Ang Dating Daan - TV Program Segments

A pleasant day to all, especially to our followers from other countries! In our conversation to as many people in the chat room via the internet, we have been getting all sorts of reactions from them. While there are some who are accusing us of being crazy, there are also some who are praising us for reading the Bible as truthfully as it should be. Others are angry with us, but there are also some who appreciate what we do. It is practically the same kind of feedback that we get from our audience here in the Philippines. They tell us that we rather preach our doctrines instead of attacking the beliefs and practices of other religious denominations. But to recall, we have read last time from the Scriptures that the law is good when it is used lawfully. Let us read I Timothy 1:8 again--

“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.”

We know that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully. We will illustrate this citation by giving you an example. We know that medicine is good if it is used rightly. But if we do not know its proper use, if we do not know the right dosage, it will only pose danger to the body. You see, the dosage of a medicine is in accordance to several factors like the weight and the age of the patient. But if you do not know the right prescription to a medicine, although it is medicine, it may become a poison to the patient. It will be damaging to the health of the patient if it is given not in accordance to the prescription of the doctor, or of the chemist who formulated the medicine. In the same manner that God admonishes us to use the Bible rightly. II Timothy 2:15 it reads--

“A workman that needeth not to be ashamed must rightfully divide the word of truth.”

But how do we follow this admonition? A workman, a Christian worker, has to show himself approved unto God, rightfully dividing the word of truth, and rightfully using the word of truth. You see, the Bible was written for a particular intent. Unfortunately, some of the Born Again preachers, as well as the other Protestant movements, do not understand the admonition in II Tim. The very purpose of the Scripture is this: II Timothy 3:15 it reads--

“And that from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, he is fully equipped with every good works.”

Some translations say, “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Therefore, the Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine. How are we going to use the Scriptures? We are going to use the Scriptures for doctrine, for reproof, and take note, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. Actually, many Born Again groups accuse us that we do not love them because we criticize their doctrines, their wrong way of dealing with their members, and their mistakes in using the Bible. But according to St. Paul, the Bible, or the Scriptures, can be used for reproof, for correction, and for instruction to righteousness. What is wrong when you call the attention of people who are using the Bible incorrectly? Like what we cited last time, there are pastors, or ministers, who connect the instructions from the Old Testament with the instructions in the New Testament. They use the Law of Moses in instructing the Christians. Preachers must always be cautious and meticulous in teaching commandments to their members. For example, the giving of tithes was commandment of God to the Israelites. These tithes, or the ten percent, which must be collected from the eleven tribes of Israel would be given to the Levites for their subsistence. That is clearly recorded in Hebrew 7:5. But pastors today teach this commandment to their members. While they are pretending to be Christians, they are teaching their members the laws of Moses. That is why in Acts 13:39, the Bible says that this practice, which is still being observed until now by Born Again pastors and other Protestant ministers, is unlawful. Why? Acts 13:39 it reads--

“And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

We cannot attain justification by our adherence to the Law of Moses. There are people who use the Bible as they wish to use it, but they do not follow God’s simple instruction on how to rightfully use it. Let us not forget what I Tim. 1:8 says, that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully. Medicine is good. It helps the sick if it is used according to the prescription of a knowledgeable doctor or chemist. That is the same with the Bible. If the Bible is used, not in accordance to the prescription, although it contains the word of God, meant for our salvation, it may work otherwise. That is, if it is not used in accordance to the instructions of the Lord. In fact, it was logically noted by the Apostle Peter that, the very stone, which can mean salvation to those who believe, can also serve as a stumbling block for those who do not believe. I Peter 2:6-8 it reads--

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

That very stone is Christ our Lord, himself. It is a stone that is very precious. It is a chief corner stone, a foundation of the believers for them to be saved. But for the disobedient and for those who do not believe, that precious stone for the believers will serve as a stumbling block and a rock of offence. The same thing is true with the Bible. When the Bible is used in a way God wants man to use it, it will serve as an instrument of salvation to those who believe. But if it is used in a way the pastor wants it to be used, if it is used not in accordance to the will of God, it will serve as a stumbling block. It will serve as an offence to those who do not believe, and its misuse will also be the reason why they will not be saved. It is very important that we know how the Scriptures must be used rightfully, according to God’s prescription. But how do we use the Scriptures in searching for the truth? Of course, we are all looking for the truth, and nobody can deny that the Bible contains the truth, because the truth is the word of God. And the Bible contains the word of God. However, we are not saying that everything that is contained in the Bible is true. There are also lies in the Bible because it also contains the words of satan, the adversary of God. Aside from that, it also contains the words of the blessed angels and the words of the demons; the Bible contains the words of an unbelieving person and also the words of a believing person. The Bible is a collection of events, good and bad, that have happened in the past of man’s service to God. That is why it is not impossible for you to see contradictions in the Bible. We believe that the truth is in the Bible because the truth is the word of God. John 17:17 it reads --

“Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.”

That is according to the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. The word of God is truth. And that truth is what we are looking for in the Scriptures. We are not looking for the name of Peter’s mother-in-law; we are not looking for the name of the wife of Cain. No! What we are looking for is the truth, and that is the word of God – the truth that can sanctify us. There are many kinds of truth: the truth about the Pentagon, the truth about the Watergate scandals, the truth about Ferdinand Marcos and his family and his governance, the truth about Nora Aunor, the truth about Superman, and the truth about the exterminator. There are so many truths in this world. But there is a truth which solely belongs to God, and that is the truth that sanctifies a man. Now, how are we going to seek for the truth in the Bible? How are we going to use the Bible in our search for the truth? Isaiah 34:16 it reads--

“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord.”

See? “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord.” There is a book of the Lord, and that is the Bible. Since time immemorial, every believing Christian has acknowledged the Bible as the book of the Lord. It is the holy book; it is the Holy Scriptures. And it is the book of the Lord, written for the people of God. The commandment says, we must seek out of the book of the Lord. But we must understand first what we are seeking. What are we going to seek? Let us ask the Lord. Matthew 6:33 it reads--

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”

What are we going to seek from the book of the Lord? “Seek ye the kingdom and the righteousness of God." Therefore, our priority is to seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God. Where are we going to seek them? The instruction is very clear: Isaiah 34:16 it reads--

“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read.”

He did not say “interpret it”. It’s a different thing. Seeking and reading the truth from the Bible is different from interpreting it. But some people read the Bible to interpret it. Some people read the Bible as a basis for their storytelling session. There is one pastor in the Philippines whom we know you are familiar with, and this pastor takes one verse from the Bible, writes it in an index card and brings that index card with him in the pulpit. And then he does his three hours of blabber using that one verse as his basis in delivering a very long story that he wants to convey to members, while the members seem to be delighted to hear those make-believe stories. They were nothing but fantasies.

The Bible says, “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord.” And what are we going to seek from the book of the Lord? We have to search for God’s righteousness and God’s kingdom. The righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel, in the book of the Lord. And according to the instruction, we have to read. We are going to seek for its meaning, or interpretation, from the Bible itself. In fact, if you are going to read Isaiah 34:16 again, it reads,

“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read. No one of these shall fail.”

That is a wonderful assurance to a person of faith: None of these books shall fail. And I have experienced it myself. By trusting this book, by trusting this message from the Lord, I have proven that none of them really failed. And according to the Bible, “…none shall want her mate for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it gathered them.” It is clearly written, “none shall want her mate.” Everything is there in the Bible. We do not have to consult the World History books, like what the Iglesia ni Cristo of Mr. Manalo is doing. They read a verse from the Bible and derive its interpretation from a World History book. These people mislead other people.

Would Bible commentaries, published by various authors, help in searching for the kingdom of God? I don’t think so! You see, the prescription came from the Lord Himself. We have to seek it out of the book of the Lord. Would you consider those Bible commentaries as part of the book of the Lord? Would you consider the Book of Mormons, which was fabricated by Joseph Smith, a false prophet, a part of the Holy Scriptures? Of course, not! Those things simply mislead people. I actually have read one. I bought Books I and II for 5,000 pesos, but after reading about four or five pages, I felt very disappointed. Why? According to its commentary, when God said, “Go ye and multiply and replenish the earth,” it means that, a destruction had taken place; there was chaos, so it has to be replenished. Therefore, it was not a creation, but a re-creation. And so, Adam was not the first creation, because there were already others who had lived before Adam, and the author called it the pre-Adamic race.

You can just imagine what kind of invention that book was. That was why I was very disgusted, so I did not continue reading the commentary anymore because it defies what the Bible says. The Bible says, “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord,” and those commentaries on the Scriptures are not a part of the book of the Lord. “… and read.” Read where? From the book of the Lord. That is the prescription. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord; read the book of the Lord. Do not refer to World History books. That is not right. Other books will not help. The verse said, “None shall want her mate.” None of these books shall want her mate, because these books are complete. They came from God. The complete scenario of salvation is clearly written in the Scriptures. None is wanting. And I will prove to you that the Bible is complete. How? I will answer all queries and questions of faith from the Bible. I will not use other books in teaching the Scriptures, except the Holy Scriptures itself.

How should somebody, who is just beginning to search for the truth, use the Bible rightfully? Should he enroll in a seminary or in a Bible school to learn the truth? No! That will mean an outright defiance to what Christ said in Matthew 11:28, it reads--

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.”

He said, “learn of me.” From whom are we going to learn the truth? We have to learn it from Jesus, not from a seminary. And we are inviting all our listeners in our webcast; let us learn it from Jesus. We will be a small instrument in telling you that the truth in the Bible is not wanting. The truth in the Bible is complete. The Bible gives us the complete doctrine to salvation. According to the Lord, none shall want her mate. For example, Genesis 3:1 mentions of a “serpent” – a serpent that speaks, a serpent that enticed the first woman, but which is that serpent? The Bible said, “seek ye out of the book of the Lord.” Therefore, if you read the “serpent” from the Bible, you also have to look for its meaning from the Bible. What does that serpent signify? Who is that serpent? Why did he speak with Eve? Why did he entice Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? There are answers to all these questions, and they can all be found in the Bible. You do not have to consult the dictionary, because the Bible is a dictionary in itself. It explains itself. You neither have to consult a World History book. That will only mislead you. If you are going to read the history of the Assyrian Empire, you will not come across any King Sargon. But the Bible speaks of a King Sargon, and it was proven by archeology that the Bible is more exact than the history of the Assyrian empire itself. Although the Bible is not basically a history book, its discussion of history is more reliable than the history recorded by man.

We will continue with our discussion on this topic next time. How are we going to use the Bible rightfully and lawfully in the sight of the Lord? Thank you very much.



The Rightful and Lawful Manner of Using the Bible (1st Part)

A pleasant day to all, especially to our followers from other countries! In our conversation to as many people in the chat room via the internet, we have been getting all sorts of reactions from them. While there are some who are accusing us of being crazy, there are also some who are praising us for reading the Bible as truthfully as it should be. Others are angry with us, but there are also some who appreciate what we do. It is practically the same kind of feedback that we get from our audience here in the Philippines. They tell us that we rather preach our doctrines instead of attacking the beliefs and practices of other religious denominations. But to recall, we have read last time from the Scriptures that the law is good when it is used lawfully. Let us read I Timothy 1:8 again-- “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.” We know that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully. We will illustrate this citation by giving you an example. We know that medicine is good if it is used rightly. But if we do not know its proper use, if we do not know the right dosage, it will only pose danger to the body. You see, the dosage of a medicine is in accordance to several factors like the weight and the age of the patient. But if you do not know the right prescription to a medicine, although it is medicine, it may become a poison to the patient. It will be damaging to the health of the patient if it is given not in accordance to the prescription of the doctor, or of the chemist who formulated the medicine. In the same manner that God admonishes us to use the Bible rightly. II Timothy 2:15 it reads-- “A workman that needeth not to be ashamed must rightfully divide the word of truth.” But how do we follow this admonition? A workman, a Christian worker, has to show himself approved unto God, rightfully dividing the word of truth, and rightfully using the word of truth. You see, the Bible was written for a particular intent. Unfortunately, some of the Born Again preachers, as well as the other Protestant movements, do not understand the admonition in II Tim. The very purpose of the Scripture is this: II Timothy 3:15 it reads-- “And that from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, he is fully equipped with every good works.” Some translations say, “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Therefore, the Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine. How are we going to use the Scriptures? We are going to use the Scriptures for doctrine, for reproof, and take note, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. Actually, many Born Again groups accuse us that we do not love them because we criticize their doctrines, their wrong way of dealing with their members, and their mistakes in using the Bible. But according to St. Paul, the Bible, or the Scriptures, can be used for reproof, for correction, and for instruction to righteousness. What is wrong when you call the attention of people who are using the Bible incorrectly? Like what we cited last time, there are pastors, or ministers, who connect the instructions from the Old Testament with the instructions in the New Testament. They use the Law of Moses in instructing the Christians. Preachers must always be cautious and meticulous in teaching commandments to their members. For example, the giving of tithes was commandment of God to the Israelites. These tithes, or the ten percent, which must be collected from the eleven tribes of Israel would be given to the Levites for their subsistence. That is clearly recorded in Hebrew 7:5. But pastors today teach this commandment to their members. While they are pretending to be Christians, they are teaching their members the laws of Moses. That is why in Acts 13:39, the Bible says that this practice, which is still being observed until now by Born Again pastors and other Protestant ministers, is unlawful. Why? Acts 13:39 it reads-- “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” We cannot attain justification by our adherence to the Law of Moses. There are people who use the Bible as they wish to use it, but they do not follow God’s simple instruction on how to rightfully use it. Let us not forget what I Tim. 1:8 says, that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully. Medicine is good. It helps the sick if it is used according to the prescription of a knowledgeable doctor or chemist. That is the same with the Bible. If the Bible is used, not in accordance to the prescription, although it contains the word of God, meant for our salvation, it may work otherwise. That is, if it is not used in accordance to the instructions of the Lord. In fact, it was logically noted by the Apostle Peter that, the very stone, which can mean salvation to those who believe, can also serve as a stumbling block for those who do not believe. I Peter 2:6-8 it reads-- "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” That very stone is Christ our Lord, himself. It is a stone that is very precious. It is a chief corner stone, a foundation of the believers for them to be saved. But for the disobedient and for those who do not believe, that precious stone for the believers will serve as a stumbling block and a rock of offence. The same thing is true with the Bible. When the Bible is used in a way God wants man to use it, it will serve as an instrument of salvation to those who believe. But if it is used in a way the pastor wants it to be used, if it is used not in accordance to the will of God, it will serve as a stumbling block. It will serve as an offence to those who do not believe, and its misuse will also be the reason why they will not be saved. It is very important that we know how the Scriptures must be used rightfully, according to God’s prescription. But how do we use the Scriptures in searching for the truth? Of course, we are all looking for the truth, and nobody can deny that the Bible contains the truth, because the truth is the word of God. And the Bible contains the word of God. However, we are not saying that everything that is contained in the Bible is true. There are also lies in the Bible because it also contains the words of satan, the adversary of God. Aside from that, it also contains the words of the blessed angels and the words of the demons; the Bible contains the words of an unbelieving person and also the words of a believing person. The Bible is a collection of events, good and bad, that have happened in the past of man’s service to God. That is why it is not impossible for you to see contradictions in the Bible. We believe that the truth is in the Bible because the truth is the word of God. John 17:17 it reads -- “Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.” That is according to the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. The word of God is truth. And that truth is what we are looking for in the Scriptures. We are not looking for the name of Peter’s mother-in-law; we are not looking for the name of the wife of Cain. No! What we are looking for is the truth, and that is the word of God – the truth that can sanctify us. There are many kinds of truth: the truth about the Pentagon, the truth about the Watergate scandals, the truth about Ferdinand Marcos and his family and his governance, the truth about Nora Aunor, the truth about Superman, and the truth about the exterminator. There are so many truths in this world. But there is a truth which solely belongs to God, and that is the truth that sanctifies a man. Now, how are we going to seek for the truth in the Bible? How are we going to use the Bible in our search for the truth? Isaiah 34:16 it reads-- “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord.” See? “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord.” There is a book of the Lord, and that is the Bible. Since time immemorial, every believing Christian has acknowledged the Bible as the book of the Lord. It is the holy book; it is the Holy Scriptures. And it is the book of the Lord, written for the people of God. The commandment says, we must seek out of the book of the Lord. But we must understand first what we are seeking. What are we going to seek? Let us ask the Lord. Matthew 6:33 it reads-- “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” What are we going to seek from the book of the Lord? “Seek ye the kingdom and the righteousness of God." Therefore, our priority is to seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God. Where are we going to seek them? The instruction is very clear: Isaiah 34:16 it reads-- “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read.” He did not say “interpret it”. It’s a different thing. Seeking and reading the truth from the Bible is different from interpreting it. But some people read the Bible to interpret it. Some people read the Bible as a basis for their storytelling session. There is one pastor in the Philippines whom we know you are familiar with, and this pastor takes one verse from the Bible, writes it in an index card and brings that index card with him in the pulpit. And then he does his three hours of blabber using that one verse as his basis in delivering a very long story that he wants to convey to members, while the members seem to be delighted to hear those make-believe stories. They were nothing but fantasies. The Bible says, “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord.” And what are we going to seek from the book of the Lord? We have to search for God’s righteousness and God’s kingdom. The righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel, in the book of the Lord. And according to the instruction, we have to read. We are going to seek for its meaning, or interpretation, from the Bible itself. In fact, if you are going to read Isaiah 34:16 again, it reads, “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read. No one of these shall fail.” That is a wonderful assurance to a person of faith: None of these books shall fail. And I have experienced it myself. By trusting this book, by trusting this message from the Lord, I have proven that none of them really failed. And according to the Bible, “…none shall want her mate for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it gathered them.” It is clearly written, “none shall want her mate.” Everything is there in the Bible. We do not have to consult the World History books, like what the Iglesia ni Cristo of Mr. Manalo is doing. They read a verse from the Bible and derive its interpretation from a World History book. These people mislead other people. Would Bible commentaries, published by various authors, help in searching for the kingdom of God? I don’t think so! You see, the prescription came from the Lord Himself. We have to seek it out of the book of the Lord. Would you consider those Bible commentaries as part of the book of the Lord? Would you consider the Book of Mormons, which was fabricated by Joseph Smith, a false prophet, a part of the Holy Scriptures? Of course, not! Those things simply mislead people. I actually have read one. I bought Books I and II for 5,000 pesos, but after reading about four or five pages, I felt very disappointed. Why? According to its commentary, when God said, “Go ye and multiply and replenish the earth,” it means that, a destruction had taken place; there was chaos, so it has to be replenished. Therefore, it was not a creation, but a re-creation. And so, Adam was not the first creation, because there were already others who had lived before Adam, and the author called it the pre-Adamic race. You can just imagine what kind of invention that book was. That was why I was very disgusted, so I did not continue reading the commentary anymore because it defies what the Bible says. The Bible says, “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord,” and those commentaries on the Scriptures are not a part of the book of the Lord. “… and read.” Read where? From the book of the Lord. That is the prescription. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord; read the book of the Lord. Do not refer to World History books. That is not right. Other books will not help. The verse said, “None shall want her mate.” None of these books shall want her mate, because these books are complete. They came from God. The complete scenario of salvation is clearly written in the Scriptures. None is wanting. And I will prove to you that the Bible is complete. How? I will answer all queries and questions of faith from the Bible. I will not use other books in teaching the Scriptures, except the Holy Scriptures itself. How should somebody, who is just beginning to search for the truth, use the Bible rightfully? Should he enroll in a seminary or in a Bible school to learn the truth? No! That will mean an outright defiance to what Christ said in Matthew 11:28, it reads-- “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” He said, “learn of me.” From whom are we going to learn the truth? We have to learn it from Jesus, not from a seminary. And we are inviting all our listeners in our webcast; let us learn it from Jesus. We will be a small instrument in telling you that the truth in the Bible is not wanting. The truth in the Bible is complete. The Bible gives us the complete doctrine to salvation. According to the Lord, none shall want her mate. For example, Genesis 3:1 mentions of a “serpent” – a serpent that speaks, a serpent that enticed the first woman, but which is that serpent? The Bible said, “seek ye out of the book of the Lord.” Therefore, if you read the “serpent” from the Bible, you also have to look for its meaning from the Bible. What does that serpent signify? Who is that serpent? Why did he speak with Eve? Why did he entice Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? There are answers to all these questions, and they can all be found in the Bible. You do not have to consult the dictionary, because the Bible is a dictionary in itself. It explains itself. You neither have to consult a World History book. That will only mislead you. If you are going to read the history of the Assyrian Empire, you will not come across any King Sargon. But the Bible speaks of a King Sargon, and it was proven by archeology that the Bible is more exact than the history of the Assyrian empire itself. Although the Bible is not basically a history book, its discussion of history is more reliable than the history recorded by man. We will continue with our discussion on this topic next time. How are we going to use the Bible rightfully and lawfully in the sight of the Lord? Thank you very much.

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