Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
Hoe Satan geloof gebruik om te mislei

Hoe Satan geloof gebruik om te mislei

Wanneer jy die woord geloof hoor, hoe verstaan jy dit?

Dictionary.com bied verskeie betekenisse vir hierdie woord; Hier is ‘n paar:

  1. vertroue of vertroue in ‘n persoon of iets
  2. oortuiging wat nie op bewyse gebaseer is nie
  3. geloof in God of in die leerstellings of leerstellings van godsdiens
  4. geloof in enigiets, as ‘n etiese kode, standaarde van meriete, ens.
  5. ‘n stelsel van godsdienstige oortuigings

Inkorporeer jou begrip van geloof al hierdie definisies? Verstaan jy geloof as vertroue en vertroue in God, die leerstellings en leringe van die Bybel, God se wet, Sy gedragskode wat lei tot sekere godsdienstige oortuigings en pligte, wat alles sonder bewyse geglo moet word – “op geloof”, sonder bewyse, omdat God dit in die Bybel gesê het?

Ongelukkig is hierdie manier om geloof te verstaan presies hoe Satan mense met geloof mislei. Geloof, dink baie, is om te glo wat strydig is met bewyse, wat ‘n mens se beter oordeel sê nie geglo moet word nie, waarvan ons nie bewyse of getuienis het nie – dikwels blinde geloof genoem, glo met ‘n verstand wat gesluit is vir bewyse, feite en waarheid.

Ek onthou dat ek baie jare gelede in ‘n Bybelstudiegids ‘n beskrywing van geloof gelees het wat soos volg gegaan het: “Ons het nie geloof nodig om te glo dat die lug bo ons kop is nie, want ons kan opkyk en die lug sien; ons het geloof nodig om te glo in die God wat anderkant die hemel woon omdat ons Hom nie kan sien nie.”

Ek het dadelik gedink, “Wel, as dit ‘n akkurate beskrywing van geloof is, beteken dit dan wanneer Jesus weer kom en ons Hom van aangesig tot aangesig ontmoet, sal ons vir Hom sê: ‘Jesus, voordat U teruggekom het, het ek in U geglo, maar noudat ek U met my eie oë gesien het, het ek nie meer geloof in U nie’?” Natuurlik nie! Wanneer ons Jesus persoonlik ontmoet, sal ons geloof eksponensieel ontplof soos ons Hom selfs beter leer ken as wat ons nou doen.

Ware geloof is gebaseer op die werklikheid, op waarheid, op bewyse, op feite en op ondervinding/belewing. Dit is die enigste manier om werklike vertroue, sekerheid en geloof te hê. Enige geloofsbegrippe wat nie in die werklikheid gebaseer is nie, is skelmstreke wat mislei.

Ek het onlangs die volgende in ‘n ander Bybelstudiegids gelees:

‘n Ongewone kenmerk van die openingstoneel van die Evangelie van Markus is dat Jesus voorgestel word as ‘n karakter met beide goddelikheid en menslikheid. Aan die kant van die goddelikheid: Hy is die Christus, die Messias (Markus 1:1), die Here wat deur ‘n boodskapper aangekondig is (Markus 1:2, 3), magtiger as Johannes (Markus 1:7), die geliefde Seun op wie die Gees neerdaal (Markus 1:10, 11). Maar aan die kant van die mensdom sien ons die volgende: Hy word deur Johannes gedoop (nie andersom nie, Markus 1:9), Hy word deur die Gees gedryf (Markus 1:12), deur Satan versoek (Markus 1:13), saam met wilde diere (Markus 1:13), en bedien deur engele (Markus 1:13).

Waarom hierdie teenstellings? Dit wys op die verstommende werklikheid van Christus, ons Here en Verlosser, ons God, en tog ook ‘n mens, ons broer en ons voorbeeld. Hoe draai ons ons gedagtes ten volle rondom hierdie idee? Ons kan nie. Maar ons aanvaar dit in geloof en verwonder ons oor wat hierdie waarheid aan ons openbaar oor God se liefde vir die mensdom (SDA Adult SS Guide, 3rd Q 2024, The Book of Mark p. 10, beklemtoning myne).

Wat verstaan jy wat dit sê? Wat is die boodskap? Is dit, “Terwyl God oneindig is en ons Hom nooit ten volle kan begryp nie, word daar steeds van ons verwag om te dink, redeneer en verstaan tot die volle mate moontlik, en ons begrip van en waardering vir God sal tot in alle ewigheid groei”? Of het jy gehoor, “God se weë is buite ons vermoë om te verstaan, daarom dink ons nie daaraan nie – ons aanvaar dit net in geloof sonder om te probeer verstaan”?

Ek hou regtig nie van die samesmelting van ‘n waarheid met ‘n optrede wat teen God se begeerte vir ons, teen God se metodes en beginsels is nie, soos in die aangehaalde paragrawe hierbo gedoen word.

Die waarheid is dat ons nie ons gedagtes ten volle rondom Jesus se menswording kan draai nie – ons kan God nie ten volle begryp nie. Dit is waar. Maar dit beteken nie dat ons nie baie dinge oor God, Sy karakter, metodes, natuur, motiewe, ontwerpwette en aspekte van Sy offer kan begryp en verstaan nie, en deur die tyd in ons begrip kan groei nie.

Trouens, Jesus het gesê Hy wil hê ons moet verstaan, dat Hy wil hê ons moet Sy vriende wees wat wel verstaan en nie onnadenkende dienaars wees wat bloot gehoorsaam is omdat die heer dit gesê het nie (Joh 15:15).

Hierdie argument dat geloof geloof is sonder denke, sonder begrip, sonder bewyse, pla my regtig omdat dit geloof voorstel as deugsaam, as regverdig, as ‘n goeie ding, as vroom, heilig, geestelik, sagmoedig en nederig – maar dit is eintlik nie een van daardie dinge nie. Dit is ‘n misleiding wat mense daarvan weerhou om self die waarheid te ken; dit verhoed dat mense die waarheid verstaan en bevry word.

Satan het geen waarheid aan sy kant nie, daarom moet hy mense kry om dinge te aanvaar en te glo wat op “geloof” gebaseer is sonder om te verstaan, sonder begrip, om dinge te glo wat nie deur bewyse ondersteun word nie, dinge wat irrasioneel en onredelik is – daarom kan daar nie daaroor gedink word nie – want as daar daaroor gedink word, sal ‘n mens die leuen sien. Mense word dus geleer, “Moenie bevraagteken nie, moenie dink nie; dit sou ‘n gebrek aan geloof wees – glo net.”

Maar hoewel ons nie ten volle die dinge van God kan begryp nie, kan ons baie verstaan waarom hierdie kontras tussen Jesus se menslikheid en goddelikheid in die Skrif opgeteken is. Hierdie teenstelling is daar, geïnspireer deur God en geskryf deur Markus, want ons verlossing vereis dat albei waar moet wees. Ons redding vereis dat Jesus ten volle mens moet wees om die spesie wat God in Eden geskep het, te red. (Sien Verlossing En Die Reiniging Van Ons Gees Deel 1 en Deel 2.) Maar Jesus moes ook ten volle God wees om die leuens aan te spreek wat Satan oor God vertel het wat die oorlog in die hemel begin het, engele mislei en toe Adam en Eva mislei het. Albei moet ten volle waar wees om die mensdom te red en ook ‘n einde te maak aan die kosmiese oorlog oor God se betroubaarheid.

Dit is dus heel verstaanbaar waarom albei aangebied en nodig is. Jesus is God wat ten volle mens geword het. In Sy menslikheid was die samesmelting van twee lewens, of lewenskragte, of geeste – die asem van die lewe, of gees, wat in Adam geblaas is, wat Adam met sonde verdorwe het, en die Heilige Gees, wat die Vader van Jesus se menslikheid was. In Jesus is die gees van vrees wat van Adam geërf is, teëgestaan, oorkom, uitgeroei en vervang met die gees van liefde, waarheid en heiligheid, wat die nuwe lewensbron vir die mensdom geword het – wat die mensdom terugverbind met God, die bron van alle lewe. En wanneer ons bekeer word, gewen word om te vertrou, gee ons ons ou lewe, ons ou gees van vrees en selfsug, oor en ontvang die inwonende Heilige Gees, wat in ons ‘n nuwe gees van liefde en vertroue gee wat van Jesus af kom (2 Timoteus 1:7). Ons word weergebore met nuwe motiewe en begeertes en word deel van die familie van die hemel (Johannes 1:12, 13; Romeine 8:14-17; Galasiërs 3:26).

Maar ons is slegs in staat om te groei in die kennis van God wanneer ons ‘n lewende geloof het, ‘n geloof wat op die waarheid gebou is, ‘n geloof wat van ons vereis om te dink, te redeneer, te verstaan, ‘n geloof wat op bewyse gebaseer is – ‘n werklikheidsgebaseerde, verligte geloof – en ons verwerp die leuen dat geloof blindelings glo, glo sonder bewyse, ons denke en geloof opskort op grond van aansprake, proklamasies en verklarings van stemme van gesag.

Ek nooi jou uit na ‘n lewe van opregte geloof, vertroue, sekerheid in God, wat gebaseer is op die waarheid, die bewyse, die werklikheid van wie God is soos geopenbaar in Christus – die God wat jou roep om met Hom te kom redeneer en van sonde gereinig te word (Jesaja 1:18), wat wil hê dat elke mens ten volle oortuig moet wees in sy eie gedagtes (Romeine 14:5), wat vereis dat ons dink en redeneer en die waarheid vir onsself kies. Dan kan ons volwasse vriende van Jesus word (Johannes 15:15) wat in staat is om die regte van die verkeerde te onderskei (Hebreërs 5:14) omdat ons die denke van Christus het (1 Korinthiërs 2:16).

Moenie mislei word nie! Opregte geloof verlig die verstand; dit sluit nooit denke af nie.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 8

Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 26

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 17

The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

Testimony 49

I came into the church at 21, but that is as far as it went. I was so confused about what love is. I couldn’t find it in the bible, because I am not a person that can read between the lines. I have no logic. I have read many, many books; trying to figure out the crux of the matter. They were helpful, but something was still missing. I have become very frustrated to the point of crying out to God, “Where can I go?”  I needed some basics.

I found two books, written by Timothy Jennings, MD, to be very helpful. God showed me that I had lived my whole life in fear. I didn’t even see it. Now, I do. God is so good.  I discovered the “The Remedy”  Dr. Jennings new book, “The God-Shaped Heart!” Oh, I was so excited, I purchased them right away.

I can get rid of most of my books, because “The Remedy” brings the Love of God out so clearly, even I can’t miss it. Now, I want to sit and read my Bible. Wow, what a revelation! It is just simply Awesome! I am so grateful to Jehovah Almighty for hearing my prayer for more understanding! I am so encouraged!

Jackie S.

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 15

I have been sharing Come And Reason Ministries Bible study lessons with several folk. You have such a beautiful view of the plan of salvation. If we had this message preached when I was young, my generation would still all be in church.

H. R., New Zealand

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 48

I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.