Primitive Christianity and Preaching

Primitive Christians were
House-to-House Preachers.

There was a knock at the gate at my in-law's where I was staying while in the city one morning. I was alone at the house working on an article, but the banging was constant. Who was that persistant individual?

It was a young humble indigenous lady offering books on credit terms. I politely explained to her that the owner (Señor) of the house was not home and that I had no need for them but that she could come back at another time. She understood, thanked me and left.

I watched her with admiration as she systematically covered each and every house down the street. She knows that she will find interested ones if she keeps on knocking. (read Matthew 7:7)

That made me think. Here in Bolivia house-to-house sales is a part of life and it is no different in the city than it is in the rural town where my wife and I live. People offer fruits and vegetables, merchandise and their services by going, uninvited, to people's homes and getting their attention by either clamping their hands together at the entrance of a rural home or by banging on people's gates for those who live in the city.

In the industrialized world, however, at least in the United States, people have been "trained" by their local Wal-Mart and their "church" to feel persecuted by anyone who dares knock on their door for any reason, and especially so if it were to involve conveying a Scriptural message. "If I want soap, I'll go to Wal-Mart and if I want religion, I'll go to my church", is the general attitude.

If one reads the Bible, he or she will note that preaching to strangers in their homes, without an invitation, was the norm for Christianity in the beginning and it was to continue as such right up until the end, and with even more intensity, in the light of such Scriptures as Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19, 20.

Here are Jesus' instructions recorded at Matthew 10:11-15

“Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving, and stay there until you leave. When you are entering into the house, greet the household; and if the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet."

Searching for the deserving ones means house-to-house contacts, in a non-aggressive manner of course. Whether the householder is responsive or not, however, should not affect the disposition, or peace, of those who endeavour in this work.

Maybe this consideration will help some reader to reflect on his or her attitude in the future when an uninvited person knocks on your door to share a Scriptural thought. Sure, "preachers" might call at your home at an inconvenient time, However, it would only take 15 seconds to instruct them when to return so they could have your undivided attention. Participating in this unpopular activity is actually a Christian requirement.

In 1982 a man, Eucebio Ribera, who had been a member of a local leftist political party, told me: "I knew you were the true Christians from the beginning because I saw you people preaching from house-to-house. I did not know much about the Bible, but what I did know was that Jesus and his disciples preached, and they did so from house-to-house. I saw that you were the only ones doing it." Shortly after making that statement, he withdrew from his political involvement, took up the house-to-house preaching activity, and eventually trained more than 40 others in the same work, who, in turn, have trained; and, along with Eucebio, are training still others.

Today 99.9% of self-proclaimed Christians, unfortunately, do NOT preach to strangers, and especially not from house-to-house.

Paul, however, stated at 1 Corinthians 9:16:

"Woe is me if I did not declare the good news!"

And at Acts 20:20 he also wrote:

"I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house."

The next time some uninvited person knocks on your door with the purpose of sharing a Scriptural thought, Will you view it as a 'blatant disregard for your personal privacy' (as the Dan Piraro's Bizaro comic strip suggests) or will you recognize it as it truly is, the social service that individual may be extending to those who wish to become conscious of their spiritual need? (Matthew 5:3)

After all, the only way to find the deserving ones, as Matthew 10:11-15 suggests, is to make uninvited visits.

The cost? Well, unlike the uninvited "sales" visit I received, mentioned at the beginning of this article, Jesus´ instruction included this mandate:

"As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ ... You received free, give free." (Matthew 10:7-8)

"The kingdom of the heavens" or the "kingdom of God" is the central message that is to be preached according to Matthew 24:14.

And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.

After reading Matthew 24:7-14 and Mark 13:8-10; you can be sure that the wars, earthquakes, food shortages, and persecution mentioned by Jesus, will soon be things of the past because:

This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

In all the nations the good news has to be preached first. Mark 13:10

Revelation 21:4 says why its such good news:

"God will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away".

Good news is not something a loving person would ever want to keep to his/herself. It must be shared. A person who regards a sharer of good news as someone who "blatantly disregards" people's need for privacy, simply has never taken the time to listen and understand the message being presented.

So, take the time to listen. Read the literature these people leave you. Understand the message for what it truly is:

THE GOOD NEWS DESERVING PEOPLE COME TO APPRECIATE TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE MOTIVATED TO SHARE IT EVEN WITH STRANGERS.

History agrees with this Scriptural interpretation:

“Every congregation was a missionary society, and every Christian believer a missionary.” (Philip Schaff in History of the Christian Church)

“Preaching was never meant by Jesus Christ to be the exclusive privilege of certain ranks of the ministry. ... The general testimony is that all Christians in the primitive Church ... preached the gospel.” (W. S. Williams in The Glorious Ministry of the Laity)

Article to be continued and edited ...

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God Cannot Die!	¡Dios No Puede Morir!
There are so many wrong ideas about God, it is hard to know where to begin. However, the title of this book: "God Cannot Die!" is a good place to start. In fact, it is the basis for an introduction to primitive Christianity.	Hay tantas ideas erróneas acerca de Dios que es difícil saber donde empezar. Sin embargo, el titulo de este libro “¡Dios No Puede Morir!” es un buen lugar para empezar. De hecho, es la base para una introducción al cristianismo primitivo.
Jesus once said to a woman who was not a Jew:	Jesús decía una vez a una mujer quien no era Judía:
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews. (John 4:22)	Ustedes adoran lo que no conocen; nosotros adoramos lo que conocemos, porque la salvación se origina de los judíos. (Juan 4:22)

Himself a Jew, Jesus knew that the Jewish understanding of God was the correct one. So, what, exactly, did the Jews who lived at the time of Jesus believe about God? Really, what did Jesus believe about God? Finding the answer to this question will help us to "worship what we know" as Jesus did and this information can only be found in the Bible.	Himself a Jew, Jesus knew that the Jewish understanding of God was the correct one. So, what, exactly, did the Jews who lived at the time of Jesus believe about God? Really, what did Jesus believe about God? Finding the answer to this question will help us to "worship what we know" as Jesus did and this information can only be found in the Bible.
We can begin with a simple statement made by the prophet Habakkuk over 600 years before Jesus lived on earth.	Nosotros podemos empezar con una simple declaración hecha por el profeta Habacuc unos 600 años antes que Jesús viniera a la tierra.
Are you not from long ago, O Jehovah? O my God, my Holy One, you do not die. (Habakkuk 1:12)	¿No eres tú desde mucho tiempo atrás, oh Jehová? Oh Dios mío, mi Santo, tú no mueres. (Habacuc 1:12)
This means that the God of the Jews existed before all times, He has always existed and will always exist. He never dies!	Esto quiere decir que el Dios de los Judíos existía antes de todos los tiempos. Él siempre ha existido y siempre existirá. ¡Él nunca muere!

Other Scriptures that Jesus and the Jews believed about this basic understanding about God can be found in the following verses:	Otras Escrituras que Jesús y los Judíos creían acerca de este entendimiento básico acerca de Dios puede encontrarse en los siguientes versículos:
Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel from time indefinite to time indefinite. (1 Chronicles 16:36)	Bendito sea Jehová el Dios de Israel desde tiempo indefinido hasta tiempo indefinido. (1 Crónicas 16:36)
Blessed may you be, O Jehovah the God of Israel our father, from time indefinite even to time indefinite. (1 Chronicles 29:10)	Bendito seas, oh Jehová el Dios de Israel nuestro padre, desde tiempo indefinido aun hasta tiempo indefinido. (1 Crónicas 29:10)
Rise, bless Jehovah your God from time indefinite to time indefinite. (Nehemiah 9:5)	Levántense, bendigan a Jehová su Dios desde tiempo indefinido hasta tiempo indefinido. (Nehemías 9:5)

Remember your mercies, O Jehovah, and your loving-kindnesses, for they are from time indefinite. (Psalm 25:6)	Acuérdate de tus misericordias, oh Jehová, y de tus bondades amorosas, porque son desde tiempo indefinido. (Salmo 25:6)
Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel from time indefinite even to time indefinite. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 41:13)	Bendito sea Jehová el Dios de Israel desde tiempo indefinido aun hasta tiempo indefinido. Amén y Amén. (Salmo 41:13)
Before the mountains themselves were born, or you proceeded to bring forth as with labor pains the earth and the productive land, even from time indefinite to time indefinite you are God. (Psalm 90:2)	Antes que nacieran las montañas mismas, o tú procedieras a producir como con dolores de parto la tierra y el terreno productivo, aun de tiempo indefinido a tiempo indefinido tú eres Dios. (Salmo 90:2)
Your throne is firmly established from long ago; You are from time indefinite. (Psalm 93:2)	Tu trono está firmemente establecido desde mucho tiempo atrás; eres desde tiempo indefinido. (Salmo 93:2)

But the loving-kindness of Jehovah is from time indefinite even to time indefinite. (Psalm 103:17)	Pero la bondad amorosa de Jehová es de tiempo indefinido aun hasta tiempo indefinido. (Salmo 103:17)
Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel From time indefinite even to time indefinite. (Psalm 106:48)	Bendito sea Jehová el Dios de Israel desde tiempo indefinido aun hasta tiempo indefinido. (Salmo 106:48)
Let the name of God become blessed from time indefinite even to time indefinite, for wisdom and mightiness—for they belong to him. (Daniel 2:20)	Que el nombre de Dios llegue a ser bendito de tiempo indefinido aun hasta tiempo indefinido, porque la sabiduría y el poderío—porque pertenecen a él. (Daniel 2:20)
When the Bible states that God is "from time indefinite even to time indefinite" it is really saying that God has forever existed in the past, He always exists in the present, and He will always exist in the future. Again, the basic thought about God is that He never dies!	Cuando la Biblia dice que Dios es “de tiempo indefinido aún hasta tiempo indefinido” en realidad quiere decir que Dios siempre existía en el pasado, Él siempre existe en el presente y Él siempre existirá en el futuro. ¡Él nunca muere!

This is very important to understand. Why is this? Because the apostle Paul, guided by God's holy spirit tells us:	Esto es muy importante para entender. ¿Por qué razón? Porque el apóstol Pablo, guiado por el espíritu santo, nos dice:
Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please Him well, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him. (Hebrews 11:6)	Además, sin fe es imposible serle de buen agrado, porque el que se acerca a Dios tiene que creer que él existe y que llega a ser remunerador de los que le buscan solícitamente. (Hebreos 11:6)
Exactly who is this God that we must believe "is", that is to say that He exists, has always existed and will always exist?	Exactamente ¿quién es este Dios que debemos creer “que él existe”, es decir que siempre ha existido y siempre existirá?
When we find out something about a person and we want to know who that person is, What do we ask for? Is it not true that we ask for that person's name?	Cuando nosotros queremos saber algo de alguna persona y no sabemos quien es esa persona, ¿qué es lo primero que pedimos? ¿No es cierto que pedimos el nombre de esa persona?
This brings us to the basic wrong idea that most people have about God. Most people who worship God have given him the wrong name. If we want to "worship what we know" as Jesus and the Jews did, we must give God the correct name.	Eso nos lleva a una idea básica que la mayoría de la gente tiene acerca de Dios. La mayoría de las personas que adoran a Dios le dan el nombre equivocado. Si nosotros queremos ‘adorar lo que conocemos’ como Jesús y los Judíos lo hacían, debemos dar a Dios el nombre correcto.
Let us examine the following Scriptures to see what they are teaching us:	Consideremos los siguientes versículos para ver que nos enseñan:
That with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:6)	Para que, de común acuerdo, con una sola boca glorifiquen al Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. (Romanos 15:6)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3)	Bendito sea el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, el Padre de tiernas misericordias y el Dios de todo consuelo. (2 Corintios 1:3)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in union with Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)	Bendito sea el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, porque nos ha bendecido con toda bendición espiritual en los lugares celestiales en unión con Cristo. (Efesios 1:3)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17)	Para que el Dios de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, el Padre de la gloria, les dé espíritu de sabiduría y de revelación en el conocimiento exacto de él. (Efesios 1:17)
We thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ always when we pray for you. (Colossians 1:3)	Damos gracias a Dios el Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo siempre que oramos por ustedes. (Colosenses 1:3)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)	Bendito sea el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, porque, según su gran misericordia, nos dio un nuevo nacimiento a una esperanza viva mediante la resurrección de Jesucristo de entre los muertos. (1 Pedro 1:3)
In each of the Scriptures you have just finished reading speak not of Jesus but of the God of Jesus instead. Remember that Jesus told the non-Jewish woman: "We worship what we know". Therefore, Jesus worships the same God that we are supposed to worship.	En cada uno de los versículos que acabamos de citar, habla no de Jesús, sino del Dios de Jesús. Recordamos que Jesús decía a la mujer no Judía: “Nosotros adoramos lo que conocemos”. Por lo tanto Jesús adora el mismo Dios que nosotros deberíamos adorar.
There is no place in the Bible that shows that Jesus worshiped himself.	No hay ningún lugar en la Biblia que muestra que Jesús se adoró a si mismo.
The wrong idea that most people have about God is that his name is Jesus. Jesus is not the God of the Jews and he is not the God we are told we should worship. Instead we are told to worship the God of Jesus.	La idea equivocada que la mayoría de la gente tiene acerca de Dios es que su nombre es Jesús. Jesús no es el Dios de los Judíos y él no es el Dios que se nos manda adorar. En vez de eso nos manda adorar al Dios de Jesús.
Who, then is "the God of the Jews" (Romans 3:29), "the God of Israel" (Luke 1:68), and "the God of our Lord Jesus" (Ephesians 1:17)?	Entonces, ¿Quién es “el Dios de los Judíos” (Romanos 3:29), "el Dios de Israel” (Lucas 1:68), y "el Dios de nuestro Señor Jesús" (Efesios 1:17)?
The name of this God is very important, for Jesus taught us to pray:	El nombre de este Dios es muy importante, porque Jesús nos enseñó a orar:
Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. (Matthew 6:9)	Padre nuestro que estas en los cielos, santificado sea tu nombre. (Mateo 6:9)
The first and most important thing we should all pray for is for God's name to be made holy. That name was made holy in the Bible some seven thousand times. So important is that name that, if your Bible does not use it you should seriously consider changing to a Bible that does.	La primera cosa y más importante es que el nombre de Dios sea santificado. Ese nombre fue santificado en la Biblia unas siete mil veces. Tan importante es ese nombre que si su Biblia no lo usa debería cambiarla por otra que si lo usa.
Open your Bible to the very first book called Genesis, chapter 2 and verse 4. Does it read as follows?	Abra su Biblia al primer libro llamado Génesis, capítulo 2 y versículo 4. ¿Se lee como sigue?

This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that *Jehovah* God made earth and heaven.	Esta es una historia de los cielos y la tierra en el tiempo en que fueron creados, en el día que Jehová* Dios hizo tierra y cielo.*
It should say "that Jehovah God made earth and heaven." Jehovah is the English translation for the name of God, which is the letters Y or J, H, W or V, H (YHWH or JHVH) in the Hebrew language of old. And Genesis 2:4 is the first instance, of about 700 times, that NAME appears in the oldest manuscripts.	Debería decir “que Jehová* Dios hizo tierra y cielo”*. Jehová es la traducción española por el nombre de Dios, que esta representado en Hebreo antiguo por las letras Y o J, H, W o V, H (YHWH o JHVH). Y Génesis 2:4 es la primera instancia, de alrededor de 7 mil veces, que este NOMBRE aparece en los manuscritos más antiguos.
Some modern Bibles have translated this name as Yehoweh, also a good translation, but Jehovah is the most common translation and so it is the form we will use in this book.	Algunas Biblias modernas usan el nombre Yavé que también es una buena traducción, pero Jehová es la traducción más común, por lo tanto esta es la versión que vamos a usar en este libro.
For a Bible to translate the name of God as "Lord" or "God" is wrong. It would not be sanctifying His NAME which Jesus told us to do as the first and most important thing to pray for, would it?	Para una Biblia el traducir el nombre de Dios como “Señor” o “Dios” es ofensivo. No sería santificar Aquel NOMBRE que Jesús dijo que fuese lo primero y más importante por lo cual orar, ¿no es cierto?

Just using the title of "Lord" or "God" confuses people into thinking that the "Lord" Jesus is the "Lord" God.	Solamente usando el título de “Señor” o “Dios” confunde a la gente, y la lleva a pensar que el “Señor” Jesús es el “Señor” Dios.
So, if you go to a congregation that uses a Bible that does not sanctify God's name, you should ask your religious leader why and maybe even show him this book. See if he respects God's name or if he wrongly believes that God's name is Jesus and that maybe is the real reason he avoids using the correct name of God.	Por lo tanto, si usted va a una congregación que usa una Biblia que no tiene el nombre de Dios, debería preguntar a su líder religioso por qué y aún mostrarle este libro. Vea si él tiene respeto al nombre de Dios o si él equivocadamente cree que el nombre de Dios es Jesús y eso quizás es la razón verdadera por la que evita usar el nombre correcto de Dios.
God's name Jehovah has special meaning. It means that God exists and becomes what He needs to become so as to finish what he has promised. Is that not a wonderful name?	El nombre de Dios, Jehová, tiene un significado especial. Significa que Dios existe y que él llega a ser lo que necesita para cumplir lo que ha prometido. ¿No es eso un nombre maravillo?
Again we understand from this that God cannot die!	Con eso otra vez comprendemos que, ¡Dios no puede morir!

But Jehovah is in truth God. He is the living God and the King to time indefinite. (Jeremiah 10:10)	Pero Jehová es en verdad Dios. Él es el Dios vivo y el Rey hasta tiempo indefinido. (Jeremías 10:10)
Jehovah, "the living God", is spoken of many times in the Bible.	A Jehová se le llama muchas veces en la Biblia “el Dios vivo”.
May you have undeserved kindness and peace from “The One who is and who was and who is coming,” and from the seven spirits that are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” “The firstborn from the dead,” and “The Ruler of the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 1:4-5)	Que tengan bondad inmerecida y paz de parte de “Aquel que es y que era y que viene”, y de los siete espíritus que están delante de su trono, y de Jesucristo, “el Testigo Fiel”, “El primogénito de los muertos”, y “El Gobernante de los reyes de la tierra”. (Revelación 1:4-5)
What does it mean that Jesus was "the firstborn from the dead"?	¿A qué se refiere el que Jesús sea “El primogénito de los muertos”?

No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him. (John 1:18)	A Dios ningún hombre lo ha visto jamás; el dios unigénito que está en la posición del seno para con el Padre es el que lo ha explicado. (Juan 1:18)
The mission Jesus had was to "explain God" which he did and which is recorded for us the Bible.	La misión de Jesús era ‘explicar’ o dar a conocer a Dios y eso fue precisamente lo que hizo y esta registrado para nosotros en la Biblia.
The enemies of God did not like the way that Jesus explained God, so they killed him.	A los enemigos de Dios no les gustaba la manera en que Jesús daba a conocer a Dios, por lo tanto lo mataron.
The Scriptures tell us the following about "the first things", yes, the very basic things about primitive Christianity:	Las Escrituras nos dicen lo siguiente acerca de “las primeras cosas”, sí, lo básico acerca del cristianismo primitivo.

For I handed on to you, among the first things, that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, yes, that he has been raised up the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)	Porque les transmití, entre las primeras cosas, lo que yo también recibí: que Cristo murió por nuestros pecados según las Escrituras; y que fue enterrado, sí, que ha sido levantado al tercer día según las Escrituras. (1 Corintios 15:3-4)
Remember, the basis of understanding "the God of our Lord Jesus" is that He cannot die; yet, Jesus did die and was dead for three days before "the God of our Lord Jesus" raised him up. Therefore, Jesus cannot be God.	Recuerda, la base para entender acerca del “Dios de nuestro Señor Jesús” es que Él no puede morir; sin embargo, Jesús sí murió y estuvo muerto por tres días antes de que “el Dios de nuestro Señor Jesús” lo resucitara. Por lo tanto, Jesús no puede ser Dios.
What makes the death and resurrection of Jesus so outstanding is that the Bible says he is "the firstborn from the dead". That means that no one before him was resurrected like he was; he was the very first.	Lo que hace que la muerte y resurrección de Jesús sea tan sobresaliente es que la Biblia nos dice que él fue “el primogénito de entre los muertos”. Eso quiere decir que nadie antes de él fue resucitado como él fue resucitado; él fue el primero.
This brings us to another wrong idea about God and the way he created us. Most people believe that God made us humans in a way that we, like God, never die. They say we have something that continues living after death of the body, called a spirit or a soul.	Esto nos lleva a otra idea equivocada acerca de Dios y la manera en que Él nos creó. La mayoría de las personas creen que Dios nos hizo a los humanos de una forma que, al igual que Él, nunca muriéramos. Ellos dicen que nosotros tenemos algo, llamado espíritu o alma, que continua viviendo después de la muerte del cuerpo.

If this were true, then the death and resurrection of Jesus would not have been all that special, would it?	Si esto fuera cierto, entonces la muerte y resurrección de Jesús no hubiese sido tan especial, ¿verdad?
The Bible tells us this fact about Jesus after his resurrection.	La Biblia nos dice este hecho acerca de Jesús después de su resurrección:
The one alone having immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see. (1 Timothy 6:16)	(Jesús) el único que tiene inmortalidad, que mora en luz inaccesible, a quien ninguno de los hombres ha visto ni puede ver. (1 Timoteo 6:16)
"The God of our Lord Jesus" gave immortality to Jesus, something he did not have before coming to earth, and he was the first to have ever received it. That is why at the time Paul wrote to Timothy he said that Jesus was "the one *alone* having immortality" who was then and still is now the one "who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see."	“El Dios de nuestro Señor Jesucristo” dio inmortalidad solamente a Jesús, algo que él no tenía antes de venir a la tierra, además él fue el primero en recibir inmortalidad. Por eso en el tiempo en que Pablo escribió a Timoteo, el dijo que Jesús era “el *único* que [tenía] inmortalidad.” Además el decía acerca de Jesús después de su resurreción “que mora en luz inaccesible, a quien ninguno de los hombres ha visto ni puede ver.”

What does this tell us about Jesus?	¿Que nos dice esto acerca de Jesús?
Let us consider the following verses:	Consideremos los siguienes versículos:
For the death that he died, he died with reference to sin once for all time; but the life that he lives, he lives with reference to God. (Romans 6:10)	Porque la muerte que él murió, la murió con referencia al pecado una vez para siempre; pero la vida que vive, la vive con referencia a Dios. (Romanos 6:10)
He entered, no, not with the blood of goats and of young bulls, but with his own blood, once for all time into the holy place and obtained an everlasting deliverance for us. (Hebrews 9:12)	Él entró —no, no con la sangre de machos cabríos y de torillos, sino con su propia sangre— una vez para siempre en el lugar santo, y obtuvo liberación eterna para nosotros. (Hebreos 9:12)

We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. (Hebrews 10:10)	Hemos sido santificados mediante el ofrecimiento del cuerpo de Jesucristo una vez para siempre. (Hebreos 10:10)
Why, even Christ died once for all time concerning sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, that he might lead you to God, he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)	Pues, hasta Cristo murió una vez para siempre respecto a pecados, un justo por injustos, para conducirlos a ustedes a Dios, habiendo sido muerto en la carne, pero hecho vivo en el espíritu. (1 Pedro 3:18)
God, who does not die, sent His Son to die. His body, his flesh, was sacrificed as a ransom in exchange for our salvation from death.	Dios, quien no puede morir, envió a Su Hijo a morir. Su cuerpo, su carne, fue sacrificado como rescate en cambio por nuestra salvación de la muerte.
At his last supper Jesus instructed:	En la ultima cena Jesús instruyó:

Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body which is to be given in you behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19)	También, tomó un pan, dio gracias, lo partió, y se lo dio a ellos, diciendo: “Esto significa mi cuerpo que ha de ser dado a favor de ustedes. Sigan haciendo esto en memoria de mí”. (Lucas 22:19)
Jesus said: "My body is to be given in your behalf" and that means the body that died was not the same body that was resurrected.	Jesús decía que su cuerpo había de ser dado a favor de nosotros y eso significa que el cuerpo que murió no fue el mismo cuerpo que resucitó.
1 Peter 3:18 says that Jesus was "put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."	1 Pedro 3:18 dice que Jesús fue “muerto en la carne, pero hecho vivo en el espíritu.”
Jesus' flesh body was given in sacrifice and "the God of our Lord Jesus" removed it before it saw corruption as foretold in the Scriptures as follows:	El cuerpo de Jesús fue dado en sacrificio y “el Dios de nuestro Señor Jesús” lo removió antes que viera la corrupción como fue profetizado en las Escrituras:

Hence he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your loyal one to see corruption.’(Acts 13:35)	Por eso también dice en otro salmo: ‘No permitirás que el que te es leal vea corrupción’. (Hechos 13:35)
For you will not leave my soul in She′ol. You will not allow your loyal one to see the pit. (Psalms 16:10)	Porque no dejarás mi alma en el Seol. No permitirás que el que te es leal vea el hoyo. (Salmos 16:10)
He saw beforehand and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in Ha′des nor did his flesh see corruption. (Acts 2:31)	Vio de antemano y habló respecto a la resurrección del Cristo, que ni fue abandonado en el Hades ni su carne vio corrupción. (Hechos 2:31)
After Jesus' resurrection, his immortal spirit-body could appear and disappear and take on forms like the one he had before, with holes in his hands and feet (John 20:24-29), or as a gardener (John 20:15) or a stranger walking on the road (Luke 24:15-31).	Después de la resurreción de Jesús, su cuerpo espiritual inmortal podía aparecer y desaparecer, además tomar formas como uno parecido al que tenía antes, con huecos en sus manos y pies (Juan 20:24-29), o como un jardinero (Juan 20:15) o como un extraño caminando por el camino (Lucas 24:15-31).

Understanding who God is and who Jesus is helps us to understand that we humans are not immortal like them.	Al entender acerca de quien es Dios y quien es Jesús, comprendemos que nosotros los humanos no somos como ellos.
When someone trys to teach you that you are immortal, that you have an immortal soul or spirit, you should ask him to show you in the Bible where such a teaching is found. There is, in fact, no place in the Bible that gives us that idea.	Si alguien se le acerca y le trata de enseñar que somos inmortales, que tenemos un espíritu o alma inmortal, debería pedirle que le enseñe dónde en la Biblia enseña tal idea. No hay, de hecho, ningun lugar en la Biblia que nos comunique tal idea.
That idea did not came from the Jews and remember that Jesus said that "salvation originates with the Jews."	Esa manera de pensar no vino de los Judios y recuerde que Jesús dijo en Juan 4:22 que “la salvación se origina de los judíos .”
The Concise Jewish Encyclopedia (1980) says:	En The Concise Jewish Encyclopedia (1980) dice:

“The Bible does not state a doctrine of the immortality of the soul, nor does this clearly emerge in early Jewish rabbinical literature. . . . Eventually the belief that some part of the human personality is eternal and indestructible became part of the rabbinical creed and was almost universally accepted in later Judaism.”	“La Biblia no presenta doctrina alguna de la inmortalidad del alma, ni surge ésta de manera clara en la literatura rabínica [judía] primitiva. ... Con el tiempo la creencia de que alguna parte de la personalidad humana es eterna e indestructible llegó a ser parte del credo rabínico y se aceptó casi universalmente en el judaísmo de años posteriores.”
Neither Jesus nor the Jews living at that time believed humans had immortal souls; that belief came many years later.	Ni Jesús ni los judíos que vivian en aquel tiempo creían que los humanos poseían almas inmortales; esa creencia vino muchos años después.
The thought of people possessing an immortal soul or spirit is neither an original Jewish nor Christian belief.	La idea de que las personas poseían almas o espíritus inmortales no es de origen judío ni cristiano.
Some preacher may show you a Scripture such as Matthew 10:28 and say to you that it teaches that the soul never dies, but you should ask him to read the whole verse from beginning to end. It actually teaches that God destroys the soul at death! This shows us that it is important to allow the Bible to explain itself and not let those with wrong ideas about God explain it for us.	Algun predicador pudiera mostrarle en las Escrituras Mateo 10:28 y decirle que eso enseña que el alma nunca muere. Pero usted debería pedirle que leyera el versículo completo de principio a fin. Lo que en realidad enseña dicho versículo es que Dios puede destruir el alma cuando uno muere. Eso nos muestra que es importante dejar que sea la Biblia misma quien nos explique y no dejar que personas con ideas equivadas acerca de Dios lo hagan.

The Bible tells us what death is and it is not hard to understand. Understanding what death is helps us to understand God and why the teaching of the resurrection of the dead is so important for our salvation.	La Biblia nos explica que es la muerte y no es difícil de entender. Entender lo que es la muerte nos ayuda a comprender a Dios y por qué la enseñanza acerca de la resurrección de los muertos es tan importante para nuestra salvación.
Think about this for a moment: If we all have immortal spirits or souls that continue living after we die, why would God have needed to send His Son to die for us?	Piense en esto por un momento: Si todos nosotros tuviésemos espíritus o almas inmortales que continuaran viviendo después de que nosotros muriéramos, ¿por qué necesitaría Dios enviar a Su Hijo a morir por nosotros?
Most people who do not understand God would answer saying it was to keep us from going to a place of torment called hell. But does that not go against God's love?	La mayoría de las personas que no entienden acerca de Dios contestarían a esta pregunta diciendo que era para salvarnos de un lugar de tormento llamado infierno. Pero, ¿no sería eso contrario al amor de Dios?
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)	Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo que dio a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo el que ejerce fe en él no sea destruido, sino que tenga vida eterna. (Juan 3:16)

The Bible shows there is only the destruction of the individual at the time of one's death or everlasting life through the resurrection.	La Biblia muestra que solo hay la destrucción de uno al tiempo de morir como castigo o la vida eterna a través de la resurrección como recompensa.
God does not give everlasting life or immortality to a person as a form of punishment so has to torment that person forever and ever. Because, after all, that individual would have to be given everlasting life in order to feel the torment, if there were such a punishment. Correct?	Dios no da la vida eterna o inmortalidad a una persona como una forma de castigo para atormentarla para siempre. Por que a fin de cuentas esa persona tendría que tener vida para poder sentir el tormento si hubiese ese castigo, ¿no es cierto?
Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it. (Matthew 7:13-14)	Entren por la puerta angosta; porque ancho y espacioso es el camino que conduce a la destrucción, y muchos son los que entran por él; mientras que angosta es la puerta y estrecho el camino que conduce a la vida, y pocos son los que la hallan. (Mateo 7:13-14)
So, what do you think? Most people have the wrong idea about God and about death. You, by having the right idea about God and death, can understand what real Christianity is all about.	Por lo tanto, ¿qué piensa usted? La mayoría de las personas tienen la idea equivocada acerca de Dios y acerca de la muerte. Usted, sin embargo, mediante tener la idea correcta acerca de Dios y acerca de la muerte, puede entender lo que realmente trata el cristianismo verdadero.

There are Christians today who do sanctify God's name Jehovah and believe that He cannot die. They teach that His Son did die but that "the God of our Lord Jesus" resurrected him with an immortal spirit body and he is now in heaven with the God that resurrected him.	Hay cristianos hoy en día que sí santifican el nombre de Dios, Jehová, y creen que Él no puede morir. Ellos enseñan que Su Hijo sí murió pero que “el Dios de nuestro Señor Jesucristo” lo resucitó con un cuerpo espiritual inmortal y que él ahora esta en los cielos con el Dios que lo resucitó.
These Christians understand what death is, and because they do, they also understand what the resurrection is.	Estos cristianos entienden que es la muerte, y porque lo entienden, ellos también comprenden que es la resurrección.
Although Jesus was the very first one to be resurrected, he is not the only one. God resurrected him and gave him a very important assignment.	Aunque Jesús fue el primero en ser resucitado a la vida eterna o inmortal, él no sería el unico. Dios lo resucito y le dió una asignación muy importante.
The Apostle Paul stated the following:	El apóstol Pablo lo mencionó en el siguiente versículo:

I have hope toward God, which hope these men themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. (Acts 24:15)	Tengo esperanza en cuanto a Dios, esperanza que estos mismos también abrigan, de que va a haber resurrección así de justos como de injustos. (Hechos 24:15)
Jesus himself promised:	Y Jesús mismo prometió:
Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out. (John 5:28-29)	No se maravillen de esto, porque viene la hora en que todos los que están en las tumbas conmemorativas oirán su voz y saldrán. (Juan 5:28-29)
Yes, "there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous", "all those in the memorial tombs will hear his (Jesus') voice and come out." This resurrection will not be in heaven, but on a paradise earth.	Si, “va a haber resurrección así de justos como de injustos”, y “todos los que están en las tumbas conmemorativas oirán su voz [de Jesús] y saldrán.” Esta resurrección no sería en los cielos, sino en una tierra hecha un paraíso.

Why will the unrighteous be resurrected?	¿Por qué los injustos serían resucitados?
Well, what did the unrighteous man who died alongside of Jesus ask for?	Bueno, ¿qué pedía el hombre injusto que murió al lado de Jesús?
And he went on to say: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.” And he said to him: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)	Y pasó a decir: “Jesús, acuérdate de mí cuando entres en tu reino”. Y él le dijo: “Verdaderamente te digo hoy: Estarás conmigo en el Paraíso”. (Lucas 23:42-43)
Was that unrighteous man not asking Jesus for another opportunity? Unrighteous ones are given another opportunity to change under Christ's rulership here on earth; "when (Jesus) gets into his kingdom".	¿No es cierto que aquel hombre injusto estaba pidiendo a Jesús una nueva oportunidad? A las personas injustas se les dará una nueva oportunidad para cambiar bajo la gobernación de Cristo sobre nuestra Tierra; o sea “cuando Jesús entre en su reino”.

This is all part of the "good news of the kingdom" that primitive Christians are preaching today and the work it was told they would be doing before the end of this system of things. You can read about this in your Bible at Matthew 24:14 as follows:	Todo esto es parte de las “buenas nuevas del reino” que los cristianos primitivos estan predicando hoy en día. Es la obra que fue profetizada que ellos harían antes de venir el fin de este sistema de cosas. Usted puede leer acerca de esto en su Biblia en Mateo 24:14:
And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.	Y estas buenas nuevas del reino se predicarán en toda la tierra habitada para testimonio a todas las naciones; y entonces vendrá el fin.
When Christians come to your home to help you understand your Bible, Why not be like the man who did the following:	Cuando estos cristianos vengan a su casa para ayudarle a entender su Biblia, ¿por qué no imita al hombre que hizo lo siguiente?
So the spirit said to Philip: “Approach and join yourself to this chariot.” Philip ran alongside and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet, and he said: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” He said: “Really, how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?” And he entreated Philip to get on and sit down with him. (Acts 8:29-31)	De modo que el espíritu dijo a Felipe: “Acércate y únete a este carro”. Felipe corrió al lado y le oyó leer en voz alta a Isaías el profeta, y dijo: “¿Verdadera-mente sabes lo que estás leyendo?”. Él dijo: “¿Realmente, cómo podría hacerlo, a menos que alguien me guiara?”. Y suplicó a Felipe que subiera y se sentara con él. (Hechos 8:29-31)

Yes, ask them to sit down with you and help you understand the Scriptures. They will be more than happy to help you and they will NEVER ask you for money.	Si, pidales que se sienten con usted para ayudarle a entender las Escrituras. Ellos estarán encantados de poder ayudarle y además NUNCA le pedirán dinero a cambio.
Continue with "Preaching" article ...	Continua con el articulo sobre "Predicar"

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