Génesis 12
1 Pero Jehová había dicho a Abram: Vete de tu tierra y de tu parentela, y de la casa de tu padre, a la tierra que te mostraré.
2 Y haré de ti una nación grande, y te bendeciré, y engrandeceré tu nombre, y serás bendición.
3 Bendeciré a los que te bendijeren, y a los que te maldijeren maldeciré; y serán benditas en ti todas las familias de la tierra.
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Filed under Citas de la Biblia, Español
In Genesis 12, God promised Abram:
I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (2–3)
God also promised Abraham a particular piece of real estate. It would be from this land God would make good on his words in Genesis 12, to multiply Abraham’s offspring “as the stars of heaven” and bless all nations of the earth (Gen 26:4).
Here are 12 Bible passages that will help you explore the location of the promised land, when it was first promised in the Bible, to whom it was given and for how long, what piece of property was promised, and who ultimately owns the land.
Genesis 12:7
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”
Genesis 26:2–3
And the Lord appeared to [Abraham] and said . . . “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring* I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.”
Genesis 28:12–13
And [Jacob] dreamed . . . And behold, the Lord . . . said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.”
Genesis 35:9, 11–12
God appeared to Jacob again . . . and God said to him, . . . “The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring.”
Genesis 48:3–4
Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’”
Genesis 50:24
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
Genesis 15:18
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”
Exodus 23:31 (see also Numbers 34:1–12)
And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
Genesis 13:15
All the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.
1 Chronicles 16:14–18
Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.”
Genesis 17:8
I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.
Leviticus 25:1–2, 23
The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them . . . The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine.”
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*Emphasis is the author’s throughout.
Filed under Quotations from Holy Scriptures, Religious affairs
We ontmoeten Melchisedek zelf in Genesis 14:
En Melchisedek, de koning van Salem, liet brood en wijn brengen. Hij was een priester van God, de Allerhoogste, en sprak een zegen over Abram uit … Abram gaf aan Melchisedek een tiende van wat hij had heroverd. (Gen. 14:18-20)
Deze Melchisedek verschijnt hier heel plotseling in het verhaal, en verdwijnt weer even plotseling daaruit. We lezen niet wie hij feitelijk was, of van wie hij afstamde. We lezen alleen dat hij ‘koning van Salem’ was, en ‘priester van God’, dat hij Abram zegende, en dat Abram hem tienden gaf van de buit. Dat is dus niet veel informatie, maar het stelt ons toch niet echt voor problemen. Kennelijk leefde er in Kanaän een plaatselijke koning die tevens priester was van de ware God. Hij zegent Abram, en Abram erkent in hem zijn meerdere want dat is waar die zegening en dat geven van die ‘tienden’ op neer komt. Daarna komen we alleen zijn naam nog tegen: eerst in Ps. 110:4, en de brief aan de Hebreeën geeft daar commentaar op. Dat zijn de beide andere keren dat hij in de Bijbel genoemd wordt. In Hebr. 5 lezen we:
Ergens anders [nl. in Ps. 110:4] zegt (God):
‘Jij [de Messias] zult voor eeuwig priester zijn, zoals ook Melchisedek dat was.’ … En Hijwerd … een bron van eeuwige redding, omdat God Hem heeft uitgeroepen tot hogepriester zoals Melchisedek dat was. (Hebr. 5:6,10)
In hoofdstuk 7 legt hij dat verder uit:
Want deze Melchisedek, koning van Salem en priester van de allerhoogste God, ging Abraham tegemoet … en zegende hem, waarna Abraham hem een tiende van alle buit gaf. Zijn naam betekent ‘koning van de gerechtigheid’, en verder is hij ook koning van Salem, dat is ‘koning van de vrede’. Hij heeft geen vader of moeder, geen stamboom, geen oorsprong of levenseinde en lijkt op de Zoon van God – hij is priester voor altijd. (Hebr. 7:1-3)
Het is duidelijk dat hier de moeilijkheden liggen. Zijn naam, zegt de schrijver, is een samenstelling van melek (koning) en zadok (gerechtigheid). Verder is hij koning van Salem, dat verwant is aan shalom (vrede). Bedenk daarbij dat het Hebreeuws geen klinkers kent, en dat de weergave van een Hebreeuwse klank door een ‘s’ of een ‘z’ een keuze van de vertalers is (dus is er bijv. geen wezenlijk verschil tussen sedek en zadok). Daarmee is hij volgens de schrijver een (symbolisch!) beeld van de Messias (Christus), die de werkelijke koning der gerechtigheid is (bijv. Jes. 11:4-5 en 32:1), en koning des vredes (bijv. Jes. 9:5). Let dus op dat hij niet betoogt dat deze Melchisedek de Messias is, maar dat hij er een beeld van is! Vervolgens licht hij bepaalde aspecten van die verzen in Gen. 14 eruit en betoogt dat die zijn lezers (Hebreeën, dat is: Joodse christenen!) iets vertellen over de eigenschappen van dat Messiasschap.
De problemen ontstaan nu uit het feit dat zijn argument niet alleen berust op wat ons van Melchisedek wordt verteld, maar voor een deel juist op wat ons niet wordt verteld. Het gaat hem er dus niet zozeer om wie of wat de werkelijke Melchisedek was, maar om de manier waarop hij ons in Genesis wordt gepresenteerd. Zijn argument is dan dat het priesterschap van Melchisedek een beeld is van dat van Christus, en daaruit leidt hij af dat het priesterschap van de Messias groter is dan het Levitische priesterschap dat zijn lezers kenden, en dat zijzelf als de hoogste vorm van priesterschap zagen. Dat Levitische priesterschap, betoogt de schrijver, moest voortdurend van vader op zoon worden doorgegeven, omdat zij op een gegeven moment nu eenmaal dood gingen (Hebr. 7:23). Maar het priesterschap van de Messias is volgens Ps. 110 eeuwig (zie Hebr.5:6). En dat wordt dan geïllustreerd door het feit dat ons van Melchisedek geen afstamming en geen geboorte of dood wordt medegedeeld (Hebr. 7:3). Natuurlijk is hij in werkelijkheid gewoon geboren, uit menselijke ouders, en ook weer een keer gestorven. Maar door deze manier van presenteren is hij, betoogt de schrijver, een beeld van de Messias die zijn priesterschap van niemand heeft geërfd (vs 16) en die in werkelijkheid tot in eeuwigheid priester blijft (vs 24). Tenslotte noemt hij het feit dat Abram onderdanigheid betoont aan Melchisedek, en dat Abrams nakomeling Levi (als afstammeling altijd minder dan zijn stamvader) daarmee dus eveneens ondergeschikt is aan deze Melchisedek. En dat geldt dan dus ook voor Levi’s priesterschap ten opzichte van het priesterschap ‘zoals dat van Melchisedek’, dus (uiteindelijk) voor het priesterschap van de Messias zelf.
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It is not because there is no religion mentioned in the Torah for goyim or non-Jews that they should not have a religion or should not have to come to the Elohim. It is also not so that when people call themselves Christian and would go regularly to mass or to a church service that they are serving God or being recognised as His children.
In Christendom we can find lots of people who have an other god than the one of Abraham, though the divine Creator is very clear Who He is and what He wants from His people. Also Abraham did very well know Who the Most High God was.
Looking at the many churches in Christendom we can see that several churches altered the Torah and that the main church is breaking one of the laws in the Torah itself. Several people who come to study the Bible become angry when they see how their churches fooled them. It is a pity that they than abandon the faith in God. Some of them are then trying to find their way in Judaism. A few do not lose their faith in Christ and find their way in Christianity, becoming a member of one of the several non-trinitarian groups or churches.
It is wrong to think that those in the main churches
only have what the church has given them, altered scriptures and mistranslations. {I Hope They Get It}
Every human being is able to hear the Word of God. Wherever he lives there is some way to hear God’s Word. Those living in the industrialised countries have no excuse at all. For them there are enough means to get in touch with the Word of God. They have the printed material, like Bible books, other books and brochures, but also electronic devices where they can find several applications presenting the Word of God.
Questioning what we really believe is the only way to ever know what we really believe and why. {I Hope They Get It}
and that is what each individual has to do: searching himself what is the truth of God.
It is totally wrong to think that there would not be churches telling the biblical Truth. Luckily we can find many churches all over the world which proclaim God’s Word. It is not because the main
church says a lot of things that don’t line up with His word. {I Hope They Get It}
that we should say
No, the New Testament is not His word. There is no place in it where it says that He is speaking. {I Hope They Get It}
In the Greek writings or Brit Chadashah we are told about the one who is sent by God and authorised to speak in His name. As such the Messianic writings are a continuation of the Hebrew writings, bringing hope for those who are not of the Judaic faith. Because also for the non-Jews the way to the restored relationship with God is opened. This thanks to the ransom offering of Jeshua, the sent one from God.
The writer may have become very frustrated by his old church, which makes it a pity he now concluded that the work delivered by Jesus and his apostles would not be from God. Pity also that he thinks
All through the Torah and the Prophets, it tells us that G-d is speaking and to whom He is speaking. No Christian writing can make this claim. {I Hope They Get It}
He seems to forget that the Torah and Prophets are part of the Christian writings too.
There is no need for a middleman. That is one of the lies of the church. {I Hope They Get It}
writes Mr. Bouker who with ‘Convert Corner’ is
attempting to provide more than just proof that the Christian religion is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. {About Convert Corner}
He is a former Christian
who is currently going through an Orthodox conversion to Judaism. {About Convert Corner}
and spent years believing what he was told to believe by preachers and teachers instead of going to research the Bible for himself. Clinging to church doctrines no wonder he feels that he
had very little knowledge of the G-d of Israel. {About Convert Corner}
He seems to forget that the God of Israel wants a good relationship with all His creatures and by means of sending His only begotten beloved son made it possible that all can be saved from the curse of sin. But naturally each person has to decide himself or herself what way to go. The sent one from God, Jeshua, (Jesus Christ) shows the way to God. By him non-Jews also can come into the restored relationship with God. For goyim or gentiles there is also a way to have a religion which can be accepted by the God of Abraham.
Filed under Knowledge & Wisdom, Religious affairs
In the ancient past there were men who did know where to go. They could have followed their own path, but they choose to follow the directions given to them by a much higher Power than any human being.
Today there are many people who believe their patriarch Abraham got there where he had to be by the Power of the One Who directed him and Who he was prepared to follow. By his act of faith Abraham received a blessing which may come over to his progeny. The Jews believe they are the rightful descendants of the patriarch Abraham. Muslims also take Abraham as their most important patriarch and ‘father’. In him they all see a man of faith,like there have been many people of faith who went before us and showed us what we too should belief and do.
In the ancient books we come to see that faith led Abel to offer God a better sacrifice than Cain’s sacrifice. Scripture also tells us about Enoch who was taken by God because He had found in him a man of faith and because He was pleased with him. We also should see that no one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
It was also faith that led Noah to listen when God warned him about the things in the future that he could not see. This man came to build an ark in a place were there was no big water and found people laughing at him. No matter how they ridiculed him he obeyed God and built a ship to save his family. Through faith Noah condemned the world and received God’s approval that comes through faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Can you imagine someone would tell you in your old age that you can still get children or would ask you to some place you do not know? Again in the Old Testament we come to know about a man with faith which led him to obey when God called him to go to a place that he would receive as an inheritance. Abraham left his own country without knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8) It led him to live as a foreigner in the country that the Elohim Hashem Jehovah had promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise from God the Most High. Abraham trusted God and was waiting for the city that God had designed and built, the city with permanent foundations. (Hebrews 11:9)
All those pepole showed they had strong belief in that Unseen Power. they were convinced that they could fully trust that Voice that reached them from the unknown. For them That Voice was much more important than any human voice. they were convinced there was a better substance for them when the would follow that Incredible Voice, than what man could offer them. They had the feeling that what would come over them or would given to them when they would follow that Voice was much more important than what the world could or would give them. They did not first demand evidence. They had not to see a thing or set of things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment. The means by which an allegation could have been proven, such as oral testimony, documents, or physical objects, were not necessary for them. By faith they followed what was deep in their heart.
We can see that it was faith that enabled Abraham to become a father, even though he was old and Sarah had never been able to have children. Abraham trusted that God would keep his promise. We should remember that Abraham was as good as dead. Yet, from this man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11)
Looking at those men we should know that they didn’t receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth.
We too today, should consider ourselves as tenants in this world; Sojourners, travelling in this time space. We reside temporarily on this earth where mankind tries to make something of it, but has proven not to succeed in it. Therefore we should trust God and look forward to the coming times and the coming Kingdom of God.
Through faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets conquered kingdoms, did what God approved, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, and escaped death. They found strength when they were weak. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies.(Hebrews 11:32-33)
All these people, mentioned above, were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. God planned to give us something very special so that we would gain eternal life with them. It is in those promises which are made we should have faith.
As faith convinces us that God created the world through his word, we also believe that He guided His people all the time and that He does not abandon any one who is willing to belief in Him. We should put our hope and trust in the Unseen and put our hope on Him and on His son who paved the way to the entrance of the great Kingdom. Without faith we shall never be able to reach the right goal or to run and finish the race.
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Please do read the faith-chapter of the apostate Paul, his letter to the Hebrews: Hebrews 11
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Preceding
How to Live Beyond the Ordinary
9 Adar and bickering or loving followers of the Torah preparing for Pesach
Knowing The Truth and Loving The Truth
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Filed under Knowledge & Wisdom, Lifestyle, Religious affairs
As I understand it, it is by faith that we enter into grace (Rom.5:2). That is, we are now in Christ, having put on Christ by faith and baptism (Gal.3:26-27), and thereby enveloped in grace … having been saved by grace through faith, and not by our works (Eph.2:8-9).
Baptism in the first place represents death of the old man. It declares this principle (Rom.6:3-4, Col.2:12). It means that we bring no virtue to God – only a conscience influenced by the gospel message (1.Pet.3:21). We are thereby saved by faith through grace, which is God’s free gift to us (Eph.2:8-9). Having now ALSO risen with Christ, we are to walk by faith, which keeps us in grace – that is, we must now stay true to the things received by the preaching of the gospel, firm to the end (1.Cor.15:1-2).
We have been created anew in Christ, and by faith we are to walk in newness of life (Rom.6:4, Col.2:12), having been born again / created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph.2:10). These works that come AFTER baptism into Christ demonstrate that our faith is alive, and therefore James says
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” James.2:26.
In this context, James has already presented two examples from Abraham’s life to show what he means. One is drawn from early on and the other from much later. Early on, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness (Gen.15:6). Later one, Abraham was faithfully obedient when he offered up Isaac (Gen.22:16-18), and his “works” demonstrated that his faith was alive and had grown.
By this we “see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says,
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”” James.2:22-23 ESV.
Now ponder James 2:24 in this context –
“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only”
Martin Luther, the ‘great’ reformer, was not happy with James’ epistle and tried to remove it from the cannon of Scripture. He called it ‘an epistle of straw’. Luther, because of his misunderstanding of how God saves in Christ (i.e. his belief in penal-substitution), was not able to understand James.
Peter also speaks of the need for spiritual growth in the following words –
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;..” 2.Pet.1:5-10
We will let the apostle John have the last word, where he later writes –
“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” 1.Jn.3:7
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Filed under Being and Feeling, Lifestyle, Religious affairs
Moadim L’Simcha (Appointed Times for Joy) and Shabbat Shalom dear readers!
The joyous holiday of Sukkoth (Sukkot or Feast or Tabernacles or Feast of Booths), one of the three Pilgrim Festivals of the Hebrew Bible, is observed on the Jewish calendar dates of 15-21 Tishrei and is immediately followed by the holiday of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The final day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Rabba (“Great Hosanna”) (In 2016 coming Monday and Tuesday) and with the eighth day should for Christians also be important, being it a day of Solemn Assembly, commemorating the completion of the annual cycle of readings from the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and being called Simḥat Torah (“Rejoicing of the Law”). .
The seventh day of the festival of Sukkot, considered to be the final day of the New Year’s Divine “judgment” in which the year’s fate is determined; in addition to the Four Kinds taken on the preceding days of Sukkot, an additional willow is taken on this day; it is customary to stay up all night on the eve of Hoshanah Rabbah and study Torah.
During the week long festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles), the regular Parasha (Torah portion) for Shabbat is suspended, and a special Parasha pertaining to the holiday is read in synagogues around the world.
Readings for Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot
Exodus 33:12–34:26; Ezekiel 38:18–39:16; Revelation 21:1–22:21
For lovers of God the Jewish reading for today is one which should concern all, being aware of the importance of the covenant made by the Most High.
“Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord: for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.” (Exodus 34:10)
“There is a place near Me where you can stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in an opening in the rock. I will cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand. You will see My back. But My face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:21–23)
“This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, My hot anger will be aroused.” (Ezekiel 38:18)
Gog (left) and Magog, wooden effigies in the Guildhall, London – Courtesy of the British Tourist Authority
Gog is a chief prince living in the land of Magog (Ezekiel 38:2). Many scholars believe Magog refers to Russia. The invading land of Gomer is often believed to be Germany.
Yet, God will not abandon His People. He will utterly destroy the coalition forces of Gog so that all nations will come to know the holiness of the Lord (Ezekiel 38:18–23).
“They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 39:10)
A man carries a Torah scroll that is protected by a silver Torah tik (case) during Sukkot at the Western Wall.
The Jews read about this end-time battle during Sukkot, because according to Rabbinic tradition, this war will be waged during the month of Tishri, the month in which the holiday of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) falls.
“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles [Sukkot]. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.” (Zechariah 14:16–17)
Sukkot at the Western (Wailing) Wall.
“For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle [sukkah]; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.” (Psalm 27:5)
“When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison, and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them for battle.” (Revelation 20:7–8)
Ancient ruins atop Har Meggido in Israel
“They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty…. Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:14, 16)
“They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.” (Revelation 9:11)
“They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city He loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And Satan, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:9–10)
“You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror.” (Jeremiah 32:21, see also Deuteronomy 4:34; 26:8; Exodus 6:6)
“For if their casting Yeshua [Jesus] aside means reconciliation for the world, what will their accepting Him mean? It will be life from the dead!” (Romans 11:15)
“How can they call on Him unless they believe in Him? How can they believe in Him unless they hear about Him? How can they hear about Him unless someone preaches to them?” (Romans 10:14)
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Filed under Religious affairs, World affairs
Omtrent geloof en werken is er doorheen de geschiedenis van de kerk veel discussie geweest. Ook wij durven dit onderwerp ter berde brengen en in de voorgaande berichten kan u lezen hoe het geloof zonder werken dood is en waarom wij wel degelijk werken moeten doen om de toegang tot het Koninkrijk van God niet te missen.
Want vergis u niet. In tegenstelling tot wat vele dominees u willen diets maken is er voor diegene die christen wil worden wel degelijk nog heel wat te doen. Zij die tot geloof zullen willen komen moeten er ook moeite voor doen (vraagt werk) en zullen dan ook spijt moeten betuigen van hun vroeger geleden fouten (weer een actie die ondernomen moet worden) . Door lezing en studie van de bijbel (een werk) zal men tot geloof kunnen komen en moeten besluiten of men gedoopt wil worden en dan witgewassen worden van voorgaande zonde (vraagt een te ondernemen actie).
Na de doop zal het echter niet gedaan zijn want dan moet men werkelijk het voorgaande leven op zij durven zetten en bewijzen dat men een vernieuwd leven wil instappen (= werk) als herboren of wedergeboren christen. Dan zal men verder moeten gaan schaven aan zijn karakter en er toe werken om te komen gelijk Christus te worden, wat veel werk zal vergen.
Wij mogen ook niet vergeten dat Jezus zijn volgelingen heeft opgeroepen om uit te gaan in de wereld om de Boodschap van het Goede Nieuws te verkondigen en groepen te maken die meermaals te samen zouden komen om het Woord van God te bestuderen en God te loven.
Naast het opzij zetten van het voorgaande leven zullen wij moeten trachten één te worden in het Lichaam van Christus (vraagt werk) en proberen apart-geplaatst te worden of ‘heilig‘ te worden, dat eveneens veel werk zal vragen. Jezus vraagt ons ook om niet van de wereld te zijn. Dat houdt in dat wij zullen afstand moeten durven nemen van de wereldse en heidense gebruiken en ons houden aan de door God opgegeven regels, gebruiken en feesten.
In het geloof gekomen moeten onze daden of de werken die wij doen getuigen van onze geloofskeuze. Indien wij ons leven verder in zondige toestand doorzetten en niet vechten tegen de vele verleidingen zullen wij de kans mislopen om het Koninkrijk Gods binnen te treden.
“3 Want dit is [de] wil van God, uw heiliging: dat gij u onthoudt van de hoererij; 4 dat een ieder van u zijn eigen vat weet te bezitten in heiliging en eerbaarheid, 5 (niet in wellustige begeerte, zoals de volken, die God niet kennen), 6 en dat men de rechten van zijn broeder niet vertrede, noch hem bedriege in die 1 zaak, want de Heer is een wreker van dit alles, zoals wij u ook vroeger gezegd en betuigd hebben. {1. Lett. ‘de’. De bedoeling is, dat men de rechten van zijn broeder niet vertreedt, noch hem bedriegt, door met zijn vrouw overspel te bedrijven.}
7 Want God heeft ons niet geroepen tot onreinheid, maar in heiliging. 8 Daarom, wie [dit] veracht, veracht niet een mens, maar God, die u ook zijn Heilige Geest gegeven heeft.
9 Wat nu de broederliefde betreft, hierover is het niet nodig u te schrijven; want zelf zijt gij door God onderwezen om elkaar lief te hebben; 10 gij doet dat dan ook ten aanzien van alle broeders, die in heel Macedonië zijn. Maar wij vermanen u, broeders, daarin nog toe te nemen 11 en u te beijveren om rustig te zijn en uw eigen zaken te doen en met uw eigen handen te werken, zoals wij u bevolen hebben, 12 opdat gij welvoeglijk wandelt tegenover hen die buiten zijn en van niemand [iets] nodig hebt. 2 {2. Of ‘niets nodig hebt’.}” (1 Thessalonicen 4:3-12 VoorhNT4)
“2 Houdt het voor enkel vreugde, mijn broeders, wanneer gij in velerlei verzoekingen valt, 3 want gij weet dat de beproeving van uw geloof volharding werkt. 4 Maar laat de volharding een volmaakt werk hebben, opdat gij volmaakt en volkomen zijt en het u aan niets ontbreekt.
5 En als aan iemand van u wijsheid ontbreekt, laat hij [die] vragen aan God, die aan allen geeft, mild en zonder verwijt, en zij zal hem gegeven worden. 6 Maar laat hij vragen in geloof, zonder te twijfelen. Want wie twijfelt, is gelijk aan een golf van de zee, die door de wind gedreven en op en neer geworpen wordt. 7 Want zo iemand moet niet menen dat hij iets ontvangen zal van de Heer; 8 [hij is] een wankelmoedig man, onbestendig in al zijn wegen. 9 Maar laat de geringe broeder roemen in zijn hoogheid, 10 en de rijke in zijn geringheid, omdat hij als een bloem van het gras zal vergaan.” (Jakobus 1:2-10 VoorhNT4)
“12 Welgelukzalig de man die verzoeking verdraagt; want beproefd bevonden, zal hij de kroon des levens ontvangen, die Hij beloofd heeft aan hen die Hem liefhebben.
13 Laat niemand, als hij verzocht wordt, zeggen: Ik word door God verzocht. Want God kan niet verzocht worden door het kwade en Hijzelf verzoekt niemand. 14 Maar een ieder wordt verzocht, als hij door zijn eigen begeerte meegesleept en verlokt wordt. 15 Daarna, als de begeerte bevrucht is, baart zij zonde; en als de zonde voleindigd is, brengt zij de dood voort.” (Jakobus 1:12-15 VoorhNT4)
“19 Weet [dit], mijn geliefde broeders: ieder mens moet snel zijn om te horen, traag om te spreken, traag tot toorn.
20 Want de toorn van een man volbrengt Gods gerechtigheid niet. 21 Daarom, legt af alle onreinheid en overmaat van boosheid en ontvangt met zachtmoedigheid het ingeplante woord, dat uw zielen behouden kan.
22 En weest daders van het woord en niet alleen hoorders, anders misleidt gij uzelf. 23 Want als iemand een hoorder van het woord is en niet een dader, dan is hij gelijk aan een man die zijn natuurlijk gezicht in een spiegel beschouwt; 24 want hij heeft zich beschouwd, is weggegaan en is onmiddellijk vergeten, hoe hij er uitzag. 25 Maar wie inziet in de volmaakte wet, die van de vrijheid, en daarbij blijft, niet als een vergeetachtig hoorder, maar als een dader van het werk, zal welgelukzalig zijn in zijn doen.
26 Als iemand meent godsdienstig te zijn en zijn tong niet in toom houdt, maar zijn hart misleidt, diens godsdienst is waardeloos. 27 Reine en onbesmette godsdienst voor God en de Vader is: wezen en weduwen te bezoeken in hun verdrukking en zichzelf onbevlekt van de wereld te bewaren.” (Jakobus 1:19-27 VoorhNT4)
“1 Mijn broeders, hebt het geloof van onze Heer Jezus Christus, [de Heer] der heerlijkheid, niet met aanzien des persoons. 2 Want als er in uw synagoge een man binnenkomt met een gouden ring, in prachtige kleding, en er komt ook een arme binnen in vuile kleding, 3 en gij ziet op naar hem die de prachtige kleding draagt en zegt: Zit gij hier op een goede plaats, en tot de arme zegt gij: Sta gij daar, of: Zit hier onder [bij] mijn voetbank, 4 hebt gij dan niet bij uzelf onderscheid gemaakt en zijt rechters geworden met boze overleggingen?” (Jakobus 2:1-4 VoorhNT4)
“8 Als gij dan de koninklijke wet volbrengt, naar de Schrift: ‘Gij zult uw naaste liefhebben als uzelf’, 2 dan doet gij wèl. {2. #Le 19:18.} 9 Maar als gij de persoon aanziet, doet gij zonde en wordt door de wet overtuigd als overtreders.
10 Want wie de hele wet houdt, maar op één [punt] struikelt, is schuldig geworden aan alle. 11 Want [Hij] die gezegd heeft: ‘Gij zult geen overspel plegen’, heeft ook gezegd: ‘Gij zult niet doden.’ 1 Als gij nu geen overspel pleegt, maar wel doodt, dan zijt gij een overtreder van de wet geworden. {1. #Ex 20:13,14.}
12 Spreekt zó en doet zó als zij die door de wet van de vrijheid geoordeeld zullen worden. 13 Want zonder barmhartigheid zal het oordeel zijn over hem die geen barmhartigheid betoond heeft. De barmhartigheid roemt tegen 2 het oordeel. {2. Of ‘triomfeert over’.}
14 Wat baat het, mijn broeders, als iemand zegt dat hij geloof heeft, en hij heeft geen werken?
Kan het geloof hem redden?
15 Als nu een broeder of zuster gebrek heeft aan kleding en aan dagelijks voedsel, 16 en iemand van u zegt tot hen: Gaat heen in vrede, warmt u en verzadigt u, maar gij geeft hun niet, wat zij voor het lichaam nodig hebben, wat baat het?
17 Zo is ook het geloof, als het geen werken heeft, op zichzelf genomen, dood.
18 Maar iemand zal zeggen: Gij hebt geloof en ik heb werken. Toon mij uw geloof zonder werken en ik zal u mijn geloof tonen uit mijn werken.
19 Gij gelooft dat God één is; gij doet wèl; dat geloven de boze geesten ook en zij sidderen. 20 Maar wilt gij weten, nietig mens, dat het geloof zonder de werken dood 3 is? {3. V.l. ‘ledig’.}
21 Is Abraham, onze vader, niet op grond van werken gerechtvaardigd, toen hij Izaäk, zijn zoon, op het altaar geofferd had?
22 Gij ziet, dat het geloof samenwerkte met zijn werken en dat het geloof uit de werken volmaakt werd.
23 En de Schrift werd vervuld, die zegt: ‘En Abraham geloofde God en het werd hem tot gerechtigheid gerekend’, 4 en hij werd een vriend van God genoemd. {4. #Ge 15:6.}
24 Gij ziet dat een mens op grond van werken gerechtvaardigd wordt en niet op grond van geloof alleen.
25 En is niet evenzo Rachab, de hoer, op grond van werken gerechtvaardigd, toen zij de boden opgenomen en langs een andere weg uitgelaten had? 26 Want zoals het lichaam zonder geest dood is, zo is ook het geloof zonder de werken dood.” (Jakobus 2:8-26 VoorhNT4)
“13 Wie is wijs en verstandig onder u? Laat hij zijn werken tonen uit een goede wandel in zachtmoedigheid van de wijsheid. 14 Maar als gij bittere naijver en twistzucht in uw hart hebt, beroemt u dan niet en liegt niet tegen de waarheid. 15 Dat is niet de wijsheid die van boven komt, maar zij is aards, zinnelijk, duivels. 16 Want waar naijver en twistzucht is, daar is verwarring en allerlei kwaad. 17 Maar de wijsheid die van boven is, is in de eerste plaats rein, vervolgens vreedzaam, inschikkelijk, gezeggelijk, vol barmhartigheid en goede vruchten, onpartijdig, ongeveinsd. 18 Maar de vrucht van de gerechtigheid wordt in vrede gezaaid voor hen die vrede maken.” (Jakobus 3:13-18 VoorhNT4)
“1 Vanwaar oorlogen en vanwaar twisten onder u? Is het niet hiervan: van uw hartstochten, die in uw leden strijd voeren?
2 Gij begeert, en hebt niet; gij moordt en gij benijdt, en kunt niet verkrijgen; gij vecht en strijdt. Gij hebt niet, omdat gij niet bidt. 3 Gij bidt en ontvangt niet, omdat gij [in] verkeerde [gezindheid] bidt, om het in uw hartstochten door te brengen. 4 Overspeligen, weet gij niet, dat vriendschap met de wereld vijandschap is tegen God? Wie dus een vriend van de wereld wil zijn, betoont zich een vijand van God. 5 Of meent gij dat de Schrift tevergeefs spreekt? Begeert de Geest, die in ons woont, met naijver? 6 Maar hij geeft grotere genade. Daarom zegt hij: ‘God weerstaat de hoogmoedigen, maar de nederigen geeft Hij genade.’ 1 {1. #Spr 3:34.} 7 Onderwerpt u dan aan God. Weerstaat de duivel en hij zal van u vluchten. 8 Nadert tot God en Hij zal tot u naderen. Reinigt de handen, zondaars, en zuivert de harten, gij die wankelmoedig zijt. 2 {2. Eig. ‘dubbelhartigen’.} 9 Beseft uw ellende, treurt en weent; uw lachen worde veranderd in treuren en uw blijdschap in verslagenheid. 10 Vernedert u voor [de] Heer, en Hij zal u verhogen. 11 ¶ Spreekt geen kwaad van elkaar, broeders. Wie van zijn broeder kwaad spreekt of zijn broeder oordeelt, spreekt kwaad van de wet en oordeelt de wet. En als gij de wet oordeelt, zijt gij geen dader van de wet, maar een rechter. 12 Eén is de Wetgever en Rechter, Hij, die behouden en verderven kan. Maar wie zijt gij, dat gij de naaste oordeelt?” (Jakobus 4:1-12 VoorhNT4)
“7 Hebt dan geduld, broeders, tot de komst van de Heer. Zie, de landman wacht op de kostelijke vrucht van het land en heeft er geduld mee, totdat deze de vroege en late regen ontvangt. 8 Hebt ook gij geduld, sterkt uw harten, want de komst van de Heer is nabij.
9 Zucht niet tegen elkaar, broeders, opdat gij niet geoordeeld wordt. Zie, de Rechter staat voor de deur. 10 Broeders, neemt tot een voorbeeld van lijden en geduld de profeten, die in de naam van [de] Heer gesproken hebben.” (Jakobus 5:7-10 VoorhNT4)
“12 Maar vóór alles, mijn broeders, zweert niet, noch bij de hemel, noch bij de aarde, noch enige andere eed. Maar uw ja zij ja, en uw neen neen, opdat gij niet onder het oordeel valt. 13 Lijdt iemand onder u? Laat hij bidden. Is iemand welgemoed? Laat hij lofzingen.
14 Is iemand onder u ziek? Laat hij de oudsten van de gemeente bij zich roepen en laten zij over hem bidden en hem zalven 1 met olie in de naam van [de] Heer. {1. Of ‘nadat zij hem gezalfd hebben’.} 15 En het gebed van het geloof zal de zieke behouden, en de Heer zal hem oprichten; en als hij zonden gedaan heeft, het zal hem vergeven worden. 16 Belijdt dan elkaar de misdaden 2 en bidt voor elkaar, opdat gij genezen wordt. Het krachtig gebed 3 van een rechtvaardige vermag veel. {2. V.l. ‘zonden’. 3. Of ‘een vurige smeking’.}” (Jakobus 5:12-16 VoorhNT4)
“19 Mijn broeders, als iemand onder u van de waarheid afdwaalt en een ander brengt hem terug, 20 weet dan, dat wie een zondaar van zijn dwaalweg terugbrengt, een ziel van de dood redden en een menigte van zonden bedekken zal.” (Jakobus 5:19-20 VoorhNT4)
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Engelse versie / English version: You may find the bible quotes in Paul giving notice of the works we have to do + The works we have to do according to James the brother of Christ
Voorgaande
Discussie over geloof grond en het uitgangspunt voor elke andere discussie
Zij die in de renbaan lopen en geroepen zijn voor rechtvaardiging door geloof
Geen race voor de snelste, noch een strijd der helden
Voor Katholieken ook een jaarthema rond barmhartigheid
Wie zichzelf kent, is mild voor een ander
EU Bestuurders veranderden Brussel in een walmende puinhoop!
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“2 You must consider it the purest joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, 3 for you surely know that what is genuine in your faith produces the patient mind that endures; 4 but you must let your endurance come to its perfect product, so that you may be fully developed and perfectly equipped, without any defects.
5 But if any one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask God who generously gives to everyone and never reproaches one with its lack, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without a doubt, for the man who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is whirled and swayed by the wind. 7 Such a man, indeed, 8 a person with two minds, unreliable in every step he takes, (1:7A) must not expect to get anything from the Lord.
9 Let the poor brother of lowly station rejoice in his exalted station as a Christian, 10 and the rich brother rejoice in his being on a level with the poor, because the rich will fade away like the flower of the grass.” (James 1:2-10 Williams)
“12 Blessed is the person who endures trial, for when he stands the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.
13 No one must say, when he is tempted to do evil, “I have a temptation from God to do evil,” for God cannot be tempted to do evil, and He never tempts anyone to do so. 14 But anyone is tempted to do evil when he is allured by his own evil desire and enticed by a bait. 15 Then evil desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin is completed, it brings forth death.” (James 1:12-15 Williams)
“19 You must understand this, my dearly loved brothers. Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to get angry; 20 for a man’s anger does not produce the uprightness that God requires.
21 So strip yourselves of everything impure and all the evils prevailing around you, and in humble spirit welcome the message which when rooted in your hearts is able to save your souls.
22 Keep on obeying this message; do not merely listen to it, and so deceive yourselves. 23 Because if anyone merely listens to the message without obeying it, he is like a man who looks in a mirror at his own face, 24 for he looks and then goes off and at once forgets how he looked. 25 But the man who looks at the flawless law that makes men free, and keeps on looking, proving himself to be, not a forgetful hearer but an actual doer of what it requires, will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives himself, his religious worship is worthless. 27 A religious worship that is pure and stainless in the sight of God the Father is this: To look after orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep one’s own self unstained by the world.” (James 1:19-27 Williams)
“1 My brothers, stop trying to maintain your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious presence of God on earth, along with acts of partiality to certain ones. 2 For if a man with a gold ring, dressed in fine clothes, comes to your meeting, and at the same time a poor man clad in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the man who wears the fine clothes, and say to him, “Sit here in this fine place,” and say to the poor man, “Stand up, or sit there on the floor at my feet,” 4 do you not make improper distinctions among yourselves and prove to be critics with evil motives?” (James 2:1-4 Williams)
“8 But if you really observe the law of the King in accordance with the Scripture, “You must love your neighbor as you do yourself,” you are doing right; 9 but if you show partiality, you are committing sin, because you are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
10 For whoever obeys the whole law, except to slip in a single instance, is guilty of breaking it all.
11 For He who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but you do commit murder, you are just the same as a lawbreaker.
12 You must continue talking and acting like people who are to be judged by the law that treats them as free. 13 For merciless judgment will be the portion of the merciless man; yet mercy will triumph over judgment.
14 My brothers, what good is there in a man’s saying that he has faith, if he has no good deeds to prove it? Such faith cannot save him, can it?
15 If some brother or sister is thinly clad and has no food for the day, 16 and one of you says to him, “Blessings on you, keep warm, eat until you have a plenty,” without giving him the things that are needed for the body, what good does it do?
17 So faith by itself, if it has no deeds to back it up, is dead. 18 But someone may say, “You have faith, and I have good deeds. Show me your faith without any good deeds, but I will show you mine by my good deeds.”
19 Do you believe in one God? Very well; the demons, too, believe that, and shudder. 20 But, O senseless man, are you willing to learn that faith without good deeds is worthless?
21 Was not our forefather Abraham shown to be upright by his good deeds, namely, by offering Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 You see that faith co-operated with his good deeds, and by his good deeds faith was made complete; 23 and so the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham put his faith in God, and it was credited to him for uprightness, and he was called God’s friend.”
24 You see that a man is shown to be upright by his good deeds, and not merely by his faith.
25 Was not even Rahab the prostitute shown to be upright by her good deeds, namely, by entertaining the scouts and sending them off by a different road? 26 Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without good deeds is dead.” (James 2:8-26 Williams)
“13 Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him show by his noble living that his good deeds are done in humility, which wisdom prompts. 14 But if you cherish bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop being proud of it and stop being false to the standard of truth. 15 This is not the kind of wisdom that comes down from above; no, it is earthly, human, demoniacal. 16 For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there will be confusion and all sorts of evil practices. 17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, free from doubts and insincerity. 18 The harvest of uprightness is grown from the seed of peace by those who are peacemakers.” (James 3:13-18 Williams)
“1 What causes wars and quarrels among you? Is it not your different desires which are ever at war within your bodies?
You desire things and cannot have them, and so you commit murder. 2 You covet things, but cannot acquire them, and so you quarrel and fight. You do not have them, because you do not ask for them. 3 You ask and fail to get them, because you ask with evil, selfish motives, to spend them on your pleasures.
4 You faithless wives! Do you not know that the friendship of the world means enmity with God? So whoever wants to be a friend to the world puts himself down as an enemy to God. 5 Or, do you think that the Scripture means nothing when it says, “He jealously yearns for the Spirit that He causes to dwell in your hearts”? 6 But He gives a greater spiritual blessing. He says, “God opposes haughty people but blesses humble people.”
7 So then, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will fly from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Get your hands clean, you sinners. Get your hearts purified, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable, mourn, and weep aloud. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you high.
11 Stop talking against one another, brothers. Whoever is in the habit of talking against a brother or of criticizing his brother is criticizing and condemning the law. But if you are in the habit of criticizing the law, you are not a practicer but a critic of the law.
12 There is but one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who has the power to save and to destroy; then who are you that you presume to judge your brother?” (James 4:1-12 Williams)
“7 So be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer keeps on waiting and waiting for the precious crop from his land; how he keeps up his patience over it until he gets the early and the late rains.
8 You must be patient, too; you must put iron into your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is close it hand. 9 Stop muttering against one another, brothers, so as to keep from being judged yourselves.
Look! The Judge is standing at the very door. 10 As an example of ill-treatment and patience, brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:7-10 Williams)
“12 Above all, my brothers, stop swearing, either by heaven or by the earth, or by anything else. Let your “Yes” mean Yes, and your “No,” No, so as to keep from falling under condemnation.
13 Is any one of you suffering ill-treatment? He should keep on praying. Is anyone in a happy mood? He should keep on singing praise to God.
14 Is anyone sick among you? He should call in the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 and the prayer that is offered in faith will save the sick man; the Lord will raise him to health, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 So practice confessing your sins to one another, and praying for one another, that you may be cured. An upright man’s prayer, when it keeps at work, is very powerful.” (James 5:12-16 Williams)
“19 My brothers, if any one of you has wandered away from the truth, and someone brings him back, 20 you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from his evil ways will save the man’s soul from death, and cover up a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20 Williams)
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Part of Dutch version / Gedeelte van de Nederlandstalige versie: De aanduiding door Paulus en Jacobus van de werken die wij horen te doen
Preceding articles
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Read also other articles as:
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By faith Abraham was justified before God and his righteousness declared
By works, Abraham was justified before man, and his righteousness demonstrated
Rob Heijermans, who says is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and believes that God has spoken
— in fact, the universe itself is a product of the voice of the Lord. The phrase, “And God said…,” appears nine times in the first chapter of Genesis alone. {Is Anyone Listening?}
He also knows he has ever deceived himself and looks at James, Jesus’ younger half-brother, who knows all about self-deception.
Though the writer wrongly thinks James deceived himself for many years,
“denying that Jesus was God in the flesh.” {11 Self-Deceit 101}
Having grown up with Jesus in an Essene family he probably got to know Jesus as well as God very well. He also knew what Jesus had told others and to whom Jesus prayed, like they at their family, at home, prayed to the only One true God, the God of Israel. Jesus did not pray to himself, but to the God of Abraham, about Whom he taught people to pray to as well.
The apostle James warns us in Verse 22 of the first chapter that if we are hearers of the word–the Bible–and not doers, we deceive or ensnare ourselves.
James 1:22 EWB-CB But become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Much too often Christians do forget Jesus’ parables and the warning of James. We may not delusively content our selves with being of the audience, but have to put what we hear in practice.
The writer of the blog UpStream writes
James says it’s like looking into the mirror on the morning of an important interview, seeing some serious bed-head, lots of stubble and a smudge of last night’s hot fudge sundae, and just walking away without taking action. {11 Self-Deceit 101}
Too many Christians make it themselves very easy, thinking because they are saved they do not have to do anything any more.
Rob Heijermans is aware that
sitting under the teaching of the Scriptures and not doing what they say is an act of self-deceit. Studying the Scriptures for ourselves, gaining an understanding of their meaning, but not obeying God’s Word, produces knowledge that makes us arrogant but yields no fruit in our lives. It is self-deceit. Even more serious is purporting to be a teacher and either teaching what is false or not doing what is true. James will deal with this more later in his letter. {11 Self-Deceit 101}
We should come to get to know what is written in the Bible and may not twist around the words of it. As such when is written “the son of God” we may not say “god the son“. We should clearly take the Words of God into account and take them serious.
In this world many have made their own gods. A lot also made Jesus in to their god, like Rob Heijermans has done. He also preaches about hell as a sort of place of eternal torture, whilst forgetting that the Divine Creator is a God of Love, who is an eternal Spirit Who can not be seen by man, but is with man, telling them no lies and saying they shall have paid for their sins with their death.
But this God of gods tells also about His sent one, the Nazarene Jew Jeshua, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Jesus on this earth tried to make his heavenly Father known and showed the way to the Kingdom of God. His brother knew also very well the importance of Jesus’ teaching about that Kingdom. He had to loose his brother at the wooden stake and see his mother cry, being full of grieve. But he had also come into the hope Jesus preached and wanted to share it with others, like his brother had asked it.
That preaching James had taken up is also an act we should do. It is one of the works Jesus asked his followers to do.
Twice, the writer of Hebrews mentions “dead works.” (Heb 6.1, 9.14) Now, James writes of “dead faith.” In the subsequent verses of Chapter 2, he mentions that even the demons believe in God–and tremble before Him!–so simply believing facts about God is not saving faith. James then cites two Old Testament characters whose faith was demonstrated by their works: Abraham, the Iraqi father of the Jewish nation was not content simply to tell God he was willing to sacrifice Isaac. He unsheathed his dagger and was about to plunge it into Isaac’s belly when God stopped him and provided a substitutionary ram. Rahab the whore did not stop at believing that God was conquering His enemies through the Israelites–she protected their spies, knowing the awesome power of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. {14 How to Work Your Way to Hell}
Lots of Christians have forgotten Who that God of the Israelites is and why we should take Him as our Only One True God, like Jesus also took Him as His Only One Most High Almighty God. But not only did they take the ransom offer of Jesus as the final act for them, misleading themselves that they would not have to do anything more because they are saved by the Blood of Christ.
Strangely enough the blog writer seems to know that
On some occasion, James probably heard his Brother say that God is glorified when we prove we are His disciples by producing fruit. (John 15.8) {14 How to Work Your Way to Hell}
In many parables Jesus had told how we have to get a good relationship with the heavenly Father. How He is willing to take us up as His children, but also how we can loose the entrance to the Kingdom of God. James came to understand those teachings of his brother and knew how important it was when people came into the faith how they had to change themselves and had to work on themselves continuously.
We may not assume that it are only our works that can get us some where.
the second half of James 2 demonstrates: just as it is vain to think that my works–religious duty, outward devotion, social activism, neighbourly consideration–could possibly get me to heaven, so also is it vain to suppose I am truly a child of God while my life manifests nothing of my faith. As Jesus said, a fruit tree with no fruit is cut down and burned. {14 How to Work Your Way to Hell}
When having come into the faith we have to water our own tree. (By reading and studying the Bible.) Then we do have to let the food of the earth and food of heaven feed ourselves, so that we can bear good fruits. For getting good fruits we need good pruning. We need to do a lot of work. Without the work there shall be no good fruits and when we are not willing to prepare ourselves for the Kingdom of God we shall be too late like some young girls who did not prepare themselves or thought they had enough time. Please do not postpone. Take care that you are ready for when the day comes.
When procrastinating you will be surprised when the day comes you shall have nothing done what had to be done and will miss the boat.
Some things may be hard or difficult, like changing sides, or putting away human doctrinal teachings, like the trinity a.o.. but God wants from His son an his followers truthful worshippers of God who are faithful to Him, the Adonai Jehovah, and to His commandments. When we do not follow God’s commandments it will be like ignoring God’s Wishes and not wanting a good relationship with Him. Keeping to those commandments shall demand works we shall have to do with pleasure because we do believe in Christ, the son of God, and in his heavenly Father we also want to love.
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Preceding articles:
Comments to James remarks, about Faith and works
January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
Justification – salvation is by grace through faith – JI Packer
Faith itself not the cause of justification – Louis Berkhof
Letter to the Romans, chapter 3
Letter to the Romans, chapter 4
Additional comments to the 3rd Letter to the Romans
Additional comments to the Letter to the Romans 4
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Filed under Being and Feeling, Lifestyle, Religious affairs
“1 My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. 2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in; 3 and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, “Sit here in a good place”; but you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”; 4 haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4 NHEB)
“But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?” (James 2:6 NHEB)
“But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.” (James 2:9 NHEB)
“For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13 NHEB)
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14 NHEB)
“17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. 18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
19 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But do you want to know, foolish man, that faith apart from works is useless?
21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In like manner was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:17-26 NHEB)
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The Works (Faith No More album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (James 2:22).
v.9 As a community (speaking generally) we are condemned by our inability to work out this maxim in our practical lives. There are those who genuinely are prepared to preach to anyone and accept anyone, but I think if we are honest, most of us are not happy with this teaching. A moment’s reflection on it today then will do no harm. Would we, for example, like Jesus in John 8:3-11, accept the repentance of the prostitute (which is seems this woman was) so readily? Lev.19:15
2:1-4 It is said that we form an impression about someone within a few minutes of seeing them. We have not had enough time to assess their character and yet we make decisions which may colour our view for the rest of our lives. It is really clear why God does not judge by outward appearance – 1Sam 16:7 – we should emulate His approach.
2:4 So we see that partiality which starts by looking on the outward appearance – see 2:2– is in reality judging the way others think.
2:4 Partiality is a consequence of being ‘double minded’ as mentioned in James 1:8
2:5 In speaking of ‘the poor of this world’ James echoes Paul’s comment about men of faith – Heb 11:37 . One cannot but wonder how we would have reacted to some of the men and women of faith if we had seen them in the street.
2:6 Continuing thoughts on our contribution for June 8th James asks his readers to think on the realities of their experience. The very ones that they would revere were the ones who were their persecutors!
2:6 ‘despised’ <818> is translated ‘shamefully’ Luke 20:11 and ‘dishonour’ John 8:49 showing that James is reproving the brethren for denigrating the ‘poor’.
2:9 That we should show ‘no respect of persons’ draws on the Law of Moses and is seen extensively in Scripture. Here are some occasions. Leviticus 19:15 Deuteronomy 1:17 16:19 2 Samuel 14:14 2 Chronicles 19:7 Proverbs 24:23 28:21 Romans 2:11 Ephesians 6:9 Colossians 3:25 1 Peter 1:17 No matter how one dresses up the prejudice against the poor and favour toward the well dressed it is a violation of the Divine law. Actually it manifests pride. We like to identify with the rich in this world rather than the poor.
2:11 James here clearly shows that there are no degrees of sin. Sin is sin. Agreed the consequences of some sins is greater than others insofar as our actions impact upon other men. However any sin violates God’s principles.
2:13 These words of James draw upon the teaching of Jesus in Matt 7:2
2:14-17 I suppose one could summarise what James is teaching here by saying “talk is cheap”. It is ever so easy to talk about how we love and serve God. It is far harder to simply get on with doing that.
2:21-23 We notice that Abraham was “justified” in Gen 15:6. However it was many years later when he was willing to offer Isaac – Gen 22:9 – which demonstrated his faith. So, even though God saw Abraham’s faith no man could have seen the evidence of Abraham’s faith. But God knew in advance that Abraham had faith.
2:23 There are two earlier occasions when Abraham is called God’s friend – (#2Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8)
2:23 How would you like to be called ‘the friend of God’? Such is the description of faithful Abraham – he believed that God would keep His word and so acted upon that knowledge. So we know the way to friendship with God.
2:23 There were quite a number of years between the statement in Gen 15:6 that Abraham believed God and his offering of Isaac. Faith is not a ‘flash in the pan’ activity.
2:25 The inclusion of Rahab as one who was justified by faith is a powerful testimony to the truth that observance of the law of Moses is not a pre requisite for pleasing God. A powerful lesson for Jews.
James exhorts against favouritism in our assembly. Brothers and sisters should be treated equally in love and respect. Do we naturally gravitate towards some and find it difficult to deal with others? Of course we do. But let us remember the example of Jesus. Although He was drawn affectionately to John (John 19:26; 21:20), He still treated His betrayer Judas with love (Matt 5:44).
A point about verse 19: there exist no such supernatural entities as devils (or demons). What are being alluded to here are people possessed with demons (mental disorders).
There were demoniac people who recognized God and the Lord Jesus (Mark 5:1-13, 16:9, Luke 4:40,41, 8:2).
Having scriptural knowledge, understanding, and faith means nothing unless it is translated into Godly action.
V.8 James is the only one to use the phrase royal law. Loving one’s neighbour is the second part of the greatest law (Matt 22:37-39). The first part concerns the love for God who is King over all – hence James’s royal reference.
V.12 James also talks of the law of liberty. No longer is anyone judged under the Law of Moses. But, the moral commandments under the Law are carried forward and form part of the Commandments of Jesus. It is expected that believers follow these commandments willingly. Believers will be judged on their adherence to these laws.
V.18 James introduces a third person into his explanation of faith and how it works by love. The third person is able to give a practical demonstration of his faith. James’ humility would not permit him to set himself forth as an ideal representative of a living faith. “I will show thee my faith by my works” A practical demonstration of a motivating force that is greater than the individual himself, by which “he overcame the world” (1John 5:4).
2:25 With the example of Rahab; along with that of Abraham (V.21,23), we would suggest is used by James to show the universality of the principle of faith that he was writing of. Abraham was the Father of all the Jews; Rahab was a Gentile who was converted. She was weak and sinful, but triumphed by faith. Not unlike what Paul wrote Gal 3:28.
2:26 Faith without works is like a corpse; there is a body, the substance of which is undeniable, but it is a dead body, and unless the breath of life enters into that body, it remains inactive and ineffective. Unless faith issues forth in a practical demonstration of a way of life which is pleasing God, it is a corpse without life, and incapable of imparting it.
v 5 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Gospel concerns God’s Kingdom
The Gospel preached by Jesus and the Apostles concerns the Kingdom of God.
2. Invitation for men to participate
Matt 25:34, Luke 12:32, 1Thess 2:12, James 2:5, 2Tim 4:1,8, 2Pet 1:10,11, Rev 2:26,27
For more about the Gospel concerning God’s Kingdom go to Matt 4:23
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
The apostle Paul defines faith as, “… the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Faith may be further defined as having a confident belief, value, or trustworthiness of a person, which does not necessarily rest on logical proof or material evidence.
This kind of faith requires development, and if we are not prepared to spend time in developing it, we shall not obtain the kind of faith that pleases God. The more we consider God’s actions in the past, and see His prophecies vindicated in the present, the more we come to learn to value Him, trust Him, and put our faith in Him concerning events not yet fulfilled, but promised by God.
This is a true story about a captain commanding a passenger ship who was sailing from Liverpool, England to New York. His family was on board with him. One night when everyone was sound asleep, a squall unexpectedly swept over the waters and tossed the ship violently, awakening the passengers. They were all scared, and the captain’s frightened eight-year old daughter asked, “What’s the matter?” Her mother explained that a sudden storm struck the ship. “Is father on deck?” “Yes, father is on deck,” answered the mother. On hearing this, the little girl snuggled back into bed, and in a few moments was sound asleep. The winds still blew and the waves still rolled, but her fears were calmed because her father was at the helm! Our Heavenly Father is always at the helm! It is this kind of faith the Father is looking for in His children, and despite outward appearances, without this kind of faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6).
What are some practical lessons and exhortations that we should try and practice in our lives in connection with what James is stating here – especially the last part of v. 13 – “Mercy triumphs over judgment”?
In thinking about a practical application of what James is exhorting us here, it’s important to keep in mind that within the pages of the Bible there are a number of very positive references to the idea of judgment. Though we might tend to immediately think of Christ’s words – “Judge not that you be not judged” (Mat. 7:1), there are a number of times where the flip side of the concept is there in such words as “judge righteous judgment” (Jn. 7:24) and Paul’s words concerning the ongoing fornication in the Corinthian ecclesia – “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you” ((1 Cor. 5:12,13).
In the example that James uses following up his statement about mercy triumphing over judgment (v. 13) – in James 2:14-17 he gives the example of a brother or sister without clothes and daily food and what should be done by the ecclesia in that situation. What he doesn’t state is the reason for them to be in such a destitute situation. Was it due to things beyond their control? Or did they do certain things that brought this dire condition on themselves? Were they able-bodied and in a position to seek employment and get themselves out of this situation without having to come to the ecclesia for help? Whatever their situation was, James states categorically that the attitude that wishes them well without providing for their physical needs is an example of faith without works being dead. So the #1 priority of the ecclesia is to provide help when they have it within their power to do so. And, of course, the same should be true for individual believers in Christ.
The person or ecclesia who has it within its power to help and chooses to not do so really needs to have a really good Scriptural reason for not helping. And if there’s ever a question as to the rightness of a course of action, then the weight should fall on the side of mercy. And so with the seesaw effect, mercy comes up as judgment goes down. I remember reading years ago in one of bro. Islip Collyer’s books – I can’t remember which one it was – what he had to say on this subject. And it was so powerful that it really stuck with me. I’m paraphrasing here –
When a tough-to-decide situation comes up ecclesially where both sides – the severe and the lenient (merciful) – both have positive things that can be said for deciding in that particular way, I, for one, will always choose the side of mercy for this one simple reason. I know that on that great day of judgment, I will need all the mercy my Lord can muster on my behalf. So how can I go the other way? If I’m going to err, it is going to be on the side of mercy.
Illogical Really
When James spoke about people showing faith through the things that they did, he gave two examples. One of them was Abraham as he was about to sacrifice Isaac, and the other was Rahab, as she hid the spies and sent them off in a different direction.
Neither of these actions were really common-sense logical. After all, if you had been promised that your son was to be your heir, and the door to a multitude of descendants, it would seem stupid to kill him! And in the case of Rahab, when approached by people who were planning to flatten her city, it doesn’t seem right to hide and protect them.
But, both Abraham and Rahab had their eyes on something bigger and better when they acted in faith. Abraham was so sure God’s promises would be fulfilled, that he obeyed anyway. And Rahab was so sure of God’s strength, and that God was good to those who were good to Israel, that she put her own life in peril from the authorities in Jericho to put her trust in God.
What faith opportunities do we have in our lives? What about the opportunities to let God take vengeance rather than ourselves? What about forgiving others and trusting God for the rest? Or giving money or possessions away when asked? Or speaking out about our faith in God at an appropriate time?
Faith is seen in what we do. Let’s make sure God sees it in our lives.
The bird resting on the patio
From v14 to v26 James explains how faith without works is dead. It’s a difficult concept to grasp, so perhaps an analogy may help.
Last summer we were on holiday in a cottage that had large glazed patio doors leading to a patio outside where the children watched birds hopping around. One day we came back from a trip out and our little boy said,
“Mummy. Why isn’t that bird moving?”.
We suspected the bird had flown into the glass and either stunned or killed itself, but we didn’t tell the child.
“Maybe it’s resting”,
we said, while earnestly hoping that the bird was going to get up at any moment and fly away.
Here was a small child who knew nothing about death, yet he recognised from the inaction of the bird that something was wrong. Later in the day when the children were elsewhere we took the bird and buried it beneath some overgrown bushes in the garden. As grown ups we knew that if it didn’t move for a half hour, it was probably dead. It was still a bird — recognisable even by a child, but what good was that? So it is with us. Any or all of us may be called a believer, confessing that God is one (v19), but if there is no action based on faith, it’s likely that faith isn’t alive in us:
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26
But what can we do if we suspect this is so with us? The first step is to pray to God, confessing our lack of faith and asking for help. If we want to be alive, seek for it, and ask, we will have our faith revived, as promised in Luke 11:9-13.
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Preceding articles:
First man’s task still counting today
He who knows himself, is kind to others
January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
Letter to the Romans, chapter 3
Letter to the Romans, chapter 4
Additional comments to the 3rd Letter to the Romans
Additional comments to the Letter to the Romans 4
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4:2 In questioning Abraham’s righteousness Paul develops the point that he made in Rom 2:13 showing that the law does not bring righteousness.
4:3 ‘Abraham believed God …‘ the quotation is from Gen. 15:6. Righteousness is imputed by God on the basis of faith, not works of the law. Gen. 15 predates the giving of the law. This is the thrust of the argument in verses 4:4,5 and circumcision – the implications of this are developed in Rom.4:9-13.
Man reading Psalms at the Western Wall. Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine, March 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
4:6-8 The appeal to Psalm 32:1-2 which is a Psalm that David wrote after Nathan had spoken of God’s forgiveness for David’s adultery [2 Sam.12:13] continues the theme of forgiveness from ch. 3:4 We should take great comfort from the fact that God was willing to forgive the repentant David.
4:7 Notice the subtle but important difference between the language of Psa 32:1 – and Paul’s words here. Whilst the Psalm has ‘he’ whereas Paul here says ‘they’. Paul generalises from the Psalm. The Psalm has specific relevance to David’s situation. Paul says that specific application of forgiveness actually extends to all who follow David’s example of repentance.
4:11 Whilst Israel seemed to see circumcision as the ultimate test of Jewishness Paul clearly says here that it is a sign of what has already been seen in Abraham – that is his faith in God which was counted for righteousness.
4:18 ‘against hope believed in hope‘ tells us that Abraham had to have faith in the promise of the seed as it was humanly speaking impossible.
4:23 The implication from ‘now it was not written for his sake alone …‘ is that Abraham had a written copy of the promise.
Romans 4 – To meet the views of the Jews, the apostle first refers to the example of Abraham, in whom the Jews gloried as their most renowned forefather. However exalted in various respects, he had nothing to boast in the presence of God, for he too was saved by grace, through faith, even as others. Without noticing the years which passed before his call, and the failures at times in his obedience, and even in his faith, it was expressly stated in the Scripture that “he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness,” Genesis 15:6. From this example it is observed, that if any man could work the full measure required by the law, the reward must then be reckoned as a debt, which evidently was not the case even of Abraham, seeing faith was reckoned to him for righteousness.
It is clear from the Scripture, that Abraham was justified several years before his circumcision. This then is Paul’s point to those who prided themselves on their pedigree and/or on the very private mark they received in their flesh whilst they were too young to effectively protest otherwise. It is, therefore, plain that this circumcision was not necessary in order to that justification which is by faith.
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It is truly fascinating to reflect on the great wisdom of the Father as one reads the 3 portions of Scripture each day, and often there runs a “Golden Thread” through them all. For example, one of the Golden Threads evident today, is the concept, that we can only be Justified by the Grace of God. Paul deals in great detail with the subject, of course, in Romans, Joseph in his life revealed how great a force faith in God is the life of each of His saints – Genesis 47:12, and the Psalmist captured the same beautifully in the closing verse of Psalm 50 – “Whoso offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God.”
Prayer of David, psalm 51 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Rom 4:7 As we read from Psa 32 the other day, and as we read from Psa 51 tomorrow, we can clearly see, and appreciate that the confession of sin is not seeking forgiveness, it acknowledges the righteousness of our Heavenly Father. We must also be aware of the fact, that our failings can not be forgiven unless we are prepared to acknowledge them.
Rom 4:17 “I have made thee a father of many nations.” Paul is quoting from Gen 17:5 Sarah was still barren at this time, but we see that this is written in the past tense. This was foreordained. There is a difference between pre-existence and being foreordained. The seed of Abraham, both Isaac and Christ were foreordained.
4:21 All promises that have been made by God, he is able to perform, certainly different from promises made by man. God never forgets a promise, while man frequently forgets, God’s promises are priceless, while promises of man are often times useless, God’s promises are always right, while mans are often wrong.
Paul; the writer to the Hebrews; James; and Peter all talk about Abraham. He was the patriarch of the physical Jewish nation and also father of the faithful (4:16).
He was given the promises before the Law (Gen 17:5-8) – even before his circumcision (Gen 17:24). The particular seed of his promise was Christ who fulfilled the Law (Matt 5:17, Gal 3:16). However, God still has a covenant with the Jewish nation and the land of Israel even though they have not (yet) accepted Christ. It is a mistake to believe, as some groups do, that any prophetical reference or future application concerning the Land and people of Israel is purely spiritual and not physical.
For many of us the intricate arguments of scripture are too much to grasp. That’s why we’re given Abraham as an example. All we need to do is read about his life, emulate what we see, and we will obtain the same promises as him. Rom 4:3, 11-12, 16, 20-25.
Preceding articles
January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
Letter to the Romans, chapter 3
Letter to the Romans, chapter 4
Additional comments to the 3rd Letter to the Romans
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Filed under Lifestyle, Religious affairs
“1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, 7 Happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Happy is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”
9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it credited? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be credited to them. 12 The father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
13 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15 For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. 16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
17 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. 18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.”
19 Without being weakened in faith, he considered his own body as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he did not waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written that it was credited to him for his sake alone, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:1-25 NHEB)
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Woodcut for “Faith” depicting Abraham and Isaac (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Preceding articles
January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
Letter to the Romans, chapter 3
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Filed under Quotations from Holy Scriptures, Religious affairs
Continuing our series on Faith and works we once again look at the Catholic view, presented by CatholicBibleTalk
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Preceding articles
January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
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Related articles
According to Heb 11:8,
Hebrews 11:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Abraham came to faith in Gen 12:1-4,
but according to Romans 4:3 he was not justified until Gen 15:6.
Romans 4:3King James Version (KJV)
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
And according to James 2:24, Abraham is further justified in Gen 22:1-18.
James 2:20-22King James Version (KJV)
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
So…
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In our series looking at “Faith and works” yesterday (January 28) we looked at the letter from Paul to the Romans, chapters 3 and 4. the 4th chapter often being referred to to support the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Luther’s work
In our previous posting we saw how the German theologian and religious reformer who was the catalyst of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation Martin Luther gave enough food for the Antitrinitarians. He is one of the most to go against their idea we still have to do works to be able to enter the Kingdom of God.
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It is thanks to his marvellous work of translating of the Bible into the vernacular (instead of Latin) that so many more people could read and find out what was really written in the Holy Scriptures, which had a tremendous impact on the church and West European culture.
From 1510 to 1520, Luther lectured on the Psalms, the books of Hebrews, Romans, and Galatians. As he studied these portions of the Bible, he came to view the use of terms such as penance and righteousness by the Catholic Church in new ways. He became convinced that the church was corrupt in its ways and had lost sight of what he saw as several of the central truths of Christianity.
The most important for Luther was the doctrine of justification – God’s act of declaring a sinner righteous – by faith alone through God’s grace. He taught that salvation or redemption is a gift of God’s grace, attainable only through faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
Looking at Paul’s teachings
The blog “Washed, sanctified and justified” also looks at Paul’s teachings in the knowledge that lots of protestants refer to Romans 3:26-28 as their conclusion that a man is justified by faith. Some will say
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works. {Analysis of St. Paul’s Teachings on Justification and Faith}
Many Christians forget to notice “of the law” which indicates something more and something different than just the “Blood of Christ” or “the Blood of the Lamb“. The Jewish scholar knew very much the importance of “The Law” or the “Torah” in God’s Plan. And these words are very important to the idea that the apostle Paul is expressing. In the previous articles we have seen that the apostle is speaking of works of the law because that is what he was speaking of in the last chapter.
He didn’t suddenly change subjects. However, he has omitted the words of the law at this point. {Analysis of St. Paul’s Teachings on Justification and Faith}
Some Catholics may say the Jews did not have ‘Sacraments’, but they had a Covenant and arrangements (or sarcaments in the wider interpretation), also having their own religious signs or symbols and practices as forms of worship.
Paul was very well aware how men of God were justified in the past. Abram (Abraham), born way before God made the covenant with the Israelites, had come in the faith. When he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Genesis 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8; Romans 4:3) He also had not forgotten, like today many Christians do, that Abraham became the father of many, justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar. (James 2:20-22)
Covenants given to man
The Abrahamic Covnenant may have been interchanged with the Messianic or New Covenant this did not make done with The Law. Too many people forget the terms of the New Covenant.
De Maria in “Romans 4 and the Sacraments” looks further at the misunderstanding of Faith without works.
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We remember from it:
Romans 4 = a dissertation on justification by the Sacraments.
- Abraham = our father, according to the flesh
- if Abraham > justified by works = he hath whereof to glory > not before God.
- if Abraham justified himself = more power to him => it is not of God.
- Abraham believed God => counted unto him for righteousness.
=> that means.
- him that works = reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt > obey God’s voice + keep His covenant => a peculiar treasure unto God above all people
- to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly > faith is counted for righteousness.
- Abraham was => did not work for debt
- Abraham did work for faith
He also looks at David, one of the circumcised => covenant of reconciliation
- No one can deny David did many works <= all he did was believe in God’s mercy
reconciliation not only offered to Israelites (Abraham not an Israelite + not even circumcised yet) ===> God saw his faith at work => reckoned in uncircumcision to receive sign of circumcision= seal of the righteousness of the faith
=> = prophecy which showed that even gentiles would be justified by faith.
=> We, like Abraham, believe and are imputed righteousness, in the Sacraments of Jesus Christ.
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St. Paul contrasting Old Testament with New Testament.
- Old Testament = the Law.
- New Testament = the Faith.
no ministry of reconciliation in Old Testament. ~~~ David’s reconciliation exception = foreshadowing of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
=> Just as it is imputed to the Catholic, who believing the promises of God, approaches the font of grace and submits to the Sacraments, calling on His name.
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Preceding articles
January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
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Related articles
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Now, he asks, “did Abraham justify himself?” If he did, then more power to him, but it is not of God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now, he quotes Gen 15:6, Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
and he begins to explain what that means.
4 Now to him that…
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Filed under Lifestyle, Re-Blogs and Great Blogs, Religious affairs
When we look at our bible readings of the day, we do find Genesis 46-47, Psalm 50 and Paul’s letter to the Romans chapter 3-4.
Apostle Paul in the apse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Apostle Paul when he was called Saul had been full of zeal for keeping the law and saw the followers of Christ as appearing to have no respect for keeping the law so he persecuted them – until he was dramatically converted. After his conversion and the maturity gained by the experiences that followed, he wrote his remarkable letter to the Romans, a letter primarily to the Gentiles.
The apostle asks a valid question, which should bring us to wonder what the good might be us of difference between a non believer and a believer doing good works.
Throughout history we have seen that there have been many people who were so called trained in God’s ways and even got titles of universities, declaring them to be theologians. Lots of people look up at them and think they are the person who best know how everything is about God, gods, religion, man, life and death. Lots of people got frustrated with what they got to know from those scholars who often said we just had to belief this or that, because it is incomprehensible for a human being to understand. As such lots of human doctrines were introduced in Christendom.
People also got annoyed with certain behaviour of those so called religious men. Some had relationships not only with different wives, but there have also been clerics who had intercourse with children.
On the other hand the world sees lots of unbelievers who are doing very good works and are always ready to help others, plus giving very good examples how we make the best of our life in a good relationship with others.
It is true that lots of non-religious people are also good people, but the apostle Paul tells us as it turns out, it makes a lot of difference who is a follower of Christ and a believer in the Only One True God.
In history there have been many people who tried to bring the Word of God to others and make it alive for the future. We had the Jewish scribes who were being put in charge of writing down and caring for God’s revelation, what we call the Holy Scriptures or the Bible. In the course of doing that, when some of those Jews abandoned their post, we can see that God didn’t abandon them.
Throughout the Book of books we can see how God always stayed with His People, even when they did bad things or had moments that they forgot Him. Even the most important of these men of God had one moment of doubt, that he questioned God why He (Jehovah God) had abandoned him (Jesus).
Jesus at one moment also cried to his heavenly Father saying
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (Matthew 27:46)
being a call unto God questioning Him why he had forsaken or had deserted the son of man Jeshua (Jesus Christ), who was willing to do God’s Will instead of his own will. (In case Jesus is God he naturally would always have done his own will and could never have left himself.)
Do you think Jesus and other men of God their faithlessness cancels out Jehovah the Almighty God His faithfulness?
We are told that God keeps his Word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same
“God forbid! Yea, let God be true, though every man a liar. As it is written: “That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged.”” (Romans 3:4 KJ21)
We are given God’s Word which stand fast and true and is not given to confuse us or to. We are given commandments in that book of books and are questioned if we make the law of none effect through faith.
The unbelievers can do good and bad like we too can do a lot of bad. But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God’s right-doing, “shouldn’t we be commended for helping out?” remarks Paul. When having come into the faith we should be willing to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ (a work to be done) and should do our uttermost best to comply not only with his teachings but also with the ordnance of God.
The people who do want us to believe we can do whatever we want because salvation is on us by the blood of Christ, must know that it is not by our bad deeds that God would come out better. It’s simply perverse to say,
“If my lies serve to show off God’s truth all the more gloriously, why blame me? I’m doing God a favour.”
or to say
“The more evil we do, the more good God does, so let’s just do it!”
That’s pure slander. (Romans 3:7-8)
It is not because we are Jews, Christians or Muslims that we would be we more excellent than the others and are getting a better break than the others. (Romans 3:9) Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it that there’s nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They’ve all taken the wrong turn; they’ve all wandered down blind alleys.
It may sound harsh, but there is “No one’s living right”.
“9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise! For we have before proved that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 there is none that understandeth; there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They have all gone from the way; they have together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”” (Romans 3:9-12 KJ21)
Therefore every day we do have to be careful not to have our throats to be gaping graves,our tongues slick as mud slides. (Romans 3:13) With no tongues to deceit we should try to get others to know Jeshua, Jesus Christ, the son of man and the son of God. In him we did receive salvation, but in him we do have to grow (a work) so that we can run a good race, not for the honour of sinner-of-the-year, or for the one who made the most money on the back of others.
In our land littered with heartbreak and ruin, many of us do not want to know living with others. They are so afraid of the refugees coming into our nation. Are they afraid of them being able to get others to believe what they believe and to come to the same religion as theirs. Should they than not wonder how it comes that those immigrants not come to be surprised by the faith we are having and that they would become interested in the faith that lives in Europe? We think the greatest problem is that there is not so much faith in God living around in our regions. Most people never give God the time of day. This makes it clear, doesn’t it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else?
For sure it is not our involvement with God’s revelation that will put us right with God. There are also many unbelievers who write about our God and about religion. There are also people who are against God who try to bring others in doubt by throwing lots of discussions at them.
Should we not more question why there would be a danger of Muslims converting people from here unto the Islamic faith? In case there would be enough people standing strong in their faith we should not worry.
Did Jesus also not give the task to his followers to go out and preach? When Christians would do what Jesus Christ ordered them to do we should have enough preachers witnessing about the works of god and about the real faith we should follow.
Throughout history man has proven to be incapable to come to good governments, or to be able to rule this universe. By the Word of God we are forced to face our complicity in our sins. By all our stupidities we do have to come to see we can only have a good government under the jurisdiction of Christ Jesus.
Because by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified in God His sight (Romans3:20) we should know that for by the Law comes the knowledge of sin and are we given the ways to handle sin. Now we also do not have any excuse because in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about in our Scriptures, has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this.
“20 Therefore by the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all those who believe. For there is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:20-23 KJ21)
“30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.” (Romans 9:30-31 KJ21)
Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God sent us His only begotten son and accepted this man’s ransom offering to pay for our sins. did it for us. The action of God, out of sheer generosity, was taken for the recognizance of the humbleness of the Nazarene Jew who was willing to put his own will aside for complying totally to God’s Will.
A Freebox in Berlin, Germany 2005, serving as a distribution centre for free donated materials, and where the gratis is really for free.
With Jeshua (Jesus Christ) the world has received a pure gift. With God it is not, like we can see so many times today, that there are offers to people where they say it is gratis, but then they still have to pay so much money. By God Gratis does really means for free. We do not have to pay anything for the Gift of Grace. Salvation is given to everybody in the world. But it is given at one point and then we have to continue from there onwards. And that is what a lot of people seem to forget.
God by the action taken, or by the work done by His son, got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where God always wanted us to be. In His plan fits a righteous people. Jehovah, the God of gods, did it by means of Jesus Christ. It was God who sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear.
God decided on this course of action in full view of the public — to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. For many that does not seem to be clear, but it’s now — this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.
When we come to know that Jesus is the Way to God, we do have to respond (an action to be taken or a work to be done). Our response to what God does for us should create our willingness to do the right works to come to a very good relationship with Him. to come to such a good relationship our lives have to get in step with God.
Jehovah God is the God of outsider non-Jews as well as insider Jews and this God of Abraham should be the Allah, Adonai, Elohim or God of Israel and God of all Jews, Christians, Muslims but also of all those who wander in this world without knowing yet what the purpose and the goal of their life is.
The apostle Paul warns the world to know that there is only one God Who has set right all who welcome His action and enter into it, both those who follow the apostle’s religious system and those who have never heard of his and our religion.
“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJ21)
“in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.” (Ephesians 3:12 KJ21)
“knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 KJ21)
“And His name, through faith in His name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know. Yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:16 KJ21)
“But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22 KJ21)
“23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24 KJ21)
“30 seeing it is one God who shall justify the Circumcision by faith, and Uncircumcision through faith.” (Romans 3:30 KJ21)
Having stressed “the faithfulness of God” (verse 3) and having told that God reacts to what he sees – seeing “faith” and also faithlessness – we should be fully aware that it is important how we act. Our behaviour is an important factor to our faith-life.
“God is unrighteous to inflict wrath” (verse 5) on the disobedience he sees in his creation.
“Cometh this blessedness then upon the Circumcision only, or upon the Uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.” (Romans 4:9 KJ21)
Statue of Saint Paul at Bab Kisan, Damascus, Syria Français : Statue de Saint-Paul à Bab Kissan, Damas, Syrie (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Paul stresses this was “the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe … so that righteousness would be counted to them as well” (verse 11).
We read in Genesis earlier this month all the things Abraham did – through faith. Paul is stressing that
“For the promise that he should be the heir of the world came not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” (Romans 4:13 KJ21)
Acting faithfully toward God in our lives is what matters most of all and Abraham is the key example for us to follow. In the past the Jews had a contract or covenant with God. With Christ there was made a new covenant. In the knowledge that a contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect, we have been offered a much better contract. Yes, we as human beings do need some contract or written rules. As such those who follow Christ, believing in him, can live with the promise that God made to our forefathers. God’s promise, though, can not be broken. This is why the fulfilment of God’s promise depends entirely on trusting God and His way, and then simply embracing Him and what He does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift. That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father — that’s reading the story backwards. He is our faith father. Therefore Paul realized that “the law brings wrath” and
“15 because the law worketh wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be given by grace to the end that the promise might be made sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:15-16 KJ21)
It depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace.
We should recall God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:4,5 and his life of faith beginning from when he left Ur. We must each reflect on our own acts of faith, for it is not just something we talk about! What things have we done, and are doing – that show our faith?
Our eternal future “depends on faith”.
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Preceding article: January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
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Further reading
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Filed under Being and Feeling, Lifestyle, Religious affairs
Soon on Stepping Toes we shall have a look at the soul and come to see what the Bible tells us about the living and the dead.
In this writing “Departed Souls Await Judgment” Vicodar from Odarve’s Notebook in Africa makes it clear how man lets himself be carried away by human writing.
Nowhere in the Bible is told that God would have made four compartments for the departed souls. the living souls are just the beings in which God gave life breath.It is totally unbliblical to believe that after death life continuous. There does not exist at all some “Spirit of the souls” a immaterial part of a man, that would travel to a temporary place where souls await the final judgement.
Those who found an end to the ‘breath of life‘ in their being, were dead people and like Abraham and Lazarus ended up in the sheol or grave, the sepulchre were no being has any feeling or can do anything.
Sheol, Hades or hell is the place where even Jesus landed up for three days and were all people who die shall come to reside to become dust.
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Please do find to read:
- Science, belief, denial and visibility 1
- “Before” and “after” the Big Bang
- Absolute Basics to Reading the Bible
- The true light in recorded words
- Creator and Blogger God 2 Image and likeness
- Genesis – Story of creation 3 Genesis 2:1-15 Story of Adam and Eve
- Genesis – Story of creation 6 Genesis 3:13-24 Enmity and curse
- What is life?
- Fear and protection
- Dying or not
- Is there an Immortal soul
- Preexistence in the Divine purpose and Trinity
- Immortality, eternality – onsterfelijkheid, eeuwigheid
- Building up the spirit of the soul
- Who Through Jesus Sleep
- Soul
- Souls and Religions with Nirvana and light
- All Souls’ Day
- I Can’t Believe That (1) … God would send anyone to hell
- Sheol, Sheool, Sjeool, Hades, Hell, Grave, Tomb, Sepulchre
- Sheol or the grave
- Darkness, light, burning fire, Truth and people in it
- Heaven and Hell
- Jesus three days in hell
- Hellfire
- Edward Wightman
- Fragments from the Book of Job #2: chapters 12-20
- Fragments from the Book of Job #3: chapters 21-26
- Fragments from the Book of Job #4: chapters 27-31
- Fragments from the Book of Job #5: chapters 32-37
- Knowing where to go
- Not trying to make the heathen live like Jews #1
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Related articles
By Vic Odarve
After death life continuous! Spirit of the souls, the immaterial part of a man, travels to a temporary place where souls await the final judgment.
Compartment of the Sinners
But there was a man named Enoch, who walked with God heavenward so that he did not see death. (Heb 11:5). Being a righteous man, God gave him a privilege like a tourist. He toured this soul dwelling place with the angel Raphael as a guide. The place was already inhabited; the spirit of the soul of Abel was there.
As described by Enoch, the dwelling place of departed souls consisted of four hollow places; deep and wide and very smooth
Righteous Men Compartment
and dark to look at. Here are the divisions, as follows;
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Het getuigenis van de apostelen De geschriften van het Nieuwe Testament laten geen ruimte voor het geloof dat niet God maar Christus de Schepper was. De apostel Johannes beschrijft in het boek Openbaring een hoogst symbolisch gezicht dat hij op het eiland Patmos had gezien. “Er stond een troon in de hemel en iemand was […]
Het geloof van de eerste gemeente Het is heilzaam deze ontwikkeling in de gemeenten in de heidenwereld te beschouwen vanuit het gezichtspunt van de eerste volgelingen van Christus in de eerste dagen van zijn gemeente in Israël. Zo filosofisch gezind als de Grieken waren ze helemaal niet. Zij waren gewoon van kindsbeen af zich toe […]
In de Griekse stad Athene, waar de altaren van een menigte góden te be zichtigen waren en een kakofonie van filosofen te beluisteren was, klonk Paulus’ verkondiging van de levende God als een heldere klaroenstoot. “God, die de wereld gemaakt heeft en al wat daarin is, die een Heer is van hemel en aarde… daar […]
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world? Looking at the world, being sad, noticing that so many people are misled by big institutions that claim to be the only right church, whilst they do not follow at all the Bible teachings, nor Christ his teachings and do […]
Bible prophecies do not deal only with the ancient past. They also accurately foretell events that are taking place in our day. But at the moment we focus at numerous prophecies preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures (commonly called the Old Testament) which long before the man was born told about events which would happen in his time and around him, his betrayal, humiliation, torture, execution, death, and burial. From those writings of the Old and New Testament nobody should have doubts who that man is who is called Immanuel, the son of man and Messiah, born out of the root of Jess in the tribe of king David.
In Scripture, all things are directed towards a man who was a servant of servants, in whom people should come to have faith. First we saw the connection with Eve and her seed, and in this article you may see the connection with Abraham.
Already in the Old Testament we find the focus on a son of man who is called the son of God, who shall be the most pure set apart (holy) servant of God who was been told about in the Garden of Eden, to be the one bruised.
Many Old Testament writers wrote about the prophet to come, about whom is spoke in the book of Moses and who shall be the special “Seed of a woman” given by God and who will bruise Satan’s head whilst his heel would be bruised with nails on the wooden stake.
Beth Snider on the Odd News Show writes about a mysterious large green stone discovered at the Temple complex in Hattusa, the capital of the ancient Hittite Empire, standing on a raised platform and measures 215 by 140 feet (65 by 42 metres). The Hattusa Green Stone is a roughly cubic block of nephrite standing […]
Did Lamech kill Cain? What happened to Cain in the Bible? In the Book of Genesis, we are told about Cain’s birth, his violent act of fratricide and his subsequent exile. We learn that he married and had descendants, but the Bible is strangely mute about his death. How did Cain die? If he did […]
Read Elie Wiesel’s essay on Cain and Abel in the Bible as it originally appeared in Bible Review, February 1998. First republished in BHD June 1, 2015. Cain and Abel: The first two brothers of the first family in history. The only brothers in the world. The saddest, the most tragic. Why do they hold […]
Op maandag 22 april zal onze broeder, Marcus Ampe ter operatie in het ziekenhuis Gasthuisberg te Leuven verblijven. Hierdoor zal hij in de ecclesiae van Brussel-Leuven, Anderlecht, Mons-Lille de avonddienst voor 14 Nisan niet kunnen voorgaan. Wij hopen dat onze leden in hun kleine kringen het vergaderen niet zullen nalaten en Jezus laatste avondmaal in […]
“In vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.” (Matthew 15:9) SPECIALS SPECIALS SPECIALS SPECIALS Every 10 You Order You Will Get 5 Extra Free Copies. Greetings Supporters, If you are not aware of the existence of this book, it would do you service, to all those who sense something not […]
Over the last six months, the Israeli war against Hamas has escalated significantly. In May 2021, violence erupted between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters in East Jerusalem, leading to a series of rocket attacks from Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip. This led to an 11-day conflict in which Israel launched a series […]
Israel News, February 29, 2024 Event The Iranian regime has given Hezbollah the go-ahead to launch a large-scale attack against Israel within certain parameters, fearing that Israel plans to attack Lebanon in the near future, the Arabic Post reported on Wednesday. The Lebanese terror militia and Israel have traded blows since Hezbollah began its daily attacks against […]
Reuters, February 18, 2024 Event Israel on Sunday formalised its opposition to what it called the “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood, and said any such agreement must be reached through direct negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brought the “declaratory decision” to a vote in cabinet, which unanimously approved the measure, according to a statement. Netanyahu […]
The Telegraph, February 14, 2024 Event Israeli fighter jets launched the deepest airstrikes yet on Lebanon, reigniting fears of regional war. The series of deadly strikes, amid months of cross-border violence, came after rockets from Hezbollah killed a woman in a town in northern Israel not previously affected by daily border clashes. One woman was killed and eight […]
We should try to make our house a dwelling place, a mikdash for God.
The Times, March 21, 2024 Event Binyamin Netanyahu has told senior US Republicans that Israel “won’t stop” its planned Rafah offensive, even if it lacks American support. The Israeli prime minister spoke to senators at a lunch in Washington via videolink, after earlier admitting “disagreements” with President Biden over the potential military operation in the […]
Daily Telegraph, February 23, 2024 Event A Hezbollah “military compound” in Lebanon has been hit by an Israeli strike amid ongoing cross-border fire as tensions intensify in the Middle East. Hezbollah claimed that two paramedics affiliated with the group and one of their fighters were killed in a “direct” attack on a civil defence centre […]
From older news, which should not have been missed: The Telegraph, January 29, 2024 Event Are we on the brink of a third world war? In the age of “peak apocalypse”, it is easy to laugh off such a question. After all, we already find ourselves on permanent pandemic-watch, are besieged daily by predictions of ecological […]
Israel World News, January 21, 2024 Event Israel is giving Hezbollah ten more days to move away from its border and then its military will significantly escalate its reactions to the terrorists’ rain of rockets on northern Israel, The Washington Post reported Friday. Although the end-of-January deadline isn’t absolute, according to officials cited by the paper, the Israelis […]
Israel News, January 16, 2024 Event In an ominous sign of an expanding regional war, Jordan has been seen moving its army closer to the border with Israel. Israeli towns along the Jordanian border have reported gunfire towards their communities from the Jordanian soldiers. With the Hamas war raging and the potential for Israel’s North becoming […]
Bij de Parasja Nitsawiem 5782 kijken wij uit naar een sjana tova oemetoeka voor ons allen.
Dit jaar zijn er nog 2 sjabbatot tot Soekot en is er voor elke sjabbat een parasja en de sjabbat voorafgaande aan Rosj Hasjana lezen wij nu de de parasja Nitsawiem.
Verwonderlijk kreeg ik vandaag het bericht van WordPress dat ik tegen een jubileum mag aankijken. Gefeliciteerd met je jubileum bij WordPress.com! Je hebt je 5 jaar geleden geregistreerd op WordPress.com.Bedankt voor het gebruiken van onze service! Ga zo door met bloggen. Wat zijn die vijf jaren voorbij gevlogen. Voordat mijn pen al mijn gedachten kon […]
Kijkend naar de geschiedenis van het Joodse Volk in Oekraïne staan zij nu weer op het punt dat er vele doden onder hen kunnen vallen.
Met Rosj Hasjana denken wij aan de wondere scheppingsdaad van de Allerhoogste. Spijtig genoeg moeten wij toegeven dat de mensheid van die schepping een janboel heeft gemaakt.
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world? In Christendom there are lots of denominations but oh such a few, keep really to the biblical teachings. A lot of churches claim they are the only right church. In case they would follow all the teachings of Christ Jesus, […]
The apostle Paul wrote about the dispersion, the dispersed House of Israel. They had been “without covenant“, but Paul was sent out to recover them. So they were “grafted in again“ (Romans 11/23). Or, Grafted back in“. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been […]
Rob Mac wonders when the door to door will return? He wrote this a while back, and went sharing it again. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses hate the door to door ministry, although they won’t readily admit it. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses have developed ‘creative’ ways of counting their time doing this work, and many strategies for avoiding actually […]
Constantine wanted unity in his realm, and his call in 325 C.E. for a council of his bishops at Nicaea, located in the Eastern, Greek-speaking domain of his empire, across the Bosporus from the new city of Constantinople was in a certain way his goal to achieve some agreement by which many could live. Constantine […]
Superstition, misunderstanding and hatred caused the Christians trouble for many generations, and governmental repression they had to suffer occasionally, as a result of popular disturbances. No systematic effort was made by the imperial authorities to put an end to the movement until the reign of the Roman emperor (249–251) who fought the Gothic invasion of […]
From guestwriters 