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Donald Ward Comments

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Donald Ward

Elder, United Church of God

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  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "Continual Atonement Living in the Holy of Holies"
    Dear Mr. Blank After reading your comments i am hard pressed to believe that you listened to the sermon. I did not say that Satan was led away never to return. I said the Azazel goat was led away not to return. I also said that one time the Azazel goat did return. So from that point on they led the goat away and pushed him over the cliff to his death. I clearly read Revelation 20:1-4,, mentioned briefly Satan being loosed for a season----leading a rebellion then he was taken and cast into the bottomless pit, Revelation 20:10---which I clearly read. With regard to the book of Enoch---I said it was an apocryphal book. But at one time was a part of the cannon. You further state that "someone assumed that Peter and Jude were quoting a book when they mentioned something Enoch said and made up a book called Enoch." No, Mr. Blank, Jude did not make it up when he quoted Enoch regarding the Lord coming with his saints. (That does not mean that I believe the book of Enoch should be in the cannon. That is still a matter of debate among some.) According to Genesis 5:22, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years. I hope others will listen to the sermon to verify.
  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "The Corona Virus in Light of Bible Prophecy"
    The current pandemic is a worldwide trial that that should serve as a wake up call to everyone. Aren't you hoping and praying that everyone wakes up and turns to God. Yes, the messages to the seven churches are first and foremost to the Church of God. In no way did I imply or state explicitly that the message to the seven church was exclusively to the world. It is amazing to me how after all that was said in the Bible study you would be moved to write what you have written. The Church is commissioned to take the gospel message to the whole world. The scripture cited is Revelation 3:20, " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." We hope that all the peoples of the world will hear God's voice and repent." We should be moved to do everything we can ;to make it possible for them to be convicted and turn to God. Mercy and peace be unto you.
  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "Who Is the Angel of God's Presence?"
    I am sorry for anyone that is insulted by the word of God. I am at a loss to know what in the message insulted you. Were the people of Noah's day insulted when God swept them away with the flood. Were the people of Sodom and Gomorrah insulted when God rained fire and brimstone down on them? God is longsuffering and merciful not willing that any should perish but He is also the God of judgment. The prophet Isaiah cries out “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isa 58:1 AV). God "adheres to patience, empathy, mercy and compassion" when He brings a person or a culture into judgement. Indeed the word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. Respectfully, Donald Ward
  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "Who Is the Angel of God's Presence?"
    The Word, the One who became Jesus Christ, created all things including the angelic realm. Colossians 1:14-18. Angels were never promised sonship. Hebrews 1:5. The Hebrew word, malak, can be translated as angel or messenger.. In Exodus 23:20, "malak" is translated as Angel. It is capitalized since the "messenger" is the One who became Jesus Christ as noted by the fact that He can forgive sin. Exodus 23:21 and God's name is in Him. Since God the Father and the Son are both uncreated, co-eternal and of the same essence---spirit---both can be referred to as Yahweh. Remember God's name is in the messenger, malak, of God's presence. This Messenger of God's presence led Israel into the promised land. Numbers 20:16; Isaiah 63:9; 1Corinthians 10:4. I explain this and more in the sermon. Apparently, you became confused over the translation of malak.
  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "Pillars and Anchors of Life"
    I am sorry that you did not understand what I said in the sermon of reference. In passing I noted that “parakletos” is a masculine noun in Greek. Therefore, the translators used masculine referent pronouns. I am very aware that Greek word “pneuma” translated “spirit” is neuter. We, including myself, have taught this clearly for years. The Holy Spirit is not a person. It is the essence of God through which he does works of power. (Zechariah 4:6). An article on UCG website explains the gender of “parakletos.” The article states: "In Greek, both masculine and neuter words are used to refer to the Holy Spirit. The Greek word translated “Counselor,” “Helper,” “Comforter” and “Advocate” in John chapters 14 to 16 is parakletos , a masculine word in Greek and thus referred to in these chapters by Greek pronouns equivalent to the English “he,” “him,” “his,” “himself,” “who” and “whom.” The title of the article is: Why the Holy Spirit Is Sometimes Incorrectly. Here is the link: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/is-god-a-trinity/why-the-holy-spirit-is-sometimes-incorrectly-referred-to Hopefully, readers will carefully verify their "research" before they post it.
  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "The Deadly Dilemma"
    Thank you for your encouraging and comment. Good to hear that the sermon was helpful. Donald Ward
  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "God’s Challenge to Trinitarianism"

    If the Holy Spirit were a person it would be separate from God. Is God separate from His Spirit? Scripture refers to the Holy Spirit as “he” because the Greek rules of grammar require referent pronouns to conform to the gender of its antecedent. Grammar does not a person make. God is spirit (John 4:24). The Holy Spirit is His essence. The Holy Spirit is divine—but not a person, since it is the essence of God. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). Through the Holy Spirit God does works of power. The Holy Spirit is under the direction of God and Christ. It does not free lance on its own. God sends forth his spirit and his spirit does the work. {Genesis 1:4; Zechariah 4:6). The same spirit that is in God is in Christ is in us (Ephesians 4:1-7; Hebrews 2:10-11). Upon repentance and obedience God the Father begets us with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32). Jesus upon resurrection from the dead became the first born among many brethren and returned to the glory he had with the Father before the world began (John 17:5). God will also resurrect us from the dead and we will be of the same essence as God and Christ---heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom 8:11, 17)

  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "God’s Challenge to Trinitarianism"

    Dear Mr. Ndundu,
    I am sorry to say that scripturally and logically your assertions are in error. John 4:24 states that God is spirit. The resurrected Christ is a spirit being---the first born from the dead (Rev 1:5;; 1Cor 15:45) The Holy Spirit is the essence of God and Christ. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit operates under the direction of God and Christ ---it is not free lancing on its own volition. God sends forth His spirit and it does works of power. (Gen 1:2; Zech 4:6) God gives His spirit to those who repent and obey Him (Acts 2:38; 5:32) It is the Father who begets us with His spirit---with His very essence that is why we are His begotten children not begotten after the flesh but of the spirit of God the Father. There is one spirit essence. The same spirit that is in God-is in Christ and in each one of us. God, Christ and His begotten children are all of one-therefore, He, Christ, is not ashamed to call them brethren (Heb 2:11). All of this and much more is explained in the article. You are merely parroting what others say. You merely made statement with no scriptural or logical support for your assertions.

  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "God’s Challenge to Trinitarianism"

    Dear Mr. Mullet, The article centers on theology---not technical grammatical usage.The Greek word “logos” is used by the apostle John as a noun in John 1:1; John 1:14. In fact, Revelation 19:13 sates: “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.” If you read the article you would understand the theological conundrum if one attempts to use the Greek word “logos” as a verb in those verses. It would mean that the Father was made flesh and dwelt among men. Such a conclusion would mean that the Father was the One who died on the stake. Whereas, the often quoted John 3:16, states that the Father gave His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. The Jewish philosopher and theologian Philo tried to harmonize Greek philosophy with the Bible, and thus used many of the terms that the Greeks used in describing God. Thus the concept of the Logos or Memra of Yahweh appearing as an agent of God and speaking to human beings was a familiar concept among the learned Jews of the first century. John used terminology familiar to Jew and Gentile in explaining the incarnation of the "LOGOS," the Word, who exists in eternity. Heb. 7:1-3. Don Ward

  • dlward
    Donald Ward Author in "God’s Challenge to Trinitarianism"

    Dear Michael,

    Herbert Armstrong never taught that the "Logos" (Word) was the Father. Neither did he teach that the "Word" was the "mind" of God. As you note, John 1:14 states the "Word was made flesh." The Father was not made flesh---neither was the word "Logos" made flesh. "It" does not become flesh---neither is "mind" made flesh. That concept is a well worn heresy. The article explains the error of such notions. Thank you for reading the article. Donald Ward