c. Women in Leadership

Some denominations allow women to be pastors, prophets, and even bishops.

Others (like many Reformed or conservative Evangelicals) forbid women from teaching men or holding any authority in church.

d. Communion (The Lord’s Supper)

Lutherans believe in the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine.

Baptists see it as purely symbolic.

Anglicans and Methodists are somewhere in between.

e. Worship Style

Charismatics and Pentecostals: loud, vibrant, emotionally expressive worship.

Reformed and Traditional churches: hymns, liturgy, and quiet reflection.

Evangelicals: a mix—modern music but theological depth.

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3. Why Africa and Ethiopia See So Many Flavors

In Africa—especially in Ethiopia—Protestantism didn’t just arrive. It was interpreted, adapted, and localized.

Missionaries brought their versions:

The Swedish mission brought Lutheran teachings.

The American missions brought Baptist and Pentecostal teachings.

Later, local movements emerged—like Full Gospel and Mulu Wongel—with unique emphases.

Result? Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and other nations now have many kinds of Protestants—all claiming to preach salvation by grace, but walking very different theological paths.

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4. The Bigger Problem: Not Just Theology, but Identity

The disagreements aren’t just about theology. They’re about:

Control of interpretation

Cultural identity

Political influence

Spiritual authority

Some churches emphasize miracles, others knowledge, others holiness, and still others social justice.

They preach the same Savior—but represent very different Christian cultures.

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5. Is Unity Still Possible?

Yes, but only when churches:

Focus on Christ, not personalities.

Humble themselves about doctrines.

Respect different expressions of faith without compromising core truth.

Avoid saying “we are the only true ones”—which causes more division.

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Conclusion: Same Salvation, Different Roads?

Protestants often say they have “one faith, one Lord, one baptism.” But in practice, their roads are often parallel, not united.

For Ethiopia and Africa, the challenge is to recognize diversity without losing clarity. The body of Christ is not called to uniformity, but to unity in truth and love.

Could God have chosen Ethiopia instead? What does “chosen people” really mean? Is it a position of privilege or responsibility?

Throughout Scripture, we see that God chose Israel as a nation through whom His redemptive plan would unfold. But this has led many, especially within Africa, to ask: Why Israel? Why not Ethiopia—or another African nation? Was it favoritism? Or was there a deeper reason?

The Misunderstanding of “Chosen”

The phrase “chosen people” is often misunderstood. Many think it means privilege, superiority, or divine favoritism. But biblically, being chosen meant assignment, responsibility, and burden. Israel was chosen not because they were better than others, but because God needed a people through whom He would reveal Himself and bring salvation to all nations (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).

Being chosen meant suffering, exile, accountability, and even rejection by the world. It’s not about being better, but about being available.

“You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.” – Amos 3:2

Could God Have Chosen Africa?

Absolutely. God is sovereign. Ethiopia is one of the oldest civilizations mentioned in Scripture. The Ethiopian eunuch was the first African convert (Acts 8:26–40). In Psalm 68:31, we read:

“Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.”

This shows God’s plan has always included Africa. Even Queen Sheba’s visit to Solomon represents Africa’s search for wisdom and divine truth (1 Kings 10).

But in His wisdom, God chose a smaller, weaker, more despised nation—Israel—to show His power through weakness. That doesn’t mean Africa was rejected. Rather, Africa, like all nations, is part of God’s great redemptive plan. And perhaps now, God is using Africa as a voice of revival, healing, and truth in a spiritually weary world.

Chosen for What?

When we ask why Israel was chosen, the better question is: Chosen for what?

To reveal God’s character (Exodus 19:5-6)

To birth the Messiah (Romans 9:4-5)

To serve as a covenant witness (Isaiah 43:10)

To carry the oracles of God (Romans 3:2)

This was a divine role—not an ethnic reward.

Africa’s Divine Role Today

Africa is rising. Spiritually, economically, and culturally, Africa is stepping into its divine responsibility. From missionaries being sent out from African nations, to biblical scholarship, music, and revival movements—Africa is no longer a bystander. Could it be that the same God who chose Israel for the beginning is now empowering Africa for the end-time harvest?

Final Thought

God’s choosing is never about favoritism—it’s about function. And today, God is choosing people from every nation, tribe, and language. Whether Israel or Ethiopia, America or Asia—God is building one people, one body, and one kingdom under Christ.

Let us be less concerned with why Israel and more concerned with what is God choosing me to do now?

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🕯️ Did God Create Evil? The Mystery of Isaiah 45:7

“I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil (calamity); I, the LORD, do all these things.”
— Isaiah 45:7 (KJV)

This single verse has raised eyebrows, challenged theologians, and stirred countless spiritual debates for generations. How can a loving, holy God claim responsibility for creating evil? Did God really create wickedness?

Let us walk deeper, beyond shallow reading—into the heart of Scripture, history, and revelation.

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🔍 The Hebrew Word: “Ra”

The Hebrew word translated here as “evil” is רָע (ra). This word can mean moral evil—but more often, it simply means calamity, disaster, hardship, or sorrow.

In Isaiah 45, God is speaking through the prophet to Cyrus, a Persian king, whom He would use to fulfill His purposes. Here, “evil” is best understood as judgment or disaster—not sin. God is saying He has full control over both blessing and hardship, and that nothing happens outside His sovereignty.

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🧠 Did God Create Moral Evil?

Let’s be clear: God is not the author of sin.
James 1:13 says:

“God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”

But here’s the key: God created free beings—with real moral agency. That gift of free will carries the potential for rebellion. Lucifer chose pride. Adam chose disobedience. Humanity opened the door.

So while God created the capacity for choice, it is creatures who brought forth evil through misuse of freedom.

This preserves both God’s holiness and our responsibility.

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🛡️ Why Then Does God Allow Evil?

1. To reveal His justice – Judgment must exist for true righteousness to be seen.
2. To display His grace – Without sin, there would be no cross, no mercy, no redemption story.
3. To purify His children – Trials and calamities refine the faithful like gold in fire.
4. To allow genuine love – Without freedom, love becomes robotic. But with freedom comes the risk of evil—and the beauty of chosen devotion.

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🔄 Spiritual Warfare and Divine Sovereignty

There are two extremes we must avoid:

❌ Saying God has no control over suffering and evil (making Him weak).

❌ Saying God directly causes all evil (making Him cruel).

Instead, the truth lies in tension:
God permits evil within boundaries for His purposes, but He is never the source of sin or injustice.

Think of Job: Satan asked for permission, but God set the limit.
Think of Joseph: “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

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💡 Final Thought

Isaiah 45:7 doesn’t mean God loves evil or creates wickedness. It means He is sovereign, even over the storms.

He allows darkness to reveal the light, and suffering to produce eternal glory.

As Paul said:

“All things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28)

So, no—God did not create evil.
But yes—He is still God when it strikes.
He is Judge, Redeemer, and King over all.

The Queen of Sheba—one of the most mysterious women in biblical and ancient history—has stirred debate for centuries. Was she African? Was she Arabian? Or was she both? Her story is not only rich in legend but also layered in culture, geography, and theological meaning.

What the Bible Says

In 1 Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9, we read that the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon to test him with hard questions. She came with spices, gold, and precious stones. The biblical account does not mention her name, exact ethnicity, or kingdom. But the mystery deepens when different regions—Ethiopia, Yemen, and Arabia—claim her as their own.

Ethiopian Claim: Makeda the Queen

According to Ethiopian tradition, as found in the Kebra Nagast, the Queen of Sheba was named Makeda and ruled over a vast empire in the Horn of Africa. The story claims she bore a son by Solomon—Menelik I, the first emperor of Ethiopia’s Solomonic dynasty. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity holds this narrative as central to its spiritual and national identity. It is also where the claim originates that the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Ethiopia by Menelik I.

Her description in Ethiopian texts and oral traditions is unmistakably African, and her kingdom—rich in spices and gold—aligns well with ancient Ethiopia’s wealth and power.

Arabian Claim: Saba of Yemen

However, archaeological and historical records also point to Sheba (Saba) being a powerful kingdom in what is now modern-day Yemen. Ancient South Arabian inscriptions and trade routes suggest that the Sabean Kingdom was influential in the incense trade and had a queen who may have made a famous diplomatic journey to Jerusalem.

The region was Semitic, and the language of the Sabeans was South Arabian—not Cushitic or Amharic. This leads many scholars to place her origin in Arabia Felix, the fertile southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

Could She Be Both?

Some modern historians suggest a trans-regional kingdom that spanned both Ethiopia and Yemen—separated only by the Red Sea. Ancient trade, migration, and politics flowed freely across these waters. If so, the Queen of Sheba could have had African lineage and Arabian domain, or vice versa.

It’s worth noting that many ancient civilizations—including the Egyptians and Nubians—interacted closely with the Sabeans. The possibility of intermarriage, mixed ethnicity, and cultural blending is high.

Appearance and Identity

What did she look like?
While the Bible is silent, Ethiopian texts, art, and iconography portray her with dark skin, regal stature, and adorned with gold and traditional African features. This description aligns with her being African in both identity and appearance. In contrast, Arabian inscriptions don’t describe her visually but focus on her power and reign.

Why It Matters

This question isn’t just about geography—it touches on identity, power, and representation. Whether African, Arabian, or both, the Queen of Sheba challenges us to rethink simplistic racial or continental categories applied to ancient figures. Her wisdom and courage made her memorable—not just where she came from.

But in a world that often seeks to erase African contributions from sacred history, acknowledging her African heritage becomes a powerful act of reclaiming spiritual dignity and truth.

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✨ Final Thoughts

So was the Queen of Sheba African or Arabian?
The answer may be yes—to both. Her legacy is larger than one place or ethnicity. She stands as a bridge between civilizations, a seeker of wisdom, and a woman of great influence who dared to question the wisest man of her time.

Many people today are fascinated by the Book of Enoch—an ancient text filled with mysterious stories about fallen angels, visions of heaven, and the fate of the wicked. Some even ask: “If Jude quoted from Enoch, why isn’t it part of the Bible?” Others go further, suggesting it was unfairly removed or hidden. But when we look closely—biblically, historically, and theologically—we find strong reasons why this book was not included in the inspired canon of Scripture.

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📚 Quoted Doesn’t Mean Inspired

The fact that Jude 1:14–15 refers to a prophecy from Enoch doesn’t mean the entire book is inspired. Paul also quoted Greek poets in Acts 17:28—yet no one argues that Greek mythology belongs in the Bible. Jude simply used a familiar text to make a point, not to endorse all its content.

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🧩 Contradictions and Strange Doctrines

The Book of Enoch teaches ideas that clash with biblical doctrine, including:

Angels having children with women (1 Enoch 6–7), leading to giants—this goes beyond Genesis 6, adding strange mythological layers.

Multiple heavens and bizarre cosmology, unlike the simple heaven-earth dichotomy of the Bible.

An almost obsessive angelology, listing names and ranks of angels not found elsewhere in Scripture.

A picture of salvation through knowledge and heavenly secrets, which sounds more Gnostic than Christian.

These ideas not only go beyond Scripture—they often contradict it.

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🏛️ Historical Rejection by Jewish and Christian Authorities

The Jewish rabbis never accepted 1 Enoch into the Hebrew Bible. Even the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which includes it, stands alone among major churches.

Early Church Fathers like Athanasius, Jerome, and Augustine did not treat it as Scripture.

It was never part of the canon recognized at any of the major councils (like Nicaea or Carthage).

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⚠️ The Danger of Elevating Mysticism Over Truth

The Book of Enoch reflects a kind of spiritual curiosity—a hunger for deeper mystery and secret knowledge. But Scripture warns us against this:

“Do not go beyond what is written.” – 1 Corinthians 4:6
“Even if we or an angel from heaven preach a gospel contrary to what we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse.” – Galatians 1:8

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🧠 Why People Still Cling to It Today

Many today are drawn to Enoch because:

It feels esoteric and secret.

It gives alternative narratives outside of mainstream Christianity.

Some believe it connects Africa or ancient civilizations to lost wisdom.

But Scripture calls us not to hidden mysteries, but to truth in the light. The gospel is not locked in obscure books—it is clearly revealed in Jesus Christ and the inspired books of the Bible.

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✨ Final Thought

The Book of Enoch is fascinating, but not foundational. It may have historical or cultural value, but it lacks the divine fingerprint of the 66 books we call the Bible. Let’s be careful not to trade the solid food of Scripture for the cotton candy of speculation.

In many conversations, especially among religious scholars and African historians, a critical question arises: Did Africans know God before Christianity arrived through missionaries? The answer is both profound and uncomfortable—yes, they did. But like many aspects of African heritage, this truth was buried under the shadow of colonization and Western religious manipulation.

🕊️ A Forgotten Spiritual Legacy

Before European missionaries set foot on African soil, the continent was already rich in spiritual consciousness. Across tribes and kingdoms, there existed monotheistic and moral belief systems that honored a Supreme Creator, often called by names like:

Nyame (Ashanti – Ghana)

Olodumare (Yoruba – Nigeria)

Nhialic (Dinka – South Sudan)

Mungu (Swahili – East Africa)

Waag or Igziabher (Ethiopia)

These weren’t just tribal gods; many of these names referred to a singular, all-powerful God, not very different from the God of the Bible. African cultures often believed in divine order, life after death, and spiritual accountability.

So the real question isn’t whether Africans knew God. The better question is: Why was this truth hidden?

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📖 The Western “Gospel Package”

When Christianity came with missionaries, it often came wrapped in the cloak of colonial agendas. The goal wasn’t just to “save souls,” but to reshape African identity. Indigenous names for God were replaced. Native spiritual practices were demonized. African morality, which upheld community, justice, and holiness, was dismissed as “pagan.”

In some places, accepting Jesus was associated with accepting European authority. Bibles were handed out—but so were shackles. Churches were built—but so were colonial prisons.

This manipulation wasn’t about God. It was about power.

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🌍 Ethiopia: A Counter-Example

Ethiopia stands as a shining contradiction to the missionary narrative. It embraced Christianity long before Europe colonized Africa, and it retained its sovereignty. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest in the world, preserved a unique blend of Judaic and early Christian traditions. Ethiopians didn’t “adopt” Christianity; they adapted it independently—without foreign intervention.

This shows us that Christianity and Africa are not strangers. It’s the colonial version of Christianity that was alien.

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✝️ Reclaiming African Faith

To ask “Did Africans know God?” is to question the depth of African spirituality and human dignity. The truth is: Africans walked with God, honored Him in their own languages, and structured entire societies around His presence.

What we must now reclaim is not just our faith, but our voice in it. We must recognize how colonialism tried to use religion to erase African identity and replace it with dependency. But God’s voice was always speaking—in every forest, river, village, and drumbeat.

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💭 Final Thought

The African encounter with God didn’t begin in the 1800s—it began in creation. Before the cross came in ships, the Creator already had His footprints across African soil.

Let’s teach this to our children, write it in our books, sing it in our songs, and live it in our lives. Because we were never godless—we were only misrepresented.

Mary.
Mariam.
The young Jewish girl from Nazareth who gave birth to Jesus Christ—Savior of the world.

Across history and denominations, Mary has been honored, exalted, and in some cases, even worshiped. Statues were raised. Prayers were written. Titles like “Queen of Heaven” and “Mother of God” became central to some traditions.

But a sincere question must be asked:

Who was Mary, really?
Was she divine? Sinless?
Should Christians pray to her?
What did she really look like?
And why do different cultures portray her so differently?

Let’s explore this topic biblically, historically, philosophically, and truthfully.

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📖 1. What Does the Bible Actually Say About Mary?

Mary appears in several key moments in the Gospels:

Chosen by God to bear Jesus: “You have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30)

She humbly responds: “Be it unto me according to your word.”

Present at Jesus’ birth, early life, and crucifixion.

Prayed with the disciples after His resurrection (Acts 1:14)

But the New Testament does not present Mary as divine. She is honored, yes—but never worshiped. She never demands prayer. She never claims glory.

In fact, in Luke 1:47, Mary says:

“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

She needed saving, just like the rest of us.

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🖼️ 2. What Did Mary Look Like? Was She White, Black, or Brown?

Most Western paintings show Mary as a pale-skinned woman with light brown or blonde hair and blue eyes. But this is not accurate historically.

Mary was:

A young Jewish woman from 1st-century Galilee

Living among Semitic, olive- or dark-skinned people

Likely had brown skin, dark hair, and Middle Eastern features

In fact, it’s very possible that Mary looked more like an Ethiopian, Yemeni, or Sudanese woman than a European one.

Many Ethiopian Orthodox icons depict her with brown to dark skin, and these are more faithful to her likely appearance than European images.

So, no—Mary was not white, and presenting her that way erases her cultural reality.

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🌍 3. Why Do Different Cultures Paint Her in Their Own Image?

Throughout history, cultures have painted Mary—and Jesus—in their own likeness. Why?

Because it helps people feel closer to God.
But this also creates confusion and distortion.

Europeans made her look white

Some Africans made her darker

Some Latinos gave her local features

But in truth, Mary had her own identity: a Middle Eastern Jewish girl from a poor family, full of faith.

Let us honor her truth, not just our image of her.

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🧠 4. Philosophical Angle: Why Elevate Mary to Divine Status?

Why did later traditions elevate Mary to be more than human?

Because humans naturally seek symbols of comfort, gentleness, and compassion. A holy mother figure helps people feel spiritually safe. But that’s not what Mary asked for.

Mary was a servant, not a savior.
A model, not a mediator.

The Bible says clearly:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5

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🕯️ 5. What Does True Honor to Mary Look Like?

To honor Mary is to:

Celebrate her faith and courage

Imitate her humility and obedience

Remember her strength in pain

But we must stop short of praying to her, worshiping her, or placing her above Scripture.

Mary herself always pointed to Jesus, not to herself.

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✝️ Final Word: Blessed and Human, Not Divine

Mary was blessed among women—but still a woman.
She was chosen, but not divine.
She was holy, but not the Holy One.

Let’s return to the real Mary:

A brown-skinned girl from Nazareth

A vessel of grace, not the source

A believer, not the Redeemer

A servant of God, not the queen of heaven

She is not our mediator—but a model of surrendered faith.

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🪞 Reflection:

Have we replaced the simplicity of Mary’s faith with traditions that hide her true identity?

Let us restore her image—not in gold and marble—but in truth, spirit, and Scripture.

For centuries, a captivating belief has echoed across cultures:
That the Ark of the Covenant—the sacred vessel of God’s presence—is hidden in Ethiopia.

Many believe it’s kept in a small chapel in Axum. Some even say the priests guarding it go blind. Others say it was a royal gift from King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba after a deep relationship.

But when we examine the history and logic carefully, a deeper question arises:

Is the Ark really in Ethiopia?
Did Solomon and the Queen of Sheba share a child?
If so, why is there no record in Israel’s own history?

Let’s explore this—reasonably, philosophically, and spiritually.

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1. What Is the Ark—and Why Does It Matter?

The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in ancient Israelite religion.
It held the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod, and a pot of manna. More importantly, it represented the very presence of God among His people.

When the Ark was with Israel, victories followed. When it was captured or hidden, God’s presence seemed withdrawn. So its location matters deeply—not just as a historical object—but as a symbol of divine intimacy.

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2. The Ethiopian Claim: Based on Faith, Not Proven History

The belief that the Ark is in Ethiopia is largely built on Ethiopian Orthodox tradition—especially the Kebra Nagast (“Glory of Kings”), a 14th-century text that tells how:

The Queen of Sheba visited Solomon, received the Ark as a gift or by divine permission, and returned to Ethiopia pregnant with Solomon’s son, Menelik I—who later brought the Ark to Axum.

It’s a powerful story. It speaks of divine favor on Ethiopia, of ancient ties to Israel, and of Ethiopia as a spiritual Jerusalem.

But the problem is this:
None of this appears in Jewish historical records, the Hebrew Bible, or even early Christian writings.

In the Bible (1 Kings 10, 2 Chronicles 9): The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon, asks him questions, admires his wisdom, gives him gifts—and goes back to her land. No mention of a romantic relationship.

There’s no record in Jewish or Israeli history that Solomon had a son by the Queen of Sheba.

No archaeological or historical documents from Israel support the idea that the Ark ever left the country.

In fact, Jewish tradition holds that the Ark was either hidden during the Babylonian siege, buried by priests to protect it, or taken to heaven (according to some Talmudic views).

So, historically? There’s no solid evidence that the Ark went to Ethiopia.

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3. Why Then Does the Story Persist in Ethiopia?

This is where philosophy and psychology enter the scene.

People don’t only believe things because they are historically verified—they believe them because they carry identity, meaning, and honor.

Ethiopia is one of the few African nations with unbroken Christian heritage.

It is mentioned honorably in Scripture: “Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” (Psalm 68:31)

The idea that the Ark is in Ethiopia places the country in sacred alignment with divine history.

So the Ark becomes a symbol—not just of religion, but of dignity, purpose, and spiritual election.

In that sense, even if the literal Ark isn’t in Axum, the meaning of the Ark has deeply shaped Ethiopian faith.

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4. A Philosopher’s Angle: What If the Ark Is No Longer a Box?

If the Ark represented the presence of God, then its purpose was not just to be preserved—but to be fulfilled.

And in Christ, we see that fulfillment. The Ark was a shadow—Jesus is the reality.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14)
The Greek word “dwelt” literally means “tabernacled”—echoing the Ark and Temple.

That means:

God no longer dwells in gold-covered boxes, but in hearts.

The true Ark today is not in a place—it is in people who carry His Spirit.

So Ethiopia may not have the ancient chest.
But like every nation that worships the true God—it can carry the presence through faith, obedience, and love.

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5. Reason and Balance: Legends vs. Living Faith

To believe the Ark is in Ethiopia is not wrong. It’s part of Ethiopia’s spiritual story.
But to claim it must be there—against history, scripture, and logic—can become a stumbling block.

True faith doesn’t need relics to be holy.
True faith is based on truth, relationship with God, and transformation.

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✨ Final Thought: Where Is the Ark Now?

Maybe it’s not about where the Ark is—but what it points to.

Whether buried under the Temple Mount, lost to time, or in Axum…

The Ark was a shadow of a greater reality:
God with us. God in us. God for us.

Let Ethiopia rejoice—not because of a legend—but because of the living Word, the ancient faith, and the Spirit who still dwells within those who believe.

🕊️ When Healing Doesn’t Come from Birth: A Mystery of Mercy, Purpose, and Glory

One of the hardest questions we wrestle with—both in faith and medicine—is this:

Why are some people born with blindness, lameness, or deformities and never healed… while others fall sick later in life and experience complete restoration?

Why does God heal the pain that came after birth…
But allow some conditions present from birth to remain?

This mystery is not simple. But in it, there is purpose, wisdom, and glory—if we listen with our hearts.

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1. Healing Is Not Always the Point—Sometimes, Purpose Is

In John 9:1-3, Jesus meets a man born blind. His disciples ask, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” And Jesus answers something stunning:

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

This man was born blind—yet not because of sin or punishment—but for the glory of God.

Here is a mystery: some people are born with conditions not because they need to be “healed” in the way we understand—but because their very life, testimony, and endurance reveal God in a deeper way.

Healing is one type of miracle.
But endurance, joy, wisdom, and light inside affliction—that’s another miracle.

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2. Pain That Comes Later Often Has a Purpose to Push

Some people experience pain after birth—through disease, accidents, stress, emotional wounds. And often, that pain pushes them to seek, cry out, and open their lives to transformation.

When pain comes later in life, the person may already have the capacity to ask, repent, forgive, or change their lifestyle. So healing comes as a fruit of awakening.

But when someone is born with a condition, they didn’t “choose” it—so healing may not be about change, but about calling, testimony, or even restraint.

Paul the Apostle said:

“There was given to me a thorn in the flesh… I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away. But He said, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” — 2 Corinthians 12:7–9

Some “conditions” remain so grace can shine where strength is gone.

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3. The Power of Unhealed Lives

Let’s be honest—it’s hard to accept when healing doesn’t come.

But what if some of the most powerful people on Earth are those who were never healed—yet still worship, still create, still love?

A blind man who teaches patience.
A lame woman who encourages others.
A leper who embraces others with joy.

Their lives preach louder than miracles.

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4. Not Every Condition Needs a Cure—Some Carry a Calling

We often think healing means “getting better.” But what if some people are born with their “difference” not to be fixed—but to be used?

Some conditions are not blockages to purpose—they are the purpose.

Think of Nick Vujicic—born with no arms or legs, yet became a preacher to millions.

Think of Helen Keller—born deaf and blind, yet changed the world through writing and education.

What if God allows some wounds to remain… so the world can witness what love, perseverance, and light look like through them?

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5. God Heals in Many Ways—Not Just Physically

Let’s also remember: healing isn’t only physical. God can heal emotions, relationships, faith, and identity—even if the body never changes.

A person born blind may never see with their eyes—but their spirit can see more than most.

A lame person may never walk—but their words may carry others.

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🌿 Final Word: The Greatest Healing Is Being Made Whole

In the end, healing from birth or after birth is not about fairness—it’s about purpose.

Some are healed to show God’s power.
Some remain unhealed to show His grace.
Some suffer to show His glory.
And some are restored to show His mercy.

Whether healed or not, the truth remains:

God is good, and He is working—even in what we don’t understand.

In today’s Christian communities, dancing has become a common expression in worship. Many believers passionately declare that dancing is their way of offering praise to God. Church services often include choreographed movements, spontaneous dance, and rhythmic expressions—done in the name of worship. But an important question must be asked: Is dancing truly biblical worship? Or have we adopted a cultural expression and wrapped it in a spiritual label?

Let’s be clear—the Bible is not silent on worship. In fact, Scripture gives us many descriptions of what worship looks like and what it means to God. And surprisingly, worship is less about outward action and more about inner posture.

What Does the Bible Say About Worship?

Jesus said in John 4:23-24:

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Worship, then, is not just movement—it’s alignment of our spirit with God’s truth. It is internal first, then expressed outwardly.

In Hebrews 13:15, we read:

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

The fruit of our lips—not the movement of our bodies—is what God desires. Worship is our spoken surrender, our thanksgiving, our confession of His greatness, not necessarily our choreography.

What About Dancing in the Bible?

Yes, the Bible mentions dance, especially in the Old Testament. For example:

Exodus 15:20 – Miriam led the women with tambourines and dancing after the victory at the Red Sea.

2 Samuel 6:14 – David danced before the Lord with all his might when the Ark of the Covenant was returned.

But we must be careful here. These were celebrations of national victory, not prescribed acts of worship. David danced in joy, but even his wife Michal was offended—and the Scripture doesn’t say God told David to dance. In fact, nowhere in the New Testament—the covenant under which we live—are believers told to worship God through dance.

The Danger of Emotional Substitutes

There is nothing wrong with expressing joy. But when we begin to call our emotional excitement “worship,” we risk substituting genuine spiritual connection with God for outward performance.

The modern church must reflect:

Are we dancing because we’re full of the Word and the Spirit?

Or are we dancing to compensate for the absence of true spiritual engagement?

Worship is not entertainment. Worship is sacrifice, adoration, humility, and obedience. As Romans 12:1 puts it:

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.”

So What Does God Really Want?

He wants your heart. He wants your words of surrender and adoration. He wants obedience, not just emotion. He wants the fruit of your lips, not the rhythm of your feet.

Final Thought:

You can dance with your feet and still be distant in your spirit. But you can sit in silence and whisper His name with awe—and that may be the most powerful worship of all.

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Worship is not defined by movement, but by meaning.
Let us return to worship that reflects His Word—not just our culture.

Why God Is More Concerned About the Heart Than the Show

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📍 Introduction: Are We Living a Double Life?

In today’s world—especially among believers—there’s a strong pressure to appear godly, successful, and spiritual on the outside.
But many are emotionally dry, mentally exhausted, and spiritually disconnected on the inside.

This creates a dangerous imbalance.

People are “living to be seen” instead of “living to be transformed.”
Yet God’s concern is not first about the external image, but the internal life.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

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🔁 Two Opposing Mindsets in Believers

Every believer wrestles with two inner voices:

🔹 1. The Inward Life Mindset (God-Centered Living)

This is a life rooted in:

Personal prayer and fasting

Stillness before God

Heart-level repentance

Seeking to please God in secret, not just impress people in public

Living from the Spirit, not reacting from the flesh

Jesus said:

“When you pray, go into your room and shut the door…” — Matthew 6:6
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8

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🔹 2. The Outward Life (Image-Centered Living)

This mindset focuses on:

Being known rather than being holy

Living for applause, likes, and reputation

Serving God publicly while neglecting private devotion

Measuring spiritual success by busyness, not depth

This is how many believers drift into performance Christianity—they appear spiritual but lack inner transformation.

“These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” — Matthew 15:8

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🧠 Psychology of the Split: Identity Crisis in Believers

When our outer life grows bigger than our inner life, it creates an identity crisis:

We become spiritually shallow, even though we’re religiously active

We perform faith instead of living it

We become emotionally unstable—feeling empty after doing everything “right”

This leads to burnout, spiritual pride, or secret sin—because the soul was never anchored in God’s presence.

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📖 Biblical Examples of Balance (or Lack of It)

✅ Jesus – Perfect Balance

Jesus had multitudes following Him, but He often withdrew to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16).
He lived from the inside out, not to impress, but to obey.

❌ The Pharisees – Outward Without Inward

They were experts in Scripture, prayer, and fasting—but Jesus called them “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27).
Their outer life was perfect, but inside was pride and corruption.

✅ Mary vs. Martha – Luke 10:38–42

Martha was busy with service, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet.
Jesus said Mary chose what was better—not activity, but intimacy.

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🧎🏽‍♀️ The Inner Life Shapes the Outer Fruit

Jesus taught in Matthew 7:17:

“Every good tree bears good fruit… a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

The fruit (outward actions) comes from the root (inner life).
If the heart is dry, the ministry will eventually wither.
If the soul is full of noise, the voice for God loses clarity.

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💥 Challenge Questions for Reflection

Take time to examine yourself honestly:

1. Do I feel pressure to be seen as strong—even when I’m broken inside?
2. Is my prayer life as strong in private as my spiritual image in public?
3. Do I rest in God’s presence—or constantly prove myself to others?
4. What part of my life is growing faster—my image or my inner depth?

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🧭 Practical Ways to Rebuild the Inner Life

Start your day in quiet devotion before any social media or tasks

Fast weekly—not just for breakthrough, but to discipline your desires

Practice secret giving, praying, and serving (Matthew 6:1–6)

Journal your heart before God—let Him search your thoughts

Set limits on public exposure—focus more on substance than style

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🌟 Final Word: God Wants the Real You

You don’t need to live a double life.
The Kingdom of God is not about performance but authentic transformation.

When your inner altar burns with God’s fire, your outer life will shine with holy power—not hype.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10
“Let your light so shine before men…” — Matthew 5:16
But the light must first be lit within.

By Dr. Wongelu Woldegiorgis
Biblical reflections and life applications for the Apostolic believer

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

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🕊️ Introduction: Are We Doing It Backwards?

Many churches today require long periods of teaching and “discipleship” classes before allowing people to be baptized. While this may seem wise and organized, it may actually reverse the divine order set by Jesus in Matthew 28:19.

Jesus didn’t say:
👉 Teach for months, then baptize.
He said:
👉 Baptize first, then teach them to observe His commands.

In this blog, we’ll explore why baptism should come first, share three powerful biblical stories, and show you why obeying God’s order brings revival and transformation.

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📖 What Did Jesus Really Say?

Let’s look closely at Matthew 28:19–20:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… then teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Here’s the divine order:

1. Make disciples (reach people)
2. Baptize them
3. Then teach them

This shows that baptism is not a graduation after learning, but a starting point of the new life in Christ.

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🚿 Why Baptism Comes Before Deep Teaching

1. Baptism Is the Entry Door to the New Life

Romans 6:3–4 says we are buried with Christ through baptism. You can’t teach someone how to live a holy life if they haven’t yet died to sin.

2. Baptism Unlocks Spiritual Understanding

Jesus said in John 3:5, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Without spiritual birth, the heart cannot receive spiritual truth.

3. Early Church Always Baptized Immediately

There was no delay. Believers were baptized immediately after believing the message. Then they learned and grew in faith.

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📚 3 Powerful Stories: Baptism Came First

🔹 1. The Ethiopian Eunuch – Acts 8:26–39

He was reading Isaiah in his chariot. Philip explained that it pointed to Jesus. The eunuch saw water and asked, “What prevents me from being baptized?”
Nothing did. He was baptized on the spot. Teaching followed baptism, not the other way around.

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🔹 2. Lydia the Seller of Purple – Acts 16:14–15

When Paul preached by the riverside, Lydia’s heart was opened. She believed and was baptized the same day, along with her household.
Her learning and service began after baptism, not before.

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🔹 3. The Philippian Jailer – Acts 16:30–33

Shaken by a divine earthquake, the jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus.” That very night, the man and his whole house were baptized immediately.
They were not told to wait for teaching sessions.

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🧍🏽‍♂️ A Modern Example: Amanuel in the Market

Amanuel hears the gospel from a street preacher. He says, “I believe in Jesus. I want to follow Him.”
The preacher says, “Let’s baptize you today.”
After baptism, Amanuel begins to study the Bible, joins a fellowship, and grows rapidly. His obedience unlocked spiritual hunger.

Now imagine if Amanuel had been told, “Come for six months of classes first.” He might have lost the zeal, the moment, the calling.

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✍️ What’s the Lesson for the Church Today?

We must return to the apostolic pattern:

Preach the gospel

Baptize those who believe

Then teach them everything Jesus commanded

This order brings: ✅ Obedience
✅ Spiritual birth
✅ True discipleship
✅ Growth led by the Holy Spirit

Baptism is not for experts.
It’s for believers—even newborn ones.

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🙌 Call to Action: Stop Delaying the Covenant

If you believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, don’t wait. Don’t think you need to understand everything first. Baptism is not about full knowledge—it’s about surrender.

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” — Acts 22:16

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📢 Share This Message

Let this truth awaken churches, pastors, and seekers:

The gospel brings faith

Faith leads to baptism

Baptism opens the heart to deep teaching

God’s way is still the best way.

እግዚአብሄር ከዘላለም ንጉስ ነው፡፡ እግዚአብሄር ከዘላለም እስከዘላለም ነው፡፡ እግዚአብሄር መጀመሪያና መጨረሻ የለውም እግዚአብሄር አልፋና ኦሜጋ ነው፡፡

አልፋና ዖሜጋ፥ ፊተኛውና ኋለኛው፥ መጀመሪያውና መጨረሻው እኔ ነኝ። ራእይ 22፡13

የእግዚአብሄር ከዘላለም እስከ ዘላለም መሆኑ በአእምሮዋችን እየመረመርም፡፡ የእግዚአብሄር ዘላለማዊነት በአእምሮዋችን ከመረዳት ያለፈ ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሄር ዘለዓለማዊነት ስፋቱና ርዝመቱ ከፍታውም ጥልቅነቱም ምን ያህል መሆኑን ለማስተዋል ያልፋል፡፡

እነሆ፥ እግዚአብሔር ታላቅ ነው፥ እኛም አናውቀውም። የዘመኑም ቍጥር አይመረመርም። ኢዮብ 36፡26

እግዚአብሄር የዘላለም አምላክነቱና እንደማይመረመርና ሰዎችም ሁሌ በእርሱ እንዲታመኑ የሚያዘው፡፡

አላወቅህምን? አልሰማህምን? እግዚአብሔር የዘላለም አምላክ፥ የምድርም ዳርቻ ፈጣሪ ነው፤ አይደክምም፥ አይታክትም፥ ማስተዋሉም አይመረመርም። ኢሳያስ 40፡28

እግዚአብሄር የዘላለም አምላክና ማስተዋሉም የማይመረመር ስለሆነ በእግዚአብሄር ላይ ከመደገፍ የተሻለ ነገር የለም፡፡ እግዚአብሄር የዘላለም አምላከ ነው፡፡ የዘላለም ክንዶች ከእኛ በታች ናቸው፡፡ ከዚህ በላይ የሚያኮራና ሳንናወጥ ረጋ ብለን እንንድንኖር የሚያደርግን እውቀት የለም፡፡

መኖሪያህ የዘላለም አምላክ ነው፥ የዘላለምም ክንዶች ከአንተ በታች ናቸው፤ ጠላትህን ከፊትህ አውጥቶ፦ አጥፋው ይላል። ዘዳግም 33፡27

እግዚአብሄር በድንገት በህዝብ ድምፅ ብልጫ የተመረጠ ፕሬዝዳንት አይደለም፡፡ እግዚአብሄር ከዘላለም ንጉስ ነው፡፡

መንግሥትህ የዘላለም መንግሥት ናት፥ ግዛትህም ለልጅ ልጅ ነው። መዝሙር 145፡13

እግዚአብሔር ግን እውነተኛ አምላክ ነው፤ እርሱም ሕያው አምላክና የዘላለም ንጉሥ ነው፤ ከቍጣው የተነሣ ምድር ትንቀጠቀጣለች፥ አሕዛብም መዓቱን አይችሉም። ኤርምያስ 10፡10

ከእግዚአብሄር ከዘላለም ከመኖር አንፃር የሰው በምድር ላይ ቆይታው እጅግ በጣም አጭር ነው፡፡ የሰውን በስጋ ቆይታ መፅሃፍ ቅዱስ ከእንፍዋለት ጋር ያነፃፅረዋል፡፡ የምድር ህይወት እጅግ አጭር በመሆኑ በራስ ላይ ከመደገፍ በላይ አክሳሪ ነገር የለም፡፡ በዘላለም አምላክ በእግዚአብሄር ላይ ከመደገፍ በላይ ጥበብ የለም፡፡

ሕይወታችሁ ምንድር ነው? ጥቂት ጊዜ ታይቶ ኋላ እንደሚጠፋ እንፍዋለት ናችሁና። ያዕቆብ 4፡14

ከእግዚአብሄር ዘላለማዊነት አንፃር የምድር ቆይታችን ነጥብ አትሞላም፡፡ የዘላለም አምላከ እግዚአብሄር አምባችን ነው፡፡

ጌታ እግዚአብሔር የዘላለም አምባ ነውና ለዘላለም በእግዚአብሔር ታመኑ። ኢሳያስ 26፡4

ሰው ማንንም ባያምን እግዚአብሄርን ማመን ግን ግዴታ ነው፡፡ በዘላለም አምላክ በእግዚአብሄር ላይ ካልተደገፍን በማንም ላይ መገደፍ አንችልም፡፡

መጀመሪያ የሁለተኛ ደረጃ ትምህርቴን ለመጨረስ እና ኮሌጅ ለመጀመር እስከሞት ድረስ እጓጓ ነበር፡፡

ከዚያ ደግሞ ኮሌጅን ለመጨረስ እና ሥራ ለመጀመር እስከሞት ድረስ እጓጓ ነበር፡፡

ከዚያም ለማግባት እና ልጆች ለመውለድ እስከሞት ድረስ እጓጓ ነበር፡፡

ከዚያ በኋላ ወደ ሥራዬ መመለስ እንድችል ልጆቼን ለትምህርት የሚያበቃ ዕድሜዬ እንኪደርሱ እስከሞት ድረስ እጓጓ ነበር፡፡

ከዚያ በኋላ ጡረታ ለመውጣት እስከሞት ድረስ እጓጓ ነበር፡፡

እና አሁን ለመሞት ተቃርቤያለሁ . . .

በድንገት የተረዳሁት ነገር በህይወቴ ዘመን ሁሉ የሚቀጥለው ደረጃ ላይ ለመድረስ እጅግ ስጓጓ ነገር ግን መኖርን ረስቼ እንደነበር ነው፡፡ ይላል አንድ የእድሜ ባለጠጋ ሰው፡፡

ይህ የሁላችንም ፈተና ነው፡፡ ሁላችንም አንድ ደረጃ ላይ መድረስ ፣ አንድን ግኝት ማግኘት ፣ ስኬት ላይ መድረስና በያዝነው ነገር ድልን መቀዳጀት እንፈልጋለን፡፡

ይህ በጣም አስፈላጊ ነገር ነው፡፡ በህይወት መትጋት መፅሃፍ ቅዱሳዊ መርሆ ነው፡፡

ነገር ግን መትጋት ብቻ ሳይሆን የተጋንበትን ነገር ማጣጣም እንዲሁ መፅሃፍ ቅዱሳዊ መርህ ነው፡፡ ማግኘት ብቻ ሳይሆን ያገኘነውን ነገር ጊዜ ወስደን ማጣጣም መጠቀምና በዚያ መደሰት መፅሃፍ ቅዱሳዊ ትእዛዝ ነው፡፡

ማግኘት አንድ ነገር ነው ያገኘነውን መጠቀም ሌላ ነገር ነው፡፡ እንድናገኝ ብቻ ሳይሆን ያገኘነውን ነገር እንድንጠቀንም እግዚአብሄር ይፈልጋል፡፡

አንዳንድ ሰው ገንዘብን ለማግኘት እጅግ ሲጥር ታዩታላችሁ፡፡ ጥረቱም ይሳካለታል ገንዘብን ያገኛል፡፡ በመሃል ግን ገንዘብን ለማግኘት የሰራበትንና የለፋበትን ምክኒያት ይረሳዋል፡፡ ገንዘቡን አይጠቀምበትም፡፡ ገንዘቡ ህይወቱን አያመቻችለትም፡፡ ገንዘቡ መሰረታዊ ፍላጎቱ አያሟላለትም፡፡ ገንዘቡን ያከማቸዋል፡፡ ገንዘቡን በማየት ብቻ ይረካል፡፡ ገንዘቡ የተጠራቀመበት ምክኒያት ይጠፋል፡፡ ገንዘቡ ጥቅም ላይ አይውልም፡፡ ገንዘቡ ባለገንዘቡን ሳይረዳው ይቀራል፡፡

የዚህ ሰው ችግሩ ገንዘብ መስራት ያውቃል ነገር ግን ገንዘቡን መጠቀም አልተማረም፡፡ ገንዘብ ለመስራት ሰልጥኗል ገንዘብን ለመጠቀም አልሰለጠነም፡፡ ገንዘቡን እንዴት እንደሚያገኘው እውቀት አለው ገንዘቡን እንዴት በሚገባ እንደሚጠቀምበት እውቀት ይጎድለዋልን፡፡

እግዚአብሄርን የማያውቁ ሰዎች በዚህ እጅግ ይቸገራሉ፡፡ ያገኙትን ገንዘብ ወይ ሳይጠቀሙበት አካብተውት አካብተውት ያልፋሉ፡፡ ደስታቸውን ሁልጊዜ ለወደፊት ያስተላለፉታል፡፡ ይህ ሲሆንልኝ መደሰት እጀመራለሁ ይላሉ፡፡ ልክ እንደደረሱበት ሲያውቁ አሁን ያሉበት ደረጃ በራሱ ግኝትና ስኬት እንደሆነ ይዘነጉታል፡፡ ዛሬ ያሉበትን ደረጃ ይንቁታል፡፡ በዛሬ ባሉበት ደረጃ መደሰት አያውቁም፡፡ ዛሬ ላይ ሲደርሱ ስለማያውቁት ስለነገ ይጓጓሉ፡፡ ዛሬ ላይ ሲደርሱ የዛሬን ድል እርግፍ አድርገው ትተው ሳይደሰቱበት ስለነገ ብቻ ማውራት መጨነቅ ማሰብ ይጀምራሉ፡፡ ስለዚህ ነው ህይወታችንን በቀን ከፋፋልን እንድንደሰትበት መፅሃፍ ቅዱስ የሚያስተንምረን፡፡

ነገ ለራሱ ይጨነቃልና ለነገ አትጨነቁ፤ ለቀኑ ክፋቱ ይበቃዋል። የማቴዎስ ወንጌል 6፡34

ህይወት በትጋት የምንወጣው ሃላፊነት ብቻ ሳይሆን ቀስ ብለን የምንደሰትበት ስጦታ ነው፡፡

የእግዚአብሄ ስጦታ ሁለት ነው፡፡ እግዚአብሀር በህይወት አንዲከናወንልን ትጋትን ይሰጠናል፡፡ ይህም ብቻ ሳይሀነ የደረስብነትን ግኝት ረጋ ብለን እንድናጣጠምው እውቀትን ይሰጠናል፡፡

ከሚበላውና ከሚጠጣው ደስም ከሚለው በቀር ለሰው ከፀሐይ በታች ሌላ መልካም ነገር የለውምና እኔ ደስታን አመሰገንሁ፤ ከፀሐይም በታች ከድካሙ እግዚአብሔር በሰጠው በሕይወቱ ዘመን ይህ ደስታው ከእርሱ ጋር ይኖራል።መጽሐፈ መክብብ 8፡15

እግዚአብሔር ሥራህን ተቀብሎታልና ሂድ፥ እንጀራህን በደስታ ብላ፥ የወይን ጠጅህንም በተድላ ጠጣ። ሁልጊዜ ልብስህ ነጭ ይሁን፤ ቅባትም ከራስህ ላይ አይታጣ። በሕይወትህ፥ አንተም ከፀሐይ በታች በምትደክምበት ድካም ይህ እድል ፈንታህ ነውና ከንቱ በሆነ በሕይወትህ ዘመን ሁሉ፥ ከፀሐይ በታች በሰጠህ፥ በከንቱ ዘመንህ ሁሉ፥ ከምትወድዳት ሚስትህ ጋር ደስ ይበልህ። መጽሐፈ መክብብ 9፡7-9

የእስራኤል ህዝብ በውሃ እጦት በተሰቃየበት ጊዜ እግዚአብሄር ውሃን እንደሚያመጣ በነቢዩ ተናገራቸው፡፡ ነገር ግን ውሃ ከመምጣቱ በፊት ውሃውን የሚይዘውን ጉድጓድ እንዲቆፍሩም ተናገራቸው፡፡

እንዲህም አለ፦ እግዚአብሔር እንዲህ ይላል፦ በዚህ ሸለቆ ሁሉ ጕድጓድ ቆፈሩ። እግዚአብሔርም እንዲህ ይላል፦ ነፋስ አታዩም፥ ዝናብም አታዩም፥ ይህ ሸለቆ ግን ውኃ ይሞላል፤ እናንተም ከብቶቻችሁም እንስሶቻችሁም ትጠጣላችሁ። 2ኛ ነገሥት 3፡16-17

ይህ ታሪክ በህይወታችን ለሚመጣው ታእምር የሚመጥን ነገር መዘጋጀት እንዳለበት ያስተምረናል፡፡ አሁን ያለን ነገር ካልተለወጠ ወደፊታችን ሊለወጥ አይችልም፡፡ ህይወታችን የሚመጣውን በረከት ለመያዝ እንዲችል አድርጎ ካልተለወጠ በረከተን መጠበቅ መጠበቅ ሞኝነት ነው፡፡ አሁን ያለን የህይወት ደረጃ ወደፊት የሚመጣውን ሃላፊነትና ስልጣን ሊሸከም አይችልም፡፡ አሁን ያለን የመያዝ አቅም ነገ ሊመጣ ያለውን በረከት ሊይዝ አይችልም፡፡ አሁን ለነገ ህይወታችን ካልተለወጠ ነገ የሚመጣወን ከፍታ መያዝ ያቅተዋል፡፡

በአረጀ ልብስ አዲስ እራፊ የሚጥፍ የለም፤ ቢደረግ ግን፥ አዲሱ መጣፊያ አሮጌውን ይቦጭቀዋል፥ መቀደዱም የባሰ ይሆናል። በአረጀ አቁማዳም አዲስ የወይን ጠጅ የሚያኖር የለም፤ ቢደረግ ግን፥ የወይን ጠጁ አቁማዳውን ያፈነዳል የወይኑም ጠጅ ይፈሳል አቁማዳውም ይጠፋል አዲሱን የወይን ጠጅ ግን በአዲስ አቁማዳ ያኖራሉ። ማርቆስ 2፡21-22

አሁን ያለንበት የህይወት ደረጃ እግዚአብሄር ይመስገን አሁን ላለንበት ሃላፊነት በቂ ነው፡፡ አሁን የደረስንበት የህይወት ደረጃ አሁን ላለን ስልጣን በቂ ነው፡፡ አሁን ያለንበት የህይወት ደረጃ አሁን ላለን ተፅእኖ መጠን በቂ ነው፡፡

ነገር ግን እኛ ማደግ እንፈልጋለን፡፡ እኛ ማደግ ከምንፈልገው በላይ እግዚአብሄር እንድናድግ ይፈልጋል፡፡ እግዚአብሄር እኛን መለወጥ ይፈልጋል፡፡ እግዚአብሄር አዲስን ነገር ማድረግ ይፈልጋል፡፡

እነሆ፥ አዲስ ነገርን አደርጋለሁ፤ እርሱም አሁን ይበቅላል፥ እናንተም አታውቁትምን? በምድረ በዳም መንገድን በበረሀም ወንዞችን አደርጋለሁ። ኢሳይያስ 43፡19

አሁን ባለን የህይወት ደረጃ መኖር የምንችለው አሁን ላለው ህይወት ብቻ ነው፡፡ አሁን ባለን የህይወት አቅም መያዝ የምንችለው አሁን ያለንን ስልጣን ብቻ ነው፡፡ አሁን ባለን የህይወት ብስለት ማስተናገድ የምንችለው የአሁኑን የህይወት ደረጃ ብቻ ነው፡፡ ለማደግና መለወጥ ወሳኝ ነው፡፡ ስለነገ ዛሬ መስራት ወሳኝ ነው፡፡

የእግዚአብሔር ፈቃድ እርሱም በጎና ደስ የሚያሰኝ ፍጹምም የሆነው ነገር ምን እንደ ሆነ ፈትናችሁ ታውቁ ዘንድ በልባችሁ መታደስ ተለወጡ እንጂ ይህን ዓለም አትምሰሉ። ሮሜ 12፡2

ለመድረስ ለምንፈልገው የህይወት ልክ ሌላ የህይወት ደረጃ ልክ ይጠይቃል፡፡ ለመድረስ ለምንፈልገው የስልጣን ልክ ሌላ የብስለት ደረጃ ይጠይቃል፡፡ ለመድረስ ለምንፈልገው የህይወት ከፍታ ሌላ የባህሪ ደረጃ ይጠይቃል፡፡

መድረስ ወደምንፈልግበት የህይወት ደረጃ ከፍ ለማለት መለወጥ ግድ ይላል፡፡ ወደምናየው የህይወት ከፍታ ለመውጣት መለወጥ ወሳኝ ነው፡፡ ወዳየንበት የህይወት የስልጣን ደረጃ ለመድረስ ይህ ያለንበት ህይወት ሊለወጥ ይገባዋል፡፡

ባለንበት ህይወት ከፍ ያለ ደረጃ መጠበቅ ሞኝነት ነው፡፡ ባለንበት ብስለት ከፍ ያለ ስልጣን መለማመድ የማይቻል ነው፡

አሁንም ያዕቆብ ሆይ፥ የፈጠረህ፥ እስራኤልም ሆይ፥ የሠራህ እግዚአብሔር እንዲህ ይላል፦ ተቤዥቼሃለሁና አትፍራ፤ በስምህም ጠርቼሃለሁ፥ አንተ የእኔ ነህ። በውኃ ውስጥ ባለፍህ ጊዜ ከአንተ ጋር እሆናለሁ፥ በወንዞችም ውስጥ ባለፍህ ጊዜ አያሰጥሙህም፤ በእሳትም ውስጥ በሄድህ ጊዜ አትቃጠልም፥ ነበልባሉም አይፈጅህም። ኢሳይያስ 43፡1-2

ከየትኛውም ከሚታዩ በረከቶች በላይ የሚያስደስተን ፣ የሚያረካንና ልባችንን የሚያሳርፈው የእግዚአብሄር ከእኛ ጋር የመኖሩ አውቀት ነው፡፡ ሲጀመር ለእግዚአብሄር ክብር ነው የተፈጠርነው፡፡ እኛ የራሳችን አይደለንም፡፡ እኛ የእግዚአብሄር ነን፡፡ የህይወታችን ባለቤት እግዚአብሄር ነው፡፡

እግዚአብሄር አብሮን እንዳለ ካወቅን አንፈራም፡፡ በሚያስፈራ ነገር ውስጥ ለማለፍ የምንደፍረው አግዚአብሄር ከእኛ ጋር እንዳለ ስናውቅ ብቻ ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሄርን አብሮነት ከተረዳን በሞት መካከል እንኳን ካለፍርሃት እናልፋለን፡፡

በሞት ጥላ መካከል እንኳ ብሄድ አንተ ከእኔ ጋር ነህና ክፉን አልፈራም፤ በትርህና ምርኵዝህ እነርሱ ያጸናኑኛል። መዝሙር 23፡4

በማይመስል ሁኔታ ውስጥ በፀጥታ የምናልፈው ከምትችሉት በላይ እንድትፈትኑ የማይፈቅ እግዚአብሄር ተብሎ የተጻፈለት ጌታ ከእኛ ጋር እንዳለ በእርሱ እውቅና በከፍታና በዝቅታ እንደምናልፍ ስናውቅ ነው፡፡

ለሰው ሁሉ ከሚሆነው በቀር ምንም ፈተና አልደረሰባችሁም፤ ነገር ግን ከሚቻላችሁ መጠን ይልቅ ትፈተኑ ዘንድ የማይፈቅድ እግዚአብሔር የታመነ ነው፥ ትታገሡም ዘንድ እንድትችሉ ከፈተናው ጋር መውጫውን ደግሞ ያደርግላችኋል። 1ኛ ቆሮንቶስ 10፡13

የምናደርገው ነገር ሃሳቡ የእርሱ እንደሆነ ከተረዳንና እግዚአብሄር አብሮን እንዳለ ስለምናውቅ ምንም መንገዱ አስቸጋሪ ቢሆን እኛም መውጣት መዋጋት መውረስ እንፈልጋለን፡፡ እግዚአብሄር የምናደርገውን ነገር እንደመራን ካላወቅን ግን እኛም አብረን መውጣት አንፈልግም፡፡

እርሱም፦ አንተ ከእኛ ጋር ካልወጣህስ፥ ከዚህ አታውጣን። ዘፀአት 33፡15

ስለዚህ ነው እግዚአብሄር ከእኛ ጋር ከሆነ ማንም እንደማይቋቋመን መፅሃፍ ቅዱስ የሚያስተምረን፡፡

እግዚአብሄር ከእኛ ጋር ከሆነ ማን ይቃወመናል ሮሜ 8:31

እግዚአብሄርን የማይሰማ ነገር እንደሌለ እግዚአብሄር ሲልከን እና ከእኛ ጋር ሲሆን ሁሉም ነገር እግዚአብሄር በእኛ ወስጥ ለአስቀመጠው አላማ መሳካት ይገዛል፡፡

አሁንም ያዕቆብ ሆይ፥ የፈጠረህ፥ እስራኤልም ሆይ፥ የሠራህ እግዚአብሔር እንዲህ ይላል፦ ተቤዥቼሃለሁና አትፍራ፤ በስምህም ጠርቼሃለሁ፥ አንተ የእኔ ነህ። በውኃ ውስጥ ባለፍህ ጊዜ ከአንተ ጋር እሆናለሁ፥ በወንዞችም ውስጥ ባለፍህ ጊዜ አያሰጥሙህም፤ በእሳትም ውስጥ በሄድህ ጊዜ አትቃጠልም፥ ነበልባሉም አይፈጅህም። ኢሳይያስ 43፡1-2

አውቃለሁ እንደሚል ሰው የሚያስፈራ ሰው የለም፡፡ አውቃለሁ የሚል ሰው ለመማር ምንም ስፍራ የለውም፡፡ አውቃለሁ የሚል ሰው ለመማር ፈቃደኛ አይደለም፡፡ አውቃለሁ የሚል ሰው ለመሻሻል ምንም ቦታ የለውም፡፡ አውቃለሁ የሚል ሰው ማደግ አቁሟል፡፡ ሁሉንም አውቃለሁ የሚል ሰው ለመለወጥ ተስፋ የለውም፡፡
ለራሱ ጠቢብ የሆነ የሚምስለውን ሰው አየኸውን? ከእርሱ ይልቅ ለሰነፍ ተስፋ አለው። ምሳሌ 26፡12
ሁሉን አውቃለሁ ማለት የሚችል እግዚአብሔር ብቻ ነው፡፡ ሁላችንም እየተማርን ነው፡፡ ለመማር እስከተዘጋጀን ድረስ ሁል ጊዜ እንማራለን፡፡ ለመማር እስከፈቀድን ድረስ የምንማራቸው እጅግ ብዙ ነገሮች አሉ፡፡ እያንዳንዱ ሰው በአንድም ሆነ በሌላ መልኩ በእውቀት ይበልጠናል፡፡ ከማንም ሰው ለመማር ፈቃደኛ ከሆንን ማንም ሰው ሊያስተምረንና በህይወታችን ላይ ዋጋን ሊጨምር ይችላል፡፡ ሁልጊዜ የሚማር ልብ ካለን በማንም ሰው አማካኝነት ለህይወታችን መለወጥ የሚጠቅም ቁልፍ ነገር ልንማር እንችላለን፡፡
ሰው ባወቀ መጠን የሚያውቀው ማወቅ የሚገባውን ያህል አንደማያውቅ ነው፡፡
ማንም አንዳች የሚያውቅ ቢመስለው ሊያውቅ እንደሚገባው ገና አላወቀም፤ 1ኛ ቆሮንቶስ 8፡2

በምድር ላይ ህዝብን የሚያስተዳድርና የሚገዛ መንግስት እንዳለ ሁሉ በመካከላችን የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት አለ ይህም የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት የሚገለጥባት ቤተክርስቲያን ነች፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት በአይን የማይታይ በስፍራ የማይወሰን መንግስት ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት መሪ ያለው ህዝብና የራሱ የአሰራር ህግ ያለው መንግስት ነው፡፡
ፈሪሳውያንም፦ የእግዚአብሔር መንግሥት መቼ ትመጣለች ብለው ቢጠይቁት፥ መልሶ፦ የእግዚአብሔር መንግሥት በመጠባበቅ አትመጣም፤ ደግሞም፦ እንኋት በዚህ ወይም፦ እንኋት በዚያ አይሉአትም። እነሆ፥ የእግዚአብሔር መንግሥት በመካከላችሁ ናትና አላቸው። ሉቃስ 17፡20-21
በተቃራኒው አለም ማለት ሰይጣን የሚገዛበት የአሰራር ስርአት ነው፡፡ አለም ማለት ከተማ ማለት ሳይሆን ሰው ባራሱ ላይ ጌታ የሆነበትና የሰው አስተሳሰብ የሚስተናገድበት ከእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ተቃራኒ የኑሮ ዘይቤ ነው፡፡
ዓለምን ወይም በዓለም ያሉትን አትውደዱ፤ በዓለም ያለው ሁሉ እርሱም የሥጋ ምኞትና የዓይን አምሮት ስለ ገንዘብም መመካት ከዓለም ስለ ሆነ እንጂ ከአባት ስላልሆነ፥ ማንም ዓለምን ቢወድ የአባት ፍቅር በእርሱ ውስጥ የለም። 1ኛ ዮሐንስ 2፡15-16
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት አስተሳሰብና የአለም(የሰው) አስተሳሰብ እጅግ የተለያዩ ናቸው፡፡
ዓለሙም ምኞቱም ያልፋሉ፤ የእግዚአብሔርን ፈቃድ የሚያደርግ ግን ለዘላለም ይኖራል። 1ኛ ዮሐንስ 2፡17
የአለም ወይም የሰው ስንል ከእግዚአብሔር ቃል የተቃረነ የአስተሳሰብ ዘይቤና ዋጋ አመለካከት ነው፡፡
የእግዚአብሔር ፈቃድ እርሱም በጎና ደስ የሚያሰኝ ፍጹምም የሆነው ነገር ምን እንደ ሆነ ፈትናችሁ ታውቁ ዘንድ በልባችሁ መታደስ ተለወጡ እንጂ ይህን ዓለም አትምሰሉ። ሮሜ 12፡2
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት አስተሳሰብ ከአለም(ከሰው) አስተሳሰብ የሚለይበት ብዙ መንገዶች መንገዶች አሉ ከእነዚህም ውስጥ፡፡
• የፍቅርና ራስ ወዳድነት አስተሳሰብ
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት አስተሳብ የእግዚአብሔር የሆነውንና ሰውን ሁሉ የመውደድ አስተሳሰብ ነው፡፡ ከእግዚአብሔርና ከሰው ጋር በአክብሮት የምንኖርበት ስርአት ነው፡፡ የአለም (የሰው) መንግስት ግን ራስ ተኮር የሆነ እያንዳንዱን ነገር ከግል ጥቅም አንፃር ብቻ የሚመዘንበት ስርአት ነው፡፡
እርሱ ከጨለማ ሥልጣን አዳነን፥ ቤዛነቱንም እርሱንም የኃጢአትን ስርየት ወዳገኘንበት ወደ ፍቅሩ ልጅ መንግሥት አፈለሰን። ቆላስይስ 1፡13-14
• የብርሃንና የጨለማ መንግስት
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት በእግዚአብሔር ምሪት የተሞላ ነው፡፡ የአለም መንግስት ግን የእግዚአብሔር ምሪት የሌለበት ሰዎች መቼ እንደሚደናቀፉ የማያውቁበት የጨለማ መንግስት ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት የግልፅነት መንግስት ሲሆን የአለም መንግስት ድብቅ መንግስት ነው፡፡
ብርሃንም ወደ ዓለም ስለ መጣ ሰዎችም ሥራቸው ክፉ ነበርና ከብርሃን ይልቅ ጨለማን ስለ ወደዱ ፍርዱ ይህ ነው። ክፉ የሚያደርግ ሁሉ ብርሃንን ይጠላልና፥ ሥራውም እንዳይገለጥ ወደ ብርሃን አይመጣም፤ እውነትን የሚያደርግ ግን ሥራው በእግዚአብሔር ተደርጎ እንደ ሆነ ይገለጥ ዘንድ ወደ ብርሃን ይመጣል። ዮሃንስ 3፡19-21
• የእውነትና የሃሰት አስተሳሰብ
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት የእውነት መንግስት ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ከእግዚአብሔርን ቃል የመጀመሪያውን የእግዚአብሔርን ሃሳብ የሚከተል መንግስት ነው፡፡ የአለም አሰራር ግን ላይ ላዩን ብቻ ማስተካከል የሚፈልግ ውስጡን ግን የማያጠራ የሃሰት ማስመሰያ አስተሳሰብ ነው፡፡ የአለም አስተሳሰብ ውጭውን ብቻ በማሳመር የሚያታልል ሲሆን የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ትኩረቱ የውስጥ የልብ ንፅህና ነው፡፡
ብዘገይ ግን፥ በእግዚአብሔር ማደሪያ ቤት መኖር እንዴት እንደሚገባ ታውቅ ዘንድ እጽፍልሃለሁ፤ ቤቱም የእውነት ዓምድና መሠረት፥ የሕያው እግዚአብሔር ቤተ ክርስቲያን ነው። 1ኛ ጢሞቴዎስ 3፡15
• ማገልገልና የመገልገል መንገድ
በእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ባለን ነገር ሁሉ ለማገልገልና ሌሎችን ለመጥቀም የምንኖረው ኑሮ ሲሆን የአለም አስተሳሰብ በስልጣናችን ተጠቅመን ለመጠቀምና ሰዎች እንዲያገለግሉንና እንዲጠቅሙን የምንሄድበት አስተሳሰብ ነው፡፡
• የመዝራትና የማከማቸት አስተሳሰብ
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት የመዝራትና የመስጠት አስተሳሰብ ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ሌሎችን በመባረክና በማንሳት ቤተክርስቲያንን በማገልገል የሚረካ አስተሳሰብ ነው፡፡ በአለም ግን ሰው ደህንነት የሚሰማው ሲያከማች ሲሰበስብ ነው፡፡
ብልና ዝገት በሚያጠፉት ሌቦችም ቆፍረው በሚሠርቁት ዘንድ ለእናንተ በምድር ላይ መዝገብ አትሰብስቡ፤ ነገር ግን ብልም ዝገትም በማያጠፉት ሌቦችም ቆፍረው በማይሠርቁት ዘንድ ለእናንተ በሰማይ መዝገብ ሰብስቡ፤ ማቴዎስ 6፡19-20
• የይቅርታና የበቀል አካሄድ
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት የምህረትና የይቅርታ መንግስት ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት በእጅጉ ይቅር የተባሉ ሰዎች በተራቸው ሌላውን ይቅር ለማለት የተዘጋጁ ሰዎች መንግስት ነው፡፡ የአለም መንግስት ግን የበቀልና የተንኮል አስተሳሰብ የገነነበት ሲሆን አንዱ በሌላው ላይ ተረማምዶ ወደላይ ከፍ የሚልበት ክፉ አሰራር ነው፡፡ በአለም አስተሰታሳብ በፊትህ የሚቆመውን አስወግደህ ማለፍ አዋቂነት ነው፡፡
• የመተባበርና የፉክክር አስተሳሰብ
በእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ለሌላው መነሳትና ማሸነፍ በደስታ የሚሰራበት ሲሆን በአለም አሰራር ግን ሌላውን በመጣል ከሌላው በላይ ከፍ ብሎ ለመታየት በትእቢት የሚኬድበት የአሰራር ዘይቤ ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት የሌላውን ጉድለት ለመሙላት የመሄድ አስተሳሰብ ሲሆን የአለም አስተሳሰብ ሌላው ሁሉ ለእርሱ እንዲሰራለት ራስን ብቸኛ እንደተመረቀ መቁጠር ነው፡፡
• ዘላለማዊና ጊዜያዊ አስተሳሰብ
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት አስተሳሰብ የሚመዘነው በዘላለማዊ እይታው ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ዜጋ ለዘላለም ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር እንደሚኖር የእግዚአብሔር ልጅ ጊዜያዊውን ደስታ ንቆ የሚኖረበት ህይወት ነው፡፡ የአለም አስተሳሰብ ግን ለጊዜያዊው ነገር ህይወትን የማባከን ህይወት ነው፡፡
• የትህትናና የትእቢት አስተሳሰብ
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት መዋረድና የዝቅታን አስተሳሰብን ሲያስተምር የአለም አስተሳሰን ግን የትእቢት የከፍታ የንቀትና ትምህክትኘነትን ስግብግብነትን፣ አስተሳሰብን ያራምዳል፡፡ በአለም አሰራር ትህትና ሽንፈትና ደካማነት ነው፡፡
• የየዋህነትና የብልጠት አካሄድ
የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት አስተሳሰብ ሃይልን ለክፉ ነገር ያለመጠቀም ውሳኔ ሲሆን በአለም ግን ብልጠትና አቋራጭ ተጠቅሞ ወደላይ ከፍ ማለትን የሚያበረታታ አሰራር ነው፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ሰው ስለ ደህንነቱ በእግዚአብሔር ላይ የሚደገፍበት ሲሆን የአለም አሰራር ግን ባለህ ሃይል እና ተሰሚነት ሁሉ ተጠቅመህ ሌላውን በመጣልና በማዋረድ ከፍ የማለት አስተሳሰብ ነው፡፡ በአለም አንተ ከፍ እንድትል ሌሎች መዋረድ አለባቸው፡፡
ስለዚህ ነው ጌታችን ኢየሱስ የእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ቀርባለችና ንስሃ ግቡ እያለ ይሰብክ የነበረው፡፡ በአለም አስተሳሰብ በእግዚአብሔር መንግስት ሊሳካልን አይችልም፡፡

• የሙታን ትንሳኤ በሚመጣዉ ዓለም ከጌታ ጋር የምንኖረዉ ህይወት ነዉ (ፊል. 3፡10-11፣17-21) ፡፡ የሙታን ትንሳኤ ከሁሉ ይልቅ የተሻለ ተስፋ ያለዉ መሠረታዊ ትምህርት ነዉ፡፡
15.1. ትርጉም
• ለሰዎች ሁሉ አንድ ጊዜ መሞት ከዚያ በኋላ ፍርድ ተወስኖባቸዋል ይላል(ዕብ. 9፡27፣1ቆሮ.15፡22) ስለዚህ ሰዎች ከሙታን ተነስተዉ አዲስ ህይወትን ለመኖር ፍርድንም ለመቀበል የሚያገኙት ከሞት መነሳት የሙታን ተንሳኤ ይባላል ፡፡
• Anastasis (ግሪክ) Gk. (Ana= up stasis= stand = stand up)
• ትንሳኤ (geez)
15.2. ትንሳኤ ሙታን አለ
• ትንሳኤ ሙታን ባይኖር ሌሎች ስብከቶች ሁሉ ከንቱ ይሆኑ ነበር (1ቆሮ. 15፡12-19) ፡፡ ‹‹ትንሳኤ ሙታን›› መጽሐፍ ቅዱሳዊ መሠረት ያለዉ አስተምህሮ ነው ፡፡ ‹‹ሙታን ህያዋን ይሆናሉ በድናቸዉም ይነሳል ›› (ኢሳ.26፡19) ፡፡ ‹‹ከምድር አፈር ዉስጥ ካንቀላፉት ብዙዎች ይነቃሉ፡፡
• አንዳንዶቹ ለዘላለም ህይወት ሌሎችም ለዉርደትና ለዘላለም ጉስቁልና ይነሳሉ›› (ዳን. 12፡2) ፡፡
• ጌታችን ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ በስጋዉ ወራት በምድር በተመላለሰባቸዉ ዓመታት ‹‹የሙታን ተንሳኤ የለም›› የሚሉ ሳዱቃዊያን ነበሩ፡፡ በመጀመሪያዋ ቤ/ክ ዘመንም ቢሆን ‹‹የሙታን ትንሳኤ የለም›› የሚሉና የሚያስተምሩም ነበሩ (ማቴ.22፡29-32፣ማር.12፡24-27፣ሉቃ. 20፡34-38፣ ዮሐ.5፡25- 29፣6፡39-54፣ 11፡24-25፣ የሐዋ.2፡24- 32፣ 13፡32-37) ፡፡
• ‹‹ክርስቶስ ከሙታን እንደተነሳ የሚሰብክ ከሆነ ግን ከእናንተ አንዳንዶቹ፡- ትንሳኤ ሙታን የለም እንዴት ይላሉ? (1ቆሮ.15፡12-19)
15.3. ሙታን እንዴት ይነሳሉ? (1ቆሮ. 15፡35-50)
• በአካለ ስጋ የሞቱ ሁሉ ድንገት ሰው ከእንቅልፍ እንደሚነቃ ይነቃሉ (ይነሳሉ)፡፡ የሚነሳው ስጋዊ አካል ምን ዓይነት ይሆናል ለሚለው ከቅድመ ሞት በፊት ከነበረው አካል ፈጽሞ የተለየ ነው፡፡
15.4. የሙታን ትንሳኤ ቅደም ተከተል (1ቆሮ. 15፡23)
• የሙታን ሁሉ ትንሳኤ በአንድ ጊዜ አይሆንም፡፡ መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ በቅደም ተከተል የሚከናወኑ የተለያዩ ትንሳኤዎች ስለመኖራቸዉ በግልጽ ያስረዳል፡፡ እነርሱም፡-
15.4.1. የጌታችን የኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ትንሳኤ
• ለዓለም ሁሉ ኃጢአት ቤዛ በመሆን በእንጨት ተሰቅሎ በመሞት የተቀበረዉና መጽሐፍም እንደሚል በሶስተኛዉ ቀን የተነሳዉ እርሱ የመጀመሪያና በኩር ነዉ ፡፡ ‹‹አሁን ክርስቶስ ላንቀላፉት ሁሉ በኩራት ሆኖ በእርግጥ ከሙታን ተነስቷል›› (1ቆሮ. 15፡20፣23) ፡፡
• ከጌታችን ከኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ትንሳኤ በፊት በነቢያት በራሱም በክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ አገልግሎትና እንዲሁም በሐዋርያት አገልግሎት ሙታን ተነስተዋል፡፡ ይሁን እንጂ እነዚህ ከሞት የተነሱቱ ሁሉ ተመልሰዉ ሞተዋል፡፡
የእርሱ ትንሳኤ ግን ፡-
• የሞትን ጣር አጥፍቶ ዳግመኛ ላይሞትና ከዘላለም እስከ ዘላለም ህያዉ ሆኖ ይኖራል (ራዕ.1፡18) ፡፡
• በሁሉ ነገር ላይ የበላይነቱን ያሳየበት ትንሳኤ ነዉ (ቆላ.1፡18) ፡፡
እርሱ ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ከሙታን በመነሳቱ የተገኙ ዉጤቶች ምንድን ናቸዉ?
ሀ. ለአማኞች ሁሉ ከሞት መነሳት የታመነ ተስፋ ነዉ (1ቆሮ.15፡23)
ለ. ሞት ከእንግዲህ እርሱን ላይገዛዉ ሞትን ድል ነስቶታል (ሮሜ. 6፡8-10)
ሐ. የሞትና የሲኦል መክፈቻ በእጁ ሆኗል (ራዕ. 1፡18)
መ. በሞት ላይ ስልጣን ያለዉን ዲያቢሎስን ሽሮታል (ዕብ. 2፡14)
ሠ. እኛ ዳግመኛ ተወልደን ለህያዉ ተስፋ በቅተናል (1ጴጥ. 1፡3-5)
15.4.2. የቅዱሳን ትንሳኤ
ይህኛዉ ትንሳኤ የትንሳኤ በኩር ከሆነዉ ከጌታችን ከኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ትንሳኤ በመቀጠል ሐዋርያዉ ጳዉሎስ ‹‹የክርስቶስ የሆኑት›› በማለት የገለጻቸዉ የሚነሱበት ትንሳኤ ነዉ (1ቆሮ.15፡23) ፡፡
በዚህኛዉ ትንሳኤ ጌታችን ኢየሱስ ቤተክርስቲያንን ለመዉሰድ ሲመለስ በእርሱ አምነዉ የሞቱት ቅዱሳን አስቀድመዉ ይነሳሉ፣ በህይወት ያሉት ደግሞ ስጋቸዉ በክብር ተለዉጦ በአንድነት ጌታን በአየር ላይ ለመቀበል በደመና ይነጠቃሉ (1ቆሮ. 15፡51-53፣ 1ተሰ. 4፡13-18) ፡፡
ሀ. የቅዱሳን ትንሳኤ
– የጻድቃን ትንሳኤ (ሉቃ.14፡14)
– የህይወት ትንሳኤ (ዮሐ.5፡29)
– የትንሳኤ ልጆች እና የእግዚአብሔር ልጆች (ሉቃ.20፡36) ትንሳኤ ተብሎ ተጠርቷል፡፡
ይህ የቅዱሳን ትንሳኤ በመቀጠል ከሚሆነዉ ከኃጢአን ትንሳኤ አንጻር የፊተኛዉ ትንሳኤ ተብሏል (ራዕ.20፡1-6) ፡፡
ለ. የቅዱሳን ትንሳኤ ዓላማ
የቅዱሳን ትንሳኤ፡
1. ክቡር የሆነዉን የጌታችን የኢየሱስ ክርስቶስን ስጋ እንዲመስል፣ የሚሞተዉና የሚበሰብሰዉ ስጋችን ተለዉጦና ሞት ዳግመኛ የማይገዛዉን የትንሳኤን አካል ለብሰን ወደሰማይ አገራችን ለመሄድ ብቁ ያደርገናል(1ቆሮ.15፡51-54፣ ፊል.3፡21፣ ዮሐ.14፡1-3) ፡፡
2. ቅዱሳን በምድር ህይወታቸዉ በመንግስቱ ዉስጥ ላበረከቱት አስተዋጽኦና ለደከሙበት ስራ ከጌታ ዘንድ ዋጋንና ሽልማትን ይቀበላሉ (ሉቃ. 14፡14፣ 1ቀሮ. 3፡14 ራዕ. 22፡12-15፣17፣20)
በታማኝነት ሲያገለግሉት የቆዩትንና የሚቆዩትን በዚያን ጊዜ ብድራታቸዉን (rewards) ጌታ ይከፍላቸዋል (ሉቃ. 12፡35-48 ፣ 2ጢሞ.4፡6-8 ‹‹ያን ቀን››) ፡፡
2. ጌታ በቅዱሳን ጠላት ላይ ሊበቀልና ለቅዱሳኑ በጽድቅ ሊፈርድ የቅዱሳን ትንሳኤን አዘጋጀ (1.ቆሮ.15፡54-58፣ኢሳ. 63፡4) ፡፡ “For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come” (መዝ.50፡1-6፣ራዕ.6፡9-17፣14፡14- 20፣ ማቴ.13፡30፣ ማቴ.24፡29-31 ሉቃ.17፡22-37 2ተሰ.1፡7-10) ፡፡
4. የቤተክርስቲያን ሰርግና የበጉ ሰርግ እራት ይሆናል (ራዕ. 19፡7-9) ፡፡
5. ከታላቁ መከራ ዘመን ቁጣ ቅዱሳን ይድናሉ (ራዕ. 3፡10 (ራዕ. 6-19) ፡፡ ጌታችን ኢየሱስ ስለመጨረሻዉ ዘመን ሲያስተምር ስለታላቁ መከራ እንዲህ በማለት ገልጾታል፡፡
‹‹በዚያን ጊዜ ዓለም ከተፈጠረ ጀምሮ እስከ ዛሬ ድረስ ሆኖ የማያዉቅ ከዚያም በኋላ የሚስተካከለዉ የሌለ ታላቅ መከራ ይሆናል›› (ማቴ. 24፡21) ፡፡ ታላቁ መከራ የተባለበትም ከአሁን በፊት ሆኖ የማያዉቅ ታላቅ የመከራ ጊዜ ስለሚሆን ነዉ (ዳን. 12፡1) ፡፡
የታላቁ መከራ ዘመን ለ7 ዓመት እንደሚሆን መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ ይናገራል፡፡ ቅዱሳን (ቤተክርስቲያን) ይህ የ7 ዓመቱ ታላቅ መከራ ዉስጥ ያልፋሉ? ወይስ አያልፉም? ለሚለዉ ጥያቄ የተለያዩ አመለካከቶች ወይም አቋሞች እንዳሉ ይታወቃል፡፡ እነዚህም፡- ቅድመ ፣ አጋማሽ እና ድህረ መከራ አመለካከቶች ናቸዉ፡፡ ይሁን እንጂ ከሚከተሉት ምክንያቶች (መጽሐፍ ቅዱሳዊ) በመነሳት
ቤተክርስቲያን በሰባቱ ዓመታት የመከራ ጊዜ ዉስጥ አታልፍም ብለን ማመን እንችላለን፤
ሀ. ታላቁ መከራ ከተጠቀሰበት የራዕይ መጽሐፍ (ከምዕ.5 እስከ ምዕ. 19 ድረስ) የቤ/ክ ስም አንድም ቦታ ተጠቅሶ አናገኝም፡፡ ከምዕ.1 – 4፡20 ብቻ ቤ/ክ ተጠቅሳለች ፡፡
ለ. ለቤተክርስቲያን የመዳን ተስፋ ተሰጥቷታል (ራዕ. 3፡10) እንጂ የመከራና የቁጣ ቀጠሮ አልተሰጣትም (ዮሐ. 3፡36፣1ተሰ.5፡9፣ ዮሐ. 14፡1-3) ፡፡
ሐ. ከእግዚአብሔር ባህሪይ እንደምንረዳዉም ፍርድ ከመገለጹ በፊት አስቀድሞ ጌታ ኢየሱስ ልጆቹን ያወጣቸዉ ነበር ፤ ሎጥ (ዘፍ. 19፡22) ፣ ኖህም ቢሆን ከጥፋት ዉኃ በፊት (ዘፍ.7፡1-4)፣(ራዕ. 4፡1፣ 11፡12- 14) ፡፡
6. ጌታችን ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ዳግመኛ ተመልሶ ለሺህ ዓመት በምድር ላይ ይነግሳል፡፡ እርሱ ለሺህ ዓመት መንግስቱን በዚህ ምድር ላይ መስርቶ ሲነግስ ከእርሱ ጋር ቅዱሳን ለሺህ ዓመት በምድር ላይ አብረው ይነግሳሉ (ራዕ. 20፡1-10 (4-5) ፡፡
• በሺህ ዓመት መንግስት
ሀ. ሰይጣን ተይዞ ለሺህ ዓመት ይታሰራል፡፡
ለ. ቅዱሳን (የብ/ኪ እና የታላቁ መከራ ቅዱሳን) ከክርስቶስ ጋር 1000 ዓመት በምድር ላይ ይነግሳሉ (ሚኪ. 4፡1-2 ኢሳ፡2፡1-4) ፡፡
• የሺህ ዓመት መንግስት ባህሪያት
1. እርግማን ከምድር ላይ ሙሉ በሙሉ ይነሳል፡፡
• ምድር ሁሉ ፍሬያማ ትሆናለች (ኢሳ. 35፡1-2 ) ፡፡
2. ፍጹም ሰላም በምድር ላይ ይሆናል፡፡
• የሰላሙ አለቃ የሚገዛበት ፣ ጠላት ዲያብሎስ የሌለበት ጦርና፣ የጦር ወሬ የማይሰማበት፣ ይልቁንም የጦር መሳሪያዎች የልማት መሳሪያዎች ሆነዉ የሚለወጡበት ይሆናል (ሚኪ. 4፡1-3፣ኢሳ.2፡1-4፣9፡7፣ዘካ. 9፡10) ፡፡
• በእንስሳት መካከል እንኳን ፍጹም ሰላም ይሰፍናል (ኢሳ.11፡6-9፣65፡25)፡፡
• ፍጥረት ከጥፋት ባርነት ነጻ ይወጣል (ሮሜ. 8፡19-22) ፡፡
3. የሰዉ እድሜ በምድር እጅግ ይረዝማል (ኢሳ. 65፡22) ፡፡
4. አይሁዶች ወደ እየሩሳሌም ይሰበሰባሉ፤
• የመንግስቱ ማዕከል በዚህ በኢየሩሳሌም ከተማ ይሆናል፡፡
• መቅደሱ እንደገና ይገነባል (የፈረሰዉ የዳዊት ድንኳን እንደገና ይሰራል)
(ሚኪ.4፡8 አሞ. 3፡11-12) ፡፡
15.4.3. የኃጥአን ትንሳኤ
በመጨረሻም ክርስቶስን ሳይለብሱ ያልዳኑና ስማቸዉ በህይወት መዝገብ ዉስጥ ተጽፎ ያልተገኘ ሁሉ ለፍርድ ይነሳሉ (ራዕ. 20፡5) ፡፡ ይህ የመጨረሻዉ የኃጢአን ትንሳኤ የሚሆነዉ ከሺህ አመት መንግስት በኋላ የሚሆን ነዉ (ራዕ. 20፡5፣11-15) ፡፡
ሀ. የኃጥአን ትንሳኤ ዓላማ ፡-
1. በስሙ በመጠመቅ የኃጢአትን ስርየት ባለማግኘታቸዉ የኃጢአትና የስራቸዉን ደመወዝ የሆነዉን የዘላለም ሞትን ይቀበላሉ (ሮሜ. 6፡23)
2. ለዘላለም ከእግዚአብሔር ተለይተዉ የዘላለም የገሃነም እሳት ፍርድን ተቀብለዉ ለሰይጣንና ለወደቁት መላዕክት ወደተዘጋጀዉ ስፍራ ለዘላለም ወደሚሰቃዩበት፣ እሳቱ ወደማይጠፋበትና ትሉ ወደማይሞትበት ወደ ዘላለም ጉስቁልና አልፈዉ ይሰጣሉ (ማቴ. 25፡41-46፣ራዕ.20፡11-15) ፡፡

መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎችና ተፈጥሮአዊ ችሎታዎች የሚመሳሰሉበት ነገር ቢኖርም አንድ ዓይነት ግን አይደሉም፡፡ ወንዶችና ሴቶች በተፈጥሮአቸው እንደሚለያዩ ሁሉ ተፈጥሮአዊ ችሎታዎችና መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች ራሱን የቻለ ልዩነት አላቸው፡፡ እርግጥ ነው የሁለቱም ምንጭ እግዚአብሔር ነው፣ አንዳንድ ጊዜ ደግሞ ሊመሳሰሉ የሚችሉበት ሁኔታ አለ፡፡ ይሁን እንጂ ተፈጥሮአዊ ልደትና ዳግም ልደት እንደሚለያዩ ሁሉ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎችና ተፈጥሮአዊ ችሎታዎች የዚያኑ ያህል ይለያያሉ፡፡ ባመኑትና ባለመኑት መካከል ያለውን ልዩነት በግልጽ የሚያስገነዝቡን መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች ናቸው፡፡ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች ያመነ ሰው እድል ፈንታ ናቸው፡፡ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች ለአማኙ በክርስቶስ አካል ውስጥ ሥፍራን ይሰጡታል፡፡ ያለእነዚህ ስጦታዎች አማኝ የተጣለበትን አደራ በቀላሉ አይገነዘብም፡፡ ስለ ልዩነታቸው እንዲህ ብንናገርም የሚገናኙበት ሁኔታ የለም ማለት ግን አይቻልም፡፡
ግንኙነታቸው
1ኛ. የሁለቱም ምንጭ እግዚአብሔር መሆኑ፣ እግዚአብሔር በተፈጥሮአችን ውስጥ ለተቀመጡ ልዩ ልዩ ችሎታዎቻችን ምንጭ ነው፡፡ ማንም ለራሱ ያንን ማድረግ አይቻለውም፡፡ ተፈጥሮአዊ ችሎታዎቻችን በስልጠና ቢዳብሩም በምርጫችን የኛ ልናደርጋቸው አንችልም፡፡ ድምጻችንን፣ በባሕሪያችን ውስጥ የተቀመጡ ልዩ ልዩ የማንነቶቻችን መግለጫዎች የመነጩት ከሰጪው ነው፡፡
2ኛ. ተፈጥሮአዊ ችሎታዎች ለበጎ ምግባር የሚውሉ መሆናቸው፣ በተፈጥሮ ችሎታችን ውስጥ የተቀመጡ አንዳንድ ተሰጥኦዎች እግዚአብሔር በአማኙ ውስጥ ለሚሠራው ሥራ አመቺ ሁኔታን ይፈጥራሉ፡፡ ለምሳሌ ድምጻቸው መረዋ የሆኑ ሰዎች ዘፋኝ ሆነው ያገለገሉትን ያህል ዘማሪ ሆነው ሊያገልገሉ የሚችሉበት ሁኔታ መፈጠሩ፣ በባህሪያቸው ለጋስ የሆኑ ሰዎች የምህረት አድራጊነት ጸጋ በውስጣቸው ሊሠራ መቻሉ፣ ተናጋሪና ፀሐፊ የሆኑ ሰዎችን ሰባኪና መምህራን ለመሆን መቻላቸው ከብዙ በጥቂቱ ይጠቀሳሉ፡፡
መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች
የጸጋ ስጦታዎች ስማቸው እንደሚያመለክተው እግዚአብሔር ከርህራሄው የተነሳ ቅጣት ለሚገባቸው ሰዎች ያደረገው ልግስናዎች ናቸው፡፡ ሁሉም አማኞች የዚህ እድል ፈንታ ተካፋይ ናቸው፡፡

ይሁን እንጂ ስጦታውን የሚቀበሉና በአግባቡ የሚያስተናግዱ ብዙ አይደሉም፡፡ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች ለተቀባዩ ጥቅምና መታነጽ የተሰጡ ቢሆንም አውራ ግባቸው የክርስቶስን አካል ማነቃቃትና መገንባት ነው፡፡ ስለ ስጦታ በተጠቀሰባቸው አራቱ የአዲስ ኪዳን ክፍሎች ወደ ሃያ የሚሆኑ ስጦታዎች ተዘርዝረው እንመለከታለን፡፡
ስጦታን እንዴት ማወቅ ይቻላል
እግዚአብሔር ስጦታ ሰጥቶኛል? ስጦታዬስ ምንድነው? የተፈጥሮ ችሎታዬን የእግዚአብሔር ስጦታ ነው ማለት እችላለሁ? ስጦታ ያድጋል አያድግም? … ሌሎች ሌሎች ጥያቄዎች ይኖሩን ይሆናል። ረጋ ብለን እያስተዋልን እግዚአብሔር መልስ ይሰጣል።
እያንዳንዱ ክርስቲያን አንድ ወይም ከዚያ የበለጠ ስጦታ አለው
በጌታ ኢየሱስ ስም ተጠምቀው ዳግም የተወለዱ፣ በክርስቶስ ደም በተዋጀው ቤተሰብ ውስጥ እያንዳንዱ በእግዚአብሔር ቃል የተወለደ ልጅ ስጦታ ተቀብሏል። “ልዩ ልዩን የእግዚአብሔርን ጸጋ ደጋግ መጋቢዎች እንደ መሆናችሁ እያንዳንዳችሁ እያሳስበናል (1ኛጴጥ. 410)። እያንዳንዱ ክርስቲያን ስጦታውን የማወቅና የማሳደግ ኃላፊነት አለበት። ልክ እንደ ዘር ወይም አዲስ እንደ ተወለደ ሕጻን መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎችም ከትንሹ ይጀምሩና በጥንቃቄ ከተያዙ ያድጋሉ። በፍቅርና በእግዚአብሔር መንፈስ በመመካት ሳናቋርጥ ከተጠቀምንባቸው ግባቸውን የሚመቱ ጠንካራ መሣሪያዎች ይሆናሉ። ስጦታውን ባሳደገ መጠን የእግዚአብሔር ባሪያ ራሱ ጠቃሚ ሰው መሆን ይጀምራል። ስጦታው ከተቀባዩ አኳኋን፣ ባሕርይና ካለፈበት ልምምድ ጋር ይስማማል። ስጦታው የወደ ፊት ኑሮውን እንኳ ሊወስን ይችላል። ምክንያቱም ስጦታዎቹ የእግዚአብሔር መንፈስ እያንዳንዱ ክርስቲያን በሕይወት ዘመኑ ሊፈጽማቸው የሚገባቸውን ሥራዎች የሚያሳዩ ጠቋሚዎች ስለሆኑ ነው። ስጦታ ላንተ በግልህ የሚያስደስትህና ስሜት የሚያሳድርብህ የራስህ ስጦታ ምን ምን መሆኑን ለይተህ ስታውቅ ነው። ስጦታህን ለማወቅ ከሚረዱህ ነገሮች አራት ያህል እንጠቅሳለን።
በተፈጥሮ ችሎታህ ጀምር፣ በዚያ ግን አትቁም
የተፈጥሮ ችሎታና መንፈሳዊ ስጦታ አንድ ባይሆኑም እንኳ የተያያዙ ነገሮች ናቸው። እንድ ሰው እንዳለው ስጦታዎቹ “… በውስጥ የተደበቀ የተፈጥሮ ችሎታን ይጠቁማሉ”። እንግዲህ ስጦታን ለማወቅ ከሚደረጉ የመጀመሪያ እርምጃዎች አንዱ የተፈጥሮ ችሎታን በቤተ ክርስቲያን ውስጥ መጠቀም መጀመር ነው። እንግዲህ የመንፈሳዊ ስጦታን አንድ መለኪያ በጸሎት ማወቅ ይቻላል ። በእምነት ላይ በተመሠረተ ጽኑ ጸሎት አንጻር ማየት እንችላለን። ይኸም ጸሎት እግዚአብሔር የሚያስፈልገንን እንዲሰጠን አንዴ ጠይቀነው የጠየቅነውን ነገር ለማግኘት በትዕግስት የምንጠባበቅበት ጸሎት መሆኑን የእግዚአብሔር ቃል ይናገራል።
የተፈጥሮ ችሎታን በሥራ ላይ ስናውል በውጤቱ አንድ ከተፈጥሮ ውጪ (መንፈሳዊ) የሆነ ለውጥ በሰው ላይ መምጣቱ ነው። ይህም ማለት ሰዎች ወደ ጌታ ኢየሱስ ሲሳቡ ወይም በእምነታቸው ሲታነጹ ነው። ይህ መታነጽ ያለ መንፈስ ቅዱስ አይመጣም። ሆኖም አንድ ሰው የተፈጥሮ ችሎታ ኖሮት ከዚህ ጋር የተያያዘ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታ ላይኖረው ይችላል። ለምሳሌ ስድስት ዘማሪዎች ሁሉም በሙዚቃ ችሎታቸው እኩል የሆኑ በተለያዩ ጊዜአት ይዘምራሉ። አድማጮችም በሰሙት ሙዚቃ በጣም እንደ ተደሰቱ በማድነቅ ይናገራሉ። ነገር ግን ከስድስቱ አንዱ ከተፈጥሮ ችሎታው ጋር መንፈሳዊ ስጦታም አለው። እሱ ሲዘምር የእግዚአብሔር ህልውና በአዲስ መንገድ ይከሰታል። ሰዎች ወደ ጌታ ኢየሱስ ይጠጋሉ። የእግዚአብሔር መንፈስ በመዝሙሩ ቃላት ውስጥ ለሕይወታቸው የሚያስፈልገውን መልእክት ያስተላልፋል። ብቻ … አንድ መለኰታዊ ነገር ይፈጸማል። እኩል የተፈጥሮ ችሎታ ካላቸው ከሌሎቹ ከአምስቱ በተለየ ሁኔታ ያ አንድ ዘማሪ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታውን በሥራ ላይ እያዋለ ነው።
አንዳንድ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች “ከተሰወሩ” የተፈጥሮ ችሎታዎች ጋር የተያያዙ ናቸው።
ቤተክርስቲያን የምትልህን አድምጥ
ሌሎች ከአዲስ አንጻር ያዩናል። እኛ ራሳችንን ከምናውቀው በተለየ መንገድ ያውቁናል። በግል መለኪያችን ብቻ ራሳችንን ከመዘንን ስለ ራሳችን የማናውቃቸውን ድብቅ ነገሮች ሳናስተውል እንቀራለን። የተቀበልነውን ስጦታ እንድናስተውል ሌሎች ሊረዱን ይችላሉ። ስጦታህን ለማወቅ እንዲረዱህ ባለህ ስጦታ መትጋት ጥሩ ነው። ጊዜ ወስዶ ከመጋቢና ከሌሎች አገልጋዮች ጋር መጸለይ መልካም ነው። ይህ አንዱ የሌላውን ስጦታ በመግለጽ እንዲተባበር ሊረዳ ይችላል። ይህ መንገድ ስለ እግዚአብሔር ስጦታዎች በቂ የሆነ መጽሐፍ ቅዱሳዊ አመለካከት ሲኖርበት ግቡን ይመታል። የእግዚአብሔር ሕዝብ ኅብረት በሌላም መንገድ ሊጠቅመን ይችላል። የቤተ ክርስቲያን አባሎች ወይም መሪዎች አንዳንድ ኃላፊነቶችን እንድንቀበል ወይም የተለያዩ ሥራዎችን እንድንፈጽም ሊጠይቁን ይችላሉ። የወጣት መክሊት አገልግሎት ውስጥ እንድናገለግል ፣የሰንበት ትምህርት እንድናስተምር ከተጠየቅን ምናልባት የማስተማር ስጦታ ኖሮን ይሆናል። በቤተ ክርስቲያን ባሉ አገልግሎት ውስጥ ሥራ ቢሰጠን ከብዙ ስጦታዎች አንዱን ሊጠቁመን ይችላል፤ ማበረታታት፣ እርዳታን ማድረግ፣ አስተዳደርን ወይም ሌላ ስጦታን።
አንድ ሰው ያለ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታ የማስተማርን አገልግሎት ጀምሮ ይሆናል። ሌላው ደግሞ ያለ ስጦታው በኰሚቴ ውስጥ ሊያገለግል ይችላል። ግን ምንም ያህል የሚያበረክቱት ጠቃሚ ነገር አይኖርም። አገልግሎት ቢኖረንም መንፈሳዊ ስጦታ እለን ማለት ማረጋገጫ አይሆንም። ይህ የሚያሳየን ሥራውን እንድናደርግ ዕድል እንደ ተሰጠን ብቻ ነው። ክርስቲያን በተሰጠው አገልግሎት ውስጥ ምንም መንፈሳዊ ስጦታ ካላየበት የአገልግሎቱ ጊዜ እስኪያልቅ ጠብቆ ወደ ሌላ አገልግሎት ቢዛወር ይሻላል። ስጦታን ማሳደግ ብዙ ጥረትና መውደቅና መነሳት የሚጠይቅ ሥራ ነው። ነገር ግን ሰው ከሾመን ሹመት ይልቅ እግዚአብሔር የሰጠን አገልግሎት ይበልጣል። ስለዚህ ከላይ በቃሉ ላይ እንዳየነው ትሁት በመሆን ጸጋውን እንዲሰጠን መለመን አለብን፡፡
በመውደቅ በመነሳት ተማር
ስጦታህ በሌሎች ላይ ያመጣውን ለውጥ ለማስተዋል ሞክር። ምን እንደሚሰማቸው ለማወቅ ሞክር። እግዚአብሔር ያንን ችሎታ ሌሎችን ከመውደቃቸው ለማንሳት እየደጋገመ ከተጠቀመበት ምናልባት እሱ ስጦታህ ይሆናል።
ስታገለግል በሚሰጥህ እርካታ ስጦታህን ለማወቅ ሞክር
መንፈሳዊ ስጦታህን በቤተ ክርስቲያን ክልል ብቻ አትወስነው። እግዚአብሔር የሚሰጥህ ማንኛውም የሥራ ስሜት ለመንፈሳዊ ስጦታ ፍንጭ እንደሆኑ ለማየት ሞክር። ለምሳሌ አንድ ሰው በእጅ የሚሠራ ነገር ማድረግ ይወዳል። መኪና መጠገን፣ የተሰባበሩ ነገሮችን ማስተካከል…፤ ይህ ሰው ከዚህም ሌላ ከሰዎች ጋር መሥራት በጣም ይወዳል እንበል። ከተፈጥሮ ችሎታው ጋር የመርዳት ስጦታም አለው ማለት ነው (1ኛ ቆሮንቶስ 1228)። ከዚህ የተነሳ ሰዎች እንዲረዳቸው ሁልጊዜ ይጠሩታል። ይህም የመርዳት አገልግሎት ጌታ ኢየሱስን ከማስከበሩም ሌላ ይህንን ወንድም በጣም ያረካዋል። አስተውል፦ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታን መጠቀም ደስታንና እርካታን ያመጣል። እርግጥ አንዳንዶቹ ይህንን ደስታና እርካታ በሙላት ላያገኙ ይችላሉ ይህ የሚሆነው የእግዚአብሔርን መንፈስ ስለሚያሳዝኑ ነው። ስጦታ ከእግዚአብሔር ቢሰጥም ተቀባዩ ለራሱ ክብር ሲያደርገው ሊያበላሸው ይችላል። ነገር ግን የአካሉ ራስ ከሆነው ከክርስቶስ ጋር ትክክለኛ ግንኙነት ሲኖር የአካሉ ብልቶች ሁሉ በስጦታው ይደሰታሉ።
ስጦታችንን ለማወቅ በምናደርገው ጥረት የውድድር መንፈስ ጨርሶ መወገድ አለበት። ከሌሎች ጋር ራሳችንን ማስተያየትም ሆነ ማወዳደር ፍጹም አልተፈቀደም። ይህን ማድረግ ሁሉም ቻይና ሁሉን አዋቂ የሆነውንና ስጦታውንም የሚሰጠውን እግዚአብሔርን አለማክበር ነው። ከዚህ ይልቅ ሌሎች ስጦታቸውን እንዲለዩ ያንተንም እንዲያሳዩህ እርዳቸው። በስጦታቸው መደሰትንና መጠቀምን ተማር። ስለነርሱ እግዚአብሔርን አመስግን። በሌሎች ስጦታ መደሰት ስለ ሌሎች ያለንን መጥፎ አስተያየት ለማስወገድ የክርስቶስን አካል አንድነት ለመጠበቅና ለመረዳዳት ይጠቅማል። መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎች በፍቅር ካልተሠራባቸው ምንም አይጠቅሙም (1ኛ ቆሮንቶስ 13)። ፍቅር የጐደለውን ይሞላል። ያለመረዳትንና ውድቀትን ያስወግዳል። ፍቅር ይቅርታ ያደርጋል፤ ያማክራል፤ ያስተካክላል። ፍቅር የመንፈስ ስጦታዎችን ማሰናከያዎች ሳይሆኑ ማስተካከያዎች ያደርጋቸዋል። ደስ የሚልና ጠቃሚ ሕይወት እንዲኖርህ መንፈሳዊ ስጦታዎችህን እወቅ። በክርስቶስ አካል ውስጥ ያለህን የአገልግሎት ድርሻ አሳድግ። ለሌሎች መታነጽ ስጦታህን በፍቅር ለመጠቀም በሙሉ ኃይልህ ሥራ። “ልዩ ልዩ የእግዚአብሔርን ጸጋ ደጋግ መጋቢዎች እንደ መሆናችሁ እያንዳንዳችሁ የጸጋን ስጦታ እንደ ተቀበላችሁ መጠን በዚያው ጸጋ እርስ በርሳችሁ አገልግሉ።”

ከመሠረታዊ የክርስቲያን ትምህርቶች አንዱና ዋነኛዉ እምነት ነዉ፡፡ እግዚአብሔር ያዘጋጀልልን ደህንነትም ሆነ ከደህንነት ቀጥሎ ልንቀበላቸዉ ያሉ በረከቶች ሁሉ፣ እንዲሁም መለኮታዊ ባህሪያትን ሁሉ መካፈል የምንችለዉ በእምነት ነዉ (2ኛጴጥ. 1፡5-11) ፡፡
በክርስትና ሕይወታችን ስኬታማ ለመሆንም እምነት ያስፈልገናል፣ የጻድቅ መኖሪያዉ እምነት ነዉና (ሮሜ1፡17) ፡፡ያለእምነትም የሆነ ነገር ሁሉ ኃጢያት ነዉ (ሮሜ.14፡23) ፡፡
8.1. እምነት ያልሆኑ ነገሮች
እምነት ስንል የሚከተሉትን ማለታችን አይደለም ፡፡
ሀ. እምነት ኃይማኖት (Religion) አይደለም ፡፡ ብዙ ጊዜ ሰዎች ‹‹እኛ የራሳችን እምነት አለን ››ሲሉ ይደመጣሉ ፡፡
ለ. እምነት ከአእምሮ ጋር መስማማት አይደለም ፡፡እምነት በአእምሮ ስሜት ላይ የሚደገፍ የአእምሮ ቀመር አይደለም ፡፡ ብዙ ክርስቲያኖች መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ የእግዚአብሔር ቃል እንደሆነና እዉነትም እንደሆነ፣ እንደሚያምኑም ይናገራሉ ፡፡ ነገር ግን ይህ አይነቱ እምነት ህይወታቸዉንና ኑሮአቸዉን የማይቀይር ነዉ (ያዕ 2፡14) ፡፡ ይህ አይነቱ እምነት አጋንንትም ያላቸዉ የእምነት አይነት ነዉ (ያዕ.2፡19)
ሐ. እምነት እግዚአብሔርን እንደፈለግን የምናንቀሳቅስበት እና በግላዊ ምቾታችን ላይ የተደገፈ አይደለም፡፡
መ. እምነት ተስፋም፣ መልካም መሻትም አይደለም፡፡ ተስፋ መልካም ነዉ፡፡ በትእግስትም የወደፊቱን መጠበቅ ያስችለናል ፡፡ ይሁን እንጂ እምነት ተስፋን አሁን እንዳገኘ ይቀበላል፡፡
ተስፋ የአእምሮ (የነፍስ) ሲሆን (1ተሰ.5፡8፣ ዕብ.6፡19) የነፍስ መልህቅ ነዉ፡፡ ተስፋ ልናምን በምንችልበት ስፍራ ላይ አጽንቶ ያቆመናል እንጂ ግን ያለ ተስፋ እምነት የለም፡፡
በእግዚአብሔር እምነት ሁልጊዜ በልብ ነዉ (ሮሜ. 10፡10) ፡፡
8.2. እምነት ምንድን ነዉ?
መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ እምነትን በዕብ. 11፡1 እንደሚተረጉመዉ፡-
ሀ. እምነት ማለት እግዚአብሔር የተናገረዉን ተስፋ ሁሉ እንደፈጸመዉ እርግጠኛ ሆኖ መረዳት ነዉ (The dictionary describes faith as a complete trust and confidence, firm belief without
logical proof) ፡፡
ለ. እምነት ጌታችን ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ በሰማያዊ ስፍራ በመንፈሳዊ በረከት ሁሉ የባረከንን መቀበል መቻል ነዉ (ኤፌ.1፡3) ፡፡
ሐ. እምነት ተስፋዎቻችን ሁሉ እንደተቀበልን የሚያረጋግጥ በእጃችን (በልባችን) ያለ ቼክ ነዉ፡፡ (1ዩሐ. 5፡14-15፣ ማር.11፡23-24) ፡፡
መ. እምነት እግዚአብሔር የተናገራቸዉ ቃሎች ላይ ተመስርቶ የሌለዉን ማለትም በስጋ አይን ያላየነዉን እንዳለ አድርጎ መጥራት መቻል ነዉ፡፡ ይህም ማለት ነገሮች በእግዚአብሔር እንደሆኑ ማየት እንጂ በተፈጥሮ እይታ አንጻር የሚመስሉትን ማየት አይደለም (ሮሜ.4፡16-17) ፡፡ እግዚአብሔር በዘፍ.17፡5 ላይ ሲናገር የአሕዛብ አባት አደርግሃለሁ ሳይሆን አድርጌሃለሁ በማለት ነዉ፡፡ስለዚህ የእምነት አባት የሆነዉ አብርሃም በሚያደርገዉ ሁሉ በእግዚአብሔር እምነት ነበረዉ፡፡
• በአለማመን አልተጠራጠረም ፡፡
• ተስፋ የሰጠዉ እግዚአብሔር የታመነ እንደሆነ ቆጠረ ፡፡
• በእግዚአብሔር ቃል ላይ የሚቃረንን ማንኛዉንም የተፈጥሮ መረጃዎችን አልተቀበለም (ዕብ.11፡8-12፣ሮሜ. 4=16-22) ፡፡
8.3. እምነትን እንዴት እናገኛለን?
ያለ እምነት እግዚአብሔርን ደስ ማሰኘት እንደማንችል የተናገረዉ እርሱ እምነትንም ማግኘት የምንችልበትንም መንገድ ነግሮናል፡፡ እምነት የሌለን ከሆንን ተጠያቂ ልናደርገዉ የምንችለዉ የራሳችንን አለማወቅ እንጂ እግዚአብሔርን ሊሆን አይችለም ፡፡
እምነት የእግዚአብሔርን ቃል በመስማት ይመጣል (ሮሜ.10፡17) ፡፡ ከዚህ አንጻር እምነት የእግዚአብሔር ስጦታ እንደሆነ እንመለከታለን ፡፡ ‹‹ፀጋዉ በእምነት አድኗቸዋልና ይህም የእግዚአብሔር ስጦታ ነዉ እንጂ ከእናንተ አይደለም ማንም እንዳይመካ ከስራ አይደለም (ኤፌ.2፡8) ፡፡
የእግዚአበሔር ቃል በራሱ የእምነት ቃል እንደሆነ መጽሐፍ ይናገራል፡፡ እምነትም የሚገኘዉ ይህንኑ የእምነት ቃል ከመስማት ነዉ (ሮሜ. 10=8፣14፣17) ፡፡
• ቆርነሊዎስና ቤተሰቡ መዳንን ለማግኘት የሚያስችላቸዉን እምነት በመስማት አገኙ (ዮሐ.10፡5-6፣ 11፡13)፡፡
• በልስጥራንም እግሩ የሰለለዉ ሰዉ ጳዉሎስ የእግዚአብሔርን ቃል ሲናገር ሰምቶ እንዳመነና እንደተፈወሰ (የሐ.14፡8-10)፡፡
• ከ12 ዓመትም ጀምሮ ደም የሚፈሳት ሴት የኢየሱስን ወሬ ሰምታ ተፈዉሳለች (ማር.5፡25-34)፡፡
• የእግዚአብሔርን ቃል ዘወትር ሰምተን በልባችን እንድንጠብቀዉና የሚጠቅመን እንዲሆን የእግዚአብሔር ቃል ያሳሰበናል (ምሳ.4፡20-22) ፡፡
8.4. እምነትን ማሳደግ
እምነት ልክና መጠን አለዉ (ሮሜ.12፡3-6)
• እምነት በስናፍጭ ቅንጣት ተመጥኗል
• እምነት ያድጋልም ‹‹ስለ እምነታችሁ ማነስ ነዉ›› ይላልና፡፡
እምነትን ልናሳድግበት የምንችልባቸዉን መንገዶች እንደሚከተለዉ ልናይ እንችላለን፡-
ሀ. ዘወትር የእግዚአብሔርን ቃል ማንበብ፣ መማርና መስማት (ምሳ. 4፡20-22) ፡፡
ለ. ዘወትር በመንፈስ ቅዱስ መሞላትና በመንፈስ ቅዱስም መጸለይ (ይሁዳ 20፣1ቆሮ.14፡4) የመንፈስ ፍሬ ተብለዉ ከተጠቀሱት ዉስጥ አንዱ እምነት ነዉ፡፡
ሐ. ዘወትር በምንሰማዉ የእግዚአብሔር ቃል መሰረት ተግባራዊ ርምጃዎችን በየደረጃዉ መዉሰድን መለማመድ፡፡ እግዚአብሔር በገለጠልን በጥቂቷ ነገር ታማኝ በመሆን ካልተገበርነዉ የበለጠዉን ነገር እግዚአብሔር አይገለጥልንም ፡፡
መ. የኑሮአቸዉን ፍሬ በመመልከት በእምነታቸዉ መምሰል ይቻል ዘንድ በተቻለ መጠን ሁሉ ከእምነት ሰዎች ጋር ጊዜን ማሳለፍ (ዕብ.13፡7፣ ምሳ.13፡20) ፡፡
ሠ. የእግዚአብሔር ቃል እንደሚያስተምረን እምነት የሚሰራዉ በፍቅር ነዉ (ገላ.5፡6) ፡፡ ለምሳሌ ያህል የመቶ አለቃዉ (ማቴ.8፡5-13) እና ከነናዊቷ ሴት (ማቴ.15፡21-28) ወደ ኢየሱስ እንዲቀርቡ ያነሳሳቸዉ ጉዳይ ፍቅር ነበር ፡፡ ሁለቱም ታላቅ እምነት የነበራቸዉ እንደነበሩ ጌታችን ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ አስረድቷል፡፡
ረ. የእምነት ምስክርነትን (confession) መጠበቅ (ዕብ. 10፡23፣ ሮሜ.10፡10፣ ኢያ.1፡8) ፡፡
ሰ. ዘወትር ቅድስናን መፈለግ (ዕብ.12፡14) ፡፡ የልብ ንጽህናና የይቅርታ ልብ ከሌለ የልብ እምነት እንዳይኖር አስተዋጾ ስላለዉ ነው፡፡
8.5. የእምነት ገጽታዎች
የዕብራዊያን መልእክት ምእራፍ 11‹‹የእምነት ምእራፍ›› በመባል ይታወቃል ፡፡ በምእራፍ ዉስጥ ሁለት የእምነት ገጽታዎች ተገልጸዋል፡፡ እነርሱም፡-
ሀ. የአሸናፊ ድል የመንሳት እምነት (victorious-overcomers) (1-35)
• ዳንኤል ከአንበሶች ጉድጓድ (ዳን.6)
• ሲድራቅ፣ ሚሳቅ እና አብድናጎ ከእቶኑ እሳት (ዳን.3)
• የባልቴቷ ልጅ ከሞት መነሳት (1ነገ.17)
• ዳዊት ከሰይፍ በተደጋጋሚ መዳኑ
ለ. በመከራ ጸንቶ የመታመን እምነት (faithfulness in suffering) (35-40)
• ኤርሚያስ በወህኒ (ኤር.37-38) ፤
• ኢሳያስ በመጋዝ ለሁለት ተሰንጥቆ ፤
• ሚኪያስ በጥፊ ሲመታ ፤
• ዘካርያስ እስከሞት በድንጋይ መወገር (2ዜና 24፣ማቴ23፡35-37) ፡፡
ስለዚህ እምነት ከመከራ ነጻነትን መቀበል፣ ከህመም መፈወስን እንዲሁም ለፍላጎታችን ሁሉ አቅራቦትን መቀበል ማለት ብቻ አይደለም ፡፡ እምነት እስራት በጸና ጊዜ፣ ጸሎታችን ተሰምቶ መልስ ያላገኘን በመሰለን ጊዜና ታእምራዊ አቅራቦቶችን ባላገኘን ጊዜም በመከራ ጸንቶ እግዚአብሔርን መታመን ነዉ፡፡ የቀደሙት የእምነት አባቶችም በምሳሌነታቸዉ የተመሰከረላቸዉ በነዚሁ በሁለቱም የእምነት ገጽታዎች ነበር (ዕብ. 11፡32-40) ፡፡
8.6. እምነት በአማኞች ህይወት እንዴት ሊገለጥ ይችላል?
እምነት በእግዚአብሔር ባህሪይ፣ ኃይልና በቃሉ ላይ የጸና መታመንን ይዞ አካሄዳችንን (ድርጊቶቻችንን) ከእርሱ ጋር በማድረግ ነዉ፡፡ ከዚህ አንጻር እምነት የሚገለጥባቸዉ መንገዶች የሚከተሉት ናቸዉ፡፡
• በአፍ ምስክርነት (statement of faith) (ሮሜ. 1፡5፣ ያዕ.2 14-26)
• በእምነት በመመላለስና በመኖር (2ቆሮ. 5፡7፣ ሮሜ.1፡17፣ገላ.2፡20)
8.7. የእምነት አስፈላጊነት
እግዚአብሔርን ማመን ወይም በእግዚአብሔር እምነት ለምን ያስፈልገናል?
ሀ. ያለእምነት መዳን አይቻልም (ዩሐ.3፡36፣ ኤፌ.2፡8) ፡፡ እምነት የፈዉስ፣ የአርነት አገልግሎትም ቁልፍ ነገር ነዉ፡፡
ለ. ዕብ.11፡6 እንደሚለዉ ‹‹ያለእምነትም ደስ ማሰኘት አይቻልም፤›› እኛ ደግሞ የተፈጠርነዉ ለእርሱ ደስታ ነዉ (ራዕ.4፡11፣ መዝ.147፡11) ፡፡ እርሱን ደግሞ ደስ የማናሰኝ ከሆንን የተፈጠርንበትን ዓላማ ዘንግተናል ማለት ነዉ፡፡
ሐ. በእምነት ያልሆነ ሁሉ ኃጢያት ነዉ (ሮሜ 14፡23) ፡፡ እግዚአብሔር ደግሞ ኃጢያትን ይጠላል፡፡ እግዚአብሔርን ማመን ባልቻልን ጊዜ ሁሉ እርሱ ሀሰተኛ እንደሆነ፣ የሰጠዉንም ተስፋ እንደማይፈጽም እየቆጠርነዉ ነዉ ያለነው ማለት ነው (ዘፍ. 23፡19) ፡፡
መ. አለማመን ወደ አለመታዘዝ ይመራናል ፡፡ የእግዚአብሔር ተስፋዎች እንዲፈጸሙ መታዘዝ አስፈላጊነዉ፡፡ለተገለጠልን የእግዚአብሔር ፈቃድ አለመታዘዝ ደግሞ በእግዚአብሔር አይን አመጽ ነዉ ፡፡
ሠ. እምነት የጻድቅ መኖሪያ ነው (ሮሜ.1፡17)
ረ. ያለእምነት በዚህች አለም ላይ በአሸናፊነትና በድል መኖር አይቻልም ዮሐ.5፡4)
ሰ. ያለእምነት ደስተኛ ሆኖ መኖር አይቻልም (1ጴጥ.1፡8-9)
ሸ. መንፈስ ቅዱስን መቀበል የሚቻለዉ በእምነት ነዉ (ገላ.3፡2)
ቀ. መጽደቅም በእምነት እንጂ በስራ አይደለም (ገላ.2፡16)
በ. ያለእምነት መጸለይም አንችልም (ያዕ.1፡6) መልስንም ከጌታ ኢየሱስ አንቀበልም (ማቴ.21፡22፡6፡11) ስለዚህ እምነት ለቁሳቁስ አቅራቦቶቻችንም ቁልፍ ነዉ፡፡
ተ. ሰውም ለመጠመቅ መጀመሪያ ማመን አለበት (ማር 16፡16) በእግዚአብሔር እምነት የሌላቸዉ ሁሉ የግድ በሌላ በአንድ ነገር ያምናሉ ማለት ነዉ፡፡ በኃይማኖት ወግ፣ በሳይንስ መረዳት፣ በተፈጥሮ መረጃዎች፣ በማስሚዲያዎች ወይም በእነዚህ ሁሉ
ቅንብር ያምናል (ሮሜ.1፡22) ፡፡ በእርግጥም ሙሉ በሙሉ በእግዚአብሔር የማያምኑ ሁሉ በአንድ ስፍራ በዳቢሎስ አምነዉ ራሳቸዉን ያገኙታል ፡፡ ሰይጣን እንዳለ ባለማመን እንኳን እያለ ሰዉ ሰይጣን የሚለዉን ማመንም ይቻላል ማለት ነዉ፡፡ ስለዚህ እግዚአብሔር በእርሱና በሚለን እንድናምን መፈለጉና መጠበቁ ጻድቅ ነዉ፡፡ እዉነትን ሊነግረን፣ ሊረዳንና ለህይወት ጥያቄዎቻችን
ሁሉ መልስን ሊሰጠን እርሱ የታመነ ነዉና፡፡
8.8. እምነትን በተግባር (በሥራ) ላይ ማዋል
መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ እንደሚያስተምረን እዉነተኛ የተፈተነ እምነት ‹‹በእሳት ምንም ቢፈተን ከሚጠፋዉ ወርቅ ይልቅ አብልጦ የሚከብር›› እንደሆነ ነዉ (1ጴጥ.1፡7) ፡፡ ስለዚህ በእምነት ህይወታችን ላይ ሊመጡ የሚችሉ ፈተናዎች እንዳሉ መገንዘብ ያስፈልጋል፡፡ እምነትን በተገቢዉ መንገድ በተግባር ላይ ለማዋል የምንችለዉ፡-
ሀ. በማንኛዉም ጉዳዮቻችን በተመለከተ በእግዚአብሔር ቃል ዉስጥ የተገባልልን ኪዳን /ተስፋ መያዝ (ፊልጵ.4፡19፣2ቆሮ.1፡20) ፤
ለ. ተስፋዉ /ከኪዳኑ ጋር የተያያዙትን ቅድመ ሁኔታዎችን መፈጸም/ (1ዮሐ.5 ፣ዘዳ፡28፡1-3፣15፣ሚል.3፡7-12 (10) ፣ ማር.11፡24-25)፤
ሐ. የተስፋ ቃሎቻችን አምነን መናገራችንን (confession) ባለማቋረጥ መቀጠል ፤
መ. የሰማነዉን ቃል አድራጊዎች መሆን (ያዕ.1፡22-23፣ ዮሐ.9፡7፣ያዕ.2፡20-24) ፤
ሠ. ያመነዉንና የያዝነዉን እምነት በተግባር መለማመድ (ማቴ.9፡20-22 ፣14፡25-29) ፤
ረ. በራስ ማስተዋል አለመደገፍ (ምሳ.3፡1-6፡1ጢሞ.1፡4-7፡620-21፣ 2ጢሞ. 2፡16-18፣
ሮሜ.14፡1፣ቆላ.2፡8)
ሰ. ሰው ሲጠመቅ ያመነውን በሥራ ገለጸው ማለት ነው፡፡
8.9. የእምነት ጠላቶችን ድል መንሳት
እምነት በአማኞች ሕይወት እንዳይሰራና እንዳያድግ ከሚያደርጉት የእምነት ጠላቶች ዋናዎቹን እንደሚከተለዉ እንመለከታለን፡-
ሀ. አለማወቅ፡- ማንም ሰዉ ያልሰማዉንና ያላወቀዉን ተስፋ/ኪዳን ከእግዚአብሔር ዘንድ ሳይኖረዉ እምነት ሊኖረዉ ወይም እምነቱ ሊዳብር አይችልም ፡፡ ለዚህ ደግሞ መፍትሄዉ የእግዚአብሔርን ቃል ማጥናትና ማሰላሰልን ይጠይቃል ፡፡
ለ. ፍርሃት፡- ፍርሃት ክፉና መጥፎ ነገር ይደርስብኛል ብሎ በእዉነት ዕውቀት ላይ ያልተመሰረተ አሉታዊ ስሜት ነዉ (fear= false
evidence appearing real) ፡፡ በእግዚአብሔር አባታዊ ጥበቃ እና ፍቅር ላይ መታመን ያስፈልጋል (1ዮሐ.4:18) ፡፡

ሰዉ ከእግዚአብሔር ከሚሰማበትና ከሚያደምጥበት መንገዶች ዋናዉ ቃሉን ማጥናት ነዉ፡፡ እግዚአብሔርም ራሱን ለሰዎች የሚገልጠዉ በቃሉ ነዉ (1ኛሳሙ.3፡21) ፡፡ መጸሐፍ ቅዱስ የተጻፈዉ በመንፈስ ቅዱስ ምሪት በመሆኑ እንደ ሌሎች መጻህፍት በማንበብ ብቻ ልንረዳዉ ስለማንችል የእግዚአብሔር ገላጭነት አስፈላጊ ነዉ፡፡ ስለዚህ መጸሐፍ ቅዱስን ማጥናት ሲያስቡ
በቅድሚያ ቃሉን ለማጥናት አእምሮዉን በመሰብሰብና አካባቢዎም ከረብሻ የጸዳ ቢሆን ይመረጣል፣ ቃሉን ሲያነብቡ ምስጢሩ እንዲገባዎት የቃሉን ባለቤት እውነቱን እንዲገልጥልዎት ይጸልዩ (መዝ. 118፡17-18) ፡፡
አስቀድመን እንደተመለከትነዉ ቃሉ በሕይወታችንም እንዲሰራና የሚሰጠንንም ጥቅም ለማግኘት የሚከተሉትን ዋናዋና መርሆች በመጠቀም መጽሐፍ ቅዱስን ማጥናት ያስፈልገናል፡፡
ሀ. ቃሉን ለማጥናት ጊዜን መስጠት (ዕዝ.7፡10)
ለ. የቃሉን መንፈስና ዕዉነት በመግለጥ እንዲናገረንና እንዲያስረዳን አስተማሪ የሆነዉን የእግዚአበሔርን መንፈስ በጸሎት መጋበዝ (ዮሐ.14፡26፣16፡13-15)
ሐ. የልብ ፍላጎትና ፈቃደኝነት ይኑረን (1ኛጴጥ.2፡1-3፣የሐዋ.17፡10-11፣ኤር.15፡16)
መ. ማስተዋል (ዕብ.4፡1-2፣ማቴ.13፡14-15፣ኢያ33፡14፣37፡5፣የሐዋ.8፡27-31)
ሠ. በእነዚህ መንገዶች ያጠናነዉን ቃል፡-
• እናሰላስለዉ (meditation of the word)
• ትዝታችንም ይሁን (memorization of the word)
• ለግል ህይወትህ እንዲናገርህ ራስህን በማዘጋጀት የሚከተሉትን ጥያቄዎች ጠይቅ፡-
1. በማነበዉ ክፍል ዉስጥ ያለዉ ሃሳብ የእኔን ህይወት የሚመስልበት ሁኔታ አለን ?
2. ልከተለዉ የሚገባኝ ትምህርት፣ ምክር ወይም መመሪያ አለን ?
3. እንድናዘዘዉና እንድተወዉ የሚያሳየኝ ኃጢአት አለን ?
4. እንድጠብቀዉ የሚያሳየኝ ተስፋ አለን ?
5. ሌሎች ላስታውሳቸው የሚገባኝ እዉነቶች በዚህ ክፍል ዉስጥ አሉን?
ረ. ያገኘኸዉን መልእክት አጭር እና ግልጽ አድርገህ በማስታወሻህ ላይ ጻፈዉ
ሰ. የተገለጠልህን እዉነት ተግተህ ታዘዘዉና ተግብረዉ (1ኛሳሙ.15፡22-23፣ያዕ.1፡22-25፣ዮሐ.8፡31-32)
ሸ. እንደአስፈላጊነቱ ለሌሎች አካፍለዉ፡፡
እንግዲህ በዚህ መንገድ ቃሉን ተረጋግተዉ ማጥናት የሚችሉ ሲሆን ከመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ ጋር ያለዎት
ዝምድና ቀላል እንዲሆን የብሉይ ኪዳንና አዲስ ኪዳን መጸሐፍት ዝርዝርን በቃል ቢያጠኑ ቶሎ ብለዉ የሚፈልጉትን ለመግለጽና ለማውጣት አይቸገሩም ፡፡ በተጨማሪ የግዕዝ ቁጥሮችን ቢያጠኑ ጥሩ ነዉ፡፡ ቁጥሮቹን ለማጥናት ብዙ ሳይደክሙ፡-
ከ1-10 እና 20፣ 30፣ 40፣ 50፣ 60፣ 70፣ 80፣ 90፣ 100 እና 1000 እንዴት ዓይነት ቅርጽ እንዳላቸዉ ለይተዉ ይወቋቸዉ፡፡
1፣ 2፣ 3፣ 4፣ 5፣ 6፣ 7፣ 8፣ 9፣ 0፣ !፣ “፣ #፣ $፣ %፣ &፣ ‘፣ (፣ )፣ *
3.1. የተለያዩ የመጽሐፍ ቅዱስ አጠናን ዘዴዎች
መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ በመጀመሪያ ሲጻፍ ምንባቡ የነበረውን ትክክለኛ ትርጉም ለማግኘት የተቻለውን ሁሉ ጥረት ማድረግ ከአጥኚው ይጠበቃል፡፡ ይህም አጥኚው ከልዩ ልዩ አውዶች አንጻር ማየትን ያካትታል፡፡
ምሳሌ፡-
• ታሪካዊ ዐውድ
• ባህላዊ ዐውድ
• ቋንቋዊ ዐውድ
• ፖለቲካዊ ዐውድ
• ማህበራዊ ዐውድ
• ኃይማኖታዊ ዐውድ
መጸሐፍ ቅዱስን ሰዎች በተለያየ መንገድ ሊያጠኑ ይችላሉ፡፡ አጠናንዎን በተለያየ መንገድ እስኪያሰፋ ግን በእነዚህ በሶስት መንገዶች ማጥናት ቢችሉ ይመረጣል፡፡
3.2. ሶስቱ የጥናት መንገዶች
ሀ. ምዕራፍ በምዕራፍ የመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ ጥናት ፣
ለ. በሰዎች ሕይወት ላይ የተመረኮዘ ጥናት ፣
ሐ. በተወሰነ ርዕስ ላይ የሚደረግ ጥናት ናቸዉ፡፡
ሀ/ ምዕራፍ በምዕራፍ የመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ ጥናት ከመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ አንድን መጸሐፍ በመዉሰድ በየእለቱ አንድ ምዕራፍን ሲወስኑ እነዚህን መሰረታዊ ጥያቄዎች በመጠየቅ ማጥናት ይቻላል፡፡
• ለምዕራፉ ምን ርዕስ ይሰጠዉ
• በምዕራፉ ዉስጥ የተሰጡ ዋናዋና ትምህርቶች ምንድን ናቸዉ
• በምዕራፉ ዉስጥ ልብህን የነካዉ ጥቅስ ምንድን ነዉ ጽፈህ በቃልህ እስክትይዘዉ ድረስ ደጋግመህ አጥናዉ
• በምዕራፉ ዉስጥ የተጠቀሱትን ዋናዋና ሰዎችን ጥቀስ
• በምዕራፉ ዉስጥ ስለ አማላክ ማንነነት ባህርይ የተጠቀሰ ካለ ግለጽ
• እኔ ልከተለዉ የሚገባኝ ምሳሌ ምንድን ነዉ
• እኔ ላስወግደዉ የሚገባኝ ስህተት ምንድን ነዉ
• እኔ ልፈጽመዉ የሚገባኝ ትዕዛዝ ምንድን ነዉ
• እኔ ልይዘዉ የሚገባኝ የተስፋ ቃል ምንድን ነዉ
• በዚህ ምዕራፍ መሰረት ልጸልየዉ የሚገባኝ ጸሎት ምንድን ነዉ
በእነዚህ ከላይ በተሰጡት መጠይቆች መሰረት በማጥናት ማወቅ የሚቻል ሲሆን የተሰጡትን ጥያቄዎች በሙሉ በምዕራፍ ዉስጥ ላይመለስ ይችላል፡፡
ለ/ በሰዎች ህይወት ላይ የተመሰረተ ጥናት
በመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ ዉስጥ 2330 ሰዎች ገደማ ተጠቅሰዋል ፤ ከእነዚህም ብዙዎቹ የህይወት ታሪካቸዉን በመከታተል ብዙ ትምህርት ልናገኝ እንችላለን፡፡ ከመጽሐፍ ቅዱስ የሆነ የሰዎችን ወይም የስፍራን ስም በመዉሰድ ማጥናት ፣ ለምሳሌ ፡- “ሄሮድስ” ይህ ስም ስንት ጊዜ በመጽሐፍ ቅዱስ ዉስጥ ተጠቅሷል መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ ስለዚህ ሰዉ ምን ይላል ? ይህ ማለት የአንድን ሰዉ (ገፀ ባህሪይ) የህይወት አቋሙን ማጥናት ማለት ነው፡፡ ለምሳሌ፡- ስለ “ዳዊት” — ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር የነበረዉን ግኑኝነት፣ ለእግዚአብሔር መሰጠቱ፣ የሠራዉ መልካምነት ወዘተ.
በዚህ ጥናት ዉስጥ የሰዎቹን ስምን ትርጉም ለማወቅና ታሪኩ ጎልቶ እንዲገባን የመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ መዝገበ ቃላት በተጨማሪ ቢኖረን ይመርጣል፡፡ ይህን ጥናት ለማጥናትም ከዚህ በታች ያሉትን ጥያቄዎች መመለስ ያስፈልጋል፡፡
• ስለሰዉየዉና ስለቤተሰቡ ምን ተጻፈ
• በወጣትነቱ ዘመን ምን አከናወነ
• በህይወቱ ዘመን የገጠመዉ ፈተና ምን ነበር እንዴትስ ተወጣዉ
• ሰዉየዉ ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር በነበረዉ ግንኙነት የታየዉን ስጋዊ ድክመት ይግለጹ
• በእምነቱ ጽናት የተገለጸዉ የእግዚአብሔር ክብር ምንድን ነዉ
• ጓደኞቹ እነማን ነበሩ ጓደኞቹ በህይወቱ ላይ ምን አይነት ለዉጥ አመጡ
• በህይወት ዘመኑ የተሳሳታቸዉ ነገሮች ምንድን ናቸዉ
• ሰውየው ክርስቶስን ይመስል ነበር ወይስ አይመስልም
• በሰዉየዉ ህይወት ላይ ይታዩ የነበሩ መልካም ስነምግባሮችን ይግለጹ
• ከዚህ ሰዉ ህይወት ያገኙትንና ለትምህርትዎ የሚሆኑ ዋናዋና አሳቦችን ይግለጹ
በጥናቱ መሰረት ጸሎትን ይጸልዩ፡፡
ሐ. በተወሰነ ርዕስ ላይ የሚደረግ ጥናት
ይህ ጥናት ደግሞ ከመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ ዉስጥ ልታጠናዉ የፈለግነውን አንድን ርዕስ (topic) በመዉሰድ በርዕሱ መሰረት ሰፊ ጥናትን ማካሄድ ነዉ፡፡ ለምሳሌ፡- ጸሎት፣ ንስሃ፣ ቅድስና፣ ፍቅር፣ እምነት፣ ወዘተ … ለዚህ ጥናትም የተለያዩ የማጥኛ መረጃ እንደ የመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ መዝገበ ቃላትና ሌሎች ኮሜንታሪ መጽሐፍትን፣ እንዲሁም የመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ ጥቅስ ማዉጫ ቢኖርም ይመረጣል፡፡
የሚፈልጉትን ርዕስ ከመረጡ በኋላ በተለያየ ስፍራ ስለ ርዕሱ የተሰጡትን ጥቅሶች በማገናዘብ ማጥናት ይቻላል፡፡
ለምሳሌ፡- ርዕስ፡- ጸሎት፤
– ወደ ማን እንጸልይ
– መቼ እንጸልይ
– እንዴት እንጸልይ
– ምን እንጸልይ ወዘተ የመሳሰሉትን ጥያቄዎች በመመለስ ጥናትዎን ያስፉት፡፡
በአጠቃላይ እነዚህን የግል የመጸሐፍ ቅዱስ ማጥኛ ዘዴዎችን መጠቀም የሚቻል ሲሆን እዉቀትዎን የበለጠ ለማስፋት በአጥቢያዎ የሚሰጡትን የመጽሐፍ ቅዱስ ትምህርችን ቢከታተሉ ያግዝዎታል፡፡

. እግዚአብሔርን ፍለጋ – ቀጣይ፡-
ምኑን ነው የምንፈልገው?፡-

ባለፈው ክፍል – እግዚአብሔርን ፍለጋ በሚል – ስለእግዚአብሔር መኖር በተፈጥሮ፣ በሕሊና፣ በመሳሰሉት ማረጋገጥ እንደሚቻል አይተናል።

በአሁኑ ጊዜ የፈጣሪን /የእግዚአብሔርን መኖር የሚጠራጠር ብዙም ላይኖር ይችላል፤ ወይም በአሁኑ ጊዜ ለኛ ይህ ብዙም አሳሳቢ ጥያቄ አይደለም።

ከላይ ከተጠቀሱት በአንዱ ወይም በሌላ በሆነ መንገድ – የእግዚአብሐየርን መኖር አረጋገጥን – እግዚአብሔርን አገኘነው። ካገኘነው በኋላ ምኑን ነው ማየት የምንፈልገው? ስንል ዳዊት እንዲህ ይለናል፡-

ሁልጊዜ ፊቱን ፈልጉ። መዝ ፻፬/፻፭፣ ፬

– የእግዚአብሔር ሕልውና /መኖሩ/ የሚረጋገጠው አንድ ጊዜ ነው። ከተገኘ – አለ። አይጠፋም።

ከዚያ በኋላ ግን ሁልጊዜ መፈለግ ያለብን – ፊቱን – ነው።

– በምናያቸው ፍጥረታት የእግዚአብሔርን አስደቂ ኃያል እጅ እናያለን። ቀጥሎ ግን ሁልጊዜ ፊቱን ማየት አለብን።

ፊት ምንድን ነው? -የማንነት መለያ ነው። ሁላችንም የምንለየው በፊታችን ነው። መታወቂያ ላይ የሚደረገው ፎቶ – ጉርድ ፎቶ – የሚያሳየው ፊታችንን ነው።

– አንድን ሰው አየሁት ለማለት – ፊቱን – ማየት ግድ ነው።

– ሙሴ ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር ሕዝቡን ነጻ አውጥቶ ሲመራ፣ በተአምራት ብዙ ዘመን ከኖረ በኋላ፡- እግዚአብሔርን እንዲህ ሲል ጠየቀው፡-

o እርሱም፦ እባክህ ክብርህን አሳየኝ አለ።….

– እግዚአብሔርም –

o …ሰው አይቶኝ አይድንምና ፊቴን ማየት አይቻልህም……ፊቴ ግን አይታይም» አለ። ዘጸ ፴፫፡ ፲፯ – ፳፫።

– ፊቱን ማየት የማይቻል ከሆነ -ፊቱ የማይታይ ከሆነ – ለምን ፊቱን ፈልጉ ተባለ? – ማየት የማይቻለው በዚህ በሥጋ ዓይን ነው። እግዚአብሔር መንፈስ ነውና።

– በመንፈስ ግን ከእኛ ጋራ ሲሆን፣ ሲሠራ፣ ሕይወታችን ሲጠብቅ… እናየዋለን።

ከእያንዳንዳችን የራቀ አይደለም። (የሐዋ ፲፯፣ ፳፮)

– መምህራን እንደሚያስተምሩት በርግጥ የሙሴ ጥያቄ ተመልሷል፤ ነገር ግን የተመለሰው ከ1400 ዓመት በኋላ- በኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ – በደብረ ታቦር ነው።

o ሙሴ በጥየቄው መሰረት በዓይነ-ሥጋ በአካል እግዚአብሔርን ያየው – በኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ – ነው። ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ በስጋ የተገለጠው አግዚአብሔር ነውና።
በፊታቸውም ተለወጠ፥ ፊቱም እንደ ፀሐይ በራ፥ ልብሱም እንደ ብርሃን ነጭ ሆነ። እነሆም፥ ሙሴና ኤልያስ ከእርሱ ጋር ሲነጋገሩ ታዩአቸው። ማቴ ፲፯፣ ፪ – ፫
ዛሬም እኛ እግዚአብሔርን በመንፈስ ዓይን የምናየው – በኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ነው።

ስለዚህ፡-


፭. የፍለጋው ማብቂያ – ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ

o በተሰጠን አእምሮ በምናደርገው ምርምር በተፈጥሮ፣ በኅሊና.. ፈጣሪ እንዳለ እናውቃለን። ፍጥረታትን ሁሉ እግዚአብሔር እንደፈጠራቸው እንዳስገኛቸው እንደሚቆጣጠራቸው እንረዳለን።

o እግዚአብሔርን ፍለጋ የምናደርገው ጥረት እግዚአብሔር እንዳለ እንድናውቅ እንጂ ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር እንድንገናኝ አያደርገንም።

o ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር የምንገናኘው በእኛ ፍለጋ ሳይሆን በእርሱ ፍለጋ ነው። እርሱ እኛን ስለፈለገን። ስለዚህ የእኛ እግዚአብሔርን ፍለጋ የሚጠናቀቀው በራሱ በእግዚአብሔር ፍለጋ ነው።

– የእግዚአብሔር ፍለጋ – ፍለጋው አያልቅም – እንደምንለው አይደለም። መድረሻ አለው። የእግዚአብሔር ፍለጋ ማብቂያው ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ነው።


እኛ እርሱን ልንደርስበት ስለማንችል እርሱ እኛን ፈለገን። በሚገባን በምናውቀው ባሕርይ። በሰው – ሰው ሆኖ ሊፈልገን መጣ።
የሰው ልጅ የጠፋውን ሊፈልግና ሊያድን መጥቶአለና አለው። ሉቃ ፲፱፣ ፲

መቼም ቢሆን እግዚአብሔርን ያየው አንድ ስንኳ የለም፤ በአባቱ እቅፍ ያለ አንድ ልጁ እርሱ ተረከው። ዮሐ ፩፣ ፲፰።

ተረከው – ማለት የቃል ትረካ አይደለም፤ በተግባር በኑሮ፣ በሕይወት፣ በሞት፡በትንሣኤ… ገለጠው ማለት ነው።

ክርስቶስን ስናገኝ / ክርስቶስ ሲያገኘን/ ያን ጊዜ እግዚአብሔርን አገኘነው – አወቅነው፡ ማለት ነው።

ማጠቃለያ፡- እግዚአብሔር አንዲህ አለ / ብሎ ተናገረ፣ ከማለታችን በፊት እግዚአብሔር አለ /መኖሩን/ እንበል።

– እግዚአብሔር አለ/የለም በሚል ክርክር አንዱ ፈላስፋ የቆሎ ተማሪን ሲጠይቀው፣ እነዲህ መለሰለት፡ «እግዚአብሔርን አለ ብለኽው ባይኖር ችግር የለውም፤ የለም ብለኽው ካለ ግን ወዮልህ።»

– አንዳንድ ወገኖች – ከባድ ችግር ሲገጥማቸው ወይም ያልሆነ መጥፎ ነገር ሲያዩ «እግዚአብሔርማ የለም፤ በእውነት ቢኖር እንደዚህ አይሆንም ነበር፤ » ይላሉ።

– እግዚአብሔር አንድን ነገር ለምን እንደሚያደርግ፣ እንዴት እንደሚሠራ ለእኛ ሁሉም ነገር ግልጽ ላይሆን ይችላል። ዝም ብለን በትዕግስት እንጠብቀው፤

እንደሚባለው አንዳንድ ነገሮች በጣም እንግዳ ይሆናሉ፤ ለምን እንዲህ ይሆናል አንበል፤ ቃሉ እንደሚል፡-

ምሥጢሩ ለአምላካችን ለእግዚአብሔር ነው የተገለጠው ግን የዚህን ሕግ ቃሎች ሁሉ እናደርግ ዘንድ ለእኛ ለዘላለምም ለልጆቻችን ነው። ዘዳ ፳፱፣ ፳፱

– ያለማቋረጥ ፀሐይን የሚያወጣት/የሚያገባት፣ ዝናቡን የሚያዘንብ፣ አዝመራውን የሚያበቅል፣ ለፍሬ የሚያደርስ፣ ሁሉን የሚመግበው ፣ የሚያስተዳድረው አምላክ – አለ።

– እኛንም ወደዚች ምድር ያመጣን፣ የፈጠረን ነው እርሱ የሚያኖረን ። አንጨነቅ።

– በእውነት እግዚአብሔር አለ ። ከሁሉም በላይ ትልቅ መጽናኛችን ነው።

o መኖሩን ያመንነውን – ፈልገን ያገኘነውን ወይም በትክክል ለመናገር ፈልጎን ያገኘንን / እንድናገኘው የተፈለገውን/ መተዋወቅ ቀጣዩ ተገቢ ጉዳይ ነው ። ስንተዋወቅ የምንለዋወጠው ስምን ነው? — እገሌ እባላለሁ።- –

o ስለዚህ ይህ ፈጣሪ ማን ይባላል?….

o የእግዚአብሔር ስም.. ይቀጥላል

እግዚአብሔርን ፍለጋ – ቀጣይ
፫. የት ነው የምንፈልገው?

፫.፩ በተፈጥሮ፡- ለእግዚአብሔር ሕልውና የመጀመሪያው ማስረጃ ሥነ ፍጥረት ነው።

የማይታየው ባሕርይ እርሱም የዘላለም ኃይሉ ደግሞም አምላክነቱ ከዓለም ፍጥረት ጀምሮ ከተሠሩት ታውቆ ግልጥ ሆኖ ይታያልና፤ ሮሜ ፩፣ ፳

እየመረመሩ ከተባለ – ለመመርመር ስሜት ህዋሳቶቻችንን እንጠቀማለን። ከእነዚህም አንዱ እና ዋናው ማየት ነው። ምን እናያለን? የምናየው ምንድን ነው?

ሀ. ፍጥረታት ከምን ተገኙ? ከየት መጡ? የሚታየው ነገር ሁሉ አስገኚ አለው። በራሱ የተገኘ ነገር የለም።

o አንዳንድ ወገኖች ዓለሙ የተገኘው እንዲሁ ነው የሚሉ አሉ፤ – ተመራማሪዎች።

§ በእግዚአብሔር መኖር የማያምን ጓደኛ የነበረው አንድ የእግዚአብሔር ሰው ያን ኢአማኒ ጓደኛውን «ዓለማት ከየት ተገኙ?» ሲለው

የማያምነው ጓደኛም፡- «እንዲሁ ተገኙ» ይለው ነበር።

አንድ ቀን አማኙ በካርቶን እና በወረቀት ቆንጆ ቤት ከሠራ በኋላ ጠረጴዛው ላይ አስቀመጠው። በኋላ ከሃዲ ጓደኛው ሲመጣ የቤቱን ሞዴል አይቶ በጣም ተደነቀና ፡- « ከየት አገኘህው?» ሲለው – አማኙ «እንዲሁ ተገኘ» አለው.. ይሄማ ሊሆን አይችልም ሲል ያ አማኙ ጓደኛም፡- «አየህ እኔም ፍጥረታት ከየት ተገኙ? » ስልህ እንዲሁ ስትለኝ የነበረውም ሊሆን አይችልም ማለት ነው።

§ የምናየው ነገር ሁሉ ሠሪ ወይም አስገኝ አለው። በራሱ የተገኘ ነገር የለም። ወንበሩ- አናጺ፣ ቤቱ-ግምበኛ… ሁሉም የየራሱ አስገኚ የሆነ ባለሙያ አለው። በአጠቃላይ የዚህ ውብ ተፈጥሮ አስገኝውስ ማን ነው? ስንል -ፈጣሪ- እንዳለ /እንዳለው እንረዳለን።

ለ. ፍጥረታት እንዴት ተገኙ?

o አሁንም ተመራማሪዎች የመጀመሪያው ታላቅ ፍንዳታ (Big Bang) ከተከሰተ በኋላ- በሂደት ነገሮች ሁሉ ተገኙ፤ ይላሉ። ግን የመጀመሪያው የታላቅ ፍንዳታ ቁስ ከየት መጣ? ሲባል መልስ የለም።

ከዚያም በኋላ በአዝጋሚ ለውጥ- አንዱ ከአንዱ እየተወጣ.. ተገኙ ይላል።

o አንድ ጸሐፊ እንዲህ ብሏል፡- ነገሮች አንዱ ከአንዱ ተገኘ ከተባለ ይህ ማለት እንግዲህ በከተማችን የምናያቸው ታላላቅ ፎቆች፣መንገዶች፣ ድልድዮች የተገኙት፡- ጥሬ ዕቃዎቹ – ብረቱ፣ ሲሚንቶው ራሳቸውን አዘጋጅተው፣ እንጨቶች ራሳቸውን ጠርበው አስተካክልው፣ ጡቦች በራሳቸው እየተደረደሩ፣ ቆርቆሮው በራሱ እየተመታ፣ እየተጋጠመ ቤቱ ተሠራ የማለት ያህል ነው። ይህ ግን ፈጽሞ የማይሆን ነገር ነው።

o ይህ ዓለም የተፈጠረ ብቻ ሳይሆን በሥርዓት የተዋቀረ ዓለም ነው። Intelligent design – ግሩም ንድፍ ያረፈበት ድንቅ ተፈጥሮ ማለት ነው።

ሐ. ፍጥረታት እንዴት ይኖራሉ?

o ፍጥረት ሁሉ በእንቅስቃሴ ላይ ነው። የፀሐይ መውጣት/መግባት – የምድር መዞር- የፕላኔቶች – .. ሁሉም በእንቅስቃሴ ላይ ነው። ማን ነው የሚያንቀሳቅሰው? ወይም ይህንን እንቅስቃሴ የሚመራው/ የሚቆጣጠረው ማን ነው?

§ ምድር፡- በፀሐይ ሥርዓት ውስጥ ፣ ወይም በሕዋ ውስጥ ያላት ሥፍራ ሕይወትን ሊያኖር በሚችል መልኩ የተቀመጠች ናት። ምድር በፀሐይ ዙርያ ስትዞር ከምሕዋሯ ትንሽ ራቅ ብትል – ሁሉም ነገር በረዶ ሆኖ በከፍተኛ ቅዝቃዜው ሕይወት በሙሉ ይሞታል፤ በተመሳሳይ ከምሕዋሯ ትንሽ ቀረብ ብትል በከፍተኛው ሙቀት የተነሳ ሁሉም ይቀልጥና ሕይወት አይኖርም፡።

§ ሕይወት ላላቸው ፍጥረታት ሁሉ ወሳኝ የሆነው – ውኃ – በሶስቱም ኩነቶች የሚገኘው በምድር ብቻ ነው። – / በጠጣርነት (በረዶ)፣ በፈሳሽነት (ውሃ) እና በእንፋሎት (ተን)/ ። ስለዚህ ከምድር ውጪ ሕይወት ያለው ነገር እስካሁን በሌሎች ዓለማት /ፕላኔቶች/ ማግኘት አልተቻለም።

፫.፪ በሕሊና፡-

§ በተፈጥሮ ሀሉም ሰው ክፉና ደጉን የመለየት ሚዛናዊነት ተቀምጦለታል። ሰው ቢማርም ባይማርም፣ እግዚአብሔርን ቢያምንም ባያምንም በተፈጥሮው በሕሊናው መልካም ና መጥን የመለየት ችሎታ አለው። ይህ የሕሊና ዳኝነት – እንዴት በሁላችን ውስጥ ሊኖር ቻለ? ማን አስቀመጠው? – የጋራ ነገር እንዲኖረን ያደረገ አንድ አካል አለ?– አዎ እርሱም የፈጠረን እግዚአብሔር ነው።

ü ሰው ሥጋ /matter/ ብቻ አይደለም መንፈስ /Spirit/ አለው። ቁሳዊ ነገር ከቁሳዊ ነገር ሊገኝ ይችላል። ነገር ግን መንፈሳዊ ነገር ከቁሳዊ ነገር ሊገኝ አይችልም። መንፈሳዊ ነገር ከመንፈስ ብቻ ነው ሊገኝ የሚችለው። — እርሱም እግዚአብሔር ነው።

ü ስሜታዊ ነገሮች ፡ – ደስታ፣ ፍቅር፣ ሠላም፣ እምነት … የምንላቸው ማኅበራዊ እሴቶች ከቁሳዊ ነገር ሊገኙ አይችሉም። እነዚህን የማይዳሰሱ ረቂቅ ስሜቶችን ያስገኘ ስሜት ያለው / የሚሰማው/ ነው። — እርሱም እግዚአብሔር ነው።

ü ፫.፫ በጠፈር ምርምር

እስከዛሬ ያልተደረሰባቸው ብዙ ፍጥረቶች ።

o ስለከዋክብት ብዛት በሳይንሱ የሚሰጠውን መግለጫ ብናይ፡-

ü በዘመናዊ ግዙፍ የርቀት ማሳያ /ቴሌስኮኘ/ ተመርምሮ እንደተገኘው ከኛ ፀሐይ አካባቢ የሚገኙ ከዋክብት ቁጥራቸው እስከ ሀያ ሚሊዮን ይጠጋል፡፡ ያለመሣርያ በባዶ ዓይን ሲመለከቷቸው ግን አምስት ሺህ ብቻ ያህላሉ ይላሉ፡፡

ü ተመራማሪዎቹ እንደሚሉት የከዋክብት ቁጥራቸው ሊወሰን የማይችል እልፍ አእላፍ /የብዙ ብዙ/ ስለሆነ የብዛታቸው ልክ እንኳንስ ተቆጥሮ ሊደረስበት ይቅርና ታይቶ የማያልቅ ነገር ሆኖባቸዋል፡፡ የርቀት መሣርያ መነጽሩን /ቴሌስኮኘ/ አሠራርና የማስተዋሉንም አኳኋን እያሻሻሉ በሄዱበት መጠን ቀድሞ ያልታዩ ሌሎች አዳዲስ ከዋክብት ይገኛሉ፡፡

ü የዚህን ሁኔታ ሲናገሩም መነጽሮቻችን ምንም ያህል ብናሻሽላቸው ከዋክብትን ጨርሰን ሙሉ በሙሉ ልናያቸው አንችልም፡፡ በጣም ዘልቀን ለማየት በቻልንበት መጠን ስፍር ቁጥር የሌላቸው ሌሎች አዳዲስ ከዋክብት ይወጣሉ፡፡ የእኛ ዕውቀት ከቶ ሊዘልቀው የማይቻል ነው ይላሉ፡፡ /የዕውቀት ብልጭ ፤ ከበደ ሚካኤል፡ ገጽ 158/

o ሰማያት የእግዚአብሔርን ክብር ይናገራሉ፥ የሰማይም ጠፈር የእጁን ሥራ ያወራል። መዝ ፲፰/፲፱፣ ፩

የሰማይ ጥልቀት / የየከዋክብቱ ርቀት/፣- አሁንም ለዚህ የሳይንሱን መግለጫዎች ብናይ፡-

ü በፀሐይና በመሬት መካከል ያለው ርቀት ወደ 150 ሚሊዮን ኪ.ሜ ይጠጋል፡፡ የርቀቱን ግምት ለመገንዘብ በመድፍ ጥይት ጉዞ መስለው ይናገራሉ፡፡ የመድፍ ጥይት ፍጥነቱን ሳይቀንስ ከምድር ወደ ፀሐይ ቢተኮስ ከፀሐይ ለመድረስ 20 ዓመት ይፈጅበታል፡፡ ይህም ፀሐይ ከመሬት ምን ያህል በጣም የራቀች መሆኗን ያሳየናል፡፡

ü በማታ ከምናያቸው ስፍር ቁጥር ከሌላቸው በርካታ ከዋክብት ውስጥ ለመሬት ቅርብ የሆነችው ኮከብ ከላይ በተቀመጠው ምሳሌ መሠረት ርቀቷ እጅግ በጣም ብዙ ከመሆኑ የተነሳ የመድፍ ጥይቱ ወደዚች ኮከብ ቢተኮስ ከርሷ ለመድረስ 7 ሺህ ዓመ ት ይወስድበታል፡፡

ü በዚህ ልኬታ የሌሎችን ከዋክብት ርቀት ብናስብ ምን ያህል የማይደረስበት እንደሚሆን መገመት እንችላለን፡፡ በየከዋክብቱ መሀል ያለው ርቀትም እጅግ በጣም ሰፊ ከመሆኑ የተነሳ የሚለካው ብርሃን ከነርሱ ለመድረስ በሚፈጅበት ጊዜ ነው፡፡ ይህም የብርሃን ዓመት ይባላል። ….

እግዚአብሔር በሰጠን አእምሮ – እየተመራመርን- ይሄን ሁሉ ስናይ /ስንሰማ/ የእነዚህ ሁሉ ፈጣሪ ምን ያህል ግሩም ድንቅ ነው እንድል ያደርገናል።

ü ከተፈጥሮ ሕግ ውጪ የሆኑ በሳይንስ ሊረጋገጡ /ሊመለሱ ያልቻሉ ብዙ ጉዳዮች /ክስተቶች አሉ።

o የአጋንንት እና የመናፍስት አሠራር ፤ ተአምራት፣ ድንቆች….

o የነፍስ ምንነት፣ ሞት ምንድን ነው? ወዘተ…

እነዚህ ሁሉ የሚያሳየን ሁሉን የፈጠረ፣ ሁሉን የሚቆጣጠር እና የሚመራ አምላክ እንዳለ ነው። ታዲያ የእግዚአብሔርን መኖር በተፈጥሮ፣ በሕሊና ፣ በመሳሰሉት… ካረጋገጥን በኋላ የምንፈልገው ምኑን ነው?

… /ይቀጥላል/

እግዚአብሔርን ፍለጋ

ምናልባትም እየመረመሩ ያገኙት እንደ ሆነ፥ እግዚአብሔርን ይፈልጉ ዘንድ በምድር ሁሉ ላይ እንዲኖሩ የሰውን ወገኖች ሁሉ ከአንድ ፈጠረ፥ የተወሰኑትንም ዘመኖችና ለሚኖሩበት ስፍራ ዳርቻ መደበላቸው። ቢሆንም ከእያንዳንዳችን የራቀ አይደለም።

ከእናንተ ከባለ ቅኔዎች አንዳንዶች ደግሞ። እኛ ደግሞ ዘመዶቹ ነንና ብለው እንደ ተናገሩ፥ በእርሱ ሕያዋን ነንና እንንቀሳቀሳለን እንኖርማለን። የሐዋ ፲፯፣ ፳፮ – ፳፰

፩. እግዚአብሔርን መፈለግ ለምን አስፈለገ?

ü የተፈጠርንበት ዋና ዓላማ በመሆኑ- እግዚአብሔርን ይፈልጉ ዘንድ፡-

· የሰውን ወገኖች ከአንድ ፈጠረ – ከአዳምና ከሔዋን። አንድ ጊዜ ፈጠረ፣ በኋላ ብዙ ተባዙ ባለው አምላካዊ ቃል በመዋለድ የሰው ዘር ይቀጥላል።

o …..እግዚአብሔርም ባረካቸው፥ እንዲህም አላቸው፦ ብዙ፥ ተባዙ፥ ምድርንም ሙሉአት፥ ዘፍ ፩፡ ፳፯ – ፳፰

o አዳምም ለሚስቱ ሔዋን ብሎ ስም አወጣ፥ የሕያዋን ሁሉ እናት ናትና። ዘፍ ፫፣ ፳

· የምንኖርበትን ዘመን – እና – ስፍራ /ቦታ/ መደበልን። በየት ዘመን እስከ ስንት ጊዜ፣ በየት ሃገር ከየትኛው ቤተሰብ እንደምንወለድ እድሜና ሥፍራ የመደበልን እግዚአብሔር ነው።

ስለዚህ «አፄ /አቶ እገሌ ያለዘመናቸው የተወለዱ… » የምንለው ፈጽሞ ስህተት ነው ማለት ነው።

· እግዚአብሔር ሰውን የፈጠረበት ዓላማ እንዲፈልገው ነው። በሰጠው ነጻነት ተጠቅሞ ፈልጎ፣ አግኝቶ ፣ ወዶ እንዲከተለው እና አብሮት እንዲኖር።

· እግዚአብሔርን ስለመፈለግ ዳዊት እንዲህ ብሏል፡-

· …. በቅዱስ ስሙ ተጓደዱ እግዚአብሔርን የሚፈልግ ልብ ደስ ይበለው።

እግዚአብሔርን ፈልጉት ትጸናላችሁም ሁልጊዜ ፊቱን ፈልጉ። መዝ ፻፬/፻፭፣ ፩ – ፬
እግዚአብሔርን የምንፈልገው ለምንድን ነው? ከላይ በጥቅሱ እንዳየነው፡-



ü ልብን ደስ ስለሚያሰኝ፣- እግዚአብሔርን የሚፈልግ ልብ ደስ ይበለው

o ዘላቂ እና ከውስጥ – ከልብ – የሆነ እውነተኛ ደስታ ያለው እግዚአብሔርን በመፈለግ ነው። በሌላም ቦታ እንዲህ ተብሏል፡-

§ ሁልጊዜ በጌታ ደስ ይበላችሁ፤ ደግሜ እላለሁ፥ ደስ ይበላችሁ። ፊልጵ ፬፣ ፬

ü ለመጽናት፣- እግዚአብሔርን ፈልጉት ትጸናላችሁም፡

o አንድ ሰው በተቸገረ ጊዜ – እገሌን ነው የምፈልግ እርሱ ይምጣልኝ – ይላል።

በፈተና በሕይወት ውጣ ውረድ ለመጽናት የሚረዳን የሚያስፈልገን እግዚአብሔር ብቻ ነው።

ü ለሚፈልጉት ምላሽ ስለሚሰጥ፣- እግዚአብሔር እርሱን ለሚፈልጉት ምላሽ ይሰጣል እንጂ ተደብቆ አይቀመጥም።

ያለ እምነትም ደስ ማሰኘት አይቻልም፤ ወደ እግዚአብሔር የሚደርስ እግዚአብሔር እንዳለ ለሚፈልጉትም ዋጋ እንዲሰጥ ያምን ዘንድ ያስፈልገዋልና። ዕብ ፲፩፣ ፮

o በፍለጋ ወደ እግዚአብሔር የሚደርስ ሁለት ነገር ማመን አለበት፡

§ ፩. እግዚአብሔር እንዳለ – እግዚአብሔር አለ።

§ ፪. ለሚፈልጉትም ዋጋ ይሰጣል። – ይመልሳል። ይገናኛል።

– ፈልጉት ስንባል ሩቅ ወይም ረቂቅ ስለሆነ ግን አይደለም። ምክንያቱም – ከእያንዳንዳችን የራቀ አይደለም። ተብሏልና፤ ስለዚህ ቅርብ ነው።

– በምናየው በተፈጥሮ፣ ዓለምን በማስተዳደሩ /በመግቦቱ/ ፣ በነፍሳችን ጥማት… እግዚአብሔርን መፈለግ ግድ ይላል። እግዚአብሔር የራቀ / ሩቅ/ የሚሆነው ዓይነ-ልቦናችን በኃጢአት ጨለማ ሲያዝ ብቻ ነው።

– ማንም ሰው ከአምልኮ ውጪ አይደለም፤ ከእግዚአብሔር / ከአምላክ/ ፍለጋ ተለይቶ አያውቅም። ሁሉም ሰው የሚታመንበት፣ ተስፋ የሚያደርገው፣ አንድ አካል ይፈልጋል። እግዚአብሔርን የማያውቁና የማያምኑ ሰዎች እንኳን -ጨርሶ እምነት የለሽ- አይደሉም። የሚታመኑበት ይለያይ እንደሆነ እንጂ የሆነ አንድ የሚታመኑበት ነገር አላቸው፤ – ጣኦት፣ ሃብት፣ ….

– እግዚአብሔርን ፍለጋ አስፈላጊነቱ /አንገብጋቢነቱ/- በጨለማ ውስጥ መብራት የመፈለግ ያህል ነው። ካለዚያ የሚታይ ነገር አይኖርም፣ የሕይወት ጉዞው መደናበር ነው የሚሆነው። ሕይወት ያለእግዚአብሔር ጨለማ ናት።

እግዚአብሔር ብርሃን ነው ጨለማም በእርሱ ዘንድ ከቶ የለም የምትል ይህች ናት። ፩ ዮሐ ፩፣ ፭

፪. እግዚአብሔርን እንዴት ነው የምንፈልገው?

ü በአእምሮ፡- /በዕውቀት/ – ምናልባትም እየመረመሩ

o ምናልባት ለምን ተባለ? በተሰጠን አእምሮና ነጻ ፈቃድ በምናደርገው ምርምር እግዚአብሔርን ላንደርስበት እንችላለን። በዓለማዊ ጥበብና ምርምር ብቻ እግዚአብሔርን ማግኘት አይቻልም።

በእግዚአብሔር ጥበብ ምክንያት ዓለም እግዚአብሔርን በጥበብዋ ስላላወቀች፥ በስብከት ሞኝነት የሚያምኑትን ሊያድን የእግዚአብሔር በጎ ፈቃድ ሆኖአልና። ፩ ቆሮ ፩፣ ፳፩።

o ሰው ከተፈጠረ በኋላ የሚያውቀው እግዘአብሔር የፈጠረውን መልካም ብቻ ነበር፤ የተከለከለችውን -በተለምዶ ዕጸ-በለስ – ዛፍን ከበላ በኋላ ክፉንም አወቀ፤ ለዚህ ነው ዛፊቱ፡- «፣መልካምና ክፉን የምታሳውቅ ዛፍ» የተባለች። ከውድቀት በኋላ ሰው በተሰጠው አእምሮ በዘመናት ሁሉ እውቀቱን በማሳደጉ ወደ እነዚህ ሁለት ጎራዎች ሄዷል፡- ወደ መልካምና ወደ ክፉ።

§ መልካም ውጤት – ምድርን ለኑሮ አመቺ ማደረጋችን – መጓጓዣ፣ መኖሪያ…ማሻሻላችን.

§ ክፉ ውጤት – ሰው ሰራሽ የጥፋት ስጋቶች መፈጠራቸው፡- ጠመንጃ፣ መርዝ….መሥራታችን

ስለዚህ አዳም /ሰው/ መልካሙንና ክፉን የምታስታውቀውን ዛፍ ስለበላ እና ስላወቀ – ያወቀውን መተግበር ጀመር።

o የተሰጠን አእምሮ ዋናው ዓላማ በተፈጠርንበት መልካምነት፣ መልካም የሆነውን ፍጥረት በማስተዳደር ፣መልካም የሆነውን እግዚአብሔርን በመፈለግና /በመምረጥ/ ለማምለክ ነበረ።

o ፍለጋውን ማስቆም አይቻልም፤ ሰው ወደደም ጠላም በፍለጋ ውስጥ ነው።

ዓይን እስካለ አላይም ማለት አይቻልም፤ እግርም እስካለ አልሄድም ማለት አይቻልም።

o ፍለጋው ወደ እግዚአብሔር ሊያደርሰን ይችላል፣ ከእግዚአብሔር ሊያርቀንም ይችላል። እንደ ምንሄድበት አቅጣጫ ይወሰናል።

o ስለዚህ በሕይወት ጉዞ ላይ- በነገሮች ፍለጋ ዋናው ቁምነገር ዝምብሎ መሄዳችን /መኖራችን/ ሳይሆን ወዴት እየሄድን ነው? የሚለው ነው። ዋናው አቅጣጫው ነው።

ግን እግዚአብሔርን የምንፈልገው የት ነው?……. ይቀጥላል።

የእግዚአብሔር ባሕርያት

ስለእግዚአብሔር ለማወቅ ፍንጭ የሚሰጡን፣ የሚገልጡት ባሕርያቱ ናቸው።

መገለጫዎቹ፡-

፩. አይታይም፡- እግዚአብሔር ረቂቅ – መንፈስ ነው። ደቃቅ ሆኖ በአጉሊ መነጽር /በማይክሮስኮፕ/ ወይም ሩቅ ሆኖ በርቀት – መነጽር /በቴሌስኮፕ/ የሚታይ አይደለም።

– « ብቻውን አምላክ ለሚሆን ለማይጠፋው ለማይታየውም ለዘመናት ንጉሥ ምስጋናና ክብር እስከ ዘላለም ድረስ ይሁን፤ አሜን።» ፩ ጢሞ ፩፣ ፲፯

o በስሜት ሕዋሳቶቻችን ልንደርስበት አንችልም።

o ከምናውቃቸው በመጀመር የርቀት /የመርቀቅ/ ቅደም ተከተል ሲቀመጥ ፡ ከግዙፍ ወደ ረቂቅ፡-

o እግዚአብሔር የማይታይ እንጂ የማያይ አይደለም።

o በእምነት ግን በሕይወታችን እናየዋለን።

፪. አይወሰንም፡- በስፍራ/በቦታ የተወሰነ አይደለም። በዚያ አለ፤ በዚህ የለም፤ ይሄዳል/ይመጣል… አይባልም።

– «ከመንፈስህ ወዴት እሄዳለሁ? ከፊትህስ ወዴት እሸሻለሁ?

ወደ ሰማይ ብወጣ፥ አንተ በዚያ አለህ። ወደ ሲኦልም ብወርድ፥ በዚያ አለህ።

እንደ ንስር የንጋትን ክንፍ ብወስድ፥ እስከ ባሕር መጨረሻም ብበርር፥

በዚያ እጅህ ትመራኛለች፥ ቀኝህም ትይዘኛለች።» መዝ ፻፴፱/፻፵፣ ፯ – ፲

o በሁሉም ቦታ አለ። ይህ ሲባል ግን በየቦታው ያሉት ነገሮች ሁሉ ግን የእርሱ አካል ናቸው ማለት አይደለም።

፫. አይለወጥም፡- በጊዜ ተጽእኖ ሥር አይደለም። ሁሉም ነገሮች በጊዜ ብዛት ይለወጣሉ፣

– «…. ደግሞ። ጌታ ሆይ፥ አንተ ከጥንት ምድርን መሠረትህ፥ ሰማዮችም የእጆችህ ሥራ ናቸው፤ እነርሱም ይጠፋሉ አንተ ግን ጸንተህ ትኖራለህ፤ ሁሉም እንደ ልብስ ያረጃሉ፤ እንደ መጎናጸፊያም ትጠቀልላቸዋለህ ይለወጡማል፤ አንተ ግን አንተ ነህ፥ ዓመቶችህም ከቶ አያልቁም» ዕብ ፩፣ ፲ – ፲፪

o ጊዜ/ዘመን ሁሉንም ያስረጃል። እግዚአብሔር ግን ዘመንን ራሱን ያስረጀዋል።

o እግዚአብሔር ብሉየ-መዋዕል፡- የተባለው በግዕዝ – ዘመናትን የሚያስረጅ ማለት ነው።

o እግዚአብሔር የሚያልፍበት ወይም የሚጠብቀው ጊዜ የለም። ትናንት/ነገ – የዛሬ ዓመት የሚቀጥለው ዓመት.. የሚባል የለም። በእርሱ ዘንድ ሁልጊዜ ዛሬ ነው።

«ያለውና የነበረው የሚመጣውም ሁሉንም የሚገዛ ጌታ አምላክ። አልፋና ዖሜጋ እኔ ነኝ ይላል።» ራእ ፩፣ ፰

o ሰው ሊገዛ/ ሊቆጣጠር የሚችለው ያለውን /የአሁኑን/ ብቻ ነው። ለዚያውም የሚታየውን እና የቻለውን ያህል።

o እግዚአብሔር ግን ያለውን፡ የነበረውን/ያለፈውን/ የሚመጣውንም ሁሉ ይገዛል፤ ይቆጣጠራል፣ ያስተዳድራል።

o በእኛ ዘንድ ሺህ ዓመት በእግዚአብሔር ዘንድ እንደ አንድ ቀን ነው ሲባል እግዚአብሔር የሺ ዓመቱን ሥራ ዛሬ እንደተደረገ ያህል ነው – በዝርዝር የሚያውቀው። እኛ እንረሳለን።

o እግዚአብሔር ስለማይለወጥ ስለእርሱ በትክክል የገባን ነገር አይለወጥም። ያው ነው ማለት ነው። ስለእርሱ በእርግጠኝነት መናገር እንችላለን። እንዲህ ነው ብለን።
ስለ ሰው ግን እገሌ እንዲህ ነው ብለን በእርግጠኝነት መናገር አንችልም ፣ ሰው ይለወጣልና።

– እግዚአብሔር ስለማይለወጥ ዘላለማዊ ነው፣

o የነበረ፣ ያለ ፣ የሚኖር ነው። ለሙሴ እንደተናገረው። – እግዚአብሔርም ሙሴን፦ «ያለና የሚኖር» እኔ ነኝ አለው፤ ዘፍ ፫፣ ፲፬

፬. አይከፋፈልም፡ ሰው በሁለት ይከፈላል – ነፍስና ሥጋ ። ሰውነቱ/- ከአጥንት፣ ከደም፣ ከሥጋ የተሠራ ነው። ነፍሱ የእግዚአብሔር እስትንፋስ ሆና መንፈስ አለው፤

o እግዚአብሔር ግን ከዚህ እና ከዚህ ነገሮች የተዋቀረ/የተገኘ ነው አይባልም።

o እርሱ ሁሉን ያስገኘ እንጂ እርሱን የሚያስገኙ/ያስገኙ ነገሮች የሉም።
/ይቀጥላል/…

“….በሕይወትም ትኖራላችሁ፤ እኔም እግዚአብሔር እንደ ሆንሁ ታውቃላችሁ።” ሕዝ ፴፯፣፮
በሕይወት የመኖራችን ዓላማ እግዚአብሔርን ማወቅ ከሆነ እግዚአብሔርን እናውቀዋለን ወይ?


ከመሥዋዕት ይልቅ ምሕረትን፥ ከሚቃጠልም መሥዋዕት ይልቅ እግዚአብሔርን ማወቅ እወድዳለሁና። ሆሴዕ ፮፣ ፮
፩. እግዚአብሔርን ማወቅ ያለብን ለምንድን ነው?
– ለሕይወት ስኬት – ለምድራዊ አስቤዛ ኑሮ መሟላት?
– ከኑሮ ጭንቀት ለመላቀቅ – ሰላምና እረፍት ለማግኘት?
– ለጠቅላላ ዕውቀት/ለመረጃ? – አለ ወይስ የለም? እውነቱን ለማወቅ-

እግዚአብሔር ሲባል – ወደ አእምሮአችን / ወደ ምናባችን የሚመጣው ምስል ምንድን ነው?
o በሩቅ በሰማይ ያለ- ቁልቁል የሚያይ ሽማግሌ መሰል……?
o ወይም ሌላ ምስል…….?

እግዚአብሔርን ስናስብ ትዝ የሚለን ምንድን ነው?
– እግዚአብሔርን ወይስ ከእግዚአብሔር የሆኑ ነገሮችን፤
– እግዚአብሔር በሕይወታችን በኃይሉ እየሠራ ነው? ወይስ
በአእምሮአችን እንዲሁ የተቀመጠ ከብዙ ጉዳዮች መካከል አንዱ ነው?
– እግዚአብሔርን ነው ወይስ ስለእግዚአብሔር ነው የምናውቀው?
ስለጃንሆይ ልናውቅ እንችላለን፤ ጃንሆይን ግን ላናውቃቸው እንችላለን፤ አላየናቸውም፣ አላገኘናቸውምና።
– እግዚአብሔርን እናውቀዋለን? – እርሱስ ያውቀናል? – እንተዋወቃለን?
– እናናግረዋለን? – ከሆነስ — ይሰማናል? — ይመልስልናል? – እንደሚመልስልን ይሰማናል?
ከእነዚህ ጥያቄዎች አንዱ መልሳችን «አይ» ከሆነ – እግዚአብሔርን አላወቅነውም። ወይም ስለእግዚአብሔር ያወቅነው አልገባንም።

– እግዚአብሔር ሊታወቅ ይችላል? ወይስ አይችልም? –
የምታመልኩትን እየተመለከትሁ ሳልፍ። ለማይታወቅ አምላክ የሚል ጽሕፈት ያለበትን መሠዊያ ደግሞ አግኝቼአለሁና። እንግዲህ ይህን ሳታውቁ የምታመልኩትን እኔ እነግራችኋለሁ። የሐዋ ፲፯፣ ፳፫
እናንተስ ለማታውቁት ትሰግዳላችሁ፤ እኛ መዳን ከአይሁድ ነውና ለምናውቀው እንሰግዳለን። ዮሐ ፬፣፳፪

እግዚአብሔርን የምናመልከው አውቀነው ነው? ወይስ ባይገባንም ማምለክ ስላለብን? ወይስ እንዲሁ በዘልማድ ሌሎች ስላደረጉት?

እግዚአብሔርን ማወቅ/አለማወቅ ያለው ተጽእኖ
– በሕይወታችን ለነገሮች ቅድሚያ የምንሰጠው ካለን የእግዚአብሔርን እውቀት አንጻር ነው።
በደንብ ካወቅነው/ከገባን እንኖርለታለን። እንኖርበታለን። — ካልሆነ እንደ ትርፍ/ተጨማሪ እናየዋለን።
– በሕይወታችን በሚገጥሙን ፈተናና እና ችግሮች የምንወስዳቸው ውሳኔዎች እግዚአብሔርን ምን ያህል እንደምናውቀው ያሳያሉ።
– ሕይወትን ለመኖር የሚያስመኘው ስኬቶቻችን ናቸው – ወይስ በዓላማ መኖራችን?
የዚህ ዓለም ስኬት መጨረሻው ምንድን ነው?.. ምን ስናገኝ ነው በቃ የምንለው?
– በየዕለቱ/ በየጊዜው አእምሮአችን የሚይዘው ምንድን ነው? በልባችን እና በአእምሮአችን ሰፊውን ስፍራ የያዘው እግዚአብሔርን ከማወቅ / ካለማወቅ ጋር የሚያያዝ ነው።

አንድ ባለሃብት ለአንድ አገልጋይ ያለውን ሰፊ የልማት/ የእርሻ ቦታ ሲያስጎበኘው ከስፋቱ የተነሳ በአንድ ቀን ተጎብኝቶ ሊያልቅ አልቻለም። ኋላ ባለሃብቱ «እንዴት ነው? ምን ተሰማህ?» ብሎ የሙገሳ ቃል ሲጠብቅ አገልጋዩ፡ «ይህንን ሁሉ ሃብት ለማስተዳደር ልብህ በዚህ ስለሚጠመድ ያሳዝነኛል» አለው።
የዚህ ባለሃብት ልብ አሁን እየኖረበት ካለ ዓለም ጋር የተቆራኘ ነው።
ለአሁኑ እና ለዘላለሙ፣ ላለውና ለሚመጣው ነገር ሁሉ የምንሰጠው ዋጋ/ቦታ ባለን የእግዚአብሔር ዕውቀት ላይ የተመሠረተ ነው።
……………ይቀጥላል…………..