For God, Time is the Unfolding of Truth
As Christians, God is calling us to faithfully preach His love and truth. And regardless of beliefs, the truth is the truth.
Narrow is the Path
God revealed Himself to us and saved us from sin. The path to salvation is through Jesus Christ, and through no other. Narrow is the path and Christians must dive into scripture to ensure they have adequate knowledge to stay on the narrow path to the truth.
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” — Romans 10:13–14
“In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” — 1 Corinthians 9:14
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20
“And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” — Mark 16:15–16
“And he said to me, Son of man, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. And he said to me, Son of man, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. And he said to me, Son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them.” — Ezekiel 3:1–4
False Teaching: Religious Pluralism
Religious pluralism is false knowledge. It is the belief that there is more than one true religion. This belief is based on the concept of syncretism, which is the idea that different religions can share common beliefs and practices.
Religious pluralism is not a new concept; it has been around since the early days of Christianity. However, it has become especially popular in modern times as people seek to find common ground between different religious traditions, particularly with respect to issues like social justice and equality. This idea of religious pluralism directly challenges the core beliefs of Christianity. It implies that there are many paths to God, which goes against the very foundation of Christianity: that Jesus is the only way to know and experience God.
Jesus proclaimed that He alone is the path to salvation and eternal life in Heaven.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6
Religious pluralism is wrong. The Bible is clear in that the way to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way — He is the truth and the life.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” — 1 John 5:11–12
“I and the Father are one.” — John 10:30
“All things the Father has are Mine.” — John 16:15
The Bible is also clear on what will happen to those who do not have faith in Jesus Christ.
“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” — Revelation 20:15
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
There is no other way to heaven except through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear that there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12
“Narrow is the path that leads to life, and only a few find it.” — Matthew 7:14
The Bible says that in the last days, there will be false teachers who will lead many astray.
“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” — Matthew 24:11
Obey God, Not Men
It is true that we are not to judge, but that does not mean we are not to proclaim the truth. It is our duty to share the truth, especially when other Christians hear and believe false proclamations, such as Jesus is not the only way. This is blasphemy and leads to a place that is not Heaven.
If you are a Christian and you believe Jesus is not the only way, then you are calling Jesus a liar. If Jesus was a great moral teacher, but not the only path to God, then he must be lying. Yet, a great moral teacher wouldn’t lie. Therefore, are you to believe in false teachings expressed by men or the truth in the Word of God?
“We must obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29
Supreme Being
“Eternal Father, You are almighty, reaching from end to end of the universe, and ordering all things with Your mighty arm. For You, time is the unfolding of truth that already is and the unveiling of beauty that is yet to be. Guide us by Your wisdom, correct us with Your justice, comfort us with Your mercy, and protect us with Your power, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen” — Prayer from The Apostolate’s Family Catechism Abridged One-Volume Edition by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.
God is the Supreme Being. The word supreme means above all others. God is the source of all being. He is above all that exists. [1] There cannot be more than one God because there cannot be two supreme beings. To say otherwise would be a contradiction. [2] There must be something or someone who was not made, someone with no beginning.
“My God, we believe that You are the Supreme Being. No one made You. You always were, and You always will be. You alone are God. Nothing happens without You. To You be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.” — Prayer from The Apostolate’s Family Catechism Abridged One-Volume Edition by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.
The Principle of Non-Contradiction
The principle of non-contradiction states that a thing cannot ‘be and not be’ at the same time. Something is either ‘A or Not-A’. There is no third alternative. A contradiction is nonsensical. ‘A cannot be equal to Not-A’. It is not what it is not. [3]
The Law of the Excluded Middle asserts that any statement is either true or false; there is no middle ground. For example, it is either raining outside (at my location) or it is not raining. There is no third option. [4]
A Circle: Has No Beginning or End
God is infinitely perfect. He knows and loves without limit. God is omnipotent. He is all-powerful and is all-knowing. He knows all things: past, present, and future. God is eternal. He has no beginning or end, just as a circle has no beginning or end. [5]
Scripture confirms God is the one and only supreme Being:
“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” — Psalm 95:3
“For I have known that the Lord is great; and our God is above all gods.” — Psalm 135:6
“And He said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the End.” — Revelation 21:6
“Remember the former age, for I am God, and there is no God beside Me, neither is there the like to Me.” — Isaiah 46:9
“Know therefore this day, and think in your heart that the Lord He is God in Heaven above, and in the earth beneath, and there is no other.” — Deuteronomy 4:39
Angels and humans are spiritual beings, but finite and limited. Whereas angels are purely spiritual beings, we are both spiritual and material beings. [6] We are not perfect; however, God is pure love, perfect goodness, and absolute truth.
“My God, we believe that You are infinitely perfect and infinitely good. Gifts without measure flow from Your goodness to bring us Your Peace. Our lives are Your gift. Guide them on their journeys, for only Your love makes us whole. Keep us strong in Your love. From Your goodness we have received all that is good. Direct our steps in our everyday efforts. May the changing moods of the human heart and the limits which our failings impose on hope never blind us to You, source of every good, forever and ever. Amen.” — Prayer from The Apostolate’s Family Catechism Abridged One-Volume Edition by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.
Five Ways or Proofs
There is no place where God is not. Nothing happens unless someone intelligent ultimately makes it happen. When scientists study how the world developed, they come to a point where they have to ask, “Who started it all?” [7]
To answer this question, let’s examine Saint Thomas Aquinas and his five ways or proofs:
1. The Proof from Motion
“Before the mountains were made, or the world and the earth were formed; from eternity to eternity, You were God.” — Psalm 90:2
2. The Proof from Causation
We can note that everything in the universe comes from something else. We can argue in this manner, from effect to cause, until we come to the very first particles of matter and energy that came into existence. [8]
3. The Proof from Possibility and Necessity
Where did these changing and changeable first things come from? Of necessity, they came from something uncreated and outside the chain of effect and cause found in the created universe. [9]
4. The Proof from the Gradation of Being
To maintain that the most primitive particles in the universe had no beginning is not a scientific conclusion; rather, it is an arbitrary one without scientific support. The fact that these particles are changing and changeable indicates that they are derived from something else. [10]
5. The Teleological Argument
Only something unchanging and unchangeable can be said to have always existed. To argue that all changing and changeable matter and energy have been eternally coming into existence in an unending chain of cause and effect, especially an intelligent and orderly chain of cause and effect, is unreasonable. And it is most certainly an unscientific conclusion. [11]
Let’s dive into the five ways a little deeper.
1. The proof from motion: Saint Thomas Aquinas argues that since everything that is in motion must have been put in motion by something, there must be an Unmoved Mover who started the chain of movement.
Metaphor or Analogy: The proof from motion is like a chain reaction. Once the Unmoved Mover (or Prime Mover) starts the chain of movement, everything else falls into place.
2. The proof from causation: Aquinas argues that since everything must have a cause, there must be a First Cause that is uncaused.
Metaphor or Analogy: The proof from causation is like a domino effect. Once the First Cause sets the chain of events in motion, everything else falls into place.
3. The proof from possibility and necessity: Aquinas argues that since everything that exists does so either by necessity or by chance, there must be something that exists by necessity.
Metaphor or Analogy: The proof from possibility and necessity is like a coin flip. If everything that exists does so by chance, then there must be something that exists by necessity. This means, there must be a head or a tail to the coin.
4. The proof from the gradation of being: Aquinas argues that since everything that exists is graded in terms of perfection, there must be something that is perfect in every way and therefore exists by necessity.
Metaphor or Analogy: The proof from the gradation of being is like a scale. If everything that exists is graded in terms of perfection, then there must be something that is perfect in every way and therefore exists by necessity. This something would be at the top of the scale.
5. The teleological argument: Aquinas argues that since everything in the world has a purpose, there must be something that gives things their purpose.
Metaphor or Analogy: The teleological argument is like a machine. All the parts of the machine have a purpose and they work together to achieve that purpose. There must be someone who designed the machine and gave it its purpose.
Another example is comparing the complexity of the human body to that of a computer. If you were to explain how a computer works and demonstrate the many intricate problems it could solve, you would need to show someone a detailed diagram of its inner workings. What other conclusion could you come to other than someone had to design and make it? Could you reasonably explain that it just happened to come together by chance?
In addition, everything in the universe, whether in the outer reaches of space, visible to the naked eye on earth, or visible only through the lens of an electron microscope, makes up an orderly whole. This amazing unity among such diversity can only be reasonably explained by the existence of a Supreme Intelligent Being, Whom we call God. [12]
The Perfections of God
In the Holy Trinity, the triangle signifies that there are three persons in one God; just as there are three sides in a triangle, yet there is only one triangle. [13]
If you remove the sides of a triangle, God still exists as one supreme Being. Think of a spirit. A spirit means something which has no body. It cannot be seen because it is made up of no parts. There is nothing that can ever be broken up; there is nothing subject to corruption or decay. A spirit is immortal by nature. [14]
Biblical Trinity: Father — Son — Holy Spirit
Each side of a triangle is distinct, yet each side is one and the same. Similarly, the Son is not the Father nor the Holy Spirit but is God. The Father is not the Son nor the Holy Spirit but is God. The Holy Spirit is not the Son nor the Father but is God.
To understand the Trinity, let’s turn to scripture:
“Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.” — John 8:16
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” — John 14:26
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” — Acts 10:38
Everything is like One Thought in the Mind of God
“O Lord, You have knowledge of all things.” — Esther 14:14
One of the most amazing things about God is the grace He grants a sinner like me. It’s amazing to feel the grace by simply attending mass or even in the confessional or reciting prayer, for which the devil hates: prayers like the Holy Rosary or simple prayers to Jesus, such as:
“O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy Upon Me, A Sinner. Amen”
We obtain access by faith into His grace. He builds our character through our suffering. He is truly wonderful and amazing!
“Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” — Romans 5:2–5
God Bless the United States of America!
“God is Good!” — Bob Bearley
[1] The Apostolate’s Family Catechism Abridged One-Volume Edition by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.(1993). Bloomingdale, Ohio: Apostolate for Family Consecration, Inc.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Bobonich, C. (n.d.). The Law of the Excluded Middle. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://web.stanford.edu/~bobonich/glances%20ahead/IV.excluded.middle.html
[4] Ibid.
[5] The Apostolate’s Family Catechism Abridged One-Volume Edition by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.(1993). Bloomingdale, Ohio: Apostolate for Family Consecration, Inc.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.
