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THE RIGHT TO REBEL

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  THE RIGHT TO REBEL Christians are commanded in the NT to submit to the authorities, and declares that they exist by God’s will. (Romans 13:1-2; Titus 3:2; 1Peter 2:13). And this becomes even more peculiar, when we consider that by the time these epistles were written, the times fall within Nero and Domitian (55 to 81CE), known enemies of Christianity and Judaism. But are we supposed to submit to all authorities under any circumstance? GOD THE SURPREME AUTHORITY Parallel to this principle, the Bible also teaches that we must obey God before men (Acts 4:19; 5:29). This is based on the premise, that God’s authority is the source of any other authority in the Universe, and obedience to God is above obedience to any other authority on Earth. Interestingly, Paul also recommends to solve our legal problems within ourselves rather than appealing to the secular systems of Justice or government, declaring that if we, the believers in Christ, will judge Angels, what would be the r
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THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN BODY

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  THE SACREDNESS OF THE BODY The Bible teaches that humans were made in God’s ‘Image and Likeness’ (Genesis 1:26). ‘Likeness’ is the group of faculties that are reflection of God’s natural abilities, like the faculty to create, govern, organize, learn, love, morality, etc. These faculties were not given to any other creature in our creation, except humans, the only ones created ‘in the Likeness’ of God. The Hebrew בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ ( Be sal menu), which we translate as ‘In our Image’, it is based in the word   צֶלֶם ( Tselem), which literally means ‘Resemblance or Image’, in a corporeal sense. Since ancient times, the word ‘Tselem’ has been used to denote physical appearance, among the Hebrews. Stories like in Exodus 33:17-23; where Moses sees the back of God but not his face; or the time when Lord God YHWH, the Father, comes and has lunch with Abraham in the region of Mamre (Genesis 18:1) and even when God appears to Adam and Even in a physical manner in Eden (Genesis 3:8); denote
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JESUS's FIRST APPARITION

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  JESUS FIRST APPARITION 36As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “PEACE TO YOU!” 37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38And he said to them, “WHY ARE YOU TROUBLED, AND WHY DO DOUBTS ARISE IN YOUR HEARTS? 39SEE MY HANDS AND MY FEET, THAT IT IS I MYSELF. TOUCH ME, AND SEE. FOR A SPIRIT DOES NOT HAVE FLESH AND BONES AS YOU SEE THAT I HAVE.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “HAVE YOU ANYTHING HERE TO EAT?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate before them. 44Then he said to them, “THESE ARE MY WORDS THAT I SPOKE TO YOU WHILE I WAS STILL WITH YOU, THAT EVERYTHING WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE PROPHETS AND THE PSALMS MUST BE FULFILLED.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, “THUS IT IS WRITTEN, TH
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GOF's FORGIVENESS

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  THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD The Bible teaches that ‘without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness’, speaking about the necessity of offering of Jesus blood for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). It is also said that this necessity of atonement for sinfulness and imperfection is born from the supreme perfection of the divinity, which cannot be compromised or modified to accept any variant that is not sheer perfection and holiness (1Peter 1:15-16), which necessarily demands payment for sins, as well as reward for virtue. Considering these two things, the thought arises, that God never really ‘forgave us’, but only judicially absolved us in virtue of the payment received from Jesus on our behalf. If this is correct, that alters all our conception of God, from being a loving forgiving Father, to be a strict Supreme Judge who is either unable or refuses to forgive anyone, since real forgiveness is giving in exchange of nothing, otherwise it is not ‘forgiveness’, but retrib
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THE FAITH OF THOMAS

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  THE FAITH OF THOMAS  19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “PEACE BE WITH YOU.” 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “PEACE BE WITH YOU. AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, EVEN SO I AM SENDING YOU.” 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. 23IF YOU FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM; IF YOU WITHHOLD FORGIVENESS FROM ANY, IT IS WITHHELD.” 24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26Eight days later,
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DOES GOD PUNISH SINNERS TODAY?

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  DOES GOD PUNISH SINNERS TODAY? It is a question that comes to mind in many new Christians, and that is answered in different ways. Some think that God does not punish, not only because it is against his perfect loving nature, but also because now we are living under the alliance of Grace (John 1:17; Romans 6:14); in other words, God is obligated to endure human sinfulness with patience until the time of Judgement comes. Others think the opposite. They consider that God does punish people on Earth who are stubborn in their practice of sin, since He is almighty and alone can decide when to punish and when to be lenient. GOD’s PERFECT NATURE Firstly, we must understand the nature of God. God is the maximum perfection in the universe. Any other kind of beauty and harmony, emanates as a created reflection of the eternal beauty and harmony of God’s nature, and so with other virtues, and knowledge and goodness in the universe, at all levels. And one of them is Justice. As Supr
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THE RESURRECCTION OF JESUS - MATTHEW 28:1-10

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  THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS – MATTHEW 28:1-10 1Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his f
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