Several cults of Christianity do not believe that Jesus Christ is Yahweh. According to the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Jesus is human alone but not God like His Father. The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is the archangel Michael, who is like God but inferior to His Father, who is Almighty God. The founder of the Members Church of God International claims that Jesus is the true God, but he is distinct from the Almighty God, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, both of whom are regarded as true God. Mormons believe Jesus is Jehovah, but the Father is known as Elohim in the plurality of gods.
Currently, another theological cult1 is emerging: Day by Day Jesusness,2 led by a well-known Filipino preacher named Ed Lapiz. He makes a very subtle distinction between the God of the Old Testament and Jesus of the New Testament. One of the books that led him to teach this twisted doctrine is the Names of God by Assemblies of God author Ann Spangler.3 He believes that the God of the Israelites, Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious authority is Yahweh, who is Satan himself. Lapiz reached this conclusion based on his belief that because Yahweh has been killing and punishing people throughout the Old Testament, he is most likely the devil himself. Although Lapiz does not directly state that Yahweh is Satan or the devil, readers will consequently conclude that his explanation of Jesus’ comments points to Yahweh being Satan based on his cross reference of the passages.
According to Lapiz, Israelites and Jews who worship the God of the Old Testament are classified as Yahwistic and practice Yahwism, which is based on the Law and Jewish Scriptures.4 I believe Lapiz’s teaching on antinomianism and Marcionism is based on John 9, where he misinterprets a number of passages via symbolism to arrive at his doctrinal conclusions. He started his preaching by elaborating verses 1-2 where the Jewish authorities asked the questions to defend their Yahwistic teachings. According to Lapiz, Yahweh punishes generations of descendants for their parents’ or ancestors’ sins. And because of this belief system that sickness is caused by the sins of the ancestors, people have become insensitive to the suffering of a sick person, leading them to believe that Yahweh’s judgment is a kind of generational sin over which we have no control. Lapiz now uses Exodus 34:7b to strengthen the Jewish authorities’ view of Yahweh’s actions.
“… But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”
He referenced John 9:4 to demonstrate that the one who sent Jesus, who is El Elyon the Most High God, is distinct from Yahweh, the God of the Jewish Pharisees, whom he refers to as Yahwistic people.
“We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work.”
“Who sent Jesus?” inquires Lapiz. Then he asked, “Why can’t the Yahwistic people accept him?” This was a reference to Jewish leaders. He also explained that the Jewish leaders should have accepted Jesus if what they believed about His teachings, God, and Father, were the same as Jesus’. They ought to have worked together. Lapiz asked “Why are the Jewish leaders opposed to Jesus and even have Him killed?” Then he read John 9:4 and said that Jesus was sent during the day because no one can work at night. And that work is giving people who are blind or in the dark sight or light. In a spiritual sense, this could mean something physical, clinical, or symbolic claims Lapiz. “There are people who are spiritually and physically blind. They cannot see the light of their reasoning because they are being blinded by their religious beliefs,” he says. He then went on to say that Jesus is the son5 sent by the Father who is El Elyon, the name for the Most High God. He said that religions for the past 2000 years were to blame for not being able to teach people the name of El Elyon, who is the Father and God of Jesus Christ.6 Lapiz reasoned that in comparison to today’s people, the devils recall the name of El Elyon better. He then went on to quote Luke 1:32–33,
“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
We can see that Lapiz is trying to make a case for El Elyon as the name for the Father while referring to the divine name Yahweh as the name for the god of the Pharisees and many religious authorities. Surprisingly he claims that the term El Elyon was loosely translated by many Bible scholars as “God.” According to him, the real identity of El Elyon was hidden when the English term ‘God’ was used by scholars. Obviously, Lapiz doctrine is similar to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Sacred Namers cults, who believe that there is a proper name for the God of the Bible. He argued that the English word “God” is a very generic term and a much later development in religion. He believes that in the Old Testament, God is being referred to as El, Elohim, or El Elyon. Lapiz can also be heard encouraging his people to study Ann Spangler’s book The Names of God, which contains the Hebrew names of God, particularly El Elyon. According to him, understanding the Hebrew name El Elyon helps the modern-day reader understand the details of the story. Says Lapiz, the Hebrew names “El,” “El Elyon,” and “Elyon” are the proper or branded names of God, whereas Elyon and Elyon Elohim are simply translated as God. He also argues that the scholar’s English translation of God’s name loses some of its meaning. He cites Psalm 82:1-6 from Spangler’s Names of God to support his point,
“Elohim [God] takes his place in his own assembly. He pronounces judgment among the gods:… I said, ‘You are gods. You are all sons of Elyon.”
What Lapiz missed was that the term “gods” in this verse was derived from the Hebrew word elohim as well, which can also be translated as “gods.” And if the English words “God” and “gods” were derived from the same Hebrew word, it is only reasonable for the Hebrew writer to distinguish between the true God/elohim and the false gods/elohim. Spangler only translated the Hebrew name elohim in reference to Elyon; she did not translate the Hebrew word elohim in reference to humans or false gods. This is most likely done to avoid confusion among English readers.7 If only Lapiz had paid attention to the fact that the God of Israel was referred to as Elyon in this passage, then it would be accurate to say that Elyon and Yahweh are not different deities because they are the same God.
Comparing Yahweh with Jesus
Now, Lapiz quoted John 9:4-5, adding that,
“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
He gradually builds up his argument by saying that if Jesus is the Way, then there are those who are in the wrong way; if He claims to be the Truth, then there are those who are false; if He claims to be the Savior, then there are those who are not; and if He claims to be the Good Shepherd, then there are those who are bad shepherds. Observe how Lapiz tries to emphasize Jesus Christ as the light so that he can contrast this later with Yahweh, who is darkness. He now references Amos 5:18 to demonstrate Israel’s state before Jesus Christ’s arrival.
Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light,
According to Lapiz, Yahweh’s day is not the same as Jesus Christ’s. He also cites Zephaniah 1:14-15.
The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
“And then Jesus Christ comes declaring peace, love, and rest,” adds Lapiz. To strengthen his case against Yahweh, he now references 2 Samuel 22:12 and Psalm 97:1-2 from the Names of God version.
“He (Yahweh) surrounded himself with darkness.”
“Yahweh rules… darkness surrounds him.”
Lapiz now writes, “When Jesus says I am the light of the world, this is in contrast to the object of his teaching.” The controversial pastor explains that Elyon and Jesus are light, whereas Yahweh is darkness. The contrast is very clear, says Lapiz.8 The Pharisees and Sadducees who oppose Jesus Christ are considered to follow the Yahwistic religion or Jewish Law. Lapiz argues that the God of the Old Testament, who tells the Israelites to rest on the Sabbath, is also the God of Jewish authorities.9 Lapiz references Exodus 31:14 to demonstrate that killing individuals who violate the mandate is a wicked command made by Yahweh. He is not completely aware that Israel had a different dispensation and culture at the time. He also established a terrible contrast between the penalties in the Old Testament for breaking the Sabbath and the legalism of Jewish religious leaders.10 Surprisingly, Lapiz maintains that Jesus Christ broke numerous laws in order to liberate the populace from the legalism of the religious authorities. He said,
“Kaya yung mga nagpipilit na Jesus came to fulfill the law, you’ve got to read that in another way because if you mean literal fulfillment of all the law, Jesus obviously did not do that. In fact, he broke a lot of those laws to set people free from the enslaving imprisonment of the law.”11
According to Lapiz, the passage in Matthew 5:17 that asserts Jesus fulfilled the law must be interpreted in a different manner. The Son of Man is, after all, the Lord of the Sabbath, he pointed out.12 It is evident that Lapiz is making a grave error in asserting that Jesus violated numerous laws, as He would undoubtedly be a sinner, just like us. Lapiz introduces the term “Jesusness” at this point, clarifying that it is superior to Yahwism or Phariseeness. He goes on to explain that in Yahwism, the Sabbath is for worship and offerings to Yahweh. Sabbath was created or is made for the benefit of mankind under Jesusness. You will see how Lapiz distorts law and grace by divorcing Yahweh from Jesus, as if Jesus is not actually who He is as Yahweh, the self-existent One. He further misinterprets Luke 6:9 by saying the “destroying of life” to mean the killing of animals, as if the Old Testament sacrifices performed by the Israelites were based on works. It is imperative that we recognize that Jesus is not criticizing the Israelites, but rather the legalistic religious authorities. Regrettably, Lapiz persists in associating the two groups, as if Moses and the Israelites are guilty of Pharisaical legalism.
Yahweh is the devil?
Lapiz advises his listeners not to read the Bible through the religious lenses they grew up with. In this way, he is discretely preparing his congregation to accept and adapt his new interpretation style which he calls “deep heart of the matter.” The pastor from Day By Day erred in preaching that the Pharisees, Sadducees, and religious leaders worship Yahweh, who is Satan, the father of lies. According to Lapiz, Jesus dropped the most powerful bomb in Jerusalem. Obviously, Lapiz is alluding to Jesus’ conversation to the Pharisees or Jews. True, they assumed they were worshiping Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but their legalistic tendencies led them to obey Satan himself. Lapiz is once again erroneous in claiming that Yahweh is Satan. Although he would not state it directly, those who are well-versed in the Bible will recognize what he is saying.
Lapiz came to this conclusion due to a misreading of John 8:44.13
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
He now references John 9:16 to show how Jesus is addressing the dominant and reigning mentality of his time. Jesus’ message or mission of grace, that contradicts Jewish legalistic doctrine, will generate conflict in every family, whether they believe Jesus or their Pharisees, Elyon or Yahwism. Lapiz now cites Matthew 10:34-36 to lead his audience to decide whether to trust Yahweh (Satan) or El Elyon (God the Father).14
The Blind See Who?
Referring to John 9:17-18, Lapiz states that the Jews were blindfolded because a veil had not been lifted, blocking them from seeing the light. He then used 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 to show how the Jews’ hearts were hardened because they were reading the Old Testament rather than the New Testament. Again, Lapiz was erroneous because he mistakenly thought that the problem was reading the Old Testament rather than the New. This is not recognizing that the Jews are focusing solely on Moses rather than interpreting the Old Testament in light of the coming Messiah. This is not about rejecting the Old Testament in favor of the New Testament. This is indicative of a hyper grace teacher who despises the Old Testament, similar to the old heretical teacher, Marcion. Lapiz says that the Jews are focusing on the Law not on grace or the Gospel, Phariseeness not on Jesusness. If you read the Old Testament, you’ll become a stubborn person, says Lapiz. By contrasting it with the New Testament, he is eroding the authority of the Old Testament. He seems to think that the Old Testament endorses Pharisaism, legalism, and slavery not knowing that it was only the ignorance of the religious authorities that does this. It’s true that it feels like a veil is put over one’s face if one pauses on the commandments of Moses without going toward Christ. However, it should not be the justification for neglecting the Old Testament as though we could not learn from it while concentrating only on the New Testament. According to New Testament scholar Adam Clarke, “the veil that was on the face of Moses, which prevented the glory of his face from shining out, may be considered as emblematical of the veil of darkness and ignorance that is on their hearts, and which hinders the glory of the Gospel from shining in.”15 Because it emphasizes their legalism rather than the grace of God in both the Old and New Testaments, the veil symbolizes the ignorance of the religious leaders. Realize that without first reading the Old Testament, we cannot understand Jesus and His mission in the New Testament. Lapiz is pitting Jesus and Moses against one other as though they are at odds. Is he not aware that at the transfiguration, the apostles saw Jesus, Moses, and Elijah? The apostles were promptly rebuked by the Father since they believed Jesus was only a peer of Moses and Elijah. They intended to set up three tents, but the Father stopped them, telling them that they needed to listen to His Son, Jesus. It is not because the Father is against Moses, but because the apostles had the wrong motivation in putting the two on par with Jesus.16 The Law of Moses and the Grace of Jesus Christ complement one another. After all, Yahweh gave the laws to Moses on Mount Sinai. The law’s objective is to expose man’s wickedness.17 Unfortunately, Jewish rulers use the law of Moses to justify themselves without recognizing that its aim is to point people to Jesus Christ.18 The Israelites’ approach to the law of Moses in the Old Testament is not as legalistic as the Pharisees’ in the New Testament. Lapiz is mistaken how the Israelites in the Old Testament follow the Torah for how the Pharisees and other religious leaders in the New Testament do.
Lapiz is mistakenly referring to the Israelites in the Old Testament rather than the Jews in the New Testament when he says they [referring to the Israelites] were oblivious to the truth because they focused on Yahweh rather than to the Most High God El Elyon. When the religious leaders cursed the blind man in John 9:28-29, Lapiz instantly referred to Malachi 2:2 to show that Yahweh curses people and teaches them to curse. Lapiz’s deception is incredibly subtle because if this is not explained clearly, people will believe Yahweh is a wicked god and El Elyon, the God of Jesus, is a good God. A careful study of the Greek term loidoreo will reveal to us that the religious leaders did not literally curse the blind man but rather vilified, reviled, or railed at him saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from” (Jn. 9:28b-29). The Greek term for curse is kataraomai, which means to wish for or imprecate evil (See Mt. 5:44). Surprisingly, Lapiz states that “Jesus, not even the Most High God does not curse,” quoting Romans 12:14. Let me break his bubble because he didn’t even notice that Jesus commented in Matthew 25:41.
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
This does not mean that Jesus contradicts Himself. We simply need to understand that in Romans 12:14, we are not to curse just for the sake of cursing out of our anger. For Yahweh in the Old Testament and Jesus who is also called Yahweh to curse anyone is due to the fact that God knows the heart of men. In fact, Jesus also pronounces woes to the wicked people.19 There goes his doctrine of Jesusness down the drain.
To Judge or Not To Judge
It is apparent that Lapiz is against legalism, excommunication, and judging. In John 9:30-34, he argues that the blind man was sent out by the Pharisees because he seems to pose like a teacher to them. Lapiz now turns to the members of his congregation to ask who among them had been excommunicated from their own religious organizations. He assures them that no one in his group will keep an eye on them because it is solely between them and God. They’re there to rest. Lapiz gave them the assurance that they would be accepted in his religious group, quoting Romans 15:7. He is correct in stating that many local churches now appear to be legalistic and judgmental. However, the problem was that he did not emphasize that a Christian who sins often would surely experience the Lord’s chastisement according to Hebrews 12:6-7, which states,
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
This is obvious to any hyper-grace religious group. They don’t discuss the Lord’s punishment because they only regard Him as bestowing grace. They make no mention of the immoral brother who Paul handed up to Satan in order to destroy his sinful flesh while saving his spirit.20 They also do not mention Ananias and Sapphira, who were judged by God for lying to the apostles.21 When quoting John 9:39, he carefully adds an open and close parenthesis exactly after the words “judgment” to avoid people wondering why Jesus would judge them since they are free to do anything they wish.
Jesus said, “For judgment [on what is truthful and what is false] I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
It is true that Jesus came not to judge the word but to save the world through Him.22 However, Lapiz cannot dispute that Jesus will surely judge the world in the end since He will sit on the throne as a judge.23 But he continued to ignore this fact by using verses like John 3:17 without considering the biblical context of the other passages.
Conclusion
Lapiz’s theology is in the process of developing. It is still unclear whether he has renounced the Trinitarian doctrine in favor of his new theology, which posits that the Father is El Elyon, the most High God. It is conceivable that Lapiz regards Jesus as an inferior deity, as His father is the Most High God, if he does not believe that Jesus is Yahweh. If this is the case, his teaching is comparable to that of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and other subordinationism cults. We have yet to hear Lapiz’s teachings on the Holy Spirit.
There are churches that adhere to the orthodox teachings on the Godhead and salvation while also adopting the hyper-grace theology. The teaching of Lapiz, however, is different. The orthodox teachings of Christianity were rejected by this religious leader. Frequently, Lapiz seems to accuse the traditional and evangelical churches of teaching Pharisaical Yahwistic doctrines, as if they are not teaching the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He even said that for the past 2000 years, Christian churches have not preached or taught about El Elyon, the Most High God, but rather about Yahweh, Satan, who has bound countless people in slavery. Lapiz’s inference that Yahweh is Satan is an attack on not just Jesus Christ’s identity, but on the Triune God Himself. You may read his exclusivistic statement on their website, which refers to him as a good Shepherd who can care for the battered sheep, unaware that we should point them to Jesus Christ, who can actually provide rest for their souls.
Mga mala-Pariseong kongresasyon, sarilinin nyo na lang ang katuruan nyong hindi maka-Jesus. Ipakupkopnyo na lang sa akin ang mga sakop nyong labis na ang hirap ng loob, sakal at di makahinga, gapos at di na makagalaw. Ipa-alaga nyo na lang sa akin ang inyong binabasura, inuusig at binabato, hinihiya at ikinahihiya; nilalait at itinitiwalag; ang mga biktima ng inyong pagmamalinis at pagbabanal-banalan. Pauntahin na lang ninyo sa akin silang mga niyanig ng bagyo ng inyong relihiyon at ngayo’y lito, ulila at walang masilungan [sic]. Itinataas ko ang maningning na ilaw sa tabi ng bukas na pintuan ni Jesus.
As we evaluate Ed Lapiz’s teaching and Day By Day Jesusness, our ministry classifies their religious group as a cult of Christianity. The Christian churches and the believers all over need to be warned.
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. – Acts 20:29-30
Endnotes
1 The term “cult” in this article refers to a religious group, as defined by Dr. Alan W. Gomes in his book Unmasking the Cults. According to him, “A cult of Christianity is a group of people, which claiming to be Christian, embraces a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible.” Alan W. Gomes, “Unmasking the Cults,” (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995), 7.
2 This unique term was introduced by Ed Lapiz as a way to differentiate Jesus’ grace from Moses’ laws.
3 To be fair, I believe Ann Spangler has no notion that her writings will inspire Ed Lapiz to develop such erroneous teachings.
4 Many of the quotes here from Ed Lapiz comes from his YouTube teaching video “2024-03-03 ‘Of Legal Age Na Sya.’” Access June 21, 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5arSaMlYr4.
5 The word “son” with lower case was chosen by Lapiz instead of “Son” with upper case.
6 If this is the case, Lapiz is implying that the church has also apostatized until the true teaching about El Elyon was revealed and preached by Lapiz himself. This is usually the practice of numerous cult founders.
7 In Luke 8:28, the phrase “Son of the Most High God” was rendered in the Greek New Testament as του θεου του υψιστου [the God the Most High]. This is the same rendering as in the Greek Old Testament or Septuagint in ten counts.
8 Other passages that Lapiz uses are Mt. 4:16; Jn. 1:4-5; 8:12; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 5:14; 1 Jn. 1:5.
9 Lapiz utilizes Exodus 20:8-11 to support his point. It is true that Israel’s Day of Offering coincides with the Sabbath. This is because Yahweh has told them not to work on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:28-31). Israel’s repeated offering of animals for the atonement of their sins prepares humanity for the final offering, which will occur when God sends His Son to die for the world. And besides, the Sabbath rest does not conflict with Jesus Christ’s manner of rest when He said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). Our Lord Jesus Christ merely expounded on the Sabbath by stating that true rest is sought in Him rather than in a day. Unfortunately, the Pharisees and Sadducees grew overly strict in how they observed the Sabbath. Once someone accepts Jesus Christ as Yahweh and Messiah, they will find daily rest in Him.
10 In the Old Testament, a man who picked up wood on the Sabbath had to be stoned to death, according to Yahweh (see Num. 15:32-36). The reason for this is not that Yahweh is unkind; rather, it is due to the arrogance of the individual who violates the Lord’s command. He has a significant number of days to prepare before the Sabbath, but he decided not to do so. Conversely, the religious authorities in the New Testament became so rigid in their adherence to the Sabbath Law that it is more crucial to uphold the Law than to save a life due to an accident (see Mt. 12:11-14).
11 “Of Legal Age Na Siya” – Ed Lapiz. 25:13-25:30.
12 See Mt. 12:8.
13 I had a conversation with a couple who used to be members of Lapiz’s religious group. They stated that their leader was also referencing John 8:44 to suggest that Jesus was referring to Yahweh in this verse, as He had murdered numerous individuals in the Old Testament.
14 Lapiz tells the people to now choose between grace or law, love or judgment, Jesusness or Phariseeness, Mosesness, and Yahwism.
15 Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, e-Sword.
16 See Mt. 17:3-5.
17 See Rom. 7:7.
18 See Gal. 3:24.
19 See Mt. 11:21; 18:7; 23:13; 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29, 26; Mk. 14:21; Lk. 6: 24-26, 10:13; 11:42-44, 46-47; 11:47, 52; 17:1; 22:22.
20 See 1 Cor. 5:1-5.
21 See Acts 5:1-10.
22 See Jn. 12:47.
23 See Jn. 5:22.
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