Biblical Answers to the World Mission Society Church of God

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.--1 John 4:1

Are you or a loved one struggling with this group? Do you need Biblical answers about the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCoG or CoGWMS), their founder Ahnsahnghong (Ahn Sahng/Sang-Hong) or their current leader "Mother Jerusalem" (a.k.a. "Heavenly Mother God," Zang/Zahng Gil-Jah, or Chung Gil Cha)? Thank you for coming here. I hope my blog helps you. Questions and comments are always welcome.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Galatians 4:26 -- Part 1

It seems the WMSCOG is constantly quoting Galatians 4:26 to prove that there is a "Mother God":
"But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother."

What does that verse mean?  Does it indicate another God, the "Mother," as the WMSCOG claims?
Those are the questions I wanted to explore in my studies.

The first thing to do, before examining the details of the WMSCOG's interpretation, was to read it myself in context.  And not just the whole of Galatians chapter 4, but to read the whole book of Galatians--it's only 6 chapters long.  If I read the whole book at once, it will help me get a clearer idea of Paul's message.  (You can read it for yourself, too.)

This is a letter written by Paul to the Galatians when he had heard that they were turning away to other gospels.  He warns them not to accept any gospel other than the truth that Paul had given them, even if it appears to come from a trustworthy source. (Gal. 1:6-9)  He continues throughout his letter to compare the freedom we have in Jesus Christ with the slavery of being under the Law.

I'm going to pull out some verses and main points...

This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. (Gal. 2:4)
We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal. 2:15-16)
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! (Gal. 2:21)

ALL of chapter 3, here's verse 11: Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”
and verse 18: For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
and verses 21-22: Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Comparing heirs and slaves, Gal. 4:1-7, here's verse 7: So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Concern that they are turning back to slavery, Gal. 4:8-9...Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Using Hagar and Sarah to compare the Old Covenant and New Covenant, slavery to the Law vs. the promise of freedom through faith. (Gal. 4:21-31)  Here are verses 23-24a: His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.  These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Gal. 5:4)
The acts of the flesh compared to the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5:13-26, here's verses 17-18: For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
and Gal. 6:15...Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

When you look at the book of Galatians as a whole, it is not talking about the existence of a "Mother God" at all.  The passage about Hagar and Sarah is just one example among many points in Paul's message that we are not under the regulations of the Law any more.  We are free, no longer slaves to obeying the Law!  We can know the grace of God through faith.

More about Galatians 4:26 next time...

Click here to go on to Part 2.

12 comments:

  1. I just wanted to comment as no one has. I totally agree with the above. In fact I met with 2 members of the World Mission Society Church of God today. I don't know much of their organisation, but I know some of the bible. I was quite perplexed that they have such a different views. I see they like to pick and choose their scriptures to make fit their doctrines. But studying Galatians I came to the same conclusion, but then seeing your post too, it just reaffirms. I am also dissapointed no World Mission Society Church of God members are posting their thoughts back. Maybe they realise their errors ;) Keep up the good work and God bless you.

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  2. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jonny, and for the encouragement. I am a little surprised also that there haven't been any wmscog members commenting here in so long, yet they do comment on other anti-wmscog sites. I can only speculate why. I pray that God would be with you in your conversation should you ever run into any wmscog members again. Blessings to you!

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  3. Thank you for this post! I believe I was approached by 2 people from WMSCOG today while near school and was quite surprised of the term of a mother god. Your post certainly cleared things up.

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  4. Anonymous wrote on January 27, 2013:
    "I too am so thankful for finding your blog. My daughter-in-law joined WMSCOG in [removed] after moving from [removed]. After my son's concerns of her increased involvement in the church and having the feeling that it was a cult, he decided to attend a "bible study" to gather a better understanding (after my suggesting that he do so). That was the worst suggestion that I have EVER given him! He has joined, been baptized (even though I had him baptized as an infant) and has become so brainwashed by these people that now he is trying to get me, his best friend and some other family members to join as well. I am going to visit him and his wife [removed] and I promised that I will go to their church just to hear what they have to say . I do not want to lose my son to this cult forever so I need as much information as I can to shoot back at these crazy people. I have become so angry that my son has erased all logic and is listening to complete strangers and not his own family. The information on your blog will give me some knowledge that I need to hopefully get my son and daughter-in-law back. THANK YOU."

    Thank you for writing and sharing. I thought it best to remove a few details from your comment to protect your privacy. Hope you don't mind.

    I praise God that you've been able to find helpful information here and pray that your son and daughter-in-law will see clearly the truth of this organization soon. Please feel free to email me any time.

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  5. Absolutely LOVE this post! A lot of religions, cults etc will study the bible and in some ways know it better than christians, take what they want from it, nitpick it, and in doing so create their own belief system. God the father, God the son, God the holy spirit...3 in 1......St John 14:6-7 pretty much sums it all up. God bless you!

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  6. Thank you for this now I defend my self

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  7. I see you didnt quote Gal 4:26. If indeed it does not refer to God the Mother, I am being curious what is the meaning of Jerusalem in Gal 4:26.

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    1. Hi Paul. You must have missed it. The verse is quoted at the end of the first sentence of the article. I encourage you to read the whole thing (5 parts) to have a better understanding of what was meant by this verse.

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    2. I did see it. What I wanted to know was if it is not God the Mother what is its meaning. I see you explain the whole book of Galatians and convey its message that it says we are not under the law and that we are free in Christ. That is simple to understand but what is the meaning of Jerusalem in 4:26

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    3. Ok, then you must have seen it after you wrote "I see you didnt quote Gal 4:26." Glad you found it. If you read the rest of this article series, you will also find the meaning of Gal. 4:26 in part 5: http://encountering-ahnsahnghong.blogspot.com/2010/12/galatians-426-part-5.html
      (Parts 2-4 examine how the WMSCOG interprets the verse.)

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  8. . I'm just gonna say something.. Didn't, you say that wmscog is a cult. and you considering it like that then you also Don,t believe in Christ Ahnsahnghong. but then you are saying that you believe what Christ Ahnsahnghong said that God the mother does not exist. so why do you believe so.? I'm just asking.

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    1. The point is that if someone believes in Ahnsahnghong as god, then they should believe everything he says, which includes that there is no 'god the mother.'

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