Cloning and surrogacy, a look into the past, present and future?

Going through spotlight news the past few years, one can’t help but be in awe at the amazing progress science has made.

Dolly the Sheep(July 5, 1996 – February 14, 2003), a ewe, was the first mammal successfully cloned at Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, from a nucleus of an adult mammary frozen somatic cell of a six-year-old Finn Dorset sheep transferred into a “surrogate” de-nucleated ovum (egg cell) of a Scottish Blackface sheep. The two cells fuse and then develop into an embryo (1). No sperm were involved(2). Her birth proved that specialized cells could be used to create an exact copy of the animal they came from (3).

Not only do they look alike but also similar in performance with the animal they came from. This was the observation made also about cloned Cuatetera horses from a mare surrogate by Argentina’s high-level player Adolfo Cambiaso(4).

While these examples claim exact copies in looks as well as performance, other factors like external influences can modify gene expression/activity and help explain why even identical twins aren’t truly identical(5). They are the same in many ways but also different in many respects.

In the same vein, CRISPR technology (6)

provided a powerful tool that revolutionized editing genomes. It allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function. Its many potential applications include correcting genetic defects, treating and preventing the spread of diseases and improving crops.

Human surrogacy, traditional and gestational, is now a reality(7). The difference is that in the former, the embryo is related to parents, with surrogate as the mother. Whereas, in the latter, the embryo has no relation at all to the surrogate mother.

Questionable and Controversial?

It was only a few years ago when these topics were questionable and controversial until now. Truly, “time and chance happen to all”(Eccl.9:11).

If anyone told us before the turn of the century that these will happen, we could have “laughed” at the thought as that could only happen with a”miracle”. This response reminds me of Abraham and Sarah who “laughed” when told that in their old age, 100 and 90 years old (Gen. 17:17-19) respectively, that they would have a son (Gen. 17:17; 18:12). Isaac’s conception, indeed took a divine miracle that could only come through spiritual power.

Now, these topics are no longer “miracle” and “impossible “ because we have the tools, wherewithal and know-how that enabled us to do these things. Anything becomes a miracle only when we could not do it at that particular time. But, why only at this point in time does the world get to be generally aware of cloning and surrogacy which are truly amazing feats? Why do these capabilities occur this time, not before or centuries later?

Understandably, scientific knowledge takes time and builds on established principles that lead to another. Although, these can occur immediately as “miracles”. Similarly, spiritual reality and understanding can also “miraculously” come immediately or slowly through building on some facts, as in:

Isa. 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

YHVH ELOHIM (Lord God) created with his spirit-power, the “image of God”, mortal man-Adam. But, it was the Father who gave YHVH ELOHIM (Lord God) this creative power; any power that he had, came from the Father(John 3:13). Subsequently, he incarnated voluntarily to man-Jesus, devoid of divine powers, and the Father himself created him to be the “Son of God” This started at river Jordan when he received the Holy Spirit of power until he was manifested as “Son of God” by the resurrection from the dead. But now, the Father, after his resurrection, gave him the creative spiritual power, the Holy Spirit, to bestow it to those who “believed” (Acts 19:2) and was “called”(Matt. 22:14).

Only the “Son of God”, the resurrected Jesus, was given this power to create us from merely “an image of God” which was mortal, this time to an immortal “clone” of him. As humans were created mortals by YHVH-Elohim (Lord God), this time, as Jesus-Son of God, he is building his church to be “one” with him and the Father as “children of God”, all spirit-composed, immortal-bodies for eternal life.

Immaculate Conception, Surrogacy and Cloning?

Could it be that our present generation is getting these know-how to explain some intricacies of the spiritual realm?

Like the incarnation of YHVH ELOHIM (LORD GOD) to man-Jesus, how could there be immaculate conception? How can humans (flesh-composed) be “children of God”, spirit-composed? How can humans be “one” with God. These are just some questions that now maybe explained to a certain degree.

As regards Jesus, his conception is different from Isaac who came from an infertile Abraham and barren Sarah, ages 100 and 90 respectively. Isaac came about as promised but through a mechanism that “energized” and made alive the “dead” sperm of Abraham and egg of Sarah. The mechanism appears to be similar to the “dead” body of Adam that came to life with the energizing power of the “spirit of man” breathed into his nostrils. Also, dead people came to life like Lazarus.

In contrast, man-Jesus was the incarnated spirit-composed YHVH ELOHIM(Lord God), who “came from above”(John 3:31), heavenly, sinless(2 Cor. 5:21), without any sin imputed to Adam. While his lineage (Matt. 1:1-17) was from Adam, Abraham and along the lines of David, man-Jesus did not have a human DNA contribution from parents, even from Joseph and Mary. There was no sperm from Joseph nor egg from Mary. In a manner of speaking, it was spirit that incarnated or became physical embryo that was conceived through a process of “gestational surrogacy”. His origin was not tainted with human origin since he was the incarnated YHVH ELOHIM, the Lord God, the Word. If he had DNA that came from human parents, he would have the imputed sin of Adam and subject to penalty of death, like any human. As such, he could not be a Messiah for mankind as he, himself, needed a Savior. Only a sinless Lamb can be a Passover to take on ( not take in sins) the penalty of mankind’s death.

Knowing that for a Messiah, Passover Lamb, to have sinless origin (1Peter 1:19), this had to come from a sinless spirit-being the Lord God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, David… the El SHADDAI(Lord Almighty), the YHVH ELOHIM(Lord God), the Word(John 1:1). He incarnated to man-Jesus and was conceived in Mary’s womb as a surrogate mother of Jesus. This “gestational surrogacy” never happened ever before.

In physical cloning, it became possible for nucleus of one cell to fuse with another denuclearized cell and turned into a single complete cell that turned into an embryo, developed and grew into maturity and delivered full-term. As a parallel reality, the Father (with the consent of YHVH ELOHIM) can transform spirit-composed YHVH ELOHIM into a complete human flesh-composed cell that reached maturity in the womb of Mary.

Jesus as Pioneer, Beginner, Captain, Author, Finisher

In setting up this segment, one needs to consider the following verses:

Heb. 2:9-13,

“ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. “

Heb. 12:2,

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

“Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

All the promises to Abraham, Isaac, Israel and the rest of humanity (Gen. 25:18-21) hinge on the incarnation of YHVH ELOHIM to man-Jesus. As such, he is the trailblazer that initiated and will finish what he started.

He was conceived through a process of “gestational surrogacy “ in the uterus of Mary. After delivery, growth and development, he was then baptized with the Holy Spirit after coming out of water baptism in the Jordan River, i.e., it dwelt fully in him. With the guidance of the Spirit, he was empowered and sanctified to follow the will of the Father and “not his will”(Luke 22:42). He took on the penalty of death for mankind for reconciliation of the same to the Father. After resurrection to a glorified spirit-composed body, he was given the Holy Spirit of power by the Father, to be given to those who were called and believed.

In much the same way, we follow the path of our pioneer Jesus. So, those who were called and believed in him will receive the promise of Holy Spirit baptism. As a “spiritual sperm”, the Holy Spirit will dwell in the “holy of holies” (spirit of man; Lev. 16:2; innermost segment of the temple) of our temple(body;I Cor. 3:16) to “fertilize” the “spirit of man”. And this, to write the “laws of the spirit in the fleshly tables heart and mind” (2Cor. 3:3) for sanctification in the “church” (womb of Mary; maturity through growth and development). Those who endure (as Jesus endured; Matt. 24:13) through the end, the overcomers, (Rev. 3:21)will then be glorified (Rom. 8:28-30)and manifested (Rom. 8:19)by resurrection as “sons and daughters of God”, all spirit-composed.

We will be as “clones” of God in a way, yes, being “one” with him in decision making yet, voluntarily and not as a robot, while maintaining individuality, freedom of thought and circumspection.

Summary

The preceding ideas are an attempt to parallel material and physical events in this world, past, present and future with the spiritual realm. Association was made with what we now know in surrogacy and cloning with immaculate conception of the past through harmonizing biblical events and principles that project into the future. They are by no means conclusive but hopefully will help understand the subjects in another perspective.

The plan for humans as originally expressed to Adam “to have dominion over” (Gen. 1:26) everything on earth, and the promise to Abraham and to his “seed” (Gal. 3:16) placed their turning point in the incarnation (8) of the God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob into man-Jesus.

Immaculate conception of Jesus in a human womb, is explainable through the mechanism of “gestational surrogacy” wherein the parents, Mary and Joseph did not have any contribution to his physical DNA. Christ was “from above”(John 3:13) , heavenly, and is sinless as Passover Lamb (I Peter 1:19) should be. This was an event purely of a God’s grace and love for mankind (Titus 3:4).

Our destiny(9) was planned from the beginning. We were made “an image of God”, i,e., man, classified as “god” (10) but not to be worshipped and our completion (11) for “deification“ requires a process of justification (12) for the sins of mankind imputed to the first-Adam, for us to be reconciled to the Father. Having been reconciled by the “blood of our Passover Lamb-Jesus”, those who were “called”(Matt. 22:14) to “believe” (Acts 2:38) will receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit for our sanctification (2 Thes 2:13), following and walking willingly by the Spirit. Those who endure and overcome will be victors to be glorified as “children of God”, the “kingdom of God”(13),all spirit-composed, “one” with God, although separate and distinct from the Father, the only God to be worshipped in the name of Jesus.

God Bless 🙏😇

References

1. Dolly the sheep. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/dolly_the_sheep.htm

2. Healthy Clones. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1061Z9

3. Life of Dolly. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from

http://dolly.roslin.ed.ac.uk/facts/the-life-of-dolly/index.html

4. Cloned horses. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/12/six-cloned-horses-help-rider-win-prestigious-polo-match

5. Identical Twins are not really Identical. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123820029

6. CRISPR explained. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from

https://www.livescience.com/58790-crispr-explained.html

7. Surrogacy. Retrieved 5/8/2018 from https://www.hrc.org/resources/overview-of-the-surrogacy-process

8. Incarnation, questions and Controversies. Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2017/01/12/incarnation-questions-and-controversies/

9. Destiny of Man. Retrieved 5/8/18 from

https://fact-s.net/2011/05/21/the-destiny-of-man/

10. What is God? Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2014/06/29/what-is-god-2/

11. Deification of Man/Completion. Retrieved 5/8/18 from https://fact-s.net/2014/07/12/deification-of-man-3/

12. Justification, Reconciliation, Sanctification and Glorification. Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2018/05/01/justification-reconciliation-sanctification-and-glorification

13. Kingdom of God in Human Anatomy. Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2016/12/21/kingdom-of-god-in-human-anatomy/

Original Post: May 9, 2018

Hyperlink version posted 3/12/19

Dedicated to a Judge in Paranaque/Las Pinas 1972