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DIE KWESSIE VAN STRAF – DEEL I

DIE KWESSIE VAN STRAF – DEEL I

Terwyl ek deur die land reis en Christelike beginsels vir die genesing van denke aanbied, is daar ‘n vraag wat oor en oor opduik. Twee weke gelede tydens The Good News Tour in Collegedale, TN, is hierdie vraag geopper.

Verlede week tydens ‘n Healing the Mind-seminaar in Downers Grove, IL, is hierdie vraag ook geopper. En die vraag het te doen met God wat sy ongehoorsame kinders straf. Die vraag gaan nooit oor liefdevolle dissipline, God wat optree om te red, op te voed of God wat ‘n mens op ‘n ander roete lei nie. Almal verstaan dat God, in liefde, hierdie aksies doen. Nee, die verwarring ontstaan oor God se rol in die hantering van die onberouvolles, die opstandiges, diegene wat Hom aanhoudend verwerp en nie na Hom wil terugkeer nie.

Tydens The Good News Tour het een van die sprekers passievol die idee na vore gebring dat God sonde en sondaars moet straf om regverdig te wees, dat God liefde is, maar Hy is ook regverdig. Hierdie idee dat God se geregtigheid iets anders as sy liefde is, doen geweldige skade aan die evangelie. Geregtigheid is gebaseer op die reg. Die wet van God is die wet van liefde, dus is God se geregtigheid altyd liefde. Daarom kon sy geregtigheid nooit opgewerkte, woedende wraak word nie. Dit is ‘n verdraaiing van God se karakter. God se geregtigheid is altyd ‘n manifestasie van sy liefde.

Stel jou voor hoe ‘n opreg liefdevolle ouer vir sy kind sê om nooit aan die plaagdoders in die motorhuis te raak nie, selfs waarsku: “Die dag wanneer jy dit doen, sal jy sekerlik sterf.” Op ‘n dag is die kind ongehoorsaam aan die uitdruklike instruksies van die ouer, daardie ouer se “wet”, en mors met die plaagdoders en drink selfs per ongeluk ‘n paar slukke. Nou, as gevolg van blootstelling aan hierdie gifstof ontwikkel die kind leukemie, wat vereis geregtigheid?

Sou geregtigheid vereis dat die ouer die kind laat sterf, selfs al het die ouer beenmurg wat die kind kon red? Sou geregtigheid vereis dat die ouer die kind slaan, of erger nog, die kind doodmaak om regverdig te wees, om aan die “wetlike” vereistes te voldoen wat hul gebroke “wet” vereis het? Wat sou geregtigheid vereis? Hoe lyk geregtigheid as dit op die wet van liefde gebaseer is? Wat dwing liefde die ouer om regverdiglik te doen, as die ouer bekwaam is? Natuurlik, red die kind! Net so gaan God se geregtigheid alles oor verlossing.

Leukemie is kanker en kankerselle is selle wat buite beheer voortplant en nie meer in harmonie met hul oorspronklike programmering funksioneer nie. Wat moet gebeur om u kind te red sonder om die wette van gesondheid te oortree? Die kanker moet in remissie gaan. Die kankerselle moet teruggaan na hul vorige nie-kankeragtige gesonde toestand. Wanneer dit gebeur, gaan die lewe voort sonder om die wette van gesondheid te oortree. Net so, sonder die vergieting van bloed is daar geen vergifnis van sonde nie. Sonder die vergieting van Christus se bloed sou sondigheid in die mensdom nie in remissie kon gaan nie. Christus het gekom om die mensdom te genees, om ons almal terug te plaas in harmonie met God se wet van liefde!

Maar wat as die kind, wat ongehoorsaam was toe hulle jonk was en wat besig is om aan daardie terminale siekte te sterf, nou as volwassene die beenmurgoorplanting weier, die middel weier wat die kanker in remissie sal plaas? Sou geregtigheid vereis dat die ouer dan so ‘n weerbarstige, ondankbare kind doodmaak? Waarom dring so baie dan daarop aan dat God sonde en sondaars moet straf, en leer selfs dat God sy Seun in die sondaar se plek gestraf het? Dis as gevolg van drie basiese misverstande:

MISVERSTAND 1: GOD SE WET

God se wet is natuurlik, nie opgelê nie. Misverstand vind plaas wanneer mense dink aan God se wet as opgelê of as ‘n lys van reëls sonder inherente gevolge wat uiterlik deur God afgedwing word, dan moet God as die groot wetgewer optree om eksterne strawwe op die oortreders van die wet op te lê om regverdig te wees. Sommige redeneer dat as God nie straf oplê nie, dan sou die wet magteloos en dus nutteloos wees. Maar dit is ‘n noodlottige fout in die begrip van God se wet. God se wet is die ontwerpwet vir die lewe. Dit is die wet van liefde. Dit spruit uit die karakter van God self en is die beginsel waarop alle lewe geskep is om te werk. Dit word nie opgelê of deur wetgewing afgedwing nie.

Die wet van swaartekrag is byvoorbeeld ‘n ontwerpwet waarop die natuur geskep is om te werk. As jy van ‘n gebou af spring dan hoef God nie ‘n straf op te lê nie, want die straf is inherent, dit wil sê, jy sal heel waarskynlik sterf wanneer jy met die grond bots. Die wette van gesondheid is ontwerpwette waarop lewe gebou is om te werk. As jy besluit om op te hou eet, drink of ‘n plastieksak oor jou kop vas te bind, sal jy die wette van voeding, hidrasie of asemhaling oortree – dit is natuurwette. God sal nie ‘n straf op jou hoef te lê nie. Hy maak jou nie dood omdat jy daardie wette oortree het nie, die straf is inherent.

Net so is die wet van liefde ‘n natuurlike wet, die ontwerpprotokol vir die lewe. Dit is die wet van gee, welwillendheid, die uiterlike vloei van goedheid om ander op te hef. Alle lewe is deur God geskep om volgens hierdie beginsel te werk. Oortredings van hierdie wet lei natuurlik tot pyn, lyding en die dood. God hoef nie straf op te lê nie, die straf is inherent. God het in werklikheid sy krag gebruik om die gevolge, die straf van sonde, in toom te hou, en die mensdom tyd te gee om weer in harmonie met Hom en die wet van liefde versoen te word.

MISVERSTAND 2: DIE AARD VAN SONDE

As ons God se wet verkeerd verstaan, lei dit natuurlik tot misverstande oor sonde. Ongelukkig dink die meeste mense sonde is om God se reëls te oortree en wanneer ‘n mens God se reëls oortree, kom hulle in die moeilikheid met die reëlmaker. Die reëlmaker moet dan boetes oplê om “regverdig” te wees. Maar dit is alles verkeerd. Die waarheid is dat “sonde wetteloosheid is” (1Johannes 3:4), dit wil sê sonder wet, minus die wet, om buite die wet te lewe, in hierdie geval die wet van liefde, waarop die lewe ontwerp is om te werk. En sonde lei dus natuurlik tot die dood (Romeine 6:23, Jakobus 1:15). God hoef nie mense die dood toe te dien nie. Die straf is inherent aan sonde soos sonde ‘n mens skei van die lewenssirkel, die wet van liefde wat van God uitgaan.

MISVERSTAND 3: DIE DOEL VAN DIE KRUIS

Om die wet van God verkeerd te verstaan, en dus die aard en karakter van sonde verkeerd te verstaan, lei natuurlik tot ‘n misverstand oor die doel van die kruis. Immers, as die wet ‘n lys van reëls deur wetgewing is en dus op God se skepping afgedwing word, en sonde die reëls van hierdie wet oortree, en die probleem is dat ons in die moeilikheid is met die Een in beheer en Hy moet straf oplê om regverdig te wees, wat sou dan in so ‘n situasie nodig wees? In so ‘n situasie het ons iemand nodig om ons straf aan ‘n beledigde God te betaal sodat sy woede en toorn oor sonde te temper (verminder, versag, kalmeer) sal word. En so leer sommige dat God Jesus eintlik aan die kruis gestraf het as ons plaasvervanger. Maar dit is ook ‘n valse gevolgtrekking gebaseer op valse aannames oor God, sy karakter, sy Wet en die aard en karakter van sonde.

In werklikheid het Christus die geneesmiddel vir sonde geword en die mensdom herstel tot volmaaktheid en eenheid met God.

Wat sê die Bybel? Wat het God eintlik aan sy Seun gedoen?

“My God, my God, waarom het U my verlaat?” het Jesus uitgeroep, nie “waarom maak julle my dood, straf julle my, stel julle my tereg?” nie.

“God was in die Seun wat die wêreld met Homself versoen het” 2Kor 5:19. Dit was God wat gewerk het om te genees en te red, nie om te straf nie, nie om sy Seun tereg te stel nie.

Die Bybel het selfs geprofeteer dat die mensdom verkeerd sou verstaan, dat die mensdom sou dink dat God sy Seun tereggestel of gestraf het:

Jesaja 53:4 (NLV’11): “Tog was dit ons swakhede wat Hy gedra het. Hy het ons pyn verduur. Ons het aan hom gedink as dat God hom slaan, kasty en teister.

Let op, ons het gedink of beskou of verkeerd verstaan dat God die een was wat Jesus getref het. Maar dit was nie God nie, die Bybel het geprofeteer dat ons hierdie idees sou misverstaan.

So, as God nie aktief straf, pyn, lyding en dood op die goddeloses toedien nie, wat doen God dan aan die goddeloses? Wat doen God aan diegene wat met sonde besmet is en weier om God toe te laat om hulle te genees? Ons sal hierdie vrae in volgende week se blog beantwoord.

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Testimony 44

We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

Daniel T., Easley, SC, USA

 

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 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

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 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 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 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, 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 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 7

Ok, so last night I listened to “The Law of Liberty” and “How to Achieve Victory: Freedom, Truth and Spirtual Warfare.” These are both MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES so far! The logic is just soooooo beautiful. I had to re-listen to them a couple of times. I just want to EXPLODE! (<< we assume with joy and happiness)

N. B., Canada

 

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 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 27

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.