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WAT IS GOD SE GENADE?

WAT IS GOD SE GENADE?

Wat verstaan jy wat die genade van God is? ‘n Klassieke antwoord is “onverdiende guns”, en wat gewoonlik daarmee bedoel word, is iets wat ons nie verdien het nie.

En dit is beslis waar dat nie een van ons God se genade verdien het nie. Sy genade is nie ‘n salaris, ‘n medalje of ‘n beloning vir een of ander prestasie van ons kant nie. Maar om op hierdie manier oor genade te praat, fokus op die proses van genade ontvang – nie op wat genade is nie.

Die Verenigde State was histories ‘n samelewing gebaseer op meriete – ‘n meritokrasie. As jy hard werk, pluk jy die vrugte van jou werk. Dus, as jy deur jou werkgewer betaal word, het jy daardie betaling verdien. As jy sterker spiere kry deur gereeld te oefen, het jy die groei in jou spiere verdien. As jy ‘n beter musikant word omdat jy gereeld oefen, het jy daardie vaardigheid verdien.

Onverdiende guns is wanneer jy iets ontvang wat jy nie verdien het nie of nie waardig is om te verkry nie; met ander woorde, jy het nie die reg om dit te eis as iets wat aan jou verskuldig is nie. In daardie sin is God se genade nie ons s’n as ‘n reg om opgeëis te word nie. Maar om te verstaan dat God se genade nie iets is wat ons verdien nie, vertel ons steeds nie wat daardie genade is nie.

As iemand vir jou ‘n glas water gegee het terwyl jy amper van dors gesterf het, het jy dit nie gekoop, verdien of daarvoor gewerk nie – dit was ‘n geskenk. ‘n Mens kan sê die water was onverdiend; dit is vryelik aan jou gegee. Maar die water is water – die metode van hoe jy dit kry, hetsy gratis of teen ‘n koste vir jou, is apart van die inhoud van wat dit is.

Die gawe van God se genade aan ons is die openbaring van sy karakter van liefde; dit is genadigheid van God. Maar die feit dat God sy genade vryelik gee, sê nie vir ons wat daardie genade is nie. Beskou genade as ‘n selfstandige naamwoord; die aksie om dit te gee is ‘n werkwoord – ons ontvang God se genade sonder om dit te verdien, maar wat is sy genade?

 

VERDIEN TEENOOR OM VERSKULDIG TE WEES

Aangesien dit waar is dat God se genade ‘n gawe aan ons is – iets wat ons nie verdien het nie, iets wat nie aan ons verskuldig is nie, iets wat ons nie as ‘n reg ontvang nie – beteken dit ook dat ons nie God se genade verdien nie?

Dit hang af van hoe ‘n mens “verdien” verstaan of definieer. Verdien ‘n kind wat met ‘n terminale siekte gebore word, om met vriendelikheid, deernis behandel te word en ‘n middel aangebied te word as daar een bestaan om hulle tot welstand te herstel – al het hulle niks gedoen om sulke behandeling te verdien nie? Hoekom sou hulle dit verdien? Verdien ‘n kind, bloot deur ‘n mensekind te wees, die liefde van sy ouers – nie omdat die kind iets verdien het nie, maar as gevolg van wie die kind vir die ouers is? Het ons waarde en waarde vir God, nie as gevolg van ons prestasies of enige werk wat ons gedoen het nie, maar as gevolg van wie God ons geskep het om te wees, as gevolg van wat God vir ons ontwerp het en in ons belê het?

Toe die Bybel beskryf dat Jesus in wysheid en gestalte en guns (wat die Griekse woord vir genade is) by God en mense gegroei het (Lukas 2:52), het Jesus nie sy Vader se genade of guns verdien nie?

Was die genade wat Jesus van sy Vader ontvang het, as ons menslike plaasvervanger, vryelik deur sy Vader gegee of moes Jesus dit verdien? Nee, die Vader het sy genade aan Jesus gegee op dieselfde manier as wat Hy sy genade aan ons gee! Jesus het nie genade van sy Vader “verdien” deur een of ander stelsel van indiensneming of soektog vervulling nie. Jesus, as ‘n mens, het die vrye genade van sy Vader ontvang en is deur die Vader se genade bemagtig om hul gesamentlike doel te bereik om die mensdom van sonde te red.

 

DIE HEMEL SE BEMAGTIGING

So, wat is God se genade?

Die Griekse woord wat as genade vertaal word, is χάρις [charis /khar·ece/], en die Strong-leksikon sê dit is “welwillendheid, liefderyke goedhartigheid, guns … die barmhartige goedhartigheid waardeur God, wat sy heilige invloed op siele uitoefen, hulle tot Christus wend, bewaar, versterk, vermeerder in Christelike geloof, kennis, toegeneentheid, en hulle aanspoor tot die uitoefening van die Christelike deugde” (Strong, J. 1995. In Enhanced Strong se leksikon. Woodside Bybelgenootskap).

Dit is presies wat Paulus in Romeine 2:4 geskryf het: “God se goedhartigheid lei julle tot bekering” (NIV 84).

En die goedhartigheid van God word vryelik gegee as gevolg van wie God is. Ons sien God se genade in elke aksie, al sy aktiwiteite, wat die uitvloei van sy karakter van liefde is en wat altyd teen die bose veg, korrupsie teëstaan, teen sonde staan, genees, vernuwe, herskep, reinig en uiteindelik die dood vernietig en lewe en onsterflikheid aan die lig bring (2 Timoteus 1:10). God se genade is die verspreiding van sy energie, liefde, lewe en krag en word gesien in elkeen van sy dade, maar dit word ten volle gesien in reaksie op rebellie en sonde. Soos Paulus geskryf het, “Waar sonde oorvloedig was, was genade baie meer” (Romeine 5:20).

God was net so genadig voor sonde en sy genade was teenwoordig en aktief voor sonde, maar na sonde was sy genade aktief en geopenbaar op maniere wat nog nooit tevore in die heelal gesien is nie omdat dit nooit tevore nodig was nie – insluitend die genadige neerbuigendheid van Jesus om ons Verlosser te wees. Voor sonde was God net so genadig, maar sy genade was nie nodig om te funksioneer om sonde te oorwin totdat sonde plaasgevind het nie.

Ons sien God se genade in die roeping na Adam in die koelte van die dag voordat Adam gesondig het, maar sy genade word kragtiger geopenbaar toe God saggies geroep het, “Adam, waar is jy?” toe Adam in die bosse weggekruip het nadat hy gesondig het.

Ons sien God se genade in sy geduldige verdraagsaamheid teenoor verlore sondaars voor die Vloed, terwyl Hy wag om op te tree toe daar geen ander opsie was nie, toe net een regverdige man op die aarde oorgebly het; dus sien ons God se genade om die Vloed te bring as ‘n terapeutiese ingryping om die weg vir die Messias oop te hou om die menslike spesie van sonde en ewige dood te red.

Maar ons sien God se genade volkome geopenbaar deur Jesus te stuur om mens te word, gebroke en beskadig deur Adam se sonde, en te oorwin waar ons nooit kon nie.

“En die Woord het vlees geword en onder ons kom woon, en ons het sy heerlikheid aanskou, ‘n heerlikheid soos dié van die unieke Seun van die Vader – vol genade en waarheid (Johannes 1:14 AFR20).

 

“Uit die volheid van sy genade het ons almal die een seën na die ander ontvang. Want die wet is deur Moses gegee; genade en waarheid het deur Jesus Christus gekom” (Johannes 1:16, 17 NIV 84).

 

“Maar aan elkeen van ons is ‘n genadegawe geskenk, soos Christus dit uitgedeel het ” (Ef 4:7 AFR20).

 

“Want dit is uit genade dat julle gered is, deur geloof – en dit nie uit julleself nie, dit is die gawe van Godnie deur werke nie, sodat niemand kan roem nie. Want ons is God se werk, geskape in Christus Jesus om goeie werke te doen, wat God vooraf vir ons voorberei het om te doen” (Ef 2:8-10 NIV 84).

Die genade van God is inderdaad ‘n gawe – soos water vir ‘n persoon wat van dors sterf ‘n gawe is; die gawes is genadig, maar die genade is meer as die daad; dit is die wese van God se karakter – sy liefde, waarheid, metodes, krag, heerlikheid en geregtigheid – ten volle gemanifesteer in Jesus. Wanneer ons God se genade ontvang, ontvang ons die teenwoordigheid en krag van God deur Sy inwonende Gees, ons ontvang die gawe van Jesus en ons kan soos Paulus sê, “Dit is nie meer ek wat lewe nie, maar Christus woon in my” (Galasiërs 2:20). Wanneer ons God se genade ontvang, ontvang ons ‘n nuwe hart en regte gees; ons het sy wet op ons harte en gedagtes geskryf (Hebreërs 8:10).

Om die genade van God te ontvang, beteken dat wanneer ons Hom vertrou, wanneer ons ons geloof in Hom plaas, ons God ontvang, via sy Gees, in ons harte, en Jesus leef in ons – dit is die lewende genade van God wat ons genees en transformeer. Ek nooi jou uit, as jy dit nog nie gedoen het nie, om vandag sy genade in jou hart en verstand te vra en te ontvang.

 

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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 2

I continue to enjoy your lessons every week. The more that I research your conclusions, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has lead you to distill out the essence of human redemption. Thank you for your courageous stand for the truth.

S. G., TX, USA

 

Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

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 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

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 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, 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

 

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

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 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

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 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.