Church of God News

Ambassador Auditorium (in center)

COGwriter

Ambassador Auditorium made the news:

Pasadena Symphony to move to Ambassador AuditoriumSouthern California Public Radio – March 20, 2010PASADENA – The Pasadena Symphony Orchestra is trading down, and for the first time in 82 years will not play its season in the venerable Pasadena Civic Auditorium, it was reported today.

The PSO will move across downtown Pasadena to the Ambassador Auditorium, an acoustically-stellar hall built in 1974 that can accommodate about 60 percent fewer people, the Pasadena Star-News reported today…Located on a hill across a freeway from Old Town Pasadena, the Ambassador Auditorium was built as the centerpiece of a religious college… Ambassador College, is defunct and its campus has been sold off.  http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/03/20/pasadena-symphony-move-ambassador-auditorium/

Herbert W. Armstrong had Ambassador Auditorium built in the 1970s mainly as a means to reach people (and especially world leaders) who were often secularly oriented.  It wasy (and still is) well known for its acoustic quality.

After Herbert W. Armstrong died, those who took it over did not share his views on theology or public proclamation of Christ’s gospel of the kingdom.  And ultimately they sold the property to fund their own priorities.

But the priority of proclaiming the true gospel remains today.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains how he is and should be viewed today.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so.

COGwriter

Gerald Flurry’s PCG added another relic to its collection:

Here is some of what PCG said about it:

EDMOND—In the most recent instance of the ruins of Herbert W. Armstrong’s legacy being raised, the Philadelphia Church of God has acquired the bronze letters from the Ambassador Auditorium’s dedication inscription…

After discovering the cost of casting all the letters needed for the dedication inscription of the PCG’s Armstrong Auditorium would have totaled around $10,000, church officials contacted Harvest Rock Church about the possibility of buying the letters. church officials contacted Harvest Rock Church about the possibility of buying the letters. They offered the letters to the PCG as a gift and suggested a $100 token of thanks. The PCG sent $250 to cover the shipping and a donation of thanks.

Receiving the letters from Ambassador was not only a significant blessing financially, but also in terms of incalculable sentimental value. Facilities manager and Ambassador College graduate Roger Brandon said, “In one sense [the letters] are worthless to someone else … I saw them and had to walk away. You get a bit emotional.” The only words that need to be newly cast are “Armstrong Auditorium” and “Philadelphia.”…

The letters will take up their new home in the Grand Lobby on the center onyx wall between the two candelabra, just as they did in Ambassador under Mr. Armstrong, dedicating the building to God. In addition to the candelabra, the letters join the Swans in Flight sculpture by Sir David Wynne and a 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano from Ambassador Auditorium as a group of treasures the PCG has acquired from the former Worldwide Church of God campuses. The mission of the PCG via its Armstrong International Cultural Foundation is to revive and continue the cultural and humanitarian legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.  http://www.pcog.org/article.php?articleid=97 (photo from same source)

While some in PCG will argue that this was mainly done as a cost-saving measure, the above “press release” suggests that it is more than that.

Here is an astute assessment by Shadows of WCG webmaster “J”:

I have written many times about the idolatry of the physical attributes of the Ambassador Auditorium that permeates with sickening nausea from so many. From the pianos to the candelabra to these bronze letters – directly to the bronze swan fountain, one would think they would get a clue over getting emotional and having to walk away over bronze lettering would show that something is very, very wrong with that picture.

It is, in my opinion, the strongest form of blatant idolatry.

The Philadelphia Church of God seems to be on a mission of “raising the ruins” – physical ruins – of what is left of the Worldwide Church of God’s physical programs and assets.

While doing so, they store up treasures on Earth – and abandon “treasures in heaven”.

PCG has for a long time, focused (in my opinion) on mainly how to physically appear to be like the old WCG.

Relic acquisition among the Greco-Roman churches began in earnest in the fourth century.  Notice the following:

It appears that Helena was converted to Christianity when she was 63 years of age.  As though to compensate for the years before her conversion, she set out in the year 324 with great zeal and fervor to build churches, to restore and adorn older ones and to find precious relics…She was elevated by her son to the position of empress of the world and mistress of the empire (Cruz JC. Relics.  Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1984, p. 255).

…thanks to Emperor Constantine…his mother Saint Helena began a campaign to recover as many relics of Christianity as she could get her hands on (John Trigilio, Kenneth Brighenti. The Catholicism Answer Book: The 300 Most Frequently Asked Questions. Sourcebooks, Inc., 2007, p. 258).

Emperor Constantine I, appointed his mother Helen as Augusta, and gave her unlimited access to the imperial treasury in order to locate the relics of Judeo-Christian tradition. (Helena of Constantinople. Wikipedia, viewed 04/20/09)

It was mainly because of Constantine and Helena that the Greco-Roman churches adopted idols and icons for their churches.  The Bible itself warns that even using genuine relics can be a problem (2 Kings 18:4).

And while I do not believe that those in PCG will directly worship the bronze letters or other relics that have been acquired, I do believe that they will feel that their ownership proves (to many of them at least) that PCG is the correct church.

While I have nothing against attaining the letters per se, this announcement from PCG (combined with its earlier acquisitions) really does remind me of Emperor Constantine’s mother’s quest for relics and pictures in the fourth century.

Of course, until the fourth century, relics were avoided by most who professed Christ.  And while buying the bronze letters of itself does not prove idolatry, the pattern of PCG acquiring relics certainly suggests that its focus may be a bit too much on outward appearance and perhaps worse.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include the following:

Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which claims to be faithful.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

In his commentary today, GCI/WCG’s J. Tkach claimed:

Another Look at Repentance

Repentance is a cornerstone of Christian life, yet when it is misunderstood – as it often is – it can cause Christians to live with needless fear and doubt about their relationship with God.

The most common way to misunderstand repentance is to think that to repent is to stop sinning…

Repentance is not a behavior issue. It’s a faith, or trust, issue. Jesus has already done everything that needed to be done to restore humanity to a right relationship with God. There’s nothing we can add to that or take away from it. Repentance isn’t about promising to never sin again. It isn’t about striving to be a better person. Repentance is about believing God’s word of truth about who he is and who we are.

The world repentance, while it includes belief, does not mean “believe”.  The word believe means believe.

The Greek word normally translated as repentance (“met-an’-oy-ah”)  is defined to mean:

1) change one’s mind… 2) feel remorse, repent, be converted (Danker FW.  A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Christian Literature, 3rd ed. University of Chicago, 1979)

Repentance means to change.  And in a biblical perspective this means to change from a way of sinning to a way of striving to live God’s way of life. Notice that repentance DOES involve action:

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8).

47…repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations (Luke 24:47).

20…they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance (Acts 26:20).

God does not (and cannot) sin (1 John 3:9).  Christians should strive to be perfect as Jesus taught His followers to be (Matthew 5:48).

To teach repentance means that Christians do not need to do anything clearly contradicts scripture.  Those who believe the Bible will not be transformed from the truth and listen to what J.Tkach is teaching as it clearly is in conflict with scripture.

Although J. Tkach no longer teaches that Christians are to repent and keep the ten commandments, Jesus, Paul, and others had a different view.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the Living Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example?
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
Are the Ten Commandment Still in Effect? This article quotes the ten commandments and combines some of the previous articles into one article about the ten commandments. The commandments are shown at Mount Sinai, before Mount Sinai, in the teachings of Jesus, after the crucifixion, and in the teachings of Paul. It addresses the most common “traditions of men” regarding them as well.
Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? Many believe that the Pharisees were condemned for keeping the law, but what does your Bible say? If they were not condemned for that, what were they condemned for?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

As I expected, the anti-COG Ambassador Watch website finally announced that it will be shutting down:

AW comes to an end

This is the last posting to appear on AW. After more than eleven years – beginning with a very small website on Geocities, then moving into a fairly massive site under its own domain before finally being downsized into this blog – AW is bowing out.

The webmaster, Gavin Rumney, was once part of WCG and like many that fell away during the apostasy of the late 20th century, he became transformed away from the biblical truths of the COG.

Years ago, he once posted that he actually started the Ambassador Watch site essentially because he wanted to oppose me and the COGwriter site.

He spent a lot of time on matters he often brought up related to me in 2009, more so than in the few years prior.

One of the more unusual posts at the Ambassador Watch site about me happened on January 1, 2010 when Gavin Rumney posted the following:

Finally, AW’s Person of the Year.

[Drum roll]

An individual who in 2009 has dueled with talk-show hosts and created video clips to promote his new book, suffered silently the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune when his eminent qualifications were churlishly questioned, tirelessly defended the reputation of ad-man turned Apostle Herb Armstrong, and loyally promoted LCG through thick and thin despite ingratitude… [insert fanfare!] the most remarkable “Th.D” the Churches of God have ever produced, ladies and gentlemen… Dr. Bob Thiel.

I did not bother to report it here as Gavin was being quite sarcastic in the preceding statements and basically has allowed his commentators to post so many untrue statements about me, my writings, and my education, that dealing with them would likely only have driven his non-COG followers to make even more untrue statements about me.

I was disheartened throughout the years when he allowed people to post things about me that he knew were not true.  On the other hand, there were occasional times that Gavin and I did work on some matters behind the scenes and I did appreciate his willingness to sometimes remove certain offensive materials (probably 4-5 times in his eleven years of having the site) when I made some requests.

Now although Ambassador Watch is shutting down, since there are many anti-COG sites out there, it is likely that one will attempt to take Gavin Rumney’s place.  But irrespective of what the “accuser of the brethren” gets published on websites and other media, the true work of God, getting the gospel message out to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and other prophecies, will come to pass.

Good bye Gavin.  Stopping your site may end up helping you spiritually.  And I sincerely pray that it will.

Some articles of potentially related interest may include:

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.
How Much Did You Cost? Some have complained that the total costs spent to proclaim the gospel as a witness is too high since it does not (in their opinion) result in enough conversions. Is that how God sees it?
The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so.
Parable of the Mustard Seed Jesus told many parables. Why? What might this one mean?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.

Although it is no longer owned by any COG, those who were once affiliated with the old WCG were familiar with the old Ambassador campus. My wife and I were married in one of the buildings shown above.

COGwriter

The former Ambassador College campus is to change ownership again:

The Ambassador Campus has been bought by City Ventures, with escrow closing on January 31, 2010. They are the

fourth developer in 10 years to take on the development of one of the city’s largest open areas which has been a major

concern to neighboring residents. Construction is to begin early next year.

Pasadena Star News – Jan 8, 2010 http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_14152079

The physical assets of the old WCG helped the church reach world leaders with the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  It seems to have become a burden to those who have tried to develop the property since.

But the Gospel message will be proclaimed to the world  as it is not dependent upon physical assets.

Two articles of related interest may include:

The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.

COGwriter

The following news item should not be a considered as a surprise:

Canadian Christianity – Dec 22, 2009

No longer worldwide

Worldwide Church of God–Canada is in the process of changing its name to Grace Communion International-Canada. In a recent survey, Canadian congregations voted 60 percent to 20 percent in favour of the change. The US branch of the church made a similar change in 2009. The denomination was founded by radio preacher Herbert W. Armstrong in 1934 and was widely considered a cult at one time but has since become accepted as a mainstream evangelical denomination.

http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/091222briefs.html

The fact that the WCG of the USA earlier switched to GCI suggested that foreign affiliates would likely change their names as well.

Despite the fact that mainstream groups applaud WCG’s changes since the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, the reality is that the new GCI is no longer a real “Church of God” and the group that was led by the late HWA was.

COGwriter

GIC (formerly WCG) sent out an email yesterday announcing an article by its J. Tkach which stated:

Early in my Christian walk, I found the Christmas season annoying and irritating rather than inspiring and enjoyable. That’s because I believed Christmas was really a pagan holiday masquerading as Christian, and as such, God must hate it. I thought people who call themselves Christian but participate in such pagan revelry must disgust God.

But something the apostle Paul wrote gave me pause to reflect on my assumptions about Christmas, as well as Easter, another holiday I took for pagan debauchery. It’s in Philippians 1:15-18…So what does that have to do with Christmas? It showed me that when Christ is preached, that’s a good thing, regardless of the reasons or setting for it..The Christmas tree, which is an evergreen, symbolizes the everlasting life…

We don’t even avoid most of the things pagans did in worshipping their false gods, nor does God expect us to. Pagans don’t own December 25. That day belongs to God like every other day.

While pagans do not “own” any particular day, this does not mean that Christians should follow pagan worship practices.  J. Tkach seems to have overlooked certain biblical passages such as Jeremiah 10. Here are two translations of it:

Listen to the Message that God is sending your way, House of Israel. Listen most carefully:    “Don’t take the godless nations as your models.  Don’t be impressed by their glamour and glitz, no matter how much they’re impressed. The religion of these peoples is nothing but smoke. An idol is nothing but a tree chopped down, then shaped by a woodsman’s ax. They trim it with tinsel and balls, use hammer and nails to keep it upright.  It’s like a scarecrow in a cabbage patch—can’t talk!  Dead wood that has to be carried—can’t walk!  Don’t be impressed by such stuff. It’s useless for either good or evil… (Jeremiah 10:1-5, 11, The Message).

¹Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:  ²Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. ³For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. ⁴They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. ⁵They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good…¹¹Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens…Tell them this, ‘The stick gods who made nothing, neither sky nor earth, Will come to nothing on the earth and under the sky (Jeremiah 10:1-5, 11, KJV).

Note that God does NOT endose adding trees to worship of Him as the pagan do.  Nowhere in the Bible do we see anything that suggests that God’s people should decorate trees in honor of Jesus.  I should add that the in the passage in Philippians 1:15-18 that J. Tkach cited, Paul was saying that getting the MESSAGE out was good, even if the motivation was not.  But Paul did not say that it was fine to preach an inaccurate message about Jesus.  Notice that Paul actually Paul condemned those who preached a false, changed gospel:

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9, NKJV)

Christmas observance actually changes the focus of the gospel and it is NOT a day that the Bible suggests should be observed as the heathen once did.

This morning, in his latest commentary, LCG’s Wyatt Cieselka stated:

The Catholic Encyclopedia reveals: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts…” (vol. 3, pp. 724, 728).  Christmas was even briefly outlawed in Massachusetts in 1659 and in England in the mid 1600s as being unbiblical.

Understand.  Before Christmas was the Roman Saturnalia, upon which Christmas is founded.  Tertullian; considered an early Catholic church father, wrote that during the Saturnalia, presents were exchanged and “every pomp of the devil is frequented” (On Idolatry, circa 200 – 206 A.D.).

But, the Saturnalia was simply an adaptation of something earlier – Persian Mithraism.  As the Catholic Encyclopedia records: “In Mithraism, the highest god was Aion, Kronos, or Saturnus.  Saturnus; the name popularized by the Roman world, was no other than the ancient Iranian [Persian] god; Zervan (“Mithraism”).

The Romans eagerly adopted Mithraism in the form of the Saturnalia.  Emperor Diocletian built a temple to Mithra in Carnuntum, and “The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun” (ibid).

In Mithraism, the mid-winter festivals began with worship of Zervan, whose celebrations ended on December 24.  The celebrations then transitioned to worship the reborn Zervan as the newborn Mithras, the new Saturn, born on December 25 who brought back the sun after the winter-solstice (Mithras, the Secret God, M.J. Vermaseren).

The pagan god Zervan was depicted as a winged, part-human, part-lion figure.  Thus, we see that Zervan depicts angelic cherubim characteristics (2 Chronicles 3:13; Ezekiel 10:14).  Further, Zervan was typically accompanied by snakes wrapped around his legs, arms or body (The Mysteries of Mithra, by Franz Cumont, 1903, page 93).  Scripture reveals that Satan (formerly Lucifer) is a fallen cherub (Ezekiel 28:14-16), and is associated with the snake (Genesis 3:1-14; Revelation 20:2).

A righteous angel will not permit himself to be worshipped (Revelation 19:10; 22:9).  And Revelation 9:20 warns that idolaters are actually worshipping demons.  Clearly, the cherub who demands his worship at the winter-solstice is no righteous angel.  Whether calling himself Zervan, Saturn or another eponym, this deity is a proxy for no other than Satan, the fallen cherub!

But even the Roman Saturnalia and Persian Mithraism was an adaption of an even earlier mystery religion – the Babylonian mystery cult.  The ancient Babylonians celebrated the reborn Nimrod as the newborn Tammuz by worshipping an evergreen tree (now the common Christmas tree).  The Babylonians also celebrated this rebirth during the winter solstice.  Jeremiah condemns ancient Israel for copying this terrible paganism, and even specifically mentions the evergreen tree in Jeremiah 3:13.

Regardless of fond memories or whether “everyone does it,” a true Christian will reject Christmas, not only because of the commercialism, the pagan influence, and the impossibility of Jesus being born mid-winter, but more fundamentally because Christ refuses to have any part with idolatry (2 Corinthians 6:15-16).  Christ was never part of Christmas and He will not be “put back” in Christmas.

God commands us to “learn not the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah 10:2, KJV), reveals that pagan celebrations are abominations to Him (Jeremiah 10:3-4; Ezekiel 8:13-14), and tells us to not change what was taught through Christ and the Apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15).  Once this truth is understood, a true Christian will shudder at the idea of celebrating Christmas, realizing that these winter solstice celebrations are indeed Satan’s celebrations.

To learn more, watch the powerful Tomorrow’s World telecasts, Origins of Christmas and Insight into Christmas, or read the insightful article “What is Hidden by the Holidays.”

I realize that most people who celebrate Christmas believe that this a good and biblically proper thing to do.  However, if they looked more into this, I believe that most would realize that Christmas observance actually detracts from the message of the Bible and encourages compromise with traditions of men.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?

COGwriter

In his weekly update, WCG/GCI’s J. Tkach wrote:

Jesus once asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered boldly, “You are the Christ.” But then Peter immediately showed that he had no idea what being the Christ was all about. Mark 8:31 tells us,

“Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.”

So Jesus had to rebuke Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Jesus came to take human sin and its consequences upon himself, to free humanity from the bondage of sin and restore us to a right relationship with God and one another, and doing that involved condemnation and death, followed by resurrection and ascension to the Father.

To follow him is not a path to national glory and power, nor to ease and prosperity, but a life of self-sacrificial love. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” Jesus told Peter.

All of us must face the question, “Who is Jesus?”

And that part of the update is correct: Jesus was the Christ.

J. Tkach’s article was fairly short, and here are some scriptures that I believe help explain a bit more about who Jesus was:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1-3, NKJV).

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

Christ Jesus, who subsisting in (the) form of God thought (it) not robbery to be equal to God, but emptied Himself, taking (the) form of a slave, becoming in (the) likeness of men” (Literal translation. Green J.P. ed. Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 3rd ed. Baker Books, Grand Rapids (MI), 1996, p. 607). Note that “emptied Himself” is the literal translation in the Greek (the Roman Catholic Church also teaches that Jesus “emptied Himself”–see Catechism of the Catholic Church, #461. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 129).

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved…(John 3:16-17, NKJV)

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world (1 John 4:14, NKJV).

Jesus had been God, but emptied Himself of His divinity to live as a human.  The Father sent Him as savior to die for the sins of all humanity.  This is something that He did not have to do, but chose to do because of love for humanity.

That’s who Jesus was.

Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12), and Jesus is love as the Father is love (1 John 4:7). He now intercedes for humanity as the “one mediator” (1 Timothy 2:5).  That is who Jesus is.

Jesus will come again, but in glory, and will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) and of His Kingdom there will be no end.  And it will be a Kingdom of love with no more pain or sorrow (Revelation 21:4). That is what He will do in the future.

More on Jesus can be found in the articles:

Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?

COGwriter

GIC (formerly WCG) sent out an email to an article by its J. Tkach which stated:

Perfect Atonement

In ancient Israel, as well as in Judaism today, the greatest of the holy days was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

It was the day that gathered up the worship of every other day. The high priest would stand before the people as their divinely appointed representative, bearing the names of all of the twelve tribes engraved on his breastplate and shoulders.

He would perform the rituals of animal sacrifice using the blood of a bull and a goat, and as the representative of every Israelite, confess the sins of the whole nation.

Only on this one day each year the high priest, and only the high priest, after performing special rituals for his own cleansing and self-consecration, would enter the most holy and sacred chamber of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, on behalf of all Israel, praying for the people and sprinkling the sacrificial blood for all their sins.

The New Testament writers saw this sacred ceremony as the foreshadowing of the atoning work of Jesus Christ, who came from God as the true High Priest, our perfect representative and substitute, in solidarity with all humanity, bearing the names of all people throughout all times.

And I would tend to agree with him on these points.

Perhaps I should add that J. Tkach (and the church he leads), while retaining some knowledge of the Day of Atonement, no longer observes it like those in the New Testament did.

To learn more about the meaning and observation of the Day of Atonement, please read the article The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance.