Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- jn_en_2019_01_08 [2019/01/09 08:27] – potthast
+++ jn_en_2019_01_08 [2019/01/09 08:30] (current) – old revision restored (2019/01/08 08:25) potthast
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 <columns 100% l 33% 33% l 33%>
-{{2019:2019_01_09_t1.jpg}}<newcolumn>
+{{2019:2019_01_08_t1.jpg}}<newcolumn>
-{{2019:2019_01_09_t2.jpg}}<newcolumn>
+{{2019:2019_01_08_t2.jpg}}<newcolumn>
-{{2019:2019_01_09_t3.jpg}}
+{{2019:2019_01_08_t3.jpg}}
 </columns>
-[[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/jn_de_2019_01_09|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_ix|| Theme Collection ix ]]
+[[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/jn_de_2019_01_08|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_ix|| Theme Collection ix ]]
 <WRAP center 90%>
-====== Pillar of the Truth ... ======
+====== How many Gods are there? II ... ======
-Wednesday, Jan 9, 2019. We have quite some discussion today about truth in our political
+Tuesday, Jan 8, 2019. How many Gods are there? We have started to discuss this question yesterday,
-world. What is the truth about reality? What is the truth about conflicts and wars?
+pointing to different people believing in no God at all, one unique God, or many Gods and powers and spirits
-What is the truth about particular opinions? It is heavily debated - up to a suppression
+on the planet. But what did Jesus teach? What is the genuine Christian viewpoint? We also should
-of the truth in states without free press. But even in states where you have free
+discuss the question why we come to the conclusion and believe we have.
-expression of opinion, today the debate about what is has become quite difficult.
-{{2019:2019_01_09.jpg }}
+{{2019:2019_01_08.jpg }}
-**  ... **
+** Teaching of Jesus ... **
-The situation is not new. It has been like this since the beginning of mankind. When
+Jesus clearly was part of the Jewish believe, that there is one God, the creator, the beginning
-we look into the situation of the New Testament, we also find the discussion about
+and the end, center, ultimate goal and maintainer of all what is. Jesus believed in a personal
-the truth present in letters and gospels. And indeed, it is truth which is in the
+God. He talked to God in prayer. He trusted God. He loved God.
-core of Christian believe, the whole discussion is quite important! Paul writes in
-his letter to Timothy:
-<color #aa0000>
+There is more to say about Jesus and God. The Old Testament starts with God and his creation, but then
-I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed in the world, taken up in glory.
+talks about God walking and living with people of faith. Prominent examples are Abraham, Isaac and
-</color>(1 Tim 3, 14ff)
+Jacob, but also Noah, Moses, David, Solomon and the prophets Jeremia, Isaiah and Ezechiel. It is a
+fascinating and very meaningful history, recorded in the books of the Old Testament.
-There are several points which excite me when I read it, which talk to me right away.
+Then Jesus is born as the special child which is announced in so many books of the Old Testament. God
-First, Paul writes about how one ought to behave in the household of God. Who is the
+is coming to visit his people. God becomes human. And indeed, Jesus talked about God as his father.
-household of God? It is you and me, who believe in Jesus. It is the groups of people,
+He talks about God being in him, and he being in God. We hear about a far reaching unity of the father
-who believe. The church in its main core is not an institution, but it is the living
+and the son and the holy spirit. The story of the New Testament is not just about a distinct creator,
-body of those who believe in Jesus. Of course, the church is also an institution - we
+but it is about God being a loving father, being the son, who is crucified at the cross for the
-need structure. The New Testament gives us structure for the church, very flexible
+sin of the world. It is about the holy spirit, to build deep and eternal community.
-stucture and principles indeed! But the main point is that we, as believers, are
-the household of God and this should be reflected in our lifestyle.
-{{ 2019:2019_01_09_2.jpg}}
+The New Testament talks about salvation a lot. What is it that needs to be saved? Humans need to be
+saved from being lost. Humans need to be saved from the big alienation - they have lost contact to
+God. The biblical word for this is "sin", another word for a big ditch or trench.
+{{ 2019:2019_01_08_2.jpg}}
-** Mystery of Godliness ...**
+** Getting to know God ...**
-Second, the church is called the pillar of the truth. You are called the pillar of the
+How can you come to any conclusions about God? Is God there, the one God, the creator? Or is there
-truth. You are, in the sense that with your belief and with the whole spirit living
+no God at all, or perhaps many Gods? Who is God, the loving father, the son, the spirit? Perhaps God
-in you, you are part of the body of Christ on earth. You are expected to be like a
+is just the universe itself, the large void behind the appearances, as the eastern philosophies
-pillar of truth - with all what you are, with your life, your thoughts, your emotions,
+teach us?
-your words, your deeds. This is quite far reaching, of course. We all are and remain
-sinners, grown up and influenced by a world gone astray. But we are also renewed
-by the spirit, by faith in Christ. This provides new life, new directions, day by
-day. We are not bound to stay on a wrong track, and we can correct things. We can
-keep correcting, even if we fail again and again! Yes.
-Third, the mystery of godliness. What is it? Paul does not talk about ethics in
+The bible teaches that you can get to know God. This is the teaching of Jesus himself, and of the
-the first place. But he talks about Christ. Yes, godliness is about him, about
+prophets of the Old Testament. You can pray to God. He is a living God, the ultimate love and truth
-Jesus becoming a human child, about his way to the cross. Paul talks about a mystery.
+and companion. He is. The answer which the bible give to any one who seeks to explore the truth
-And it is a mystery: how can God become human? How can the son be the word, and
+is: search and you will find. Jesus promises that everyone who sincerely wants to know, will get
-be with God, and be God, and become flesh, and live among us, and die, and rise,
+to know. He or she just has to ask, just has to search!
-and be in the spirit? Yet, his glory comes in and through all this. He is there,
-today, as he was at pentecost, when the spirit was sent to the disciples. Since
-then, the spirit of Jesus, the risen Jesus, has come to believers, everywhere.
-There is deep truth in the path of Christ. There is deep truth brought by the spirit
+Indeed, if you start to study the biblical books, you find great treasures here. If you start to attend
-into our life. It is not our truth, but it is his truth, it is him, being there.
+some lively Christian church - and there are so many, from roman catholic to protestant, from free
-It is not us. But still, we become part of him, of his humility, of his dedication,
+evangelical to pentacostal and charismatic - you find the holy spirit in the community of believers.
-of his mercy. What a mystery, and how wonderful this is, the deep and lasting
+Go and find your place! Go and find the Lord, the eternal creator.
-glory of Christ Jesus!
+God wants us to invite him into our life. He can stay out - we are given our life time. But he can
+also come in, and we live with him, get to know him and learn from him. It is a highly fascinating
+journey, to live with the living God, father, son and holy spirit.
 (Roland Potthast)
 [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/topics_collection_ix|... further texts]]