Monday 30 March 2009

Het loon der zonde is de dood; maar de genadegave van God is het eeuwige leven in Christus Jesus


“Doch allen zwerven af, verdorven met elkaar! Geen mens handelt oprecht: geen enkele. Geen een.” (Ps 14:3 WV78)
 “Of met de woorden van de Schrift: Er is geen rechtvaardige, zelfs niet een, niemand die verstandig is, niemand die God zoekt. Allen zijn afgedwaald, allen verdorven; niemand is er die het goede doet, zelfs niet een.” (Ro 3:10-12 WV78)
“Als wij beweren zonder zonde te zijn, bedriegen wij onszelf en woont de waarheid niet in ons. Als wij onze zonden belijden, is Hij zo getrouw en genadig, dat Hij onze zonden vergeeft en ons reinigt van alle kwaad. Maar als wij zeggen dat wij geen zonde bedreven hebben, maken wij Hem tot leugenaar; dan woont zijn woord niet in ons.” (1Jo 1:8-10 WV78)
“God echter bewijst zijn liefde voor ons juist hierdoor, dat Christus voor ons is gestorven, toen wij nog zondaars waren.” (Ro 5:8 WV78)
“In zijn eigen lichaam heeft Hij onze zonden op het kruishout gedragen, opdat wij aan de zonden zouden afsterven en gaan leven voor gerechtigheid. Door zijn striemen zijt gij genezen.” (1Pe 2:24 WV78)
“Hij was in de wereld; de wereld was door Hem geworden, en toch erkende de wereld Hem niet. Hij kwam in het zijne, maar de zijnen aanvaardden Hem niet.” (Joh 1:10-11 WV78)
“Aan allen echter die Hem wel aanvaardden, aan hen die in zijn Naam geloven, gaf Hij het vermogen om kinderen van God te worden; Zij zijn niet uit bloed noch uit begeerte van het vlees of de wil van een man, maar uit God geboren.” (Joh 1:12-13 WV78)
“Intussen weten wij, dat God in alles het heil bevordert van die Hem liefhebben, van hen die volgens zijn raadsbesluit geroepen zijn.” (Ro 8:28 WV78)
 “Want het loon van de zonde is de dood, maar de gave van God is het eeuwige leven in Christus Jezus onze Heer.” (Ro 6:23 WV78)


+++
Vindt ook
Neem afstand van het kwade
Deelnemers worden van Gods heiligheid
Streven naar heiligheid
Eerlijkheid begin van heiliging
Schoonheid van heiligheid
Weest heilig
Helden en heiligen


Zeker zijnde van Bevrijding
Koninkrijk Gods


Echte boodschap van redding niet ver te zoeken
Leden in het lichaam van Christus

The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ


“They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one.” (Ps 14:3 RSV)
“Just as it has been written: “There is none righteous, not one! None understand! None search for The God! All have turned away! They are all together useless! None are kind! Not so much as one!” (Ro 3:10-12 MHM)
“If we should ever state: “I have never sinned, ”we cause ourselves to err and the truth is not in us. Every time we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous so that He might release us from our sins, cleansing us from unrighteousness. Every time we state: “I have never sinned, ”we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” (1Jo 1:8-10 MHM)
“However, while we were still sinners The God demonstrated His own compassionate affection for us [in that] Christ died in our behalf.” (Ro 5:8 MHM)
“He bore our sins in his body upon the Tree, so that we might discontinue sin and live in righteousness. “By his wounds you were healed.”” (1Pe 2:24 MHM)
“He entered the world of humankind, and the Cosmos came into existence by his agency, but the world of humankind did not recognize him. He came to his own, but his own did not accept him.” (Joh 1:10-11 MHM)
“But, to everyone who did accept him he authorized to become children of God, because they believed in his name. These were born, not from blood–that is, from a fleshly desire, or a male desire–but from God.” (Joh 1:12-13 MHM)
“But, we are aware that the synergy of The God is for the good of those loving The God, to those who have been invited according to His purpose.” (Ro 8:28 MHM)
“For the payment for sin is death; but, the gracious gift of The God [is] everlasting life incorporate in Christ Jesus our Master.” (Ro 6:23 MHM)

Let not sin reign in your mortal body

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

Many sincere Christians express dissatisfaction over the fact that they continually fall short of perfection. Many admit continual failure in the spiritual life, repeating sins again and again, giving way to habit patterns contrary to the life of Christ. When they read the command of Christ, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48), they feel both condemned and discouraged.

  In almost all great revivals believers have sought in one way or another to attain to perfection of living. They have longed for it, prayed for it, and worked for it. But the testimony of all great Christians is that they have never attained to it; that  the more they strove and the closer they came to Christ, the deeper was their sense of inadequacy and inherent sinfulness. While their lives bore testimony to victory over sin, at the same time they felt a deeper sense of their own need and unworthiness. Ask Peter, James, and John. Ask the noblest souls that the Christian church has ever seen, the most zealous men that mankind has ever produced. With one accord they exclaim with the Apostle Paul: “I have not yet reached perfection, but I press on, hoping to take hold of that for which Christ once took hold of me. My friends, I do not reckon myself to have grasped hold of it yet. All I can say is this: forgetting what is behind me, and reaching out for that which lies ahead, I press towards the goal to win the prize which is God’s call to the life above, in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12:14.

  All the true believers who have come to know the saving power of God testify that the only perfection, the only sinlessness, they have ever seen or known has been that of Jesus Christ, the only perfect and sinless man: and that Jesus is the whole of their salvation, the whole of their righteousness and perfection. To be a genuine Christian means faith in Christ, fellowship with Christ, faithfulness to Christ, and fruitfulness for Christ. Man has no perfection and no righteousness of and in himself; he must trust wholly and solely in Christ.

  One of the hindrances to living the Christian life successfully is failure to understand what the Bible teaches about the nature of sin and perfection. A grave misapprehension lies at the root of much of the false teaching on this subject. In applying the term “perfect” to believers, the Bible never means “sinless.” There are at least nine different Hebrew words and six Greek words translated “perfect.” Noah is said to have been perfect in his generations.” Gen. 6:9. Of Asa, the king of Judah, we read: “But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.” 1 Kng. 15:14. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Jam. 3:2. “We speak wisdom among them that are perfect.” 1 Cor. 2:6.

  The Bible writers do not say that these men were sinless. The meaning of “perfect” in these instances is that of spiritual maturity, ripeness in spiritual understanding, completeness in response to God. A “perfect” Christian is one whose heart and mind are permanently committed to Christ. Noah, Abraham, and Job were all declared to be “perfect” men. Yet the history of their lives shows that they were far from being sinless.

  If one’s view of sin is shallow enough, sinless perfection would not be an impossible achievement. It is a defective view of sin that leads to a wrong understanding of perfection. If sin simply means a deliberate, wilful doing of what is known to be wrong, then no Christian should commit this kind of sin. But if sin includes also a man’s state of mind and heart, man’s bias toward sin, (as an indwelling tendency), then perfection presents a totally different picture.

  Some Christians believe that it is possible in this life to reach a point in spiritual development where the sinful nature is completely eradicated and, therefore, no longer operative. The Bible does teach that the genuine Christian life is one of uniform and sustained victory over all known sin. The normal Christian experience should be one of victory and not constant defeat. Paul says: “Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, ... and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” Rom. 6:11-15.

  There is one truth that every believer needs to learn who would fully enjoy complete salvation in Christ. It is the need to abide in Christ, to look continually to Christ, to depend wholly on Christ and his righteousness. God’s method of salvation is not eradication of a sinful nature, but the counteraction of it by Divine power through the Holy Spirit. Only by the continual counteracting presence of the Holy Spirit is it possible to be victorious over sin and the sinful nature within us.

  It is fatal to believe that if only we could become totally surrendered to Christ, the sinful nature would be eradicated. The law of sin and death continues to operate within us. It is something that remains in us as long as we live. Victory over all known sin does not mean sinlessness. It does mean the glorious opportunity in Christ to strive successfully against all sin and overcome it. But this is an experience that must be maintained day by day through fellowship with and surrender to Christ. The Christian life is a lifelong battle. So long as the believer abides in Christ, real holiness and victory are possible. What we have in the everyday life is the counteracting power of God against our sinful tendencies and our sinful natures.
  
 In this earthly life there is always a conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul again says, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Gal. 5:16-18.
  The greatest men in the Bible never claimed sinless perfection. They were all painfully aware of the fact that they were sinners throughout their lives. So long as a man is in a state of sin with a sinful nature still present in him, he will confess himself to be a sinner. The Christian always recognizes himself to be a sinner in need of Divine grace. The Apostle John says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” 1 John 1:8-10.

  We find here the most solemn warning against the doctrine of sinless perfection in this life. The indisputable meaning of this passage is that the man is a self-deceiver who claims for himself what the Apostle John dared not claim. The truth is not in him. The doctrine of sinless perfection leads to the conclusion that both Christ and the Holy Spirit are unnecessary once this state of eradication of the sinful nature is reached. Wherever the professed Christian claims to have the sinful nature eradicated in his life, there is a corresponding loss of true dependence upon Christ. There is a break in the only saving relationship that man needs for victory. This allows people to sin and call evil good. It discourages those who strive to be like Christ, but fall short of this false idea of perfection.

  Christ is our sole perfection, our sole righteousness. In ourselves we are never sinless. But so long as we look to Christ, sin and self cannot prevail.

  The pretension to sinless perfection at any time in this earthly life is the root of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. The Christian does not deny that the new life in Christ is capable of a new righteousness, of victory over sin. But he insists that it is not his righteousness, not his victory, but Christ’s.

  There will be no point in spiritual achievement in this life where one may rest with the certainty that he will sin no more, or that he does not stand before God as a sinner in need of Divine grace and power. The Christian knows that there still remains in him a fountain of evil, a depraved nature.

 Salvation by grace alone means that absolute perfection and sinlessness cannot be realized here and now. Righteousness by faith means that we look continually and exclusively to Christ, that we look away from ourselves and any hope in ourselves altogether in order to live by him alone. Genuine salvation directs us at once to Christ, to the only perfect life lived here on earth, and to his redemption through the Cross. Jesus Christ is absolutely central. Man’s victory over sin is exclusively the work of God in Christ, the continual control of the life by the Holy Spirit, that through daily union with Christ we participate in his holy life. The righteousness of Christ that saves us is not the beginning of a new self-righteousness but the end of it.

 John Aldersley

Sunday 29 March 2009

Surrendering, saying you are sorry, that is the only way out of a hole



"Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry,
realizing that you have been on the wrong track and
getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor -
that is the only way out of a hole."
- C.S. Lewis

"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar,
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your offering there before the altar and go;
first be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and present your offering."
Matthew 5:23-24

Lord, make sure that I may lay down all the disputes next to me
and let me reconcile with all those who just might have something against me.
Let me be humble enough to apologize to others let me put all evil thoughts aside. Let me think good in advance regarding all persons, because I want to
be peaceable with all persons.

Je overgevend, sorry zeggend, dat is de enige uitweg uit de diepte



"De wapens neerleggend, je overgevend, zegt u sorry,

je realiserend dat je op het verkeerde spoor zat en
zich klaar makend om het leven opnieuw te beginnen vanaf de begane grond --
dat is de enige uitweg uit de diepte. "
- C. S. Lewis

"Als u uw offer presenteert aan het altaar,
en er daar herinnert dat uw broeder iets tegen u heeft,
Laat uw aanbod daar voor het altaar en ga;
je eerst verzoenen met uw broer,
en kom dan en presenteer uw aanbod. "
Matteüs 5:23-24

Heer zorg er voor dat ik alle geschillen naast mij neer kan leggen
en laat mij verzoenen met al diegenen die ook maar iets tegen mij zouden hebben.
Laat mij nederig genoeg zijn om mij te verontschuldigen en alle kwade gedachten opzij te zetten. Laat mij het goede voor hebben met alle mensen, want ik wil met iedereen in vrede leven.


Saturday 28 March 2009

Verraden

Judas kwam meteen naar Jezus. "Gegroet, leraar!" riep hij en gaf hem de kus. Mattheüs 26:49

Wanneer iemand je pijn doet, kan het verwoestend worden . De pijn kan maken dat je nooit weer een ander mens wil vertrouwen . Jezus weet wat het is om bedrogen te worden - en toch biedt hij u zijn troost en het behoud van de liefde aan.

Vertaald uit NLT
Originele Engelse versie / English Betrayal
Voor meer informatie, bezoek NewLivingTranslation.com

Betrayal

Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Teacher!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Matthew 26:49

When someone hurts you, it can be devastating. The pain can make you never want to trust another human again. Jesus knows what it's like to be betrayed--and yet he offers you his consolation and sustaining love.

NLT
For more information, visit NewLivingTranslation.com
Dutch translation / Nederlands > Verraden

Everyday beauty

Dutch version / Nederlands > Dagelijkse schoonheid


"We look too much to museums.
The sun coming up in the morning is enough."
- Romare Bearden (1911-1988)

"Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week,
they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man
clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side;
and they were alarmed.
But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed.
You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He is risen! He is not here."
Mark 16:2,5-6

God, What a wonderful example you have given us.
Light is risen from the dead.
Give that each day by sunrise
we have to think what a creation you had in store for us.
I am grateful for all the beautiful things around me
and look forward to even better times in your Kingdom.
Disappoint me not and let me be part of your future plans.


Dagelijkse schoonheid

English version > Everyday beauty


"We kijken te veel naar musea.
De zon die opkomt in de ochtend is genoeg. "
- Romare Bearden (1911-1988)

"Heel vroeg in de ochtend, op de eerste dag van de week,
 kwamen zij tot het graf als de zon was gestegen.
En bij het binnengaan van het graf, zagen ze een jonge man
gekleed in een lange witte jurk zitten aan de rechterkant,
en ze waren verontrust.
Maar hij zei tegen hen: "Wees niet ongerust.
U zoekt Jezus van Nazareth, die werd gekruisigd.
Hij is verrezen! Hij is niet hier. "
Mark 16:2,5-6

Wat een prachtig voorbeeld hebt U ons gegeven God.
Het Licht is opgestaan uit de doden.
Geef dat wij elke dag bij het opgaan van de zon
er aan denken welk een schepping u voor ons in petto had.
Ik ben dankbaar voor al de mooie dingen rondom mij heen
en kijk hoopvol uit naar nog mooiere tijden in Uw Koninkrijk.
Ontgoochel mij niet en laat mij deelgenoot worden van Uw toekomst plannen.


Friday 27 March 2009

Luikse Kathedraal

NIEUWE TENTOONSTELLINGSRUIMTE VAN LUIKSE KATHEDRAAL

Bron: Saint-Paul

BRUSSEL (KerkNet) – In aanwezigheid van prinses Claire werden donderdag de gerenoveerde schatkamer en de acht nieuwe thematische tentoonstellingszalen in het klooster aan de Sint-Pauluskathedraal te Luik ingehuldigd. De Sint-Pauluskathedraal is een prachtige, romaanse collegiale kerk, die vanaf 1252 werd herbouwd in vroeggotische stijl. Naast de prachtige glasramen in de kathedraal (dat van Jan van Keulen uit de zestiende eeuw wordt Belgisch mooiste genoemd), bezit Sint-Paulus een indrukwekkende collectie meubelstukken en een schat aan meesterwerken in de edelsmeed- en schilderkunst.
De collectie kwam in het verleden onvoldoende tot haar recht. In de volledig gerenoveerde ruimten blijkt ze adembenemend. U maakt er kennis met de kunst en geschiedenis van het Prinsbisdom Luik en ontdekt er fraaie kunstwerken zoals de buste van Sint-Lambertus (van vóór 1700), het Ivoor met de Drie Verrijzenissen (11de eeuw) en een reliekhouder van Karel de Stoute (1467). Er zijn ook tientallen kunstwerken te zien die nooit eerder werden tentoongesteld, zoals het schilderij van ‘Christus bij de mirakelen in de oude Sint-Lambertuskathedraal’ en de ‘Maria van Chèvremont’. Sint-Paulus beschikt daarnaast ook over een van de belangrijkste textielverzamelingen uit ons land. De site, waar ook ruimte is voor tijdelijke tentoonstellingen, wordt de komende maanden voort uitgebouwd tot een absolute must voor wie Luik aandoet.