Category Archives: Bible

Complementing instead craving for honour

In telling the blessing experienced by the first church, Luke does not fail to mention how the devil attacks the church (Acts 4-7). Luke introduces the story of Hananias and Sapphira with details.

Firstly, he speaks in general terms about the generosity and warmth of the Christians (Acts 4:32-35). He then gives the example of Joseph Barnabas, who sold a piece of land and brought the earnings to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37), before moving to Hananias, who, from the outside, did exactly the same thing (Acts 5:1-11). But with Ananias and Sapphira, word and deed did not match.

Satan tries to destroy unity and tempts Ananias and Sapphira to pretend. They sought a false honour. Their lie was completely unnecessary. No one had expected them to sell their field in order to give away some of the proceeds. But the two lied and pretended that they had donated all the earnings. Through the Holy Spirit, Peter exposed the lie of Hananias as an attack by the devil.

The holiness of God does not tolerate deception. Anyone who lies to God must expect consequences. God sets an example in the early days of the church movement. You can’t deal with him any way you like.

At the same time, God confirmed Himself through signs and wonders. Many sick people were brought in. There was a reverence for God and many came to faith (Acts 5:11, 13-14). Where there is a reverence for God, the goodness of God can also be experienced.

In the presence of God, there is no room for lies and the desire to show off. The kingdom of God is not about shining, but about complementing.

Continue reading Complementing instead craving for honour

Voluntary contributions distributed according to need

The tangible closeness of God characterised the people of the first church. They brought their abundance to the apostles. The gifts were distributed among the needy, as much as each person needed (Acts 4:35).

It was not a communist way of life in which the state was in charge of distributing the possessions of others. Rather, it was a matter of voluntary contributions that were distributed by a committee according to need. This meant that not everyone received the same amount.

The parishioners did not sell everything they had, but only part of their ‘fields and houses’ (plural). They did not give the shirt off their backs until they themselves were in need. They only gave away what they didn’t need to live on.

By law, family property could not be sold, but could only be enfeoffed until the Halljahr. But their attitude to property changed. It was not about amassing as much money and property as possible. Rather, they saw themselves as stewards of their possessions (Acts 4:32). Because everything was and is a gift from God.

There was no pressure from within among the first followers of Jesus. The members of the church voluntarily helped each other to withstand the pressure from outside, to grow spiritually and to be filled with God’s presence.

It is also noteworthy that they met in a public place (Solomon’s Hall) and did not build or rent a community building. Such public places no longer exist today. Continue reading Voluntary contributions distributed according to need

He who has no arguments threatens

Using Psalm 118 in Acts 4:11, Peter reminds the Sanhedrin that it is already written in the Scriptures that Jesus will be the cornerstone. Though much had to happen, now was the time for repentance and reorientation.

The fact that the leaders were unable to answer (Acts 4:14) calls into question their authority. In their weakness, all they have left is the threat (Acts 4:18).

Peter shows that freedom of faith has a high value. In matters of faith, God is to be obeyed more than men.

The history of the Jesus movement is marked by headwinds and people who, through divine power, rise above themselves and have profound experiences of God.

Not being silenced is an important part of the Jesus movement. They could have met in a protected environment and not been exposed to opposition. Continue reading He who has no arguments threatens

God’s acts can lead to opposition

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

Trinity Sunday

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).

The great theme of Jesus is the kingdom of God.

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.

Jesus’ surprising statement about the way

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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Divine power in the name of Jesus

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

Life is more than eating and drinking and beautiful rituals

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.

The impacts of the Holy Spirit

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.