All posts by Hanspeter

Bible

God’s acts can lead to opposition

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During the court case of the apostles Peter and John, the question of who gave them the authority was still relevant (Acts 4:7). Peter points to the resurrected Jesus (Acts 7:10).

It is interesting to note that many in Jerusalem did not want to be associated with Jesus, even though the signs were known to all (Acts 4:16). Miracles do not necessarily lead to faith; they can also provoke opposition.

For the Sadducees, who had a liberal theology and did not believe in an afterlife, the Jesus movement was particularly upsetting. The believers in Jesus disrupted their lives, which they had arranged with the Romans through the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was largely made up of Sadducees who were related to each other.  Continue reading God’s acts can lead to opposition →

Bible, Jesus

Trinity Sunday

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The Trinity is the logical consequence of divine revelation in the Bible.

God reveals himself in three personalities. He is Father because a Son was born.

The Son carries the DNA of the Father and is not an inferior being because of his sonship, but voluntarily subordinates himself to the Father because of his sonship.

God is present because he is spirit and can be and act everywhere at the same time. God is not human and is therefore beyond our imagination.

No one does anything that the other would not do.

We cannot grasp this unity with our minds. When the Holy Spirit comes, Jesus promises: “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” (John 14:20). “And we will come to him and make our home with him” (Johnn 14:23). This unity is ultimately a divine mystery. For God cannot be grasped by our thinking. Otherwise we would be divine. Because we cannot grasp it does not mean that it is not so.

Anyone who wants to explain God with human logic cannot believe that God is one and not one (achad and not jachid). Jesus already had the problem that people did not understand. He encourages them to believe (John 14:11).

Bible

The great theme of Jesus is the kingdom of God.

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The kingdom of God does not begin by creating a perfect world, but by bringing salvation into this world.

The kingdom of God is not about presenting something, but about admitting that we all need change.

In this kingdom, it is not the sword that rules, but the word. People are invited in a promotional way, but not forced to do anything. Continue reading The great theme of Jesus is the kingdom of God. →

Uncategorized

Israel october war 2023

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new reports on

Israel Gaza 2024

 

27.5.24

Monday morning, there was an unexpected exchange of fire between IDF forces and Egyptian army soldiers near the Rafah crossing. Reports on four Egyptian soldiers that were killed. According to the IDF the Egyptians opened fire first. No casualties reported on the Israeli side.

The area from which rockets were launched in Rafah towards Tel Aviv.
The Israeli army deliberately stayed out of this area because of the displaced and did not enter it, for humanitarian reasons. Hamas fired rockets from it.

Contrary to the claims of the Arabs – the killing of senior Hamas officials was carried out in the Rafah area, and not in the safe zone defined by the IDF. The place of execution of senior Hamas officials in Rafah is near UNRWA warehouses in the west of the city more than a kilometer away from the safe zone. And this is in contrast to the Arabs’ claims that the IDF bombing was in the safe zone

In the displaced tent in Rafah, several long-range missiles were found that exploded on them.

 

Continue reading Israel october war 2023 →

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Jesus surprises us with eternal life

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Jesus says: ‘Eternal life has already begun. Whoever comes to living faith has eternal life (John 6:47).

The surprising thing is that eternal life begins when we connect with Jesus.

We are not followers of Jesus in order to be with God one day. Rather, God wants to be with us and share life with us now. We are building a relationship with God now that will last for all eternity.

So our present life is not there to obtain eternal life with God. It is about divine life being revealed and experienced in the here and now.

Bible

Jesus’ surprising statement about the way

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Jesus says in John 14:6: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.

This is the answer to Thomas’ question as to how we can come to the same place that Jesus is going preparing a living place for us by the heavenly Father.

That’s a strong statement from Jesus in an interpretation-orientated culture. Judaism is characterised precisely by the fact that every rabbi finds his own explanations and thus defines his own path.

Jesus says: I am the correct interpretation. Truth is defined by God. And true life is created in connection with him.

But most people fight tooth and nail against the idea that they need divine help.

sculpture Peter Kuhn, Wermatswil

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Bible

Divine power in the name of Jesus

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The healing of the severely disabled man at the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem (Acts 3:1-26) is a public sign that the “divine work through Jesus” did not end with his death on the cross but continues in believers. The same power in which Jesus travelled is at work in the name of Jesus.

When Peter takes the hand of the man paralysed from birth, he suddenly Continue reading Divine power in the name of Jesus →

Bible

Life is more than eating and drinking and beautiful rituals

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Perhaps the slogan “it’s all over when you die” is an obstacle to think about God today.

If we refocus our attention on the fact that our destiny is not just a fleeting shadow, but is orientated towards eternal communion with God, our priorities will change.

With a view to eternity, it makes sense to prioritise and give up some things or selflessly commit ourselves to others.

Those who live without the knowledge of a future remain stuck in the meaninglessness of life and have little strength to get through difficult situations and be hopeful.

Bible

The impacts of the Holy Spirit

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In addition to a genuine interest in God, the Holy Spirit brings knowledge about God and our wrongdoings. We realise that we cannot save ourselves and grasp the hand of God that he extends to us in Jesus.

When we hold on to Jesus, the Holy Spirit causes us to love the heavenly Father, Jesus and the Bible, the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit causes us to accept God as a trustworthy Father. An inner knowledge arises in us that we are children of God. The Holy Spirit also works divine peace in us.

The Holy Spirit also creates the fruits of the Holy Spirit in us and gives us the gifts we need for our tasks. Our lives change slowly. Why slowly? No fruit suddenly pops up. It grows and matures over time.

Bible

The Holy Spirit give a genuine interest in God

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The Holy Spirit speaks to all people. John 16:8 says: “ And when he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

God speaks to all people. The decisive factor is how we react to this. Do we want to open ourselves up to him or do we barricade ourselves in and want to keep him away from us?

The Holy Spirit causes us to have a genuine interest in God. So the question is: do I want to know more of God or am I just questioning him?