HOW GOD REVEALS HIMSELF

Article 2 of The Belgic confesssion asks the question: By what means is God made known unto us, and gives the answer: “We know him by two means: first, by the creation, preservation and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to contemplate the invisible things of God, namely, his power and divinity, as the apostle Paul saith (Rom. 1:20). All which things are sufficient to convince men, and leave them without excuse. Secondly, he makes himself more clearly and fully known to us by his holy and divine Word, that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to his glory and our salvation”.

The words “he makes himself more clearly and fully known” means in effect that knowledge obtained by studying creation, is ancillary to knowledge obtained by studying Scripture.

M.J. Erickson (Introducing Christian Doctrine, 2001 p.49) says “This (general revelation, through creation) should be considered a supplement to, not ’n substitute for, special revelation” (through Scripture).

Oorvloed en vrug

Joh 10:10 .... “Ek het gekom, dat hulle lewe en OORVLOED kan hê”. Joh 15:5: "Ek is die wynstok, julle die lote. Wie in My bly, en Ek in hom, hy dra VEEL VRUG want sonder My kan julle niks doen nie".

Ons geestelike vrug en oorvloed is vir ander, nie onsself nie.

On omnipotence /Oor almag

Daar is natuurlik baie filosofiese vrae rondom “almag”, soos hierdie een:

“Can a deity create a rock so heavy that even the deity itself cannot lift it? If so, then the rock is now unliftable, limiting the deity's power. But if not, then the deity is still not omnipotent because it cannot create that rock”.

‘n Ander saak wat al deur die eeue baie vrae ontlok het, is die mens se vrye wil :

“Augustine argued that God could not do anything or create any situation that would in effect make God not God. This question is in itself and in many forms answered by its own context for which it was questioned. He created you, the rock that he can move but He will not. (Free will)”

Calvinism – short and sweet!

“If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, "He is one who says, Salvation is of the Lord." I cannot find in Scripture any other doctrine than this. It is the essence of the Bible”. ~ Charles Spurgeon

Vloede in Australië

Gebedsversoek ontvang: Bid asb vir mense (ook SA-kaners) in Brisbane en ander plekke in Australië, wat moet vlug voor die vloedwaters.

Floods in Australia

Prayer request: please pray for all those affected, those who have to flee for their lives in Brisbane and other places in Australia (request from SA-can friends)

Geleidelike prysgee van Christelike beginsels

Weereens akkommodasie by ‘n Universiteit om aan te pas by die heersende kulturele en filosofiese klimaat in Suid-Afrika - die subtiele prysgee van Christelike beginsels om aanvaarbaar te wees nasionaal en internasionaal (PU vir CHO moes dieselfde doen). Raak ons Christelike "paddas" geleidelik aan die temperatuur van die stadig-kokende pot water gewoond? (Lees verder)

Freedom and responsibility

Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. As it was in the garden of Eden, God’s created order was that we were to be free moral agents, and to operate within the boundaries that He established for us. We wanted to use our freedom in any way that we chose, and as a result, we lost it. Now, God has returned us to freedom, and like in the beginning, we are to use it responsibly, or we become slaves all over again.
So, with the freedom that Christ has given you, you have to be responsible for your life and existence. This means that in all areas of your life, you are accountable. (Henry Cloud – read more here: http://www.cloudtownsend.com/library/articles/7articles6.php )

Artikel oor “Die Trojaanse perd” in JUIG!

Dit is elektronies beskikbaar – koop die tydskrif, daar’s BAIE meer in as op die webblad! Lees hier: http://www.juig.co.za/article.php?id=114

Emergent Church, quo vadis?

Where are you heading, Emergent Church?

Nuwejaarsgebed vir vriende en familie

Dierbare Here,
dankie dat U ons na U beeld vorm,
en dat U ons voorberei vir ‘n wonderlike en belangrike bestemming.
Vergewe ons dat ons ons terugtrek in ons eie karige en beperkende drome.
Wanneer ons dit doen, ontneem ons U die vryheid
om ons te gebruik as U mond, U hande en U hart.
Ons wil graag elke dag van ons lewe
U wêreld-grootte drome vir ons vervul.
En eendag in die ewigheid wil ons ons in U arms werp
en graag die woorde hoor: “Mooi so!”
Ons bid Here, brei ons invloed en impak vir U uit
ver bo die grootste wat ons ons kan voorstel.
Ons is U toegewyde dienaars.
Hier is ons Here, stuur ons asseblief!
Amen