Written By Thomas Perez. January 2, 2009 at 9:32PM. Copyright 2009.
Article 1
Holy Writings
1. I believe there are many inspired writings of God. The term inspiration means one who is moved, stirred, and/or enlightened. Inspirations usually take the form of a movement or revelation – normally taking place during a sociological and cultural revolution of spirit. Moreover, the Word of God; be it the Scriptures, the Qur’an, the Vedic texts, or any other works of Holy Writ all reveal many virtuous principles in which we can all aspire to. But they also contain the unpleasant – that which we would reject as morally and ethically wrong and improper today. Holy writings are to be considered a guideline for a practical rule of faith. A practice for the believer. And therefore, all questionable material on caste systems, violence and/or terror; whether found in the Scriptures, the Qur’an, Vedic texts, or any other texts for that matter, should be omitted. They have no practical purpose in today’s society. Nevertheless, they should be archived for historical purposes only. Never to be dug up again for belief purposes.
Article 2
God/Deism
I believe there is but one Supreme Lord God and no other. I believe God is called by many names and titles. God is called our Father, El, Spirit, Allah, Son, Brahma and many other names. God see’s the heart of man and judges accordingly, but God’s judgments are corrective with the goal of reconciliation. God’s love is everlasting/eternal.
Article 3
Christology
1. I believe this one Lord God, who is called the Word of God, the Logos, became flesh and spoke in different manners in the past. I believe this Logos became flesh once again and dwelt among us as ‘the Son of the living God’ ‘the Son of Man. The latest incarnation was, and is, through the person of Jesus Christ. Christ is divine. The human nature of Christ was conceived by man. it is also divine. Christ had no beginning and no end. The Human nature of Christ was born of the woman, hence becoming ‘the Son of Man’ made subject under God and the angels.
2. I believe having become incarnate, the Word, the Logos, literally became the God-Man again in time. Moreover, the divine nature of Father, Brahma, Allah, Son, Holy Spirit, Lord, King, Spirit, Creator of Hosts, all that God is (titles, attributes, and character) and the entire Godhead was and is in Christ. Christ fulfills all Avatars, incarnations and promises. Christ is one body. Christ is without sin.
3. I believe this God-Man literally fulfilled the work of redemption, propitiation and salvation for the Jews, Christian Jews, Gentiles and for anyone today who believes they need a sacrifice for sin. This concept of faith and historical fact was provided for them, and us, in the person of Christ Jesus; thus becoming our Saviour as well, through the sacrificial offering of Himself. Having fulfilled His earthly ministry at that particular time, He rose from the dead physically and ascended into Heaven where He is now making intercession on our behalf.
Article 4
Phenomenology
1. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the Eternal God Almighty. The Spirit is the power in which God moves. God is Spirit. God is to be worshipped in spirit and truth. The Spirit is the same power that created the Hosts of Heaven. The Spirit is the same power that produced the incarnations of our Lord, the Christ. The Spirit is the power that convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment of birth, realized at conversional salvation. The Spirit is never to leave us.
2. I believe the Spirit is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be led by the Spirit, thus practicing it’s fruits.
Article 5
Soteriology
1. I believe salvation is a concept. For some salvation is the state of being united with God through a provided sacrifice, namely Jesus’ sacrifice. Salvation for some is a concept received through alms, fastings, good works, sacraments, wisdom, meditations or knowledge. For others, there is no need for salvation. It has been provided for through various methods, especially with in the New Testament Gospel message. However I believe we are in need of what best suits us individually.
2. I also believe that if one is to believe in the concept of salvation, then that salvation should not be bought, peddled or earned. One can not buy or earn their salvation. It is a gift.
3. The need is real. Sin is real by nature and choice. And since it is real, then the concept of salvation becomes almost imperative. However, I also believe that if the concept of salvation is real, then it is ms-understood. The gift of salvation is given to all, saints & sinners alike. It is what man decides to do with that salvation, as in believing it or rejecting it, in this age that matters the most. Nevertheless and notwithstanding. Humanity is already saved and redeemed. Humanity just doesn’t realize it.
Therefore, God sends the evangel to declare the message of salvation. The elect receive the first fruits of this salvation, or inheritance, through our various religions and faiths in Christ, who has chosen and called us, the Body, to a higher calling by a pre-ordained will to believe in Christ in the first place. But this higher calling and election must be realized by all Humanity everywhere and by every individual, since election is not contingent upon a select few.
4. Although Christ has reconciled the world unto Himself for Believers and non-believers alike, the actions of the unbeliever who has been given the free gift of reconciliation would indicate as to what he or she did with it. As the Evangel, we should continue to steer people in the right direction. And this includes preaching against the ego, immorality, greed, lust, hate, etc. For if we do not these things, how can one learn to do that which is righteous?
5. I also believe, based upon the studies and research I have discovered and performed, that if there are to be punitive punishments and judgments from God, they are to be given as corrective chastisements. All writings of Holy Writ reveal this to be the case. God is a refiners fire. The very idea of refinement is to make something clean, whole, pure, etc. Such is the fate of those who reject the free salvation given them. The duration of such, I can not tell, nor can I tell the method (fires, God’s presence, etc) though I tend to favor the latter (presence) only God knoweth. These are the fires of purification.
One might accuse me of purgatorial teachings, but that is simply not the case. The doctrine of purgatory along with the doctrine of hell fire are intermingled and pagan in origin. What I am speaking of here is a purification by God, where God pronounces everyone whole and pure through the merits of Christ’s manifestations. However, let me also stress that this belief is an opinion of mine and others who have come before me. But it is one that I can hope for and have faith in.
Hebrews 11:6, Quote – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” – Unquote. One can have faith in the doctrine of eternal punishment, but they can never hope for it. But one can have faith in the doctrine of the Ultimate Reconciliation of all men/woman and can indeed hope for its truth with all their hearts. Therefore, that is the better faith of the two according to my conscience.
Article 6
The Universal Body
1. I believe in what is called ‘The Universal Body’ which is made up of the entire Body of Christ (the espoused Bride), from the dawn of man to Pentecost, the Body of Christ is old and universal. It incorporates all who believed by choice and those who believed by God’s will – as in his election of all men everywhere. From the time of the ancients, just after creation, up to the establishment of many today; all are/and will be included. This Universal Body is made up of every individual from different parts of the world. The Head of this Universal Body is Christ, ‘the Rock’ on which the Universal Body is built upon and no other.
2. I also believe this Universal Body is also made up of different distinct faiths and local groups of congregational temples, churches, synagogues and mosques.
3. Most importantly, I believe no pastor, elder, teacher, deacon, rabbi, guru, imam, alim or alimah should ever go against the conscience of an individual – meaning that if a person decides, for some reason, to leave the settings of a local group, then that affair is entirely between them and God. Perhaps, such individuals may have a different calling upon their lives. We should not limit the saints to everything that should be done only to a local group (as beautiful and work worthy some of these local groups are). Those that are outside the local body – are indeed our brothers and sisters in Christ and are truly of God’s Universal Body. This en-grafting is contingent upon the faith of Christ. Departure from a local body doesn’t make anybody less spiritual, separated, or anti-establishment. They are simply believer’s who choose not to worship in the traditional sense. Growth in Christ is mostly in part to one’s own experience.
Article 7
Separation/Sanctification
1. I believe that all the saved (all of humanity) should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviours and Lord. I also believe that separation from worldly and egotistical pleasures, practices and association encouraged by God.
2. I believe that all are sanctified positionally in Christ at the moment of salvation and thus should practice righteousness because of Christ. I also believe that we are encouraged to live a holy sanctified life in Christ separated from the cares of this world, our flesh and the Devil (depending on where you believe the Devil is now, and who he is, or what he or it is). We must grow in our walk with God. I also believe that we are continually being sanctified within our individual walk as we continually grow in Christ.
Article 8
Spiritual Gifts
I believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all spiritual gifts. While scripture is profitable for our Christian growth, it is the distribution of these spiritual gifts that enables the Universal Body and its Local governing bodies spread throughout the world, to function as a whole. Furthermore, I believe that all the spiritual gifts should abide by the authority of their writings. All gifts should be practiced properly. Each believer is given at least one spiritual gift to edify the Body of Christ. However, the greatest of all these is love.
Article 9
Angelology/Demonology
1. I believe that all angels created by God consist of all the Heavenly Hosts that dwell in Heaven. Angels are not entitled to the remedial benefits of salvation as man is – thus they fear the Lord with a godly fear. They are the faithful one’s. Perhaps because of this the angels lament and declare unto the Lord, “What is Man that Thou art mindful of him?” Angels consist of three primary offices, they are as follows: Archangels, Cherubins, and Seraphims. Angels are called by different names by different religions. All angels worship God and serve God. I believe all angels guard and protect us according to the will of God. Furthermore, I believe that although they exist in Heaven, each one is a ministering spirit imparted to believers on Earth to help assist those that know the Christ.
2. In reference to demons or Jinns (Islamic term), it is written that they did not keep to their first estate (Jude 6) thus implying a freewill (as Christianity and Islam suggests). But when we read the passage clearly, it merely states that they did not keep their first estate. Satan usurped authority over them, nullifying their freewill concept because he is the prince of demons. These are they, which upon a freewill mechanism, did foolishly followed the ministry of Satan rather than esteeming God (EL) and His estate better. Or they were created (by Satan – the god of this world) for that purpose (though the former serves a better interpretation in reference to their freewill). In Christianity, Satan has a freewill. In Islam, the “jinn” (including Satan – who is a jinn) have freewill, regular angels don’t. However, the Islamic interpretation is lacking because it is written that we will judge the angels.
If we will judge the angels (I Cor 6:3). By what standards do we judge ministering spirits (regular angels) if they have not the capacity to exercise freewill? Freewill is thus implied to angels in this instance – who can and may be called jinns – who in turn are called spirits/demons/angels. This is possibly the reason why Judaism, Christianity and Islam believe that the angels (though in Islam it’s called the Jinns) would be judged. “They are spirits/Jinns” and thus being so, are capable of freewill and are able to receive mercy from their temporary punishments and take a remedial course instead. A course back to the True God.
3. I believe the Pauline expression is one of a general statement in reference to the term “angels.” However, freewill and the ability to exercise it in reference to Satan would imply something (in this case pride) existing outside the omnipotence of God which underscored the perfect creation, Lucifer/Ibless, and that simply can not be the case since all three interpretations (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) fail to answer the question concerning the origins of evil. Perhaps, the story of the garden, the serpent, the fall, is an allegorical one. Perhaps a bigger picture is being thought here.
4. Moreover, I believe upon the creation of all; the concept of freewill was also created for Man. A standard was set against freewill and they called it ‘obedience.’Man failed. Apart from the angelic beings who kept not their first estate, but succumbed to the influences of Satan – Yahweh, freewill also existed & exists his most mysterious creation of all – Man. But Man, by his very nature rejects God by a tainted freewill. Perhaps that is why some have resorted to teaching an eternal torture chamber in order to convict and persuade men to God. However, it is God’s will that none perish (II Pet 3:9). Therefore, the problem of sin does not come from the shoulder’s of the True God, but from the by product of all that is of this creation, the evil, and the choice of choosing more evil.
Article 10
Evil/Satan/the Adversary
1. I believe the term “Satan” did not originally mean the “Devil.” It didn’t refer to any one in particular. Satan is a Hebrew word that works as a noun or a verb, and it can refer to anyone who is an enemy. Satan in Greek is “diabolos” which is devil in English. Thus Satan became associated with the term devil. Satan can be revealed as an action taken by (not in) the Lord as I Chron 21:1 & II Sam 24:1 reveals. Satan can be a celestial being as the “angel of the Lord” who blocked the prophet Balaam (Num 22:32) or it can be “human” (I Kgs 11:23). Obviously it/he is an action, entity, and can be revealed as a person at times. I believe the person to be the author of sin (action-verb), rebellion (action-verb), and the cause of the sinful creation of this emperical world. The action verb is the result of a god creating the universe that is not eternal (only the True God is eternal). Therefore, creation itself can be considered evil because it did not always exist. That is why it is said that all was good (but not Holy). Only God inhabits Holiness. Creation can only reveal evil, but not the True God of all transcedence. Creation may be the actual by-product of the adversary – a celestial elohim – the Hosts of Heaven. Satan, the adversary, or the concept, became what is known as the arch enemy of the True God (EL).
2. This makes the case for the incarnation of the True God in Jesus the more plausible as opposed to the Gnostic interpretation of all matter being evil, insinuating that God can not become flesh through the virgin. Is God not the Almighty? God can make all things good and be Holy in the flesh simply because God is Holy and this Holiness is eternal (Mic 5:2, Isa 9:6, Jn 1:1, 14). Therefore His Body was and is Holy. We are but a reflection of that image/body – our bodies didn’t always exist – reliant on the tree of life (allegory). But I believe God always had a body (for He is a Body) of Spirit and Flesh, not as we know it; but as revealed in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe God is revealed His flesh in time and become a mortal flesh though the seed of creation made in the likeness of men (flesh as we know it). Therefore He was subjected to the temptations of evil, its concepts, and that entity; Satan, yet without sin.
3. The god of this world – Satan – Evil is the opposite of who the True God really is (goodness, mercy, true justice, love). Satan; the adversarial concept, commanded a third of the angels to do His/its bidding resulting in their own sin – action (2 Pet 2:4, Jude 6). Satan is the foundation and corner stone of all calamity and rebellion. A further look into the word “Calamity” will reveal that it means the word “form.” And upon careful examination of the word “form” in the Hebrew, we learn that it means; to lie in waste, desolation, worthless, vain – vanity, confusion, wilderness – dessert. In Hebrew, the word “void” is similar; a vacuity, superficial, undistinguishable, emptiness, ruin.
Interesting Side Note: The term Babel means confusion and calamity (Gen 11:1-9). Perhaps the tower was not a bad thing after all. I see nothing pertaining to sin or rebellion in Vs 1-9. Instead I see humanity ascending (through a tower – an allegory?) to Heaven. Perhaps they wanted to know the True God (EL). The flood had accomplished its task in giving man their opportunity to understand the Lord (see my study Noah and Flood). But I do see a god who caused division – which in turn causes man to separate from his fellow man – even to this day. It is called bigotry, a lack of communicational understanding, cultural differences and war. After causing confusion to begin with, it is written that He decided to call Abraham – who in turn becomes the father of all nations, where we all can become one. Its sounds pretty self defeating to me, wouldn’t you say?
Any attempt to reconcile EL with Man is stopped. It was stopped when the prophets were silenced, and most notably, it was stopped by a little method called crucifixion – namely in the Person of Jesus the Christ.
Moreover, the suffix “hovah” has the meaning of “ruin, mischief.” It is another form of “havvah,” which is translated “calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous (thing), naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing, substance, very wickedness.” Put the two (Je + hovah) together and you get “God of ruin, mischief, calamity, perversion, and wickedness.”
4. This God created an image (tselem in Hebrew) a shade – a phantom, an illusion. The term “likeness” is “damah” – to be dumb or silent; to fail or perish (translated to destroy) – to cease, to be undone utterly. This cycle of undoing had to be revived constantly to avoid death. This was accomplished through the tree of life – allegory? Before the events of Genesis 3, man was dumb (innocent) silent (without questioning) – no knowledge of good or evil. But when man ceased, or became undone utterly as in “damah” – which was inevitable anyway, the tree (branch in Hebrew- branch of Elohim) of life, or man (in Hebrew – revive, to keep, to suffer, to live, running & springing from) began to grow – that is the tree of knowledge – his ultimate price was death – though he did not know it or realized it until the 1st question was put forth in his mind – “Has God truly said” (Gen 3:1). Death, a terrible price to pay wouldn’t you say? And a for what? Allegorically eating a forbidden fruit?
But Christ – EL – the True Elohim came to taste death for all men – Heb 2:9 – so that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil Vs. 14.
Who was it that condemned man to death? Answer: god – Yahweh. Who chased man out of the Garden of Eden so that he might not eat of the tree of life? Answer: god – Yahweh. Does death issue from god – Yahweh? Answer: Yes – Genesis 3:19, 22-24, Psalms 68:20. Does god – Yahweh kill? Answer: Yes – Deut 32:39. Does god – Yahweh have the power of death? Answer – Yes, obviously. Does the Devil have the power of death? Answer: Yes, obviously (Heb 2:14). Is it written that Jesus died and rose from the dead to destroy the works of the Devil, or as it would seem to indicate, Yahweh? Yes, obviously. Who holds the keys to death and life now? Answer: The Lord Jesus Christ (Rev 1:17-18).
5. I also believe that evil cannot exist within itself. Evil is not a separate entity. It is who this god is. Therefore, the god of this world provided the evil, just as he provided the good as represented and planted in the garden, dedicating it to the Hosts of Heaven. But let us remember, it was an “image.” Thus, all things were good – this also includes the tree of knowledge containing the good and evil (Gen 2:31, 2:9, 3:1-5). But ironically enough, If there had been no evil to compare the goodness against, we would never realize the greatness of EL’s goodness.
It can be understood that the Father of Hosts did not intend to create anything of the empirical (what we see). But He did create the Spiritual world and the god of this world. He gave them freewill. I also believe that nothing is out of the control or foreknowledge of the True God, EL. What we see is an imitation of greater virtues.
6. The Adversary is a created being because its concepts exist. Creation/Satan is twofold; this creation is a by-product of the devil and the devil is a by-product of this creation. It is the underlying cause for this concept and creation to begin with. The image lies to us (John 8:44).
Some would suggest that evil was found in him based on these passages of Scripture (Ezek 28:12-19, Isa 14:12-20). But if that were so, then that would entail something that sprang from outside its concept/entity; as if it was there, somewhere, lurking in the cosmos or invisible Heavens. And if that is true, then that would entail an imperfect God – who according to mainstream belief created this world and the cosmos perfect. But Scripture teaches us otherwise. For all things were created good, not perfect or holy. If the interpretive account of a rebellious Luciferian heart is true, then it would have had to be God who summoned a prideful heart (an action verb) in Satan (this noun) – but if that was the case then freewill, as pertaining to this particular angelic being, did not exist – and if it did not exist, how could he rebel? Much less perform the acts of creation as revealed above? Therefore, creation is the actual “pride” of this being. Therefore I reject dualism.
7. Satan, its concepts, and very nature is a defeated foe and a conquered enemy to all Humanity. The Adversary is judged already (Jn 12:31, 16:9, 10, 16:11, I Jn 3:8, Col 2:15 Rev 12:10, 20:10). I believe it/he/ and its concepts are bound and imprisoned, for it can not interfere with the internal affairs pertaining to the continual growth concerning the Kingdom of God in the spiritual (ontological) sense. Yet I still see it/him/evil – wickedness and sin all around me. I believe that it/he/evil walks as a roaring lion; seeking whom it/he/evil may devour in this non-spiritual, materialistic, fleshly, and empirical world. Similar to a convict who is bound and imprisoned, but yet has full access to the grounds of a facility where he or she may roam about – calling the shots – as permitted by the True CO – Correctional Officer (Job 1:6-7, Matt 4:2-11, I Pet 5:8, I Jn 4:4). In this world, Satan seeks to keep Man from the truth of the Lord, and when it cannot succeed in this; it seeks to weaken the testimony of Christ. As said, Satan has at his disposal, a third of the fallen angels, now called demons/jinns to carry out destructive plans and wreak havoc against Humanity. A Humanity that is in Christ. Satan can be overcome by the power of the True God (I Jn 4:4).
8. As one that believes in the Ultimate Reconciliation of all things, it is highly probable that this god would eventually surrender its role as the adversary and be reconciled back unto the Lord – or take another place in ministry – as the saints would judge the angels. Satan’s ministry of temptations (trials), testings, accusations, and defense on behalf of the Majesty (the Lord God) would no longer be warranted or needed. For the Lord God would be all and in all. However, there are many other Ultimate Reconciliationists that would disagree with me on these issues. However, a study on the words ‘Forever’ and ‘Everlasting’ should shed some good light on the issues at hand.
Article 11
Eschatology/Prophecy
1. Prophecy is just too far and wide for any “one” interpretation to be the “exact” final nail in the coffin. I do not claim a “Cassandra Complex.” But I will say this, “show me a person’s eschatological viewpoints and I will show you their soteriology.” Show me a person’s soteriology and I will show you their eschatology.” I believe, as the “Pygmalion Effect” demonstrates, prophecy is self fulfilling as we are to live out our lives in the past, present and future tense. This is more important than our doctrinal positions on eschatology. See studies on Universal Salvation/Ultimate Reconciliation and Eschatology.
2. However, in matters pertaining to doctrinal eschatology, I take no eschatological stance; be it Preterism, Historicism, Futurism or Allegoricalism. Governing self prophecies, as in the Pygmalion Effect, is merely contingent upon the self. I find that to be more than enough with reference to my future state of resurrection.
3. In reference to the resurrection, let us consider the words of Clement. Clement cited “Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits 1 Cor 15:20; Col 1:18. by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection.”
Universal Salvation For All 