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Regverdigmaking deur geloof

Regverdigmaking deur geloof

Die Skrif sê vir ons dat “die regverdige uit die geloof sal lewe” (Romeine 1:17).

Maar wie is die regverdiges? En hoe word ‘n mens regverdig?

Die regverdiges is diegene wat geregverdig is – maar wat beteken dit om geregverdig te wees?

Deur watter wetslens lees jy hierdie woord: menslike wet – opgelegde reëls wat eksterne toesig en toegediende straf vereis, of ontwerpwetgewing – die protokolle waarop ons Skepper die werklikheid gebou het om te werk (soos die wette van gesondheid en fisika)?

As ons God as Skepper sien, verstaan ons dat Sy wette die wette is waarop die werklikheid gebou is en dat oortredings van God se wet ons benadeel en vernietig, wat uiteindelik tot die dood lei, tensy die Skepper ingryp om te genees en te herstel – dit wil sê, om reg te stel, wat regverdigmaking eintlik beteken: om dit reg te stel wat nie reg is nie.

Maar as ‘n mens onder die menslike definisie van die wet funksioneer – opgelegde reëls, opgemaakte volmag – dan dink ‘n mens dat geregtigheid vereis dat die heerser mag gebruik om die wet te polisieer en af te dwing deur middel van straf. In hierdie siening gaan regverdigmaking nie oor genesing, herstel of om harte en gedagtes reg te stel nie; dit gaan oor ‘n regsaanpassing.

Verkeerde aanname, verkeerde gevolgtrekking

Baie teoloë stel voor dat die woord regverdiging in die Christendom na ‘n regsproses verwys omdat die woord self deel is van ‘n stel regswoorde – dit is regstaal, sê hulle.

Sommige probleme met hierdie siening is:

  • Die woord regverdigmaking bestaan nie in die oorspronklike Bybelteks nie.
  • Die Bybel is nie in Engels of Latyn geskryf nie.

In plaas daarvan was regverdiging ‘n woord wat gebruik is deur opregte maar bevooroordeelde vertalers wat, wanneer hulle vertaal het, dit vanuit ‘n wetlike Romeinse wêreldbeskouing gedoen het. Met ander woorde, die vertalers, wat uit ‘ n Romeinse agtergrond gekom het, het die leuen aanvaar dat God se wet nie anders as mensewet funksioneer nie.

Kortom, hulle het regstaal en idees kunsmatig bekendgestel.

Maar selfs die gebruik van die woord regverdig, is ‘n valse idee dat dit slegs ‘n wetlike konnotasie het. Regverdig het ook nie-wetlike betekenisse:

  • Om die kantlyne in jou dokument “reg te stel” (in Engels: to justify) is nie ‘n regshandeling nie; in plaas daarvan is dit ‘n skuif of instelling om dit wat nie in lyn is nie reg te stel om in lyn te wees.
  • En regverdig kan ook beteken om ‘n aksie, posisie, persoon of bewering as reg te demonstreer of te bewys.

As ‘n mens die Bybel deur ‘n menslike wetslens beskou, dan gee jy ‘n wetlike definisie aan die woord regverdigmaking en leer dus dat geestelike regverdigmaking is om wetlik as regverdig verklaar te word, al is jy nie regverdig nie. Dit skep ‘n regsfiksie waarin God uitgebeeld word as iemand wat iets waar verklaar wat in werklikheid nie waar is nie.

Maar wanneer ons die valse menslike wetskonstruksie verwerp en ontwerpwet aanhang en terugkeer na die aanbidding van God as Skepper, verstaan ons dat regverdigmaking in die Bybel beide die regstelling is van wat verkeerd is (om sondaars heiliges te maak) asook om die geregtigheid van God in die persoon van Jesus Christus te demonstreer.

Die Bybel toon regverdigmaking

In Romeine 3:25, 26 beskryf die apostel Paulus beide die demonstrasie-aspek van regverdigmaking en die regstelling van die verkeerde aspek van regverdigmaking:

Hom het God voorgestel in sy bloed as ‘n versoening deur die geloof, om sy geregtigheid te bewys deurdat Hy die sondes ongestraf laat bly het wat tevore gedoen is onder die verdraagsaamheid van God  – om sy geregtigheid te toon in die teenwoordige tyd, sodat Hy self regverdig kan wees en regverdig maak wie uit die geloof in Jesus is (AFR53, beklemtoning myne).

Regverdigmaking is deel van die proses om sondaars van sonde te red. Daarom, om akkuraat te verstaan wat regverdiging is, moet ons akkuraat verstaan wat die probleem is. Met ander woorde, ons moet eers diagnoseer wat eintlik verkeerd is voordat ons God se behandelingsplan probeer beskryf.

As ons die leuen aanvaar dat God se wet soos menslike wet is, dan glo ons dat die probleem wat Adam en Eva geskep het toe hulle gesondig het, regsprobleme was – dat hulle onder wetlike veroordeling gestaan het omdat hulle die wet van God oortree het. En dat God, wat beide volkome heilig en soewerein is, deur Sy wet en heiligheid vereis is om gepaste straf vir hulle sonde op te lê. Daar word beweer dat as God hierdie straf sou kwytskeld, dan is God nie regverdig nie en is Sy wet nutteloos. Dus, volgens die wetlike siening, vereis geregtigheid dat God die doodstraf vir sonde oplê. Maar, word daar aangevoer, daar is goeie nuus: God het Sy sondelose Seun gestuur en Hom in ons plek tereggestel (al was Hy onskuldig) en ons kan nou aanspraak maak op die bloed van hierdie sondelose menseoffer om op ons wetlike register in die hemel aangewend te word. Deur dit te doen, word dit wetlik van God verwag om ons wettig regverdig te verklaar, selfs al is ons nog steeds onregverdig in hart, verstand en karakter.

Nie net stel so ‘n siening God se wet verkeerd voor nie, maar dit verdraai ook die goddelike karakter omdat dit God ‘n leuenaar sal maak – om mense as regverdig te verklaar wat nie is nie – en God as die bron van die dood sal uitmaak. In so ‘n verwronge siening, het God nodig dat iets aan Hom gedoen word (paaiing deur offerhande) sodat Hy nie Sy krag sal gebruik om ons dood te maak nie.

Wanneer ons die leuen verwerp dat God se wet soos menslike wet funksioneer en terugkeer na die aanbidding van die Skepper wie se wette die ontwerpprotokolle vir die lewe is, besef ons dat toe Adam en Eva gesondig het, hulle nie op een of ander manier lojale, getroue, betroubare wesens gebly het wat skielik in regsmoeilikheid was nie. In plaas daarvan verstaan ons die werklikheid, dat hul sonde hulle verander het. Liefde en vertroue is deur vrees en selfsug in hulle harte verplaas, wat nou hul nuwe dryfvere geword het. Hulle was in hulle diepste wese beskadig en was nou “dood in oortreding en sonde” (Ef 2:1). Met ander woorde, hulle het ‘n terminale toestand gehad. Soos die Bybel sê, “sonde bring die dood voort wanneer dit tot volle ontwikkeling gekom het” (Jakobus 1:15). Sonder God wat ingryp om hierdie toestand te genees, sou alle mense sterf omdat alle mense “gebore is in ongeregtigheid en in sonde ontvang is” (Psalm 51:5).

Om te verstaan dat sonde die sondaar verander – die verstand bederf, vrees en selfsug aanhits, karakter verdraai, ons uit harmonie met God en die heiligheid van die hemel neem – wat het sondaars dan eintlik nodig om in regte stand met God te wees?

  • ‘n Nuwe regsrekord?
  • ‘n Geregtelike uitspraak?
  • ‘n Bloedbetaling aan ‘n straffende godheid?
  • ‘n Regsverklaring?
  • Of het hulle ‘ n nuwe hart en ‘n regte gees nodig?

Die Skrif is duidelik oor wat nodig is:

  • “Skep vir my ‘n rein hart, o God, en gee opnuut in die binneste van my ‘n vaste gees” (Psalm 51:10 AFR33).
  • “Ek sal hulle een hart gee en ‘n nuwe gees in julle binneste gee; en Ek sal die hart van klip uit hulle vlees verwyder en hulle ‘n hart van vlees gee” (Esegiël 11:19 AFR33).
  • “Dit is die verbond wat Ek ná dié dae met die huis van Israel sal sluit, spreek die Here: Ek sal my wette in hulle verstand gee en dit op hulle harte skrywe” (Hebreërs 8:10 AFR33).
  • “…maar hy is ‘n Jood wat dit in die verborgene is, en besnydenis is dié van die hart, die gees, nie na die letter nie” (Romeine 2:29 AFR33).

Al die beskrywings van die Skrif is dieselfde: Die verlossingsplan is God se werk in sondaars om hulle harte en gedagtes te herskep om hulle reg te stel deur God se wet van liefde in hulle te herstel en vrees en selfsug uit hulle karakters uit te roei. Soos ons in Romeine 2:29 vind, is dit ‘n hartswerk en nie ‘n wetlike (geskrewe kode) werk nie.

Die Bybel beskryf ons sondige hart en verstand as vyandig teenoor God:

“…omdat wat die vlees bedink, vyandskap teen God is” (Romeine 8:7 AFR33).

‘n Ander vertaling stel dit so: “Die vleeslike verstand is vyandskap teen God” (NKJV).

Ons, in ons onbekeerde, sondige toestand, wantrou God en is vyandig teenoor Hom. Ons harte is nie in harmonie met Syne nie. Ons het nie lief wat God liefhet nie. Ons dink nie hoe Hy ons ontwerp het om te dink nie. Ons funksioneer nie soos God bedoel het dat ons moet funksioneer nie. Ons is bang en selfsugtig. Ons moet reggestel word, reggemaak word, geregverdig word in hart, verstand en gesindheid om God te vertrou. Dit is wat regverdigmaking is – om die hart van ‘n wese wat wantrou te verander in iemand wat vertrou en die hart met God regstel.

Regverdigmaking geïllustreer

Abraham, soos die res van ons, is “in sonde gebore en in ongeregtigheid verwek.” Hy was ‘n sondaar wat deur vrees en selfsug versoek is en het by verskeie geleenthede opgetree om ander te mislei op so ‘n manier dat hy sy vrou in gevaar gestel het, alles om homself te red. Maar Abraham het ‘n verandering beleef – nie ‘n wetlike verandering nie, maar ‘n werklike verandering. Hy het gegroei van ‘n persoon wat God nie vertrou het nie en dinge op sy eie manier gedoen het, na ‘n persoon wat God vertrou het en God se instruksies gevolg het. Met ander woorde, Abraham het ‘n werklike verandering van hartsmotief ervaar; sy hart was reg met God. Dit is regverdiging.

En toe Abraham Hom vertrou het, het God – wat die Skepper-God van die werklikheid en nie fantasie is nie – die nuwe toestand van realiteit in Abraham erken, dat hy geregverdig was, eintlik reg in hart tot God (Romeine 4:1-3).

God het Abraham nie regverdig verklaar toe Abraham God steeds gewantrou het nie, maar Hy het die werklikheid erken dat Abraham se hart verander het van wantroue na vertroue. En sodra ‘n sondaars God werklik vertrou en hulle harte vir Hom oopmaak, genees en herstel God hulle deur Sy wet op hulle hart en verstand te skryf.

Dit is die regverdigmaking van die individuele sondaar by God. Maar hierdie regverdigmaking – die regte herstelling van ‘n individuele hart en verstand teenoor God – is slegs moontlik omdat Jesus eers ons plaasvervanger geword het, die tweede Adam, en sonde in ons plek oorwin het en die menslike spesie met God reggestel het.

Toe Adam gesondig het, was hy nie net as ‘n individu uit harmonie met God nie (in vyandskap met God), maar die hele spesie was ook uit harmonie – omdat elke mens van Adam afstam en besmet is met vrees en selfsug. Ná Adam en voor Jesus, was daar geen sondelose mense nie – geen. Jesus het mens geword om daardie situasie reg te stel, om die verbindende skakel na die hemel te word, die een mens waarin God se ontwerpwet van die lewe volmaak uitgeleef is, en sodoende harmonie met God se ontwerpwet in die mensdom herstel het.

Deur dit te doen, het Jesus die nuwe hoof geword van ‘n hernude en gereinigde mensdom – ons tweede Adam.

In die persoon van Jesus Christus, was die menslike spesie geregverdig – reggestel, herstel – met God. Hy het mens geword en is in alle opsigte versoek net soos ons, maar Hy was sonder sonde (Hebreërs 4:15). In die menslike lewenservaring van Jesus het Hy iets werkliks bereik, iets wat geen ander mens kon nie, iets objektiefs: Hy het met die gebruik van slegs Sy menslike vermoëns ‘n volmaakte, sondelose menslike karakter ontwikkel en sodoende God se ontwerpwet van liefde in die menslike spesie herstel. In die persoon van Jesus is die mensdom met God reggestel – ons was geregverdig.

Alhoewel hy ‘n seun was, het hy gehoorsaamheid geleer uit wat hy gely het en, sodra hy volmaakheid bereik het, het hy die bron van ewige verlossing geword vir almal wat hom gehoorsaam (Hebreërs 5:8, 9 NLV84).

Wag … was Jesus nie altyd volmaak nie?

Hy was altyd sondeloos, ja, maar Bybelse volmaaktheid beteken volwassenheid van karakter en karakter kan nie geskep word nie, dit moet ontwikkel word deur die keuses van die lewende wese. Jesus het as ‘n mens ‘n volmaakte, volwasse sondelose karakter ontwikkel en God se wet van liefde in die menslike spesie herstel. Sodoende het Hy as ons plaasvervanger die menslike spesie met God reggestel; dit wil sê, Hy het die spesie geregverdig en ons geneesmiddel teen sonde geword, die bron van verlossing vir almal wat Hom volg.

Wanneer ons gewen word tot vertroue, maak ons die hart oop en ontvang die inwonende Gees, wat die karakter van Christus neem en dit in ons weergee, sodat “Ek nie meer lewe nie, maar Christus in my woon” (Galasiërs 2:20 NLV84). Dit is ware Bybelse regverdiging.

Soos Paulus aan die Korintiërs geskryf het, “Want Hy het Hom wat geen sonde geken het nie, sonde vir ons gemaak, sodat ons kan word geregtigheid van God in Hom” (2 Korinthiërs 5:21 AFR53).

Opregte regverdiging is nie ‘n kwessie van wetlike vergifnis nie; dit is die werklike werk van God deur Christus om ons reg te stel in hart, verstand, gesindheid en karakter – om verenig te wees, een-met God.

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Testimony 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

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We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

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 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 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 18

The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, 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 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA