Showing posts with label law of god. Show all posts
Showing posts with label law of god. Show all posts

Wednesday 6 July 2016

For Getting to know Jesus

The three new websites are there on the net to bring people closer to the promised one who brings salvation for those who want to accept him and believe that he is the send one from God, the Kristos or Christ, the Messiah long awaited.

Because today there are still lots of people who do not want to accept what Jesus really says and really has done. They keep saying it was impossible for a man to do such thing as Jesus did. By saying so they nullify the act of Jesus and create a position where God could be thought of as a cruel God Who created human beings and imposed on them a Law which He knew they would never be able to keep.

We may not forget what happened in the Garden of Eden and how God provided a plan offering mankind a Redeemer.

On the newly created site "The human Jesus" Xavier Carlos Jimenez writes
 The first we are aware of this is at Genesis 3:15, where we see the seed of the woman, that is a descendant of Eve, is the future Messiah. Jesus Christ is prophesied throughout the OT, but does not come into existence until the NT where his birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
In the knowledge that God is an eternal Spirit, having no beginning (no birth) and no end (cannot die) much more Christians should wonder who they praise and Who they should worship. We also know from the Biblical account that the Nazarene man Jeshua was going to be called a god, a special some one. though never was it the intention to have him being called the god son.
In Luke 1:32-33 Gabriel says,
“He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever, and his Kingdom will never end” (cp. 1Chron 17:10-14).
Through a biological miracle God procreated Jesus in the womb of Mary, who was a virgin. “For this reason alone”, and no other, Jesus became the Son of God, descendant of King David of the tribe of Judah through Mary (Luke 1.35).
We should remember that it was only some two millennia ago that Jesus became an existing being on this earth. Before that he may have been written down in the books of life and death, but he did not exit yet as a real person. Already before Abraham was born he was in God's head, like Abraham, Isaac but also we are already in God's head and in those books. It was only after the prophet Mica and earlier prophets of the Hebrew writings that the send one from God became a reality in the flesh.

At the time of Joseph and Mary.
This was the moment when Jesus was begotten, that is, brought into existence. There is no pre-existence of Jesus Christ, and it is when we become aware of this fact through our prayerful study of Holy Scripture that we really get to know him as the human being that he was and remains.
Too many who call themselves Christian never read the whole Scripture (Old and New Testament) and often they only read some passages with their doctrinal glasses on.

Let yourself not being carried away by human doctrines but listen to the proper words of the Holy Scriptures. Read what is really written there. when there is written "son of God" do not read "god the son" or do not think "God" but think "Jesus" or just what is written their "son of God".
Knowing the truth about who is Jesus, we begin to see him in a whole new light. The scriptures open up to us more fully and we see how the prophesies in the OT are brought clearly into focus in the NT through the Good News of the Kingdom of God. We see our future as heirs ruling with Jesus in the Kingdom on earth, and we are humbled to think of such a privilege to be with our King. It is when we understand the true nature of Jesus Christ, that he is a man, and not a pre-existent God or part of a trinity, that we can really get to know him as our brother.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human” (1 Tim 2:5).

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Preceding articles:

Thursday 4 April 2013

Christadelphians or Messianic Christians or Messianic Jews

File:Thoerl Pfarrkirche St Andrae Passion 15 Auferstehung 08022013 276.jpg

Those who believe in the resurrection of Christ Jesus, should accept that at first he was dead. When he would not have died, his standing up from his position in the grave would not be so spectacular or so important for humankind.

God can not die because He is an eternal spirit, which mean He did not have a beginning, no mother where He came from, and has no end, shall never die.

Some centuries ago God His Voice came down from heaven and said about the Nazarene man Jesus, who was been baptised by his nephew John the Baptist: "This is my beloved son."

And having been immersed, יהושע (Jehsua) went up immediately from the water, and see, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him, and see, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I did delight.”
(Matthew 3:16-17 The Scriptures 1998+)
“See, My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My being did delight. I shall put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall declare right-ruling to the nations. “He shall not strive nor cry out, nor shall anyone hear His voice in the streets. “A crushed reed He shall not break, and smoking flax He shall not quench, till He brings forth right-ruling forever.1 Footnote: 1This is according to the Shem-Tob Hebrew text. However, this passage is a quote from Isa. 42:1-3 where it reads right-ruling unto truth. “And the nations shall trust in His Name.”
(Matthew 12:18-21 The Scriptures 1998+)
We should trust in the name of Jesus, the son of man and son of David, who said he could do nothing without his Father, who is greater than him.

But  יהושע {Jeshua}answered them, “My Father works until now, and I work.” Because of this, then, the Yehudwere seeking all the more to kill Him, ‘because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He also called Elohim His own Father, making Himself equal with Elohim.’ Therefore יהושע {Jeshua} responded and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He does, the Son also likewise does. “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all that He Himself does. And greater works than these He is going to show Him, in order that you marvel. “For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son makes alive whom He wishes. “For the Father judges no one, but has given all the judgment to the Son, that all should value the Son even as they value the Father. He who does not value the Son does not value the Father who sent Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me possesses everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of Elohim. And those having heard shall live. “For as the Father possesses life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to possess life in Himself, and He has given Him authority also to do judgment, because He is the Son of Aḏam.
(John 5:17-27 The Scriptures 1998+)
Wherever you may live, whichever language you may speak and in which culture you were brought up shall determine how you shall  pronounce the name of that Nazarene man יהושע :  Jeshua, Jehushua, Issoua,  Issou, Jesus (in different tongues with different sounds), Jezus, Chesu, Isi, etc..

What is most important, though we know that the name "Jesus" comes from "Hail Zeus" and was not the proper name of the Messiah, though we still use it know because it is the most common known form to indicate that man who is called son of God who is the promised Messiah.

This Messiah bit is very important. Accepting that the Nazarene, born in Bethlehem, from the tribe of David, is the promised Saviour, the Christos (Christus) or Christ.

When Jesus was alive he gave already the task to go out and preach in his name. After his death, he was resurrected by God and was some time again with his disciples.
And the eleven taught ones went away into Galil, to the mountain which  יהושע {Jeshua} had appointed for them. And when they saw Him, they bowed to Him, but some doubted. And יהושע {Jeshua} came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Therefore, go and make taught ones of all the nations, immersing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Set-apart Spirit, teaching them to guard all that I have commanded you. And see, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Am
(Matthew 28:16-20 The Scriptures 1998+)
Those who would like to follow יהושע {Jeshua}and share his love with each other should feel as brethren and sisters. They should get to know the teachings of Jeshua or Jesus Christ and keep to them.

Getting to know those teachings comprehends also getting to know the Torah or the Law of God, because to Jesus this Law was sanctified. Also for us this Law should be set-apart or holy. the Word of God should be what we want to follow like Jesus followed the Word of God and did not want to do something different than the Will of God.

When you follow the Messiah or you then a Messianic?  a Messianic Jew or a Messianic Christian?

Are you following  main Christianism? Are we following main Christianism?

Brethren and sisters in Christ do want to 'be in Christ'; Carry the armour of Christ. They do not want to accept the Holy Trinity and other dogmatic teachings of many Christian denominations.

It may look like those small groups of fraternal Christians do want to reform the traditional teachings. (?)

The Christadelphians dare to challenge the idea’s of their present reality in light of the ancient paths. For we are to restore the ancient paths. We are truly seeking a restoration of the ancient paths. We are not truly intending to Reform “Christianity” or “Catholicism.”

In case our goal would be Reformation we will fail by remaining connected to those institutions that refuse to change or jeopardize their mission, message or money trail. To see the Restoration of the Kingdom of David and help usher in the Millenial Kingdom, we must Repair the breach, Rebuild that which is fallen, and Restore that which is lost. Our goal should be to keep Covenant Fidelity. That way we may usher in the Messianic Redemption.

As such some may consider us as "messianic people" and we should say that we believe strongly in the messianic message and the return of Christ  to install the Kingdom of God. Our eyes are directed to that return of Christ, in which we have put our hopes.

Mankind wants freedom from oppression  Our goal should be liberation with respect and co-operation with willing parties. We must engage in healthy and academic dialogue but never to the demise of doctrine or tenant of this intended revolution. Christadelphians do not love doctrinal teachings. We are liberated by Christ, so we should not look for boundaries by people in this world today.

We must not make doctrines out of our frustration with the reality of this world which loves traditions or out of pressure from these institutions. We should not close our eyes for them or do if they do not exist any more. No, they are a everyday reality, which we have to consider. All the gentiles we have to try to reach, and we better do that in a language they understand. But that does not mean that we may not try to open their eyes for other languages and other traditions. By showing how we understand the world and understand the Words in the Holy Scriptures, we can get them also to learn new names, terms and let them see what is really written in the Bible and what the Will of God is.

We have to embrace that we are all together different, but also that our mission is different. There mission is the simple message of salvation, the entry point of the discussion. We seek to teach the full journey into discipleship under the Messiah Christ Jesus (Jeshua) as well as the study of sacred text in a scholarly fashion.

We seek unity in identity and fellowship with like-minded believers who accept Jesus for what he is. We also want to follow those things the Jew Jesus thought were important to do, had to and have to be done.

Those living in a country where we have contacts with many Jews, like in Belgium and Holland, should open their arm to them and dare to use the words Jesus spoke and the Jews today still use as well. Having several nationalities with different languages we should be prepared to offer the Bible in their language and use words which are commonly understood by many of them.
For that reason it is also often better not to translate names of persons and places into your own language but use the name of the person or the place how he or she is really called.

In Belgium we do have to encounter so many languages that sometimes we prefer to use the most common name for the different languages, which may mean that we do not use the English word, because out of English their are many more languages spoken by our brethren and sisters. In our country we do have to come to consensus and try to use also names which can be understood by those we do want to reach, no Christians and the many Muslims (25% of the population). Offering writings which names which are also familiar for them can bring them to know more about those persons and to see them in a different light than their own traditional Islamic teachings.

When we use the Islamic names or the Jewish names that does not mean we are Muslim or Jew, but we cannot detract from the roots many of our inhabitants have. Language is a means to communicate and we should try to communicate with as much people as possible, bringing over the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

As lovers of Jesus and lovers of God, we should be lovers of all those around us, no matter from which origin they may be, or whatever language they may speak. We have to go to them and reach them in a language they might understand and could be able to learn to talk about the same things with others.

We should make room for the process in love, or charity and grace.

Is there is an expression of faith in the Jewish Mashiach or Messiah, unconnected to Jewish expression, do we endorse it or allow it? Of course we allow it, we can’t stop it. We should seek to set up our own revolution in uniqueness and covenant fidelity while engaging the realities in our lives in ministries.

We should avoid the ostrich with its head in the ground mindsets. We should watch the News with bible in hand as the saying goes. We are living in this world, so we can not avoid being elements in this world who have to take in consideration what happens.

To others we may let them see we are ordinary citizens, people like 'you and me'. People who have their ups and downs, but who are willing to help each other to make the best of this life in the world we do have to live in.

As long as Jesus did not return we should take care of all around us so that they can come to get to know Jesus the Messiah and his Father, the Only One God, Jehovah the Elohim.

The Jews are the chosen people by God. They shall inherit the Land of God. By the death of Christ all people from all sorts, cultures, countries, became partakers of the Grace and can become partakers of the promise made to Abraham, looking forward to the Kingdom of God.

That we all make sure that we shall be able to enter that small gate, as brethren and sisters in Christ.

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Read also:

Not all christians are followers of a Greco-Roman culture

Monday 18 February 2013

United people under Christ

Last week the worldcommunity saw that the one who claims to be the follower of the apostle Peter stepped down from his position on what many call the 'holy chair'.
English: Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter ...
English: Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter by Pietro Perugino (1481-82) Fresco, 335 x 550 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican. Ελληνικά: Λεπτομέρεια από την νωπογραφία του Πιέτρο Περουτζίνο, Ο Χριστός Παραδίδει τα Κλειδιά στον Πέτρο, 335 x 600 cm, Καπέλα Σιξτίνα, Πόλη του Βατικανού. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


The church community should be found on a good faith base and have clear and undeniable grounds with people who live according to community rules which are according to the Law of God. They should try to be living by the standard of the “One Body” of Christ. The Nazarene man who did not appoint one or the other above one another. Though perhaps many might think that the apostle Peter was chosen to be a leader, he certainly was not the leader of the church community at the time of the first years after Christ his death. All apostles had their particular duties but worked together and even where not afraid to criticise each other.

In the Acts of the apostles is given a very clear picture of the working of the first church as one united body in Christ. when you read the chapters you shall not find any decent reason to believe that the Pope is the real acceptable leader of the Church of God.
Could it also be that the church became subdivided into local churches but that along the way into history that church their members (of each local church) still make up the universal body of Christ? There is no one church that monopolizes the body of Christ.

History proves that contamination was brought in very soon after Jesus' death. Several apostles warned the followers of Christ to be careful and to look out for false teachings. People also had to be careful not to mingle with weak or sinful men, who would love to see them being diverted from the unworldy ideas of their religion.

Though we are never to judge or condemn others; we just have to politely “stand aside” from them!

When we look at the world we should consider that there are many people with different beliefs, but that there might be different opinions between the many persons that does not mean they would not be considered as being part of one and the same united people under Christ.

Some teach that if you are not part of this denomination or that denomination then you cannot be part of the body of Christ. There exist many denominations which believe people do have to belong to them, because otherwise they would be doomed into damnation or when people do not belong to their denomination they would not be able to enter the Kingdom of God. What most of those denomination forget is that before they came into being ther where also people who loved God as the Most High, and honoured Him at their best. Those people are also saved by Jesus his offer and got the right to enter the Kingdom of God. It is he, Jesus who shall decide who is able to enter the Kingdom of God and not one world church organisation or denomination who is going to decide that. God knows the heart of each person and He shall see if that person is worthy or not to enter the Kingdom. Jesus as the mediator shall be the person who can mediate for those who tried to do their best on earth and who followed one or another path according to a path laid in front of them by one or another denomination. but the people themselves shall have to carry the responsibility of their choice. They also shall not be able to blame their congregation or denomination for the choices they have made.
As part of the body of Christ we should be people working under the guidance of the Bible, to serve each other and the body, not taking into account language, ethnicity, gender, nationality etc. When we are unified with One Spirit in One Body that means we are unified under Gods Spirit to have and show  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and awareness for each other, treasuring the same hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ together with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of his Father.

Every person has received the gifts to think and to have his mind working to find out certain things. Every person, in his or her life shall get opportunities to be able to be confronted with certain values, certain truths, certain ideas ... and shall be confronted with the possibility to make a certain choice.
The 1st English edition of The Kingdom of God ...
The 1st English edition of The Kingdom of God Is Within You. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


It is up to us to think about our faith, about what we do want to believe and about what we do have to believe.

Every transition in a movement should be followed up and registered, looked at in function of the Will of God and the Biblical writings. They are given to us to help us to direct the right way. We should listen to the voice of God and follow the directions given in the Holy Scriptures. They should be the most important guide for our life and way of life.

The guidance from the Bible should give us insight in what the world offers, also on religious matters and on actions of faith.
We must remember that the ecclesia does not exist to keep the Truth pure as a theory (i.e., “The purer our ecclesia, the better!”). The Truth (as an abstract principle, or set of principles, communicated from God) cannot be anything but pure! It might sound strange that the ecclesia does exist to help impure men and women (with imperfect beliefs and impure ways) to move toward purity, even if their progress is slow… Some expect that the people who enter the ecclesia or church-community would be already very pure from their baptism, but that is not so. The baptism is only the starting point to the way of purity to the small gate to the Kingdom of God.

Out of love for each other each member of the ecclesia should help each other to grow and to make every day a step closer to that set-apartness or holiness of purity.

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Read also:
  1. Fellowship 101: A Short Course by George Booker – Class 5
    Those who believe the gospel and are baptised into Christ become ‘brethren in Christ’, without regard to nationality. They also become a part of the ‘one body’, with Christ as their head. God calls them His children, and they become partakers of His grace and love” (BASF 22).

  2. Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith
  3. Handbook to the Christadelphian Statement of Faith
  4. Reasons to come to gether
  5. Philippians 1 – 2
  6. Look for your Refuge by God
  7. A day without taking the symbols
  8. Breathing to teach
  9. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #1 Kings Faith
  10. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #2 Calling upon the Name of God
  11. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #1 Creator and His Prophets
  12. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #2 Instructions and Laws
  13. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #3 A voice to be taken Seriously
  14. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #4 Words in Scripture
  15. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #5 To meditate and Transform
  16. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #6 Words to feed and communicate
  17. Jehovah in the BASF
     


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Sunday 2 December 2012

No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation


“now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;” (Romans 4:23 Webster)

 “20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 for prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of god spoke [as they were] moved by the holy spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21 Webster)

 “and thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law, very plainly.” (Deuteronomy 27:8 Webster)

 “for whatever things were written formerly, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 Webster)

 “write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” (Revelation 1:19 Webster)

 “the spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word [was] on my tongue.” (2 Samuel 23:2 Webster)

 “but those things which god before had shown by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” (Acts 3:18 Webster)

 “and by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.” (Hosea 12:13 Webster)

 “24 he that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but that of the father who sent me. 25  these things have I spoken to you, being [yet] present with you. 26 but the comforter, [who is] the holy spirit, whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. 27 peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world giveth, give I to you. let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28  ye have heard that I said to you, I go away, and come [again] to you. if ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go to the father: for my father is greater than I. 29 and now I have told you before it cometh to pass, that when it hath come to pass, ye may believe. 30 hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 but that the world may know that I love the father; and as the father gave me commandment, even so I do. arise, let us go hence.” (John 14:24-31 Webster)

 “and when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after Paul had spoken one word, well spoke the holy spirit by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,” (Acts 28:25 Webster)

 “whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things, which god hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began.” (Acts 3:21 Webster)

 “thus saith the lord GOD, it shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.” (Isaiah 7:7 Webster)

 “16 all scripture [is] given by inspiration of god, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of god may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 Webster)

 “believest thou not that I am in the father, and the father in me? the words that I speak to you, I speak not from myself: but the father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:10 Webster)

 “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of god:” (Ephesians 6:17 Webster)

“1  now therefore hearken, O Israel, to the statutes and to the judgments, which I teach you, to do [them], that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD god of your fathers giveth you. 2 ye shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [aught] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your god which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1-2 Webster)

 “and it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his god, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:” (Deuteronomy 17:19 Webster)

 “thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalms 119:11 Webster)

 “LAMED. for ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalms 119:89 Webster)

 “NUN. thy word [is] a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105 Webster)

 “119 thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] dross: therefore I love thy testimonies. 120 my flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. 121  AIN. I have done judgment and justice; leave me not to my oppressors. 122 be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. 123  my eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. 124  deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 125 I [am] thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. 126  [it is] time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law. 127  therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yes, above fine gold. 128 therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right; [and] I hate every false way. 129  PE. thy testimonies [are] wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. 130  the entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.” (Psalms 119:119-130 Webster)

 “so shall my word be that proceedeth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11 Webster)

 “16 all scripture [is] given by inspiration of god, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of god may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 Webster)

 “6 the words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalms 12:6-7 Webster)

 “5 every word of god [is] pure: he [is] a shield to them that put their trust in him. 6 add thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6 Webster)

 “18 for verily I say to you, till heaven and earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do, and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19 Webster)

 “heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31 Webster)

 “and it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than one tittle of the law to fail.” (Luke 16:17 Webster)

 “for whatever things were written formerly, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 Webster)

 “but the word of the lord endureth for ever. and this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:25 Webster)

 “18 for I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add to these things, god will add to him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, god will take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19 Webster)


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Read also:
  1. Absolute Basics to Reading the Bible
    English: Peresopnytsia Gospels. 1556-1561. Min...
    English: Peresopnytsia Gospels. 1556-1561. Miniature of Saint Matthew. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
  2. Finding and Understanding Words and Meanings
  3. Bible in the first place #1/3
  4. Missional hermeneutics 1/5
  5. Missional hermeneutics 5/5
  6. Comparisson Bible Books in English, Dutch and French
  7. The Importance Of Scripture
  8. Incomplete without the mind of God
  9. Loving the Word
  10. Condemnation of the World and Illustration of Justification
  11. The Bible and names in it
  12. The importance of Reading the Scriptures

Friday 29 October 2010

Keeping an ecclesia in modern times

The last weeks in Belgium we thought about the formation of and giving the possibility to grow for an ecclesia.

Important is the position people have to take to go ahead. In the traditional institutional churches we can see that they did try to make everybody happy, the last few years. They looked for all sorts of formulas to be "cool". To be with its time is no problem in such a way, as long as the church does not betray its calling. The church has to show others that it is part of this world and that they they self already are anchored in a particular culture. The church or ecclesia can show that they stand open for contemporary influences and trends.  In some affairs, the community can go along but it may not disavow with it its own individual character.  In the Church it must be possible as in the society having cultures live together  and lead churches together.  That variety can only feed the church community only when everybody holds them self to God's Laws and follows the teachings of Christ Jesus.

If the church will wring itself into different positions to grow then the church becomes in danger. We can see this in the institutional churches who twisted them self in all sorts of curves to bring about that growth.  And that can have unwanted effects.  The attention for 'outsiders' can swallow so much attention that the care for the members of the municipality with it shatters.  One can go so far in adapting the ecclesia to what one thinks that outsiders expect or wish that members of the municipality become hit and get a feeling of alienation. According to me lies there the reason that the institutional churches became crooked and many churches become empty.  One has given too much attention to serve the others to their wish so that the individual character of that church went up and down as a jojo on and changed as hygienic men change of underpants. This was however not the manner to hold the Church clean.  Purity in the belief community can be there only as it holds clear belief points and keeps to them.

Identity gives security. Every ecclesia has the freedom to choose its own form or identity, but it has to keep to the Biblical teachings in all ways. We cannot avoid that men in this post-modern time is more directed on relations.  Churches have to form a community.  The dividing of the meal is just as important as the listening to a sermon. But for us Christadelphians the Word of god is the most important and the Word part or reading of chapters from the Bible should take the most time of the service and be the central focus. All the texts in the meeting can be centred on the Bible chapters been read.
Men of this time have difficulties to be quite or to listen for a long time. Therefore it is most adviced that each member of the community also is actively involved with the service, a.o. by reading each some verses froem the daily reading. They are no longer been directed on the listening to a long sermon through one person, but the reader of the exhortation could try to have it enlived with examples and changes in his voice. It can also help that when an exhortation from somebody is taken that all the members read succesively. Men can sometimes learn more in a service through to participating more active and more creative.

In the Dutch article Al of niet toegeven aan de wereld we discuss how far we can go to adapt to this world. In Opbouw van een ecclesia and in Opbouw van een ecclesia en  verbonden kosten we look at how we can construct and keep an ecclesia.




For our Dutch readers thye can find more in the following articles:
Nederlandstalige lezers kunnen hier meer over vinden in de volgende artikelen:

Kerkgroei en samengaan
Al of niet toegeven aan de wereld
Opbouw van een ecclesia
Opbouw van een ecclesia en  verbonden kosten

Monday 24 May 2010

God loving people justified


“Hear, O, Israel. Jehovah our God [is] one Jehovah. And you shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. And you shall carefully teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” (De 6:4-8 MKJV)

 “If you fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin and are convicted by the Law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.” (Jas 2:8-10 MKJV)

 “You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. You shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; [but] you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.” (Le 19:15 MKJV)

 “For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Ga 5:14 MKJV)

 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the Law of Christ.” (Ga 6:2 MKJV)

 “Master, which [is] the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 22:36-40 MKJV)

 “And coming up one of the scribes heard them reasoning, knowing that He had answered them well, he asked Him, Which is [the] first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], "Hear, O Israel, [the] Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love [the] Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This [is] the first commandment. And [the] second [is] like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mr 12:28-31 MKJV)

 “Therefore be it known to you, men, brothers, that through this One the forgiveness of sins is announced to you. And by Him all who believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.” (Ac 13:38-39 MKJV)

 “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Ro 7:14 MKJV)

 “[Is it] not to break your bread to the hungry, and that you should bring home the wandering poor? When will you see the naked and cover him; and you will not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isa 58:7 MKJV)

 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own,” (1Co 6:19 MKJV)

 “This [is] My rest forever; here I will dwell; for I have desired it.” (Ps 132:14 MKJV)


Dutch speaking readers can read the article and reactions on justification: Zo maar gerechtvaardigd?
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2013 update:
 
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Saturday 31 October 2009

Our political systems and juggling with human laws


The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.
- George Washington

"You may juggle human laws, you may fool with human courts,
but there is a judgment to come, and from it there is no appeal."
- Orin Philip Gifford

"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance,
God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness
through a Man whom He has appointed,
having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
Acts 17:30-31

God, teach me always faithful to obey your laws
and let me in your opinion be justified
to enter Your Kingdom.

Wednesday 28 October 2009

If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright


"If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright,
Then the world appears rosy and cheery;
Or if viewing the world through a lens that is dark,
The whole world will seem weary and dreary.

But the world hasn’t changed, for it’s only the lens
That’s distorting whatever we see.
So abandon the lens and seek truth, pure and free,
For God lives in both truth and reality!"
- Peggy Ferrell, Poems and Prayers

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says
is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself,
goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it –
he will be blessed in what he does."
James 1:23-25

Lord, give that I shall view the world more properly
and study Your Word.
And that I shall let me direct in this world by your blessed Word,
in Jesus name, Amen.
Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > De hele wereld door middel van een lens bekijken
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2013 update:

Words
Words (Photo credit: sirwiseowl)
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Thursday 22 October 2009

What Jesus did: First things first

Matthew 22:34-35:

The Pharisees learned that Jesus told the Sadducees things they could not argue with. So the Pharisees met together. One Pharisee was an expert in the law {of Moses}. That Pharisee asked Jesus a question to test him. (ERV)  

Key Thought

We have a real sense of rivalry and pride playing into this situation. The Pharisees could gloat a moment at the Sadducees inability to trip up Jesus. "But we're better than they are. We study harder and follow God's Law more closely than the Sadducees. We'll trip him up for sure!"
But when truth is not the goal, when pride, comfort, and recognition become tantamount to life, then motives get jumbled and truth ends up getting forgotten. Those who seek the truth lose it when their goal is simply defeating someone else rather than searching for the truth.

Today's Prayer
Holy God, help me not become so blinded by someone I view as an opponent or antagonist that I forget my search for your truth. Please help me grow more determined to find and celebrate your truth. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

The Pharisees learned that Jesus told the Sadducees things they could not argue with. So the Pharisees met together. One Pharisee was an expert in the law {of Moses}. That Pharisee asked Jesus a question to test him. The Pharisee said, "Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?" Jesus answered, "'You must love the Lord your God. You must love him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: 'You must love other people the same as you love yourself.' All of the law and the writings of the prophets take their meaning from these two commands." So while the Pharisees were together, Jesus asked them a question. Jesus said, "What do you think about the Christ ? Whose son is he?" The Pharisees answered, "The Christ is the Son of David. " Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Then why did David call him 'Lord'? David was speaking by the power of the {Holy} Spirit. David said, 'The Lord (God) said to my Lord (Christ): Sit by me at my right side, and I will put your enemies under your control. ' David calls the Christ 'Lord.' So how can he be David's son?" None of the Pharisees could answer Jesus' question. And after that day no person was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions {to try to trick him}.
Matthew 22:34-46 (ERV)

Wednesday 23 September 2009

When we love we do not need laws


If everyone would keep God's laws and would keep to love,
we would not to have civil laws who should remind us what we can and can not.
If we love God we know how we should live in harmony.
Where love has entered, there is no law necessary to focus.
- Marcus Ampe

We too often love things and use people
when we should be using things and loving people.
- Author Unknown

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
We must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

The first duty of love is to listen.
- Paul Tillich

“Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:”
Proverbs 3:3

“Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.”
Proverbs 10:12

“Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth [shall be to] them that devise good.”
Proverbs 14:22

God I am grateful for the love you give me
I ask You that I shall be able to give much love to others.


Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Wanneeer wij liefhebben is er geen nood aan wetten
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2013 update:
 
English: Dr. Martin Luther King giving his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington in Washington, D.C., on 28 August 1963. Español: Dr. Martin Luther King dando su discurso "Yo tengo un sueño" durante la Marcha sobre Washington por el trabajo y la libertad en Washington, D.C., 28 de agosto de 1963. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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