Christianity is a love affair

We may not forget that Christianity is a love affair.

We are the beloved of God. This is the foundational definition of who we are. Everything else about us finds meaning in this fact. We do not earn or deserve God’s acceptance. He does not owe it to us. He gives it as a gift and therefore it will never be taken away from us.
If we deliberately reject it He will accept our decision. We can’t lose God’s acceptance by our behaviour or failure. We are totally and eternally accepted.

Too often we live as if God only tolerates us in the hope we will improve. We strive to gain His approval and make ourselves more acceptable.
We refuse to believe that he likes, loves, accepts and searches for us.
We read of the prodigal son and insist on seeing ourselves still in the pigsty rather than in the Father’s arms. We reverse creation and make God in our image giving Him all our difficulties in giving undeserved and unconditional love.

We forget that God is love. 

Early Christian ichthys sign carved into marble in the ruins of Ephesus, Turkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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2013 update:

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Swedish theologian finds historical proof Jesus did not die on a cross

'Jesus did not die on the cross'

The Swedish theologian Gunnar Samuelsson draws in his thesis, based on examination of historical sources that Jesus Christ died on the cross.

For us it is clear that in the Bible is written that Jesus died on a stake (a pole) or piece of wood; and what has historically done in that time by the Romans in order to sentence a murderer to death. But through the centuries, the image became fused with the wrong Renaissance image.

The image of the cross is based on traditions and expressions in art, and not on actual facts. There is an extensive collection of Greek, Latin and Hebrew literature on the methods used by the Romans for criminals. Nowhere is mentioned a cross or crucifixion.

The New Testament says nothing about a crucifixion says Samuelsson. The Greek word 'stauros' that often is used, is translated to cross, but in those days meant 'pole'.  Jesus died not on the cross but to a pole.

Samuelsson knows he's denial of the cross may break many people's heart. The theologian is himself a believer and sees Jesus as the Son of God. "I do not doubt the faith, but we must believe what it says". And that last point is missed by a lot of people. Usually they want to stick to entrenched images that have nothing to do with reality.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Zweeds theoloog vindt in historische geschriften dat Jezus niet aan een kruis stierf

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2013 update:

 

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Created to live in relation with God

We have been created to live in a relation with God.  However once when we have experienced a relation with God, the meaning and the sense of life becomes us clear.  We see matters that we never saw before and we will be very dumb to want to turn back to the old life.  

The life without a relation with God is as a television without antenna.  Some men are reasonably satisfied with the image of their live, because they do not realize that they can get a much better image.  A clear image with which you can see the life much sharper and clearer.  What a shame!

Dutch original / Nederlands origineel > Geschapen om te leven in relatie met God

We all are changed into the same image from glory to glory

“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, [the] Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our body of humiliation, for it to be conformed to His body of glory, according to the working of His power, even to put all things under Himself.” (Php 3:20-21 LIT)

 “And from above the expanse that [was] over their heads [was] an appearance like a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne. And on the likeness of the throne [was] a likeness in appearance like a man on it from above. And I saw [Him], like the color of polished bronze, looking like fire within it all around. From the appearance of His loins and upward, and from the appearance of His loins and downward, I saw [Him] looking like fire; and brightness to it all around. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of the rain, so appeared the brightness all around. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And I saw, and I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” (Eze 1:26-28 LIT)

 “But we all with [our] face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of [the] Lord in a mirror, are being changed [into] the same image from glory to glory, as from [the] Lord Spirit.” (2Co 3:18 LIT)

 “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it was not yet revealed what we shall be. But we know that if He is revealed, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.” (1Jo 3:2 LIT)

 “And they will not hunger still, nor will they thirst still, nor at all shall fall on them the sun, nor any kind of heat.” (Re 7:16 LIT)

 “And they sing the song of Moses the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous [are] Your works, Lord God Almighty, righteous and true [are] Your ways, King of the saints.” (Re 15:3 LIT)

Dutch version / Nederlands > Omgevormd van de ene heerlijkheid tot de andere

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