THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1)

This is one of the most important questions, and the answer to this can change our lives forever. Because if God does exist, it changes the way we look at the universe, it changes the way we look at people. And it changes the way we look at ourselves. Not as people who are alive because of chance but because we have been created by God.

We are constantly challenged by atheists, skeptics, and hecklers to prove that there is a God. It is difficult for the natural man to believe in something that he cannot see, touch or feel. (I Corinthians 2:14).  We live in a physical and spiritual world. People who do not believe in God often deny the existence of a spiritual reality. And yet most people acknowledge that this is true, that it exists. Why, because they experience it. The spiritual world is like a different dimension. You can’t physically see it with your eyes. The spiritual world affects the physical. Those who deny it, start to believe once they experience supernatural, unexplainable things, like miracles, near-death experiences, visions, and dreams. Then there are demons and evil spirits. The Devil and demons are real. Many people have experienced it.    

The problem for the child of God is solved with the first verse of the Bible (Genesis 1:1). The Bible is not a textbook that attempts to prove the existence of God, the Bible opens with a positive fact that God does exist.

It did not occur to any of the writers of the Bible to prove this fact. The Bible plainly states that it is the fool who denies the existence of God (Psalms 14:1). Anyone with any intelligence would acknowledge the evident fact of a living God.

The Bible never tries to prove there is a God. It assumes that man knows that there is a God, and says, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God". There are many pieces of evidence why we can believe that God exists.

THE ARGUMENT FROM THE CONSCIENCE

That which is in man, sometimes called the "first truths", that belief that knows that there is a God without anyone revealing that fact. A child knows there is a God. Who has told him? All races of the world know there is a God, though they are not worshiping the One and Only and True God (Romans 2:15). The existence of God is written in the human conscience (Acts 17:23). Conscience told them that there was a God though they did not know Him personally.

Some atheists may claim that their conscience does not tell them about God. It is doubtful if a genuine atheist can be found for at best they are men who have stilled their conscience by blatant unbelief. Some men are so blind that they may deny the existence of the sun in the sky but that does not alter the fact that the sun exists, rises, and sets each day. None are as blind as those who refuse to see. The honest man will find that the inner still small voice says that God exists and is alive today.

Men deny the existence of God not because they cannot find Him but because they are afraid to face the responsibility of being accountable to Him after death. Atheism is one of the devil's tools to put men to sleep without accepting salvation. If there is no God then I am not responsible to anyone and I can live and die as I please. But in the quieter moments of reflection, the conscience of every man whispers, "There is a God" and only fools deny it. The evidence of the existence of God is in man, born in him.

To look up and see a plane and not see the pilot and say that the plane is pilotless is as ridiculous as looking into the heavens and saying that there is no God simply because we cannot see Him.

THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (Romans 1:20)

This is the argument from cause and effect. Here is the world, how did it come to be? There is a Cause or Power behind everything. There must be a Maker or Creator someone must have caused it to come into being at one time or another. It is easy to think that back of the Creation is God, but it is impossible to think back of God.

If all the pieces of a watch were placed in a can and the can shaken gently for a million years the watch would not be "accidentally" put together and running. Someone operates the universe. The only sensible answer to the problem of the existence of the world is the existence of an intelligent Being whom we call God.

THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

A watch not only exists but it has a designer. It was planned for a specific purpose. It was designed by a keen mind to accurately tell the time. An examination of the world and the things large and small shows that each is designed by an intelligent mind for a specific purpose in life. There is perfect design and order in the universe.

The snowflake is a beautiful pattern that man could never duplicate. Why does ice rise to the top of the water and not to the bottom when it freezes? Should this not be so, then all water would eventually freeze, and the fish would perish! How is it possible that spring, summer, fall, and winter all come in order, and have been doing so for millenniums? Why is it that the sun comes no closer to the earth (melting it) nor goes further away from it (freezing it)? There must be a Designer behind all creation, and that Designer is God!

THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Man has an intellectual and moral nature showing that the Creator must not be merely an inanimate force but a living, intelligent moral Being, (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 94:9). Conscience teaches man right and wrong, good and bad; for the creator is a moral being that is holy, and loves righteousness but abhors evil.

Man is a direct result of the creation of God, as other creatures are, yet these creatures do not possess the moral and intellectual qualities of man. Why? If man could create them, so could animals. But man has the capacity to know, to reason. If man did not get these qualities from some One, where did he get them? 

FROM HISTORY

Truly, history is His story! History verifies the fact that there is a God. History has proved the fact of God against those who have repudiated His law. Thus, Christians should never worry over world conditions. God is on His throne. Nothing can happen but by His will. History only fulfills what God has said would happen. History proves there is a God!

FROM EXPERIENCE

This is one of the greatest proofs yet for the existence of God. Men have been transformed by the power of God. There is no explanation other than God! Prayers that have been answered attest to the existence of God.

THE LIFE ARGUMENT

Life comes from life and the original life must have come from a being possessing eternal life, that is, a life that existed before physical life was created. Where can such life be found? It can only be found in God who possesses eternal life (Psalms 36:9). The apple tree gets its life from the parent tree, the lamb from the mother sheep. But where did they get life from? We have to go back to the original creation. All life proceeds from God (John 11:25; 14:6). The theory of spontaneous generation has been proved false and completely unacceptable to authoritative science.

THE BIBLICAL ASSUMPTION

The Bible is the only Book that is God-inspired. The Bible is the standard for all right conduct in the world. If the Bible is not the Word of God, then we have no God; we can never know God. The person who accepts Scripture will readily acknowledge the existence of God.

CRISTOLOGICAL REVELATION

In Jesus, God came down to man to tell us what He is like. If Jesus is not God, then there is no God. God can never be known (John 1:18). But Jesus is God manifested in the flesh, and He and His life prove the existence of God!

PROFETICAL DECLARATION

God forecast the future. Anyone who can do this is more than man. Man cannot always tell the past, much less the future. When Christ was crucified there were twenty-five distinct prophecies fulfilled, prophecies written centuries before.

THE ARGUMENT FROM CONGRUITY

The theory of atheism solves no problems but only multiplies unsolved mysteries. The acceptance of the existence of God as Creator of the world is like a magic key that fits all the facts of Scripture, revelation, knowledge, and science. This irrefutable doctrine is held tenaciously by multitudes of souls who are willing both to live and die in the consolation of this assurance.

Atheism which is only doubt and unbelief can only lead to darkness and despair for the one accepting it. The acceptance of Genesis 1:1 leads a sincere seeker into the path of a fuller revelation of God Himself. Let us come as children in simple faith, based on the revelation of God in scripture and nature, believing and trusting Him completely (Hebrews 11:6).

 

ATRIBUTOS DE DIOS

Colosenses 1:16-19

Cuando hablamos de los atributos de Dios, estamos tratando de responder preguntas como, ¿quién es Dios, cómo es Dios y qué clase de Dios es? Un atributo de Dios es algo verdadero en él. Mientras comprender plenamente quién es Dios, es imposible para nosotros, Dios se da a conocer de diversas maneras, y a través de lo que revela sobre sí mismo en su Palabra y en su creación, podemos comenzar a comprender quién es Él.

Debido a la autor revelación de Dios en las Escrituras, podemos saber algunas cosas acerca de su gloria incomprensible. A medida que aprendemos más sobre el carácter de Dios, estaremos en mejores condiciones para adorarlo en verdad y relacionarnos con él con amor. Las respuestas a todos los problemas y cuestiones de la vida, tanto en el tiempo como en la eternidad, se resuelven mediante una comprensión correcta de Dios.

Cuanto más discernimos las cualidades de alguien, mejor conocemos a esa persona y, por lo tanto, nuestra amistad puede profundizarse. Del mismo modo, cuanto más conozcamos las cualidades de Dios, mejor sabremos cómo es él y, por lo tanto, nuestra amistad se profundizará. Esto es esencial y es el fundamento de un caminar íntimo con Dios mediante el cual podemos aprender a relacionarnos personalmente con el quién es y qué es Dios.

CATEGORÍAS DE ATRIBUTOS DE DIOS

Algunos de los atributos de Dios son "incomunicables" (cualidades que posee solo Dios) y otros son "comunicables" (cualidades que tanto Dios como nosotros poseemos, aunque solo Él las posee perfectamente).

1. Los atributos primarios son atributos intrínsecos e intransferibles de Dios que no son personales ni morales. La gloria, el infinito, la eternidad, la existencia propia, la sencillez y la independencia.

2. Los atributos relativos son aquellos atributos intransferibles que son verdaderos de Dios en relación con el orden creado. Dios es omnipresente, omnisciente, omnipotente, trascendente, inmanente y soberano en relación con el universo.

3. Los atributos personales son aquellos que son esenciales para la personalidad. Dios ha compartido con nosotros hasta cierto punto Su vitalidad, Su personalidad, Su libertad y Su espiritualidad.

4. Los atributos morales son aquellos que tienen que ver con la rectitud del carácter y las acciones de Dios. Sabemos que podemos compartir estos atributos hasta cierto punto, ya que Dios nos ordena que seamos santos y amorosos como Él (Lev. 11:44-45; I Tes. 4:7). Además del amor y la santidad, los atributos morales incluyen misericordia, gracia, fidelidad, paciencia, rectitud y justicia.

DIOS ES INFINITO: ÉL ES AUTO-EXISTENTE, SIN ORIGEN

"Y él es antes de todas las cosas, y en él todas las cosas subsisten". (Colosenses 1:17)

“Grande es nuestro Señor, y grande en poder; su entendimiento es inconmensurable.” (Salmo 147: 5)

El hecho de que Dios existe por sí mismo, que fue creado por nada y que siempre ha existido para siempre es quizás uno de los atributos de Dios más difíciles de entender para nosotros. Admitir que hay Uno que está más allá de nosotros, que existe fuera de todas nuestras categorías, que no aparecerá ante el tribunal de nuestra razón, ni se someterá a nuestras curiosas preguntas, requiere mucha humildad, más de la que la mayoría de nosotros poseemos, así que salvamos las apariencias pensando en Dios a nuestro nivel, o al menos hasta donde podemos manejarlo.

El nombre de Jehová se usa unas 6,800 veces en la Biblia. Es el nombre del pacto personal de Dios. En la versión King James de la Biblia, se traduce Señor Dios. No solo habla de la fuerza de Dios, sino también de Su soberanía y de Su bondad. La raíz de este nombre significa "auto existente", uno que nunca llegó a existir y que siempre lo será. Cuando Moisés le preguntó a Dios: "¿A quién le diré que Faraón me ha enviado?" Dios dijo: "YO SOY EL QUE SOY". Jehová o Yahweh es el nombre más intensamente sagrado para los escribas judíos y muchos ni siquiera pronuncian el nombre. Cuando es posible, usan otro nombre."

DIOS ES INMUTABLE: NUNCA CAMBIA

“Yo, el Señor, no cambio. Así que ustedes, los descendientes de Jacob, no han sido destruidos.” (Malaquías 3: 6)

Dios no cambia. Quién es nunca cambia. Sus atributos son los mismos desde antes del comienzo de los tiempos hasta la eternidad. Su carácter nunca cambia; nunca se pone "mejor" o "peor". Sus planes no cambian. Sus promesas no cambian.

¡Lo que esto significa es que Dios es confiable! Nuestra confianza en él es, por lo tanto, una confianza segura, porque sabemos que él no cambiará, de hecho, no puede cambiar. Sus propósitos son infalibles, sus promesas inexpugnables. Debido a que el Dios que nos prometió la vida eterna es inmutable, podemos estar seguros de que nada, ni problemas, dificultades, persecución, hambre, desnudez, peligro o espada, nos separará de su amor. Es porque Jesucristo es el mismo ayer, hoy y siempre que ni ángeles ni demonios, ni presente ni futuro, ni poderes, altura, profundidad, ni ninguna otra cosa en toda la creación, podrá separarnos del amor de Dios que es en Cristo Jesús Señor nuestro (Romanos 8: 35-39).

DIOS ES AUTOSUFICIENTE: NO TIENE NECESIDADES

"Porque como el Padre tiene vida en sí mismo, así también le ha concedido al Hijo tener vida en sí mismo". (Juan 5:26)

Como seres humanos limitados, tenemos necesidades increíbles, que si no se satisfacen, resultan en la muerte. Dios, sin embargo, nunca ha necesitado nada. Dios está perfectamente completo dentro de su propio ser.

La autosuficiencia de Dios significa que “posee infinitas riquezas de ser, sabiduría, bondad y poder en sí mismo (Génesis 17: 1; Juan 5:26; Efesios 3:16). Debido a que Dios es autosuficiente, podemos acudir a él para satisfacer todas nuestras necesidades. Nunca tenemos que preocuparnos por "secar" su interminable pozo de bondad, paz, misericordia y gracia. “Ahora al que puede hacer inconmensurablemente más de lo que pedimos o imaginamos, según el poder que obra en nosotros…” (Efesios 3:20)

DIOS ES OMNIPOTENTE: ÉL ES TODOPODEROSO

“Por la palabra del SEÑOR fueron hechos los cielos, su ejército de estrellas por el aliento de su boca”. (Salmo 33: 6)

“¿Puedes sondear los misterios de Dios? ¿Puedes sondear los límites del Todopoderoso? Son más altos que los cielos de arriba, ¿qué puedes hacer? Son más profundos que las profundidades de abajo, ¿qué puedes saber? Su medida es más larga que la tierra y más ancha que el mar. Si viene y te encierra en la cárcel y convoca un tribunal, ¿quién puede oponerse a él? Seguramente reconoce a los engañadores; y cuando ve el mal, ¿no se da cuenta? ” (Job 11: 7-11)

Omnipotente significa tener poder ilimitado (omni = todo; potente = poderoso). Dios es capaz y poderoso de hacer todo lo que quiera sin ningún esfuerzo de su parte.

Es importante notar la parte de "cualquier cosa que él quiera" de esa declaración porque Dios no puede hacer nada que sea contradictorio o contrario a su naturaleza. Hebreos 6:18 lo expresa así: “Dios eso esto para que, por dos cosas inmutables en las que es imposible que Dios mienta, los que hemos huido para asirnos de la esperanza que tenemos ante nosotros seamos grandemente animados.”

El atributo de omnipotencia de Dios significa que Dios puede hacer todo lo que desea hacer. Cuando Él planea algo, llegará a suceder. Si se propone algo, sucederá. Nada puede impedir Su plan. Cuando su mano está extendida para hacer algo, nadie puede dar marcha atrás. La omnipotencia proviene de dos palabras latinas. Omni significa "todos" y potens significa "poderoso". Las decisiones de Dios siempre están de acuerdo con Su carácter, y Él tiene todo el poder para hacer lo que decida hacer.

La Palabra de Dios es clara en que Él es fuerte y poderoso (Salmo 24: 8). Nada es demasiado difícil para Él (Génesis 18:14; Jeremías 32:17, 27; Lucas 1:37). A menudo Dios es llamado "Todopoderoso", y lo describe como Aquel que posee todo poder y autoridad (II Corintios 6:18; Apocalipsis 1: 8). De hecho, Pablo dice que Dios "puede hacer muchísimo más de lo que pedimos o imaginamos" (Efesios 3:20).

Aunque tal poder pueda parecer espantoso, recuerde que Dios es bueno. Él puede hacer cualquier cosa de acuerdo con Su habilidad infinita, pero solo hará aquellas cosas que sean consistentes con Él. Es por eso que Él no puede mentir, tolerar el pecado o salvar a los pecadores impenitentes.

DIOS ES OMNISCIENTE: LO SABE TODO

“Recuerda las cosas anteriores, las de antaño; Yo soy Dios y no hay otro; Yo soy Dios y no hay nadie como yo. Doy a conocer el fin desde el principio, desde la antigüedad, lo que está por venir. Yo digo: Mi propósito se mantendrá y haré todo lo que me plazca.”(Isaías 46: 9-10)

Dios es omnisciente, lo que significa que lo sabe todo. Puede estar en todas partes, al mismo tiempo. Él es consciente de cada momento de cada día, exactamente a lo que nos enfrentamos. Él conoce nuestro camino y está siempre con nosotros. No hay lugar en esta tierra al que podamos ir que Él no vea ni conozca.

Dios se conoce perfectamente a sí mismo y, siendo la fuente y el autor de todas las cosas, se deduce que conoce todo lo que se puede conocer. Y esto lo sabe instantáneamente y con una plenitud de perfección que incluye todo conocimiento posible acerca de todo lo que existe o podría haber existido en cualquier parte del universo en cualquier momento del pasado o que pueda existir en los siglos o edades aún por nacer.

Debido a que Dios lo sabe todo, podemos confiar en que él sabe todo lo que estamos pasando hoy y todo lo que pasaremos mañana. Cuando meditamos en esta verdad, especialmente a la luz de sus otros atributos de bondad y amor, es más fácil confiar en él con todo lo que sucede en nuestras vidas.

DIOS ES OMNIPRESENTE: SIEMPRE ESTÁ EN TODAS PARTES

“¿A dónde puedo ir de Tu Espíritu? ¿O adónde huiré de tu presencia? Si subo al cielo, allí estás; Si hago mi cama en el Seol, he aquí que tú estás allí. Si tomare las alas del alba, si habito en lo más remoto del mar, aun allí me guiará tu mano, y me asirá tu diestra. (Salmo 139: 7-10)

"¿Soy yo un Dios cercano", declara el Señor, "y no un Dios lejano? ¿Puede un hombre esconderse en lugares secretos para que yo no pueda verlo? ”Declara el Señor. "¿No lleno yo los cielos y la tierra?" Declara el Señor "(Jeremías 23: 23-24)

Ser omnipresente es estar en todos los lugares, en todo momento. Es importante entender que para Dios “estar” en un lugar no es lo mismo que nosotros estamos en un lugar. El ser de Dios es totalmente diferente de la materia física. Existe en un plano totalmente distinguible del que está fácilmente disponible para los cinco sentidos.

Sin embargo, él está con nosotros, la plenitud de su presencia nos rodea. “¿A dónde me iré de tu Espíritu? ¿O adónde huiré de tu presencia? Si subo al cielo, ¡estás ahí! Si hago mi cama en el Sheol, ¡allí estás tú! Si tomo las alas del alba y habito en los confines del mar, aun allí me guiará tu mano, y me asirá tu diestra. (Salmo 139)

Esto debería consolarnos cuando luchamos con la soledad y el dolor profundo. De una manera muy real, Dios siempre está cerca de nosotros. El conocimiento de que nunca estamos solos nos calma y habla de paz a nuestro corazón.

DIOS ES SABIO: ESTÁ LLENO DE SABIDURÍA PERFECTA E INMUTABLE

“¡Oh, la profundidad de las riquezas tanto de la sabiduría como del conocimiento de Dios! ¡Cuán inescrutables son sus juicios e insondables sus caminos!” (Romanos 11:33)

La sabiduría es más que solo conocimiento e inteligencia mental. Una persona verdaderamente sabia es alguien que comprende todos los hechos y toma las mejores decisiones. Una persona sabia usa su corazón y su mente junto con habilidad y competencia. Pero incluso el hombre más sabio de la tierra nunca se acercaría a ser tan sabio como Dios. Dios es infinitamente sabio, consistentemente sabio y perfectamente sabio.

La sabiduría, entre otras cosas, es la capacidad de idear fines perfectos y lograr esos fines por los medios más perfectos. Ve el final desde el principio, por lo que no puede haber necesidad de adivinar o conjeturar. La sabiduría ve todo en foco, cada uno en la debida relación con todos, y por lo tanto es capaz de trabajar hacia metas predestinadas con impecable precisión.

Cuando vemos una sabiduría como esta, nos damos cuenta de cuánto se compara nuestra sabiduría limitada y finita con la sabiduría ilimitada e infinita de Dios. ¡Y cuán reconfortante y maravilloso es para el hombre pensar en esto! El hecho de que Dios nunca pueda ser más sabio significa que siempre está haciendo lo más sabio en nuestras vidas. Ningún plan que pudiéramos hacer para nuestras vidas podría ser mejor que el plan que él ya ha elaborado y está llevando a cabo para nosotros. Es posible que no comprendamos sus caminos hoy, pero podemos confiar en que debido a que Dios es infinitamente sabio, realmente está resolviendo todas las cosas de la mejor manera posible.

DIOS ES FIEL: ES INFINITA E INALTERABLEMENTE VERDADERO

“Gustad y ved que el Señor es bueno” (Salmo 34: 8)

La bondad de Dios “lo dispone a ser bondadoso, cordial, benevolente y lleno de buena voluntad para con los hombres. Él es de corazón tierno y de rápida simpatía y su actitud inquebrantable hacia todos los seres morales es abierta, franca y amistosa. Por su naturaleza, se inclina a otorgar bienaventuranza y se complace en la felicidad de su pueblo.

Al igual que sus otros atributos, la bondad de Dios existe dentro de su inmutabilidad y naturaleza infinita, por lo que es inmutable, siempre bueno. Su misericordia fluye de su bondad.

A muchos les resulta más fácil afirmar la bondad de Dios cuando las cosas van bien. Cuando las cosas en su vida van mal, es cuando comenzamos a cuestionar la bondad de Dios hacia nosotros.

Cuando el salmista escribe: "Probad y ved que el Señor es bueno" (Salmo 34), nos invita no solo a creer que Dios es bueno, sino a experimentar la bondad de Dios. El salmista afirma su experiencia de la bondad de Dios desde un lugar de sufrimiento. En el versículo 19, hace el notable anuncio: "Muchas son las aflicciones del justo". Incluso con un buen Dios, que es soberano sobre todo y tiene el poder de hacer lo que quiera, la gente buena sigue sufriendo. “Pero el Señor lo librará de todos ellos”. El mal sucede, pero "ninguno de los que se refugian en él será condenado" (34:22).

DIOS ES JUSTO: ES INFINITAMENTE, INMUTABLEMENTE CORRECTO Y PERFECTO EN TODO LO QUE HACE

"¡Él es la Roca! Su obra es perfecta, porque todos sus caminos son justos; un Dios de fidelidad y sin injusticia, justo y recto es él". - Dúo 32: 4

¿Qué significa que Dios es justo? Significa más de lo que es simplemente justo. Significa que siempre hace lo que es correcto y bueno para con todos los hombres. Asimismo, aunque esto es difícil de aceptar para muchos, su sentencia al infierno de pecadores malvados e impenitentes también es correcta y buena.

Entonces, ¿cómo puede un Dios justo justificar al injusto? Mediante la obra expiatoria de Cristo (justificación y redención), la justicia no se viola, sino que se satisface cuando Dios perdona a un pecador. Su misericordia no le prohíbe ejercer su justicia, ni su justicia le prohíbe ejercer su misericordia. Él es completamente misericordioso y completamente justo.

A la luz de los otros atributos de Dios de bondad, misericordia, amor y gracia, hay algunos que podrían, por error, decir que Dios es demasiado bondadoso para castigar a los impíos. Pero creer esto significa que no comprendemos su justicia infinita e inmutable. Dios tendrá justicia por el pecado, ya sea de la muerte expiatoria de Cristo o, para aquellos que no lo acepten, de la ira eterna en el infierno.

DIOS ES MISERICORDIOSO: ES INFINITAMENTE, INCAMBIABLEMENTE COMPASIONADO Y AMABLE

"Tendré misericordia de quien yo tenga misericordia, y tendré compasión de quien me compadezca". Entonces, no depende del hombre que quiere ni del hombre que corre, sino de Dios que tiene misericordia "(Romanos 9: 15-16).

La misericordia de Dios es inseparable de su justicia. Él es infinitamente, inmutable e infaliblemente misericordioso, perdonador, amorosamente bondadoso con nosotros. Es inagotable y activamente compasivo. Su misericordia también es inmerecida por nosotros.

Sin la misericordia de Dios, no tendríamos esperanza (del cielo). Debido a nuestros corazones desobedientes, merecemos la muerte. "Por cuanto todos pecaron y están destituidos de la gloria de Dios", y "la paga del pecado es muerte". Pero debido a la misericordia, no obtenemos lo que merecemos. En cambio, debido a la misericordia de Dios, obtenemos vida a través de Cristo.

DIOS ES CLEMENTE: DIOS ESTÁ INFINITAMENTE INCLINADO A PERDONAR A LOS CULPABLES

"Clemente y misericordioso es Jehová; lento para la ira y grande en misericordia". (Salmo 145: 8)

Si la misericordia no es obtener lo que merecemos (condenación), la gracia es obtener lo que no merecemos (vida eterna). Debido a que la gracia es parte de quien es Dios y no solo una acción que él otorga, significa que podemos confiar en que la gracia es eterna. Su gracia es algo que no ganamos ni perdemos (“Porque por gracia habéis sido salvados mediante la fe, y esto no procede de vosotros, es don de Dios…” Efesios 2: 8). Su gracia también es soberana. “Tendré misericordia de quien quiera tener misericordia” (Éxodo 33:19).

Cuando se habla de la gracia de Dios, los teólogos a menudo diferencian entre la gracia común de Dios y su gracia salvadora. Su gracia común es un regalo para toda la humanidad. Es la razón por la que todos, cristianos o no cristianos, disfrutan de las bendiciones de la vida, la provisión y la abundancia (Mateo 5:45).

Si bien toda la humanidad se beneficia de la gracia común, solo aquellos que profesan creer y poner su fe en Cristo reciben la gracia salvadora. Esto es lo que resulta en nuestra santificación y nuestra glorificación de Dios, para que podamos vivir para él y disfrutarlo por toda la eternidad.

DIOS ES AMOROSO - DIOS NOS AMA INFINITA E INMUTABLEMENTE

“Amados, amémonos unos a otros, porque el amor es de Dios, y el que ama es nacido de Dios y conoce a Dios. El que no ama no conoce a Dios, porque Dios es amor.” (I Juan 4: 7-8)

Como ocurre con todos los atributos, solo podemos comenzar a comprender el amor de Dios a la luz de sus otros atributos. El amor de Dios es eterno, soberano, inmutable e infinito.

Aunque Dios es autosuficiente, quiere nuestro amor y no estará satisfecho hasta que lo obtenga. Libre como es, ha dejado que su corazón esté atado a nosotros para siempre. El amor de Dios está activo y nos atrae hacia él. Su amor es personal. No ama a la humanidad en un sentido vago, ama a los humanos. Él nos ama a ti y a mí. Y su amor por nosotros no tiene principio ni fin.

DIOS ES SANTO: ES INFINITA E INALTERABLEMENTE PERFECTO

“Santo, Santo, Santo es el Señor Todopoderoso” (Apocalipsis 4: 8)

La palabra santo significa sagrado, apartado, reverenciado o divino. Y, sin embargo, ninguna de esas palabras es adecuada para describir la asombrosa santidad de Dios. De todos los atributos de Dios, la santidad es el que lo describe más singularmente y en realidad es una suma de todos Sus otros atributos. La palabra santidad se refiere a Su separación, Su alteridad, el hecho de que Él es diferente a cualquier otro ser. Indica Su perfección completa e infinita. La santidad es el atributo de Dios que une a todos los demás.

Que Dios es santo significa que es infinitamente, siempre perfecto. Y su estándar para nosotros también es la perfección. “Sed, pues, perfectos, como es perfecto vuestro Padre Celestial” (Mateo 5:48). Por eso necesitamos a Cristo. Sin Cristo tomando el lugar por nosotros y muriendo por nuestros pecados, todos estaríamos cortos de la santa norma de Dios.

DIOS ES GLORIOSO: ES INFINITAMENTE HERMOSO Y GRANDE

“Su resplandor es como la luz del sol; Tiene rayos que brillan de su mano, y allí se esconde su poder ". (Habacuc 3: 4)

La gloria de Dios es, por supuesto, inseparable de sus otros atributos, por lo que Dios es eterna, infinita e inmutablemente glorioso. Su resplandor y belleza emanan de todo lo que es y de todo lo que hace. Isaías 43: 7 dice que el hombre fue creado por Dios para su gloria. Así que toda nuestra existencia y propósito es glorificarlo, ya que fuimos creados a su imagen y hacemos el buen trabajo que él ha preparado para que lo hagamos. Inevitablemente, el hombre tratará de encontrar gloria en otras cosas, o tratará de convertirse en objeto de gloria. Y cuando esas cosas no nos traen satisfacción, debemos decidir humillarnos y volver nuestra mirada hacia el único que es digno de gloria.

Los hechos son el fundamento, pero la meta es la comunión con Dios a medida que aprendemos acerca de Él, Su plan, propósitos, principios y promesas. Es esto lo que edifica la fe, da paz, consuelo, valor, alegría y la energía para afrontar la vida.

Es muy fácil insistir en cualidades como su misericordia y olvidar que también es un Dios celoso. Es fácil para nosotros recordar que él es nuestro amigo y olvidar que también es nuestro Rey Soberano. Nuestro Dios debe ser respetado como todo para nosotros, no solo como un aspecto.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

Colossians 1:16 - 19

When we talk about the attributes of God, we are trying to answer a question like, who is God, what is God like, and what kind of God is he? An attribute of God is something true about him. While fully comprehending who God is, is impossible for us, God does make himself known in a variety of ways, and through what he reveals about himself in his Word and his creation, we can begin to comprehend who He is.

Because of God’s self-revelation in Scripture, we can know some things about his incomprehensible glory. As we learn more about God’s character, we are better able to worship him in truth and relate to him in love. The answers to every problem and issue of life for both time and eternity are resolved through a correct understanding of God. 

The more we discern someone’s qualities, the better we know that person, and thus our friendship can deepen. Similarly, the more we come to know God’s qualities, the better we will know what he is like, and thus our friendship can deepen. This is essential and it is the foundation to an intimate walk with God by which we can learn to personally relate to who and what He is.

CATEGORIES OF GOD’S ATTRIBUTES

Some of God’s attributes are “incommunicable” (qualities possessed by God alone) and others are “communicable” (qualities that both God and we possess, though only He possesses them perfectly).

1. Primary attributes are God’s intrinsic non-transferable attributes which are not personal or moral, God’s glory, infinity, eternity, self-existence, simplicity, and independence.

2. Relative attributes are those non-transferable attributes that are true of God in relation to the created order. God is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, transcendent, immanent, and sovereign in relation to the universe.

3. Personal attributes are those that are essential for personhood. God has shared with us to an extent His aliveness, His personality, His freedom, and His spirituality.

4. Moral attributes are those attributes that have to do with the rightness of God’s character and actions. We know we can share in these attributes to a degree since God commands us to be holy and loving like He is (Lev. 11:44-45; I Thess. 4:7). Besides love and holiness, moral attributes include mercy, grace, faithfulness, patience, righteousness, and justice.

GOD IS INFINITE: HE IS SELF-EXISTING, WITHOUT ORIGIN

"And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5)

The fact that God is self-existent that he was created by nothing and has always existed forever is perhaps one of the hardest attributes of God for us to understand. To admit that there is One who lies beyond us, who exists outside of all our categories, who will not appear before the bar of our reason, nor submit to our curious inquiries, requires a great deal of humility, more than most of us possess, so we save face by thinking God down to our level, or at least down to where we can manage Him.

The name Jehovah is used some 6,800 times in the Bible. It is the personal covenant name of God. In the King James Version of the Bible, its translated Lord God. Not only does it speak of God's strength, but also His sovereignty and His goodness. The root of this name means "self-existing," one who never came into being, and one who always will be. When Moses asked God, "Who shall I tell Pharaoh has sent me?" God said, "I AM THAT I AM." Jehovah or Yahweh is the most intensely sacred name to Jewish scribes and many will not even pronounce the name. When possible, they use another name.”

GOD IS IMMUTABLE: HE NEVER CHANGES

“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6)

God does not change. Who he is never changes. His attributes are the same from before the beginning of time into eternity. His character never changes; he never gets “better” or “worse.” His plans do not change. His promises do not change.

What this means is that God is dependable! Our trust in him is, therefore, a confident trust, for we know that he will not, indeed cannot, change. His purposes are unfailing, his promises unassailable. It is because the God who promised us eternal life is immutable that we may rest assured that nothing, not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword shall separate us from His love. It is because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not even powers, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39)!

GOD IS SELF-SUFFICIENT: HE HAS NO NEEDS

“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” (John 5:26)

As limited humans, we have incredible needs, which left unfulfilled, result in death. God, however, has never once required anything. God is perfectly complete within his own being.

The self-sufficiency of God means he “possesses infinite riches of being, wisdom, goodness, and power in and of himself (Gen 17:1; John 5:26; Eph 3:16). Because God is self-sufficient, we can go to him to satisfy all our needs. We never have to worry about “drying up” his never-ending well of goodness, peace, mercy, and grace. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20)

GOD IS OMNIPOTENT: HE IS ALL-POWERFUL

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6)

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?”(Job 11:7-11)

Omnipotent means to have unlimited power (omni = all; potent = powerful). God is able and powerful to do anything he wills without any effort on his part.

It’s important to note the “anything he wills” part of that statement because God cannot do anything that is contradictory or contrary to his nature. Hebrews 6:18 puts it like this: “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.”

God's attribute of omnipotence means that God is able to do all that He desires to do. When He plans something, it will come to be. If He purposes something, it will happen. Nothing can prevent His plan. When His hand is stretched out to do something, no one can turn it back. Omnipotence comes from two Latin words. Omni means "all," and potent means "powerful." God's decisions are always in line with His character, and He has all the power to do whatever He decides to do.

God's Word is clear that He is strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8). Nothing is too hard for Him to do (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Luke 1:37). Often God is called "Almighty," describing Him as the One who possesses all power and authority (II Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8). In fact, Paul says that God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).

Although such power might seem frightful, remember that God is good. He can do anything according to His infinite ability but will do only those things that are consistent with Himself. That’s why He can’t lie, tolerate sin, or save impenitent sinners.

GOD IS OMNISCIENT: HE IS ALL-KNOWING                                       

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:9-10)

God is omniscient, which means he knows everything. He can be everywhere, at the same time. He's aware every moment of every day, exactly what we're up against. He knows our way and is with us always. There's no place on this earth we can go that He doesn't see and know of.

God perfectly knows Himself and, being the source and author of all things, it follows that He knows all that can be known. And this He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn.

Because God is all-knowing, we can trust that he knows everything we’re going through today and everything we will go through tomorrow. When we meditate on this truth, especially in light of his other attributes of goodness and love, it makes it easier to trust him with all we have going on in our lives.

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT: HE IS ALWAYS EVERYWHERE

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

“Am I a God at hand,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23-24)

To be omnipresent is to be in all places, at all times. It is important to understand that for God “to be” in a place is not the same way we are in a place. God’s being is altogether different from physical matter. He exists on a plane wholly distinguishable from the one readily available to the five senses.

Nonetheless, he is with us, the fullness of his presence is all around us. “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139)

This ought to comfort us when we struggle with loneliness and deep sorrow. In a very real way, God is always near us. The knowledge that we are never alone calms us and speaks peace to our hearts.

GOD IS WISE: HE IS FULL OF PERFECT, UNCHANGING WISDOM

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33)

Wisdom is more than just head knowledge and intelligence. A truly wise person is someone who understands all the facts and makes the best decisions. A wise person uses his heart and mind together with skill and competence. But even the wisest man on earth would never come close to being as wise as God. God is infinitely wise, consistently wise, and perfectly wise. 

Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision.

When we see wisdom like this, we realize just how much our limited, finite wisdom compares with the limitless, infinite wisdom of God. And how comforting and wonderful this is for man to dwell on! The fact that God can never be wiser means he is always doing the wisest thing in our lives. No plan we could make for our lives could be better than the plan he has already crafted and is carrying out for us. We might not understand his ways today, but we can trust that because God is infinitely wise, he truly is working all things out in the best possible way.

GOD IS FAITHFUL: HE IS INFINITELY, UNCHANGINGLY TRUE

“O, taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)

The goodness of God “disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of goodwill toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature, He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes pleasure in the happiness of His people.

Just like his other attributes, God’s goodness exists within his immutability, and infinite nature, so that he is unchangingly, always good. His mercy flows from his goodness.

Many find it easier to affirm the goodness of God when things are going well. When things in their life are bad, that’s when we begin to question God’s goodness towards us.

When the Psalmist writes “O, taste and see that the Lord is good,” (Psalm 34) he is inviting us not just to believe that God is good but to experience God’s goodness. The psalmist affirms his experience of God’s goodness from a place of suffering. In verse 19, he makes the remarkable announcement, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Even with a good God, who is sovereign over everything and has the power to do whatever he likes, good people still suffer. “but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Evil happens, but “none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” (34:22).

GOD IS JUST: HE IS INFINITELY, UNCHANGEABLY RIGHT AND PERFECT IN ALL HE DOES

"He is the Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” – Duet 32:4

What does it mean that God is just? It means more than he is simply fair. It means he always does what is right and good for all men. Likewise, although this is hard for many to accept, his sentencing of evil, unrepentant sinners to hell is also right and good. 

How then can a just God justify the unjust? Through the work of Christ in the atonement (justification and redemption), justice is not violated but satisfied when God spares a sinner. His mercy does not forbid him to exercise his justice, nor does his justice forbid him to exercise his mercy. He is both fully merciful and fully just.  

In light of God’s other attributes of goodness, mercy, love and grace, there are some who might, in error, say that God is too kind to punish the ungodly. But to believe this means that we do not understand his infinite, unchanging justice. God will have justice for sin, either from Christ’s atoning death or, for those who will not accept it, eternal wrath in hell.

GOD IS MERCIFUL: HE IS INFINITELY, UNCHANGEABLY COMPASSIONATE AND KIND

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." (Romans 9:15-16)

God’s mercy is inseparable from his justness. He is infinitely, unchangeably, unfailingly merciful – forgiving, lovingly kind toward us. He is inexhaustibly, actively compassionate. His mercy is also undeserved by us.

Without the mercy of God, we would have no hope of (heaven). Because of our disobedient hearts, we deserve death. “For all have sinned and fall short glory of God,” and, “the wages of sin is death.” But because of mercy, we don’t get what we deserve. Instead, because of the mercy of God, we get life through Christ.

GOD IS GRACIOUS:  GOD IS INFINITELY INCLINED TO SPARE THE GUILTY

"The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness." (Psalm 145:8)

If mercy is not getting what we do deserve (damnation), grace is getting what we don’t deserve (eternal life). Because grace is a part of who God is and not just an action he bestows, it means we can trust that grace is eternal. His grace is something we do not earn or lose (“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” Eph. 2:8). His grace is also sovereign. “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious” (Exodus 33:19).

When talking about the grace of God, theologians will often differentiate between God’s common grace and his saving grace. His common grace is a gift to all of mankind. It is the reason that everyone – Christian or non-Christian - enjoys the blessings of life, provision, and abundance (Matthew 5:45).

While all of humanity benefits from common grace, only those who profess, believe, and put their faith in Christ receive saving grace. This is what results in our sanctification and our glorification of God, that we might live for him and enjoy him for all eternity.

GOD IS LOVING: GOD INFINITELY, UNCHANGINGLY LOVES US

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (I John 4:7-8)

As with all attributes, we can only begin to comprehend God’s love in light of his other attributes. The love of God is eternal, sovereign, unchanging, and infinite.

Self-sufficient as God is, He wants our love and will not be satisfied till He gets it. Free as He is, He has let His heart be bound to us forever. God’s love is active, drawing us to him. His love is personal. He doesn’t love humanity in some vague sense, he loves humans. He loves you and me. And his love for us knows no beginning and no end.

GOD IS HOLY: HE IS INFINITELY, UNCHANGINGLY PERFECT

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord Almighty” (Revelation 4:8)

The word holy means sacred, set apart, revered, or devine. And yet none of those words is adequate to describe the awesome holiness of God. Of all the attributes of God, holiness is the one that most uniquely describes Him and in reality is a summation of all His other attributes. The word holiness refers to His separateness, His otherness, the fact that He is unlike any other being. It indicates His complete and infinite perfection. Holiness is the attribute of God that binds all the others together.

That God is holy means he is endlessly, always perfect. And his standard for us is perfection as well. “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” (Matthew 5:48). That’s why we need Christ. Without Christ taking the place for us and dying for our sins, we would all fall short of God’s holy standard.

GOD IS GLORIOUS: HE IS INFINITELY BEAUTIFUL AND GREAT

“His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.” (Habakkuk 3:4)

The glory of God is of course, inseparable from his other attributes, so God is eternally, infinitely, unchangingly glorious. His radiance and beauty emanate from all that he is and all that he does. Isaiah 43:7 says that man was created by God for his glory. So our whole existence and purpose are to glorify Him, as we are created in his image and do the good work he has prepared for us to do. Inevitably, man will try to find glory in other things or to try and make himself an object of glory. And when those things fail to bring us satisfaction, we must decide to humble ourselves and turn our gaze back to the only one who is worthy of glory.

The facts are the foundation, but the goal is fellowship with God as we learn about Him, His plan, purposes, principles, and promises. It is this that builds faith, gives peace, comfort, courage, joy, and the energy to deal with life.

It is so easy to dwell on qualities like his mercy and forget that he is also a jealous God. It is easy for us to remember that he is our friend and forget that he is also our Sovereign King. Our God must be respected as everything to us, not just one aspect.

 

YOGA Y EL CRISTIANISMO

I Corintios 10: 19-23

¿Deberían los cristianos hacer yoga? ¿Es el yoga un pecado? ¿Puede un demonio entrar en un cristiano que practica yoga? ¿Puede un cristiano hacer yoga si solo se estira y piensa en Jesús? ¿Y que de la meditación?

No existe el yoga cristiano. Cualquier tipo de yoga es peligroso porque la mayoría de estas prácticas provienen del misticismo oriental. Dios nos prohíbe practicar y hacer las cosas que otras personas hacen para adorar a sus dioses (demonios). La Biblia nos enseña que detrás de cada dios falso (ídolo) hay un demonio (I Corintios 10: 19-22).

Para muchos cristianos que no comprenden la historia que hay detrás de ello, el yoga es simplemente un medio de ejercicio físico y de fortalecer y mejorar la flexibilidad de los músculos. Sin embargo, la filosofía detrás del yoga es mucho más que mejorarse físicamente. Es una práctica antigua derivada de la India, que se cree que es el camino hacia el crecimiento espiritual y la iluminación.

¿Deben los cristianos practicar o hacer yoga? Primero tenemos que entender qué es realmente el yoga. Muchos cristianos ven el yoga como ejercicios de relajación y estiramiento que mejoran la flexibilidad. Los verdaderos instructores de yoga conocen la filosofía que hay detrás del yoga. El yoga no es solo un ejercicio relajante normal. El yoga tiene más de 5,000 años, comenzó en la India y fue creado para ser un camino hacia el crecimiento espiritual y la iluminación con el dios Brahman.

La palabra yoga significa "unión" y el objetivo es unir el yo transitorio (temporal), la mente y el cuerpo, con el Brahman infinito, el concepto hindú de "Dios". Este dios no es un ser literal, sino una sustancia espiritual impersonal que es una con la naturaleza y el cosmos. Este punto de vista se llama "panteísmo", la creencia de que todo es dios y que la realidad consiste únicamente en el universo y la naturaleza. Debido a que todo es dios, la filosofía del yoga no distingue entre el hombre y Dios.

El Hatha yoga es el aspecto del yoga que se enfoca en el cuerpo físico a través de posturas especiales, ejercicios de respiración y concentración o meditación. Es un medio para preparar el cuerpo para los ejercicios espirituales, con menos obstáculos, con el fin de alcanzar la iluminación. La práctica del yoga se basa en la creencia de que el hombre y Dios son uno. Esto es esencialmente adoración a uno mismo disfrazado de espiritualidad de alto nivel y va en contra de la Palabra de Dios. El yoga enseña la unidad con dios (Brahman) y la naturaleza. Te enseña a encontrar tus respuestas en la vida en este estado de conciencia, a encontrar la unidad con tu yo divino. Sabemos por la palabra de Dios que esto es mentira (Romanos 1:22, 25).

¿Es posible para un cristiano aislar los aspectos físicos del yoga como un simple método de ejercicio, sin incorporar la espiritualidad o la filosofía detrás de yoga? El yoga se originó con una filosofía descaradamente anticristiana, y esa filosofía no ha cambiado. Le enseña a uno a concentrarse en uno mismo en lugar de en el único Dios verdadero. Anima a sus participantes a buscar las respuestas a las preguntas difíciles de la vida dentro de su propia conciencia en lugar de en la Palabra de Dios. También deja a uno expuesto al engaño de Satanás, quien busca víctimas a las que pueda apartar de Dios (I Pedro 5: 8).

Algunos cristianos piensan que está bien hacer yoga porque piensan que son solo ejercicios de estiramiento. Razonan que si alguien dedica una actividad o práctica a Jesús, es automática, por definición, cristiana. Uno puede simplemente descartar las críticas con dos palabras: Jesucristo. Reclamar devoción al Señor Jesús es el último obstáculo para todos los que critican la práctica del yoga entre los cristianos. La práctica del yoga no debería ser un problema porque Dios siempre mira el corazón. Mientras practiques yoga para glorificar a Dios, no debería haber ningún problema.

No seas ingenuo, el yoga es peligroso. Es como decir que voy a jugar con la tabla ouija solo por diversión; No creo en eso, es solo un juego. Crees que es solo un juego, pero los demonios no. Si haces yoga, estás participando en algo que fue creado para un dios falso, y sabemos que la Biblia enseña que detrás de cada dios falso hay un demonio (I Corintios 10: 19-20).

Escuche a los instructores de yoga y vea lo que hacen y dicen cuando hacen yoga. ¿Por qué crees que usan mantras mientras hacen yoga? ¿Por qué tienen estatuas de ídolos o fotografías de ellos en sus aulas? Como cristianos, debemos mantenernos alejados de todas las prácticas ocultistas de la Nueva Era. El yoga es peligroso porque te abre a recibir impresiones psíquicas. No se involucre con, ni busque estas cosas, experiencias espirituales de las que Dios nos advierte en las Escrituras (Levítico 20: 6, 18: 10-13). Esto es muy peligroso, si estás participando de estas cosas ocultas o cosas de la Nueva Era, te estás abriendo a que los demonios entren en ti (Efesios 5:11).

A nosotros, como creyentes, Dios nos manda a meditar, la meditación se define como contemplación. El tipo de meditación que Dios nos instruye que hagamos es en Él y Su Palabra, tal como declara a lo largo de la Biblia que meditemos en Su palabra día y noche. Este tipo de meditación es muy diferente de la forma y el tipo que practican las religiones de la Nueva Era y las religiones orientales (Salmo 1: 2, 145: 5). No significa desconectarse y abrirse a las fuerzas espirituales (demonios) en el aire o no pensar en nada.

La Palabra de Dios nos dice todo lo contrario, ser sobrios (1 Pedro 5: 8). La verdadera meditación bíblica es tomarse un tiempo y poner a Dios primero en tu vida por encima de todo lo demás. Ir a ese lugar secreto y silencioso donde puede estar a solas con Dios, pensando en Él, Su Palabra y hablando con Él. Dios quiere una relación contigo, por eso quiere que pases tiempo con Él (Mat. 6: 6). El cristiano no tiene que hacer cosas extrañas para conectarse con Dios. No debemos probar cosas que la Palabra de Dios no enseña, como mantras, respiración controlada, cantos, técnicas de relajación extrañas o yoga.

El yoga es una antigua disciplina espiritual cuyas doctrinas centrales son totalmente incompatibles con las del cristianismo. Incluso el Hatha yoga, que a menudo se considera que se ocupa exclusivamente del desarrollo físico, se entiende mejor como un mero medio de ayudar al yogui a alcanzar la meta del Samadhi o la unión con su dios "Brahman". Si lee un texto introductorio sobre Hatha yoga, verá ilustradas muchas posturas diferentes. Muchos de estos son similares, si no idénticos, a los ejercicios y estiramientos que hacen muchos estudiantes de yoga.

Muchos estudiosos del yoga han declarado que la filosofía del yoga no se puede separar de la práctica del yoga. Dave Fetcho, anteriormente miembro de la Ananda Marga Yoga Society, ha escrito: "El yoga físico, según sus definiciones clásicas, es heredable y funcionalmente incapaz de separarse de la metafísica religiosa oriental".  Además, las autoridades del yoga Feuerstein y Miller, al discutir las posturas de yoga (asana) y los ejercicios de respiración (pranayama), indique que tales prácticas son más que otra forma de ejercicio físico; de hecho, “son ejercicios psicosomáticos”. Separar la teoría de la práctica es simplemente imposible con el yoga.

Las personas que practican yoga o meditación lo hacen para lograr el despertar espiritual que creen que les permitirá experimentar el reino espiritual, los hindúes se refieren a él como abrir el tercer ojo. Piensan que es una especie de puerta de entrada a todo lo psíquico. Las únicas fuerzas que están en el reino espiritual son Dios, los ángeles y el diablo y sus demonios. No hay nada más que eso. No existe un tipo extraño de realidad u otro tipo de verdad ahí fuera. Pero el diablo y sus demonios intentarán hacerte pensar que la hay. Te engañarán si te abres a las fuerzas espirituales del aire. Los demonios pueden dejarte experimentar cosas extrañas, pero recuerda lo que sientes, lo que crees que ves no es de Dios (Juan 8:44).

Muchas personas practican yoga y meditación porque quieren encontrar paz, relajarse y descansar. Nosotros, como hijos de Dios, no tenemos que hacer yoga, ya tenemos paz y descanso en Él (Juan 14:27, Filipenses 4: 6).

YOGA AND CHRISTIANITY

I Corinthians 10:19-23

Should Christians do yoga? Is yoga a sin? Can a demon come into a Christian who does yoga? Can a Christian do yoga if he just stretches and thinks about Jesus? What about meditation?

There is no such thing as Christian yoga. Any kind of yoga is dangerous because most of these practices come from Eastern mysticism. God forbids us from practicing and doing the things that other people do to worship their gods (demons). The bible teaches us that behind every false god (idol) is a demon (I Corinthians 10:19-22).

For many Christians who don’t understand the history behind it, yoga is simply a means of physical exercise and strengthening and improving the flexibility of the muscles. However, the philosophy behind yoga is much more than physically improving oneself. It is an ancient practice derived from India, believed to be the path to spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Should Christians practice or do yoga? We have to first understand what yoga really is. Many Christians see yoga as relaxing, stretching exercises, improving flexibility. Real yoga instructors know the philosophy behind it. Yoga is not just a normal relaxing exercise. Yoga is over 5,000 years old, it started in India and it was created to be a path to spiritual growth and enlightenment with the god Brahman.

The word yoga means "union," and the goal is to unite one’s transitory (temporary) self, the mind and the body, with the infinite Brahman, the Hindu concept of "God." This god is not a literal being but is an impersonal spiritual substance that is one with nature and the cosmos. This view is called "pantheism," the belief that everything is god and that reality consists only of the universe and nature. Because everything is god, the yoga philosophy makes no distinction between man and God.

Hatha yoga is the aspect of yoga that focuses on the physical body through special postures, breathing exercises, and concentration or meditation. It is a means to prepare the body for spiritual exercises, with fewer obstacles, in order to achieve enlightenment. The practice of yoga is based on the belief that man and God are one. This is essentially self-worship disguised as high-level spirituality and it is against God’s Word. Yoga teaches oneness with god (Brahman) and nature. It teaches you to find your answers in life in this state of consciousness, to find unity with your divine self. We know through God’s word that this is a lie (Romans 1:22, 25).  

Is it possible for a Christian to isolate the physical aspects of yoga as simply a method of exercise, without incorporating the spirituality or philosophy behind it? Yoga originated with a blatantly anti-Christian philosophy, and that philosophy has not changed. It teaches one to focus on oneself instead of on the one true God. It encourages its participants to seek the answers to life’s difficult questions within their own consciousness instead of in the Word of God. It also leaves one open to deception from Satan, who searches for victims whom he can turn away from God (I Peter 5:8).

Some Christians think that it is alright to do yoga because they think that it’s just stretching exercises. They reason that if someone dedicates an activity or practice to Jesus, it is automatic, by definition, Christian. One can simply dismiss criticisms with two words: Jesus Christ. Claiming devotion to the Lord Jesus is the ultimate argument-stopper to anyone who criticizes the practice of yoga among Christians. Practicing yoga should not be an issue because God always looks at the heart. As long as you’re practicing yoga to glorify God, then there should be no problem.

Don’t be naïve, yoga is dangerous. It’s just like saying I’m going to play with the ouija board just for fun; I don’t believe in it, it’s just a game. You think it is just a game, but the demons don’t. If you do yoga you are taking part in something that was created for a false god, and we know that the Bible teaches that behind every false god is a demon (I Corinthians 10:19-20).

Listen to the instructors of yoga and see what they do and say when doing yoga. Why do you think they use mantras while they do yoga? Why do they have idols statues or pictures of them in their classrooms? As Christians, we should stay away from all occultic New Age practices. Yoga is dangerous because it opens you up to receive psychic impressions. Don’t involve yourself with, or seek after these things, spiritual experiences that God warns us about in Scripture (Leviticus 20:6, 18:10-13). This is very dangerous, if you are partaking of these occultic things or New Age things you’re opening yourself up to demons to come into you (Ephesians 5:11).

We as believers are commanded by God to meditate, meditation is defined as contemplation. The kind of meditation that God instructs us to do is on Him and His Word just as it declares throughout the Bible to meditate on His word day and night. This kind of meditation is very different from the way and the kind that is practiced by the New Age religions and the Eastern religions (Psalm 1:2, 145:5). It does not mean to zone out and open yourself up to spiritual forces (demons) in the air or to think about nothing.

God’s Word tells us just the opposite, to be sober-minded (1 Peter 5:8). True biblical meditation is taking some time and putting God first in your life above everything else. Going to that secret, quiet place where you can be alone with God, thinking about Him, His Word, and talking to Him. God wants a relationship with you so he wants you to spend time with Him (Matt. 6:6). The Christian doesn’t have to do strange things to connect with God. We should not try things that the Word of God does not teach, such as mantras, controlled breathing, chanting, strange relaxation techniques, or yoga.

Yoga is an ancient spiritual discipline whose central doctrines are utterly incompatible with those of Christianity. Even Hatha yoga, often considered to be exclusively concerned with physical development, is best understood as merely a means of helping the yogi reach the goal of samadhi or union with their god  “Brahman.” If you look through an introductory text on Hatha yoga you will see many different postures illustrated. Many of these are similar, if not identical, to exercises and stretches that many yoga students are doing.

Many yoga scholars have stated that yoga philosophy cannot be separated from yoga practice. Dave Fetcho, formerly of the Ananda Marga Yoga Society, has written, “Physical yoga, according to its classical definitions, is inheritably and functionally incapable of being separated from Eastern religious metaphysics.” What’s more, yoga authorities Feuerstein and Miller, in discussing yoga postures (asana) and breathing exercises (pranayama), indicate that such practices are more than just another form of physical exercise; indeed, they “are psychosomatic exercises.” Separating theory from practice is simply impossible with yoga.

People who practice yoga or meditation do it to achieve spiritual awakening which they think will let them experience the spiritual realm, the Hindus refer to it as opening the third eye. They think that it is a kind of doorway to all things psychic. The only forces that are in the spiritual realm are God, the angels, and the devil and his demons. There is nothing more than that. There is not a strange kind of reality or another kind of truth out there. But, the devil and his demons will try to make you think that there is. They will deceive you if you open yourself up to the spiritual forces in the air. Demons can let you experience strange things, but remember what you feel, what you think you see is not from God (John 8: 44).

Many people do yoga and meditation because they want to find peace, relax, and to find rest. We as children of God don’t have to do yoga we already have peace and rest in Him (John 14:27, Philippians 4:6).