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Jesus answered,
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Where was it Written ?
Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Many understand the term repentance to mean “a turning from sin.” Regretting sin and turning from it are related to repentance, but are not the precise meaning of the word. In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s mind.” The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions (Luke 3:8–14; Acts 3:19). In summarizing his ministry, Paul declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20). The short biblical definition of repentance is “a change of mind that results in a change of action.”
What, then, is the connection between repentance and salvation? The book of Acts especially focuses on repentance in regard to salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20). To repent, concerning salvation, is to change your mind regarding sin and Jesus Christ. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), he concludes with a call for the people to repent (Acts 2:38). Repent from what? Peter calls the people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about that sin and to change their minds about Christ Himself, recognizing that He is indeed “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Peter calls the people to change their minds, to abhor their past rejection of Christ, and to embrace faith in Him as their Messiah and Savior.
Repentance involves recognizing that you have thought wrongly in the past and determining to think rightly in the future. The repentant person has “second thoughts” about the mindset he formerly embraced. There is a change of disposition and a new way of thinking about God, about sin, about holiness, and about doing God’s will. True repentance is prompted by “godly sorrow,” and it “leads to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Repentance and faith can be understood as two sides of the same coin. It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind about your sin and about who Jesus is and what He has done. Whether it is repentance from willful rejection or repentance from ignorance or disinterest, it is a change of mind. Biblical repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ.
Repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. No one can repent and come to God unless God pulls that person to Himself (John 6:44). Repentance is something God gives—it is only possible because of His grace (Acts 5:31; 11:18). No one can repent unless God grants repentance. All of salvation, including repentance and faith, is a result of God drawing us, opening our eyes, and changing our hearts. God’s longsuffering leads us to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), as does His kindness (Romans 2:4).
While repentance is not a work that earns salvation, repentance unto salvation does result in works. It is impossible to truly change your mind without changing your actions in some way. In the Bible, repentance results in a change in behavior. That is why John the Baptist called people to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). A person who has truly repented of sin and exercised faith in Christ will give evidence of a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19–23; James 2:14–26).
To see what repentance looks like in real life, turn to the story of Zacchaeus. Here was a man who cheated and stole and lived lavishly on his ill-gotten gains—until he met Jesus. At that point he had a radical change of mind: “Look, Lord!” said Zacchaeus. “Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (Luke 19:8). Jesus happily proclaimed that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’s house, and that even the tax collector was now “a son of Abraham” (verse 9)—a reference to Zacchaeus’s faith. The cheat became a philanthropist; the thief made restitution. That’s repentance, coupled with faith in Christ.
Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation. Biblical repentance is changing your mind about your sin—no longer is sin something to toy with; it is something to be forsaken as you “flee from the coming wrath” (Matthew 3:7). It is also changing your mind about Jesus Christ—no longer is He to be mocked, discounted, or ignored; He is the Savior to be clung to; He is the Lord to be worshiped and adored.
Baie mense verstaan die term bekering as “‘n wegdraai van sonde”. Berou oor sonde en wegdraai daarvan hou verband met bekering, maar is nie die presiese betekenis van die woord nie. In die Bybel beteken die woord bekeer “om van gedagte te verander”. Die Bybel sê ook vir ons dat ware bekering sal lei tot ‘n verandering van optrede (Lukas 3:8–14; Handelinge 3:19). In ‘n opsomming van sy bediening verklaar Paulus: “Ek het gepreek dat hulle hulle tot God moet bekeer en hulle tot God moet bekeer en hulle bekering deur hulle dade moet demonstreer” (Handelinge 26:20). Die kort Bybelse definisie van bekering is “‘n verandering van gedagte wat lei tot ‘n verandering van optrede.”
Wat is dan die verband tussen bekering en verlossing? Die boek Handelinge fokus veral op bekering met betrekking tot verlossing (Handelinge 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20). Om jou te bekeer, rakende verlossing, is om jou gedagtes oor sonde en Jesus Christus te verander. In Petrus se preek op Pinksterdag (Handelinge hoofstuk 2), sluit hy af met ‘n oproep aan die mense om hulle te bekeer (Handelinge 2:38). Waarvan bekeer hulle hulle? Petrus roep die mense wat Jesus verwerp het (Handelinge 2:36) op om hulle gedagtes oor daardie sonde te verander en hulle gedagtes oor Christus self te verander, en te erken dat Hy inderdaad “Here en Christus” is (Handelinge 2:36). Petrus roep die mense op om hulle gedagtes te verander, om hulle vorige verwerping van Christus te verafsku, en om geloof in Hom as hulle Messias en Verlosser te omhels.
Bekering behels die erkenning dat jy in die verlede verkeerd gedink het en die besluit om in die toekoms reg te dink. Die berouvolle persoon het “tweede gedagtes” oor die denkwyse wat hy voorheen aangeneem het. Daar is ‘n verandering van gesindheid en ‘n nuwe manier van dink oor God, oor sonde, oor heiligheid en oor die doen van God se wil. Ware bekering word aangespoor deur “goddelike berou”, en dit “lei tot redding” (2 Korintiërs 7:10).
Bekering en geloof kan verstaan word as twee kante van dieselfde muntstuk. Dit is onmoontlik om jou geloof in Jesus Christus as die Verlosser te plaas sonder om eers jou denke oor jou sonde en oor wie Jesus is en wat Hy gedoen het, te verander. Of dit nou bekering van opsetlike verwerping of bekering van onkunde of ongeïnteresseerdheid is, dit is ‘n verandering van denke. Bybelse bekering, in verhouding tot verlossing, is om jou denke te verander van verwerping van Christus na geloof in Christus.
Bekering is nie ‘n werk wat ons doen om verlossing te verdien nie. Niemand kan berou hê en na God kom tensy God daardie persoon na Homself trek nie (Johannes 6:44). Bekering is iets wat God gee – dit is slegs moontlik as gevolg van Sy genade (Handelinge 5:31; 11:18). Niemand kan berou hê tensy God berou skenk nie. Alle verlossing, insluitend bekering en geloof, is ‘n gevolg van God wat ons trek, ons oë oopmaak en ons harte verander. God se lankmoedigheid lei ons tot bekering (2 Petrus 3:9), net soos Sy goedhartigheid (Romeine 2:4).
Terwyl bekering nie ‘n werk is wat verlossing verdien nie, lei bekering tot verlossing wel tot werke. Dit is onmoontlik om werklik jou denke te verander sonder om jou optrede op een of ander manier te verander. In die Bybel lei bekering tot ‘n verandering in gedrag. Daarom het Johannes die Doper mense opgeroep om “vrugte te dra wat by bekering pas” (Matteus 3:8). ‘n Persoon wat werklik van sonde berou het en geloof in Christus beoefen het, sal bewys lewer van ‘n veranderde lewe (2 Korintiërs 5:17; Galasiërs 5:19–23; Jakobus 2:14–26).
Om te sien hoe bekering in die werklike lewe lyk, blaai na die verhaal van Saggeüs. Hier was ‘n man wat bedrieg en gesteel het en weelderig op sy onregverdige winste geleef het – totdat hy Jesus ontmoet het. Op daardie stadium het hy ‘n radikale verandering van denke ondergaan: “Kyk, Here!” het Saggeüs gesê. “Hier en nou gee ek die helfte van my besittings aan die armes, en as ek iemand iets afgepers het, sal ek dit vierdubbel teruggee” (Lukas 19:8). Jesus het met blydskap verkondig dat verlossing na Saggeüs se huis gekom het, en dat selfs die tollenaar nou “’n seun van Abraham” was (vers 9) – ’n verwysing na Saggeüs se geloof. Die bedrieër het ’n filantroop geword; die dief het vergoeding gegee. Dit is bekering, tesame met geloof in Christus.
Bekering, behoorlik gedefinieer, is nodig vir verlossing. Bybelse bekering is om jou denke oor jou sonde te verander – sonde is nie meer iets om mee te speel nie; dit is iets om te laat vaar terwyl jy “vlug vir die komende toorn” (Matteus 3:7). Dit is ook om jou denke oor Jesus Christus te verander – Hy moet nie meer bespot, afslag of geïgnoreer word nie; Hy is die Verlosser waaraan jy moet vashou; Hy is die Here wat aanbid en vereer moet word.
Bible Verse and Prayer for Today;
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 9:13
Prayer
Lord . Your Main Reason for Coming to Earth was to change Sinners to Repentance . Lord the Next Time you are Coming is to Take care of Sin Finally . Lord Please Help us to get the Flesh dead in Sin before you return again . We Pray in Jesus name . Amen and Amen
Bybel Vers en Gebed vir Vandag
Maar gaan leer wat dit beteken: Ek wil barmhartigheid hê en nie offerande nie, want Ek het nie gekom om regverdiges te roep nie, maar sondaars tot bekering.
Matteus 9:13
Gebed
Here. U hoofrede vir u koms aarde toe was om sondaars tot bekering te verander. Here, die volgende keer wat u kom, is om uiteindelik van sonde ontslae te raak. Here, help ons asseblief om die vlees in sonde dood te maak voordat u weer terugkeer. Ons bid in Jesus se naam. Amen en Amen.
Bible Teaching of the Day
Don’t waste your life
Although the precise command “Do not waste your life” is found nowhere in the Bible, the concept of not wasting our lives is found from cover to cover.
It’s important to understand how God defines a successful life. Our concept of not wasting our lives may differ from God’s idea of a life well lived. The rich man in Jesus’ parable did not think he was wasting his life by storing up things for himself, but at the end of his life, God called him a fool (Luke 12:16–21).
A clear directive from God about a life well lived is found in Deuteronomy 6:5. Here Moses declares what God wants from His people: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In Micah 6:8, we find these words: “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” When asked which is the most important commandment, our Savior says this in Mark 12:29–31: “The most important one . . . is this: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Thus, if we would not waste our lives, then our driving desire will be to love God with every aspect of our being. Emanating from this love for God is an unselfish love for others as well. We have a responsibility to “fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) and to honor and glory God in all we do (1 Corinthians 6:20; 10:31). A life of disobedience and selfishness is a wasted life.
Jesus asked this sobering question: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (Luke 9:25). Someone may experience great success in this world and have fame, riches, influence, achievements, and awards to spare. But that success, if not pursued for the glory of God and motivated by love for God and others, will be part of a wasted life.
A faithful person who quietly works a menial job out of love for God may be, in God’s eyes, more successful than a well-known and more talented person. If we don’t want to waste our lives, then we will pursue God’s will and complete our tasks out of deep love and thankfulness to God and a desire to bless and love others.
Charles Dickens, in his classic novella A Christmas Carol, pictures Joseph Marley as a man who had tragically wasted his life. Marley appears early in the story as a ghost bound by a ponderous steel chain and doomed to walk in misery forever. The ghost rues his fate but knows it is too late to change it: “No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused!” he cries. When reminded of his past skill in business and finance, Marley wrings his hands and says, “Business! . . . Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” (from Stave One). Marley’s warning to Ebenezer Scrooge is part of what causes Scrooge to reevaluate his priorities and stop wasting his life on selfish pursuits and the vain amassing of wealth.
In order to not waste our lives, we must know and follow Christ. We must come to Christ in faith, believing in the work that He accomplished on our behalf in His death and resurrection. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), and a life that does not please God is wasted. We must come to grips with the counter-intuitive truth that “whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33). A life given wholly to Christ is never wasted. As we live for the glory of God and strive to love Him and others, we know that one day we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).
Bybel Lering vir die Dag
Moenie jou lewe vermors nie
Alhoewel die presiese opdrag “Moenie jou lewe vermors nie” nêrens in die Bybel gevind word nie, word die konsep om nie ons lewens te mors nie, van voor tot agter gevind.
Dit is belangrik om te verstaan hoe God ‘n suksesvolle lewe definieer. Ons konsep om nie ons lewens te mors nie, kan verskil van God se idee van ‘n lewe wat goed geleef word. Die ryk man in Jesus se gelykenis het nie gedink hy mors sy lewe deur dinge vir homself op te gaar nie, maar aan die einde van sy lewe het God hom ‘n dwaas genoem (Lukas 12:16–21).
‘n Duidelike opdrag van God oor ‘n lewe wat goed geleef word, word in Deuteronomium 6:5 gevind. Hier verklaar Moses wat God van Sy mense wil hê: “Jy moet die Here jou God liefhê met jou hele hart en met jou hele siel en met al jou krag.” In Miga 6:8 vind ons hierdie woorde: “Hy het jou, o mens, getoon wat goed is. En wat vra die Here van jou? Om reg te doen en liefde te liefhê en nederig te wandel met jou God.” Toe Hy gevra is wat die belangrikste gebod is, sê ons Verlosser dit in Markus 12:29–31: “Die belangrikste een … is dit: ‘Hoor, Israel, die Here onse God is een. Jy moet die Here jou God liefhê met jou hele hart en met jou hele siel en met jou hele verstand en met al jou krag.’ Die tweede is dit: ‘Jy moet jou naaste liefhê soos jouself.’ Daar is geen gebod groter as hierdie nie.”
Dus, as ons nie ons lewens wil verkwis nie, dan sal ons dryfverige begeerte wees om God lief te hê met elke aspek van ons wese. Uit hierdie liefde vir God spruit ook ‘n onselfsugtige liefde vir ander. Ons het ‘n verantwoordelikheid om “God te vrees en sy gebooie te onderhou” (Prediker 12:13) en om God te eer en te verheerlik in alles wat ons doen (1 Korintiërs 6:20; 10:31). ‘n Lewe van ongehoorsaamheid en selfsug is ‘n verkwiste lewe.
Jesus het hierdie ontnugterende vraag gevra: “Wat baat dit vir iemand om die hele wêreld as wins te verkry en homself te verloor of te verloën?” (Lukas 9:25). Iemand mag groot sukses in hierdie wêreld ervaar en roem, rykdom, invloed, prestasies en toekennings oorhê. Maar daardie sukses, indien nie nagestreef vir die eer van God en gemotiveer deur liefde vir God en ander nie, sal deel wees van ‘n vermorste lewe.
’n Getroue persoon wat stilweg ‘n nederige werk uit liefde vir God doen, mag in God se oë meer suksesvol wees as ‘n bekende en meer talentvolle persoon. As ons nie ons lewens wil vermors nie, dan sal ons God se wil nastreef en ons take voltooi uit diepe liefde en dankbaarheid teenoor God en ‘n begeerte om ander te seën en lief te hê.
Charles Dickens, in sy klassieke novelle A Christmas Carol, beeld Joseph Marley uit as ‘n man wat sy lewe tragies vermors het. Marley verskyn vroeg in die storie as ‘n spook wat deur ‘n swaar staalketting gebind is en gedoem is om vir ewig in ellende te wandel. Die spook betreur sy lot, maar weet dit is te laat om dit te verander: “Geen tyd van spyt kan vergoed vir een lewensgeleentheid wat misbruik is nie!” roep hy uit. Wanneer hy herinner word aan sy vorige vaardigheid in besigheid en finansies, wring Marley sy hande en sê: “Besigheid! . . . Die mensdom was my besigheid. Die algemene welsyn was my besigheid; liefdadigheid, genade, verdraagsaamheid en welwillendheid was alles my besigheid. Die handelinge van my handel was maar ‘n druppel water in die omvattende oseaan van my besigheid!” (uit Stave One). Marley se waarskuwing aan Ebenezer Scrooge is deel van wat veroorsaak dat Scrooge sy prioriteite heroorweeg en ophou om sy lewe te mors op selfsugtige strewes en die ydele versameling van rykdom.
Om nie ons lewens te mors nie, moet ons Christus ken en volg. Ons moet in geloof na Christus kom, glo in die werk wat Hy namens ons in Sy dood en opstanding volbring het. Sonder geloof is dit onmoontlik om God te behaag (Hebreërs 11:6), en ‘n lewe wat God nie behaag nie, is vermors. Ons moet die teenintuïtiewe waarheid aanvaar dat “elkeen wat sy lewe probeer behou, dit sal verloor, en elkeen wat sy lewe verloor, sal dit behou” (Lukas 17:33). ’n Lewe wat geheel en al aan Christus gegee is, is nooit vermors nie. Terwyl ons vir die eer van God leef en daarna streef om Hom en ander lief te hê, weet ons dat ons Hom eendag sal hoor sê: “Mooi so, goeie en getroue dienaar!” (Matteus 25:21).
Today’s Devotional
Against such things there is no law
Paul taught the believers in Galatia about their freedom in Christ, warning against the tendency to turn back to “a yoke of slavery” or legalism. Many Jewish believers were still trying to be right with God by keeping the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:1–15). Paul also cautioned them to avoid the other extreme of license or doing whatever their sinful nature desired (Galatians 5:16–21). He explained that freedom in Christ involves submitting to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in everything. If we pursue a lifestyle “in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25), the Holy Spirit produces fruit in us of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23).
When these qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control develop and express themselves in the believer’s life, there is no need for legalistic obedience to the law. Against such there is no law means that the fruit of the Spirit corresponds perfectly with God’s law. The law was meant to limit, restrain, deter, or prohibit certain behaviors and wrongheadedness; however, no prohibition is needed against the virtues that the Spirit produces. There is no law against loving others or experiencing and spreading joy. None of God’s commandments forbid cultivating peace or being patient, kind, good, faithful, or gentle. Those who practice self-control will naturally be in conformity to the law.
The Law of Moses can bring no charges against those who demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (see Romans 8:1–4). Those who walk in the Spirit are free; the fruit of the Spirit is beyond the scope of the law. Paul wrote elsewhere, “For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:9–11, NLT).
Obedience to the law does not produce “the fruit of righteousness” (see Philippians 1:8, 11; cf. Galatians 3:2). We can’t white-knuckle our way into God’s good graces by toiling and straining to do good works. Only as the Holy Spirit works through our faith are these fruits produced in our lives (2 Corinthians 3:18). The fruit of the Spirit reflects the character of Christ as we are transformed into His image (John 15:8; Romans 8:5–14; Ephesians 5:8–11; Colossians 1:10). The works of the flesh, as well as trying to obey the law through human effort, will eventually lead to death (Hebrews 9:14). But the fruit of the Spirit grows from abiding in Christ and walking in the Spirit (Luke 8:15; John 15:4–5). It matures into eternal life (Romans 8:5–6, 13–14; Galatians 6:7–9).
The fruit of the Spirit is meant to be consumed by others so that it can bear fruit in their lives, too (John 15:2). Warren Wiersbe writes, “People around us are starving for love, joy, peace, and all the other graces of the Spirit. When they find them in our lives, they know that we have something they lack. We do not bear fruit for our own consumption; we bear fruit that others might be fed and helped, and that Christ might be glorified” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1, Victor Books, 1996, p. 720).
Legalistic rule-following brings no glory to God. Neither does giving in to the sinful desires of the flesh. But yielding to the Spirit’s guidance in every area of our lives brings glory and praise to God (Philippians 1:11). This is the path to freedom in Christ, and against such, there is no law, indeed.
Vandag se Bemoediging
Teen sulke dinge is daar geen wet nie.
Paulus het die gelowiges in Galasië geleer oor hulle vryheid in Christus en gewaarsku teen die neiging om terug te keer na “’n juk van slawerny” of legalisme. Baie Joodse gelowiges het steeds probeer om reg te wees met God deur die Wet van Moses te onderhou (Galasiërs 5:1–15). Paulus het hulle ook gewaarsku om die ander uiterste van losbandigheid te vermy, of om te doen wat hulle sondige natuur ook al begeer (Galasiërs 5:16–21). Hy het verduidelik dat vryheid in Christus behels om in alles aan die Heilige Gees se leiding te onderwerp. As ons ’n lewenstyl “in pas met die Gees” nastreef (Galasiërs 5:25), produseer die Heilige Gees vrugte in ons van “liefde, blydskap, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing. Teen sulke dinge is daar geen wet nie” (Galasiërs 5:22–23).
Wanneer hierdie eienskappe van liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing ontwikkel en hulself in die gelowige se lewe uitdruk, is daar geen behoefte aan wettiese gehoorsaamheid aan die wet nie. Teen sulkes is daar geen wet nie, wat beteken dat die vrug van die Gees perfek ooreenstem met God se wet. Die wet was bedoel om sekere gedrag en verkeerde denke te beperk, te beperk, af te skrik of te verbied; geen verbod is egter nodig teen die deugde wat die Gees voortbring nie. Daar is geen wet teen die liefde van ander of die ervaar en versprei van vreugde nie. Geen van God se gebooie verbied die kweek van vrede of om geduldig, vriendelik, goed, getrou of sagmoedig te wees nie. Diegene wat selfbeheersing beoefen, sal natuurlik in ooreenstemming met die wet wees.
Die Wet van Moses kan geen aanklagte bring teen diegene wat die vrug van die Gees demonstreer nie (sien Romeine 8:1–4). Diegene wat in die Gees wandel, is vry; die vrug van die Gees is buite die bestek van die wet. Paulus het elders geskryf: “Want die wet was nie bedoel vir mense wat reg doen nie, maar vir wettelose en opstandiges, goddeloses en sondiges, wat niks heilig ag nie en wat heilig is, wat hulle vader of moeder doodmaak of ander moorde pleeg. Die wet is vir mense wat onsedelik lewe, of wat homoseksualiteit beoefen, of slawehandelaars, leuenaars, beloftebrekers of enigiets anders doen wat die gesonde leer van die heerlike Goeie Nuus wat aan my toevertrou is deur ons geseënde God, weerspreek” (1 Timoteus 1:9–11).
Gehoorsaamheid aan die wet bring nie “die vrug van geregtigheid” voort nie (sien Filippense 1:8, 11; vgl. Galasiërs 3:2). Ons kan nie ons pad na God se goeie genade met moeite vind deur te swoeg en in te span om goeie werke te doen nie. Slegs wanneer die Heilige Gees deur ons geloof werk, word hierdie vrugte in ons lewens voortgebring (2 Korintiërs 3:18). Die vrug van die Gees weerspieël die karakter van Christus soos ons na Sy beeld verander word (Johannes 15:8; Romeine 8:5–14; Efesiërs 5:8–11; Kolossense 1:10). Die werke van die vlees, sowel as die probeer om die wet deur menslike pogings te gehoorsaam, sal uiteindelik tot die dood lei (Hebreërs 9:14). Maar die vrug van die Gees groei deur in Christus te bly en in die Gees te wandel (Lukas 8:15; Johannes 15:4–5). Dit word volwasse tot die ewige lewe (Romeine 8:5–6, 13–14; Galasiërs 6:7–9).
Die vrug van die Gees is bedoel om deur ander verteer te word sodat dit ook in hul lewens vrug kan dra (Johannes 15:2). Warren Wiersbe skryf: “Mense rondom ons smag na liefde, vreugde, vrede en al die ander genadegawes van die Gees. Wanneer hulle dit in ons lewens vind, weet hulle dat ons iets het wat hulle kortkom. Ons dra nie vrugte vir ons eie gebruik nie; ons dra vrugte sodat ander gevoed en gehelp kan word, en sodat Christus verheerlik kan word” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1, Victor Books, 1996, bl. 720).
Wettiese reëlvolging bring geen eer aan God nie. Ook nie om toe te gee aan die sondige begeertes van die vlees nie. Maar om toe te gee aan die Gees se leiding in elke area van ons lewens bring eer en lof aan God (Filippense 1:11). Dit is die pad na vryheid in Christus, en teen sulke dinge is daar inderdaad geen wet nie.
TruLight Ministries Daily Entertainment
TruLight TV –Nature Documentary – The Serengeti
in today’s Nature Documentary – The Serengeti, East Africa’s eternal paradise, with its endless expanses and wild animals, makes one feel as though evokes a sense of having arrived in an apparently peaceful corner of the world. Nature filmmaker Reinhard Radke spent more than two years in the land of the Massai and captured breathtaking images. The documentary accompanies the animal filmmaker at work on his new cinema film “Serengeti” in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and illustrates the conditions and the difficulties that can arise when making animal films of this scope and the possibilities provided by state-of-the-art film technology. Particularly the unique, super slow motion footage enables zoologists to partake in new fields of research. The point of this Nature Documentary is based on the Bible Verse in Psalm 91;1 – The Heavens Declare the Glory of God; The Skies Proclaim the Work of His Hands. and later Are your dreams big enough? Sometimes our fears and failures can stop us from dreaming and from believing God can do the incredible. This video inspires you to have God-sized dreams again. Enjoy and thanks for watching.
INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL ARTISTS
MEET : Reggie & Ladye Love Smith
Q: How did you two meet?
Reggie:
We met when I was auditioning for the choir at Ole Miss. I noticed Ladye while she was sitting next to my friend in the soprano section. She came up to me after choir period was over and said, “Hi, I’m Ladye Love Long and if there’s anything you need help with transitioning into Ole Miss let us know.” She was Miss University at that time and that was part of her job and might I say she was very good at it. Her energy was infectious to say the least. And of course, I thought she was a beauty!!Q: When did you first perform together?
Ladye:
I guess the first time we performed together would have been when Reggie joined the University of Mississippi choir the following semester and the choir traveled to Europe for a tour and international competition. We were both chosen to be soloists for that competition.
Q: What was your first job in the music industry?
Reggie:
Our first job was as backup singers for Hall of Fame vocalist Larnelle Harris. We moved to Florida where Ladye sang with Voices of Liberty at Disneyworld (Epcot) and I started singing sessions for Disney soundtracks and other projects.
Q: What are some highlights of your career?
Ladye:
We have been honored to be part of some incredible moments. We sang with Larnelle inside the Kremlin in Moscow just a few days after the fall of the Soviet Union. Of course, singing at Carnegie Hall in New York City is always a thrill. When Reggie and I did a tour of 28 countries, that was a wonderful time. We were both thrilled to be able to visit with Billy Graham and sing at the Cove for him. When Reverend Graham died, Reggie was honored to sing at his funeral with the Gaither Vocal Band.
Q: What advice would you give to up and coming artists?
Reggie:
There have been a lot of changes in the music industry since we first started, but I always encourage up-and-coming artists to keep your dream alive, but also try to be realistic. Put 110% into every moment. Treat people with the highest respect even though they might not be returning the favor. Be prepared to work like you’ve never worked before and forfeit many nights of sleep along the way. Building a music career is about the journey and not the destination.
Q: What are the unique challenges being married as touring artists?
Ladye:
We’ve been together pretty much every moment of our professional lives. We generally have the same goals and creative opinions, but sometimes disagree on the process of getting to those goals. Sometimes, we have some intense moments of fellowship (smile)! I don’t think we differ that much from any other married couple. There are challenges to being constantly together, both in work and family life. But it’s all we’ve ever known, and honestly, it’s been an amazing life together.
Q: How has your faith changed/grown since you started your career?
Reggie:
The main goal has never changed—sharing the love of Jesus. We want to be an encouragement to others and give them hope. Like most people, our faith has been strengthened through adversities, pains, and joys throughout the seasons of our lives, but those things have made us want to share our main goal even more.
Q: What are some issues about touring worldwide that most people would be surprised to know?
Ladye:
There are always the usual challenges that come up occasionally with passports and visas. When we were in Norway for a concert, all of our music tracks were tuned to the A440 universal tuning standard, but the piano there was tuned to 432. We quickly improvised, and learned to be flexible and ready for anything on stage. But one thing we have always been struck by is that when we have shared our faith through music in other countries, there is an instant connection with people in whatever country we may be visiting. We are more alike than we are different, and have formed life-long friendships with people around the world.
Today on TruLight Radio XM
TruLight Radio XM 24/7
Program
GMT / UTC +2
00:15 Words to Live By Testimonies
01.15 Science Scripture and Salvation
02.15 Ground Works
04.00 Gospel Concert of the Day
05.00 The Daren Streblow Comedy Show
5:55 It is Today devotional
6:00 Gaither Homecoming Morning Show
7:15 Discover the Word
8.15 Destined for Victory
8:55 Science Scripture and Salvation
9:00 Holy Spirit Hour – Normally Sermons
10:15 Hope of the Heart
11:15 Unshackled
11.45 Words to Live By
12:15 Truth for Life
13:15 Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram
14:15 Focus on the Family
15:00 Kids Hour
16:00 In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley
16:30 Groundwork
17:15 Live in the Light
18:15 Renewing your Mind
19:00 Gaither Homecoming Show
20:15 Growing Hope
21:15 Adventures in Odyssey Radio Drama
21:45 Bible Reading
22:15 Night-sounds
23.00 Good Old Country Gospel / Rhema Gospel Express
VISIT THE WEBSITE
https://TruLightRadioXM.org.za
Bible Prophecy in the News
IF THE ORIGINAL IS LOST (HIDDEN) , CREATE A NEW ONE GOD WILL LOVE ” A LARGER ARK – JEWS
WATCH: Israel Unveils World’s Largest Holy Ark, Forged with $7 Million in Gold and Silver
In a feat of global Jewish artistry and devotion, 350 artists from 12 countries spent over three years crafting the world’s largest Ark of the Covenant—an awe-inspiring, silver-and-gold sanctuary now standing in Rishon LeZion, built to honor the legacy of the Babov Rebbe and guarded by the world’s smallest mezuzah
AI Layoffs Are Spreading Fast – Adapt Or Be Automated
A silent economic earthquake is rumbling beneath our feet – one that may soon reshape the very foundations of how we live, work, and earn. Over the past year, tens of thousands of white-collar professionals – once thought to be secure in a digital economy – have found themselves abruptly unemployed. Is your job next?
A silent economic earthquake is rumbling beneath our feet – one that may soon reshape the very foundations of how we live, work, and earn. Over the past year, tens of thousands of white-collar professionals – once thought to be secure in a digital economy – have found themselves abruptly unemployed.
From software developers to legal analysts, from data scientists to marketing coordinators, workers across the corporate spectrum are being replaced not by outsourcing or recession, but by artificial intelligence.
Just two years ago, Elon Musk and a cadre of technologists sounded the alarm: AI would soon “automate away all the jobs.” At the time, many dismissed the warning as futuristic paranoia. But recent headlines reveal that the age of AI disruption is no longer theoretical — it has arrived.
A “Bloodbath” in White-Collar America
So far in 2025, companies like Microsoft, Walmart, Procter & Gamble, and Citigroup have announced mass layoffs, totaling hundreds of thousands of jobs. The striking element? These aren’t factory workers or low-wage retail employees being replaced – they’re engineers, analysts, administrators, and graduates holding once-coveted white-collar roles.
Patrick Lyons, recently laid off from Microsoft, called it an “emotionless business decision.” Another worker at PwC, who had helped build the very AI tools that later replaced him, summed it up grimly: “I built the thing that destroyed me.”
While traditional economic headwinds like inflation and global instability have played a role, many CEOs are blunt: they’re replacing humans with machines. Klarna, a fintech firm, shrank its headcount by 40% after integrating AI tools. Shopify now evaluates whether a task can be handled by AI before even considering a hire. And Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts up to 50% of all entry-level white-collar jobs could vanish in just a few years.
The Rise of Agentic AI
At the core of this transformation is not just ChatGPT-style chatbots or customer service automations. We’re now entering the era of agentic AI – systems that can independently make decisions, plan, adapt, and execute complex tasks without constant human input.
These smart systems are increasingly running logistics, drafting legal documents, coding websites, creating marketing content, and even writing medical reports. A McKinsey report earlier this year noted that AI could perform 60-70% of tasks in jobs traditionally considered “non-automatable.”
Meanwhile, AI-powered investment funds are growing 60% per year, as markets begin to bet big on this disruptive shift. As one tech entrepreneur put it, “If AI saves just 10% of each employee’s time, companies will eventually ask, why not save 100% and just replace them?”
A Generation Betrayed?
The fallout is being felt most acutely among young professionals. The New York Fed recently reported that job prospects for new graduates have “deteriorated noticeably.” Unemployment among degree-holders under 30 is now approaching 6% – higher than the national average – and rising.
This generation was told that education was the path to prosperity. Yet, many are discovering their skills are either obsolete or easily replaceable. Degrees in business administration, journalism, graphic design, even computer science – once reliable tickets to the middle class — are losing currency in a labor market reshaped by automation.
Many of these young workers feel betrayed. They speak of crushing student debt, evaporating job offers, and career ladders that seem to collapse beneath their feet.
A Looming Macro Crisis?
The implications of this AI wave go far beyond personal hardship. At a macroeconomic level, the risk is profound.
If millions of middle-class workers are laid off, consumer spending – which drives about 70% of U.S. GDP – will collapse. A paper published by the Brookings Institution warns that widespread AI job displacement could lead to a “prolonged demand recession,” with potentially catastrophic ripple effects across housing, retail, healthcare, and education.
Additionally, if traditional career paths disintegrate, the social contract itself could erode. Public trust in institutions, already fragile, may fray further. The potential for unrest is real — as we saw with past waves of job loss during globalization or the Great Recession. But this time, the speed and scale could be much greater.
Rethinking Education, Work, and Policy
To weather the storm, a fundamental rethinking of work and education is urgently needed.
First, our education system must pivot from information delivery to adaptability training. Schools and universities should focus not just on technical skills, but on resilience, problem-solving, interdisciplinary thinking, and how to work with AI rather than in competition with it.
Second, we must redefine the workplace itself. Companies need to view AI not simply as a headcount reducer but as a force multiplier. Roles should evolve – not disappear – as humans partner with AI to accomplish more than either could alone.
Third, innovation policy must step up. Universal basic income, wage subsidies for human-augmented jobs, or even AI usage taxes may soon become necessary to cushion the blow and stabilize demand.
Finally, at a societal level, we need to change the narrative. Work has long been tied to worth in American culture. But if AI can produce value without human input, our systems of meaning, dignity, and contribution may need a profound recalibration.
What Jobs Could Be Next?
If white-collar workers once thought untouchable are now being automated away, it’s fair to ask: what’s next?
Until recently, jobs that relied on creativity, emotional intelligence, or human judgment were thought to be safe. But that safety net is beginning to unravel. With the development of multi-modal AI (capable of interpreting images, sounds, and video), we are already seeing early disruptions in:
Creative Professions: AI-generated music, art, screenplays, and even commercials are already appearing online. Ad agencies and media outlets are quietly scaling back staff. A 2024 Deloitte study predicted that up to 30% of creative roles in marketing, content creation, and publishing could be “partially or fully displaced” within five years.
Therapists and Counselors: AI-powered mental health tools like Woebot and Wysa are gaining traction, offering CBT-style support at scale. While they don’t yet replace human therapists, they are increasingly used in place of entry-level mental health jobs and could evolve to handle more complex emotional guidance.
Educators and Tutors: AI tutors are being integrated into classrooms around the world. In countries like South Korea and India, entire school systems now rely on adaptive AI to teach math, reading, and test prep. As these systems improve, human teachers-especially at the primary or remedial level-may find their roles diminished or outsourced.
Healthcare Administration: While doctors and nurses will still be essential, AI is already beginning to replace billing specialists, insurance coders, radiology assistants, and even preliminary diagnostic roles. As AI gains deeper access to health data, more backend positions are expected to be phased out.
Human Resources and Recruiting: AI hiring platforms like HireVue and Pymetrics already conduct resume screening, skills assessment, and initial interviews. As personality and culture-fit algorithms evolve, even mid-level recruiters may find themselves automated out of the hiring process.
Legal Strategy and Research: Beyond just paralegal duties, some advanced AIs are now being used to scan case law, draft motions, and even recommend litigation strategies. Entire law firms are reducing junior staff by relying on these tools.
In short, if your job involves pattern recognition, rules-based decision-making, or even some forms of creative output, you may be next in line.
Adapt or Be Automated
The AI layoffs we’re seeing today are just the tremors before the quake. This isn’t a distant scenario–it’s a transformation already underway. While some may still believe their jobs are safe, history suggests that no industry is immune to the creative destruction of technology.
But this doesn’t have to be a dystopian future.
We stand at a crossroads. If we innovate boldly, educate wisely, and embrace change with humility and foresight, the age of AI can become one of abundance, not austerity. But if we remain complacent, clinging to outdated assumptions about work and security, we risk sleepwalking into an economic collapse far greater than any we’ve known.
The time to rethink, reskill, and reimagine is now. Because the AI revolution isn’t coming — it’s already here.
Signs of the Times
Are Hailstorms Getting Worse in Time for the War of Gog and Magog or Armageddon?
Hailstorms have been making headlines lately. Last week, a powerful out-of-season storm highlighted by heavy hail swept through Alexandria, Egypt, creating widespread flooding.
Pastor Dirk Says !
https://trulightradioxm.org.za/end-time-articles-2/the-water-of-the-flood-and-hail-of-armageddon
When The Government Outlaws Repentance: The Assault On Christian Counselors
In a stunning escalation of government overreach, the state of Colorado is now attempting to dictate not just what licensed counselors can say–but what they must say. At the center of this growing legal storm is Kaley Chiles, a Christian counselor who, because of her faith, dares to believe that repentance is real, transformation is possible, and that human beings are more than the sum of their feelings.
In a stunning escalation of government overreach, the state of Colorado is now attempting to dictate not just what licensed counselors can say–but what they must say. At the center of this growing legal storm is Kaley Chiles, a Christian counselor who, because of her faith, dares to believe that repentance is real, transformation is possible, and that human beings are more than the sum of their feelings.
The state of Colorado, however, sees that kind of belief as a threat.
Colorado’s law prohibits licensed counselors like Chiles from speaking to minors in a way that might affirm their biological sex or encourage them to move away from an LGBT identity–even if the client explicitly asks for such guidance. In short, if a 16-year-old Christian comes into a counseling session and says, “I want to live in alignment with my faith and my biology,” Chiles is legally barred from helping them pursue that goal. Her silence is enforced by the threat of fines, professional ruin, and the loss of her license.
The government has crossed a line it should never dare to approach: it has not only censored speech, but criminalized a biblical worldview.
This is not merely a dispute over regulatory policy. It’s not about making sure therapists follow safety protocols or avoid malpractice. This is about forced ideological conformity. The law does not ban all counseling on gender identity–it only bans one side of it. If a minor wants to pursue a transgender identity, the state encourages that exploration and even permits counselors to actively affirm it. But if a young person wants to find peace with their God-given body, the state slams the door shut.
Let’s call this what it is: the establishment of a new state religion. A religion where autonomy is the highest good, where feelings define reality, and where repentance is heresy. In this belief system, the worst sin is to suggest that a person’s desires might be disordered–or that a Holy God might call us to die to self and live differently.
In banning one direction of counseling, Colorado has done something deeply sinister. It has outlawed the biblical doctrine of repentance.
A Crisis of Truth, Trust, and the Role of Government
Counseling is supposed to be a space of trust–a safe, confidential relationship where people can wrestle with questions, confront painful realities, and seek healing. But under Colorado’s law, the government barges in like an ideological bouncer, telling counselors, “You can only help your client if you affirm the state’s definition of identity.”
Imagine a teen struggling with pornography addiction or confusion about their gender. They seek out a Christian counselor, desperate to reconcile their life with their faith. But that counselor is legally handcuffed–unable to offer the very guidance the client came seeking. This isn’t compassion. It’s coercion. It’s the state hijacking a sacred, private conversation and replacing it with a script.
And make no mistake: this script leads somewhere. It leads toward life-altering hormone treatments and surgeries that leave physical and emotional scars. It leads toward broken identities and the silencing of dissenting voices–especially Christian ones. It leads toward a future where the only legally protected path for confused kids is the one paved by pharmaceutical companies, radical ideologues, and politicians who believe they know better than God.
The Spiritual Battleground Beneath the Legal One
At its core, this isn’t just a political battle–it’s a spiritual one. The gospel of Jesus Christ has always offered the radical, counter-cultural promise of transformation: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). That promise includes every part of us–body, mind, soul, and yes, even our sexuality and gender identity.
But the state of Colorado is trying to erase that possibility.
Why? Because the gospel begins with the call to repent. And repentance, by definition, means turning away from sin. It means acknowledging that we are not the final authority–that God is. And that’s the rub. That’s what this law is really trying to suppress: not just speech, not just therapy–but the very notion that something might be morally wrong and in need of forgiveness.
Colorado isn’t just regulating counseling. It’s criminalizing the belief that LGBT behavior might be sinful–and thereby outlawing the first step of the Christian gospel.
You cannot preach “repent and believe” if the government tells you that certain sins are no longer sins.
What’s at Stake for All of Us
This case–Chiles v. Colorado–isn’t just about one counselor or one state. It’s about whether Americans still have the right to speak truthfully, to live faithfully, and to counsel compassionately. It’s about whether religious belief has any place in the public square–or whether every Christian professional must now choose between their conscience and their career.
More broadly, it’s about whether hurting people–especially vulnerable kids–can receive the help they want, or only the help the state allows.
Kaley Chiles stands not only for her own rights, but for the rights of every parent, pastor, teacher, and therapist who believes that truth is not defined by government. She stands for every young Christian trying to follow Jesus in a culture that tells them their convictions are hate. And in the end, she stands for every American who believes that free speech isn’t just a privilege, but a foundational human right.
Let the Church Not Be Silent
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear Kaley’s case this fall, the Church must speak–and pray. This is not the time for lukewarmness or silence. The freedom to preach the gospel–to call people to repent and believe–is on the line. If the state can tell a counselor she cannot affirm God’s design for human identity, how long before it tells pastors they cannot preach the same from their pulpits?
This is not a “culture war” to be won with better slogans. It’s a spiritual war, and our weapons are truth, love, and unshakable faith. We must love those caught in confusion, yes–but that love must tell the truth: God made you on purpose, in His image, and Jesus offers you not affirmation of sin, but freedom from it.
And that freedom always begins the same way: repent, and believe the Good News.
Unless Colorado succeeds in outlawing those words.
Gog and Magog Update
SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN:
US Diverts 20,000 Missiles Promised for Ukraine to the Middle East
Something is brewing in the Middle East, far bigger than the current Gaza war. Despite President Trump’s rhetoric about wanting a deal with Iran so no blood will be spilled, the US President has continued to insist that Iran will not be allowed to enrich uranium. The Iranians have responded to Trump’s comments by insisting that they will continue to enrich uranium.
Why Iran Will Never Give Up Its Nuclear Weapons
The West still fails to grasp this regime’s worldview. It is not just authoritarian, it is theological. It sees the world in binary terms: believers and infidels, Shiites and non-Shiites. It also believes that history is heading toward a final confrontation, in which Iran will be prepared militarily and spiritually to lead. That is why the Iranian nuclear program is not negotiable. It is holy, sacred.
Why Iran Will Never Give Up Its Nuclear Weapons
Pastor Dirk Says – Because its Part of Bible Prophecy ! Gog and Magog Ezekiel 38-39
HEALING ARTICLES AND PRAYER
TruLight Ministries offer a Wide Range of EYE OPENING Healing Articles and various Illnesses . Cancers and other Chronic Illness :
TruLight Ministries bied ‘n wye reeks OOGOPENENDE Genesingsartikels en verskeie siektes. Kankers en ander chroniese siektes:
“”” If 87% of diseases are a result of what goes on in our thought life, then
87% of diseases can be cured by sorting out our thought life. “””
Dr Michelle Strydom MD – Healing begins with Sanctification of the Heart – 19 Video Teachings . One Video per Day
Dr Michelle Strydom trained and qualified as a medical doctor in South Africa and her desire is to practice medicine for the glory of God and leave behind a legacy of His love. She authored Healing Begins with Sanctifcation of the Heart and uncovers the foundation of disease by providing insight, from both a medical and Biblical perspective, into the spiritual, psychological and physical mechanisms that produce ill health. Her teaching demonstrates how latest medical research confirms Biblical principles of health and disease and reveals how coming back in line with His Word through repentance and sanctification helps us to overcome illness, be healed and made whole.
Teaching 10 – THE GREAT DECEPTION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
TruLight Ministry News
TruLight Ministries orders from God since 2012 . Teach Them , Comfort Them and Warn Them!
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TruLight Ministries opdrag vanaf God sedert 2012. Leer hulle, Troos hulle en Waarsku hulle!
SIGNS OF THE TIMES (INTRODUCTION VIDEO)
Visit our online Bible prophecy in the News channel, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, where we connect current events with the teachings of the Bible. By delving into this platform, you will gain a deeper understanding of the signs that indicate we are living in a crucial period in God’s plan. Discover how the news aligns with biblical prophecies and stay informed about what lies ahead.
TruLight School of Theology have started with Its daily Bible Study – Pastor Counselling Certificate – we are Starting with 36 Studies with 10 Studies per Topic from 1st of April 2025 – Over the Next 2 Years we will Include One Daily Study per Topic on this Platform. The Daily Manna Bible Study will be Available in English and Afrikaans!
We will Start with a 68 week Study on “Know Your Bible” Daily Bible Summaries of every Chapter in the Bible! From the Old Testament to the New Testament , from Genesis to Revelation 66 Books of the Bible.
Started 1st April 2025
This is our Study Principals:
SOAP
Scripture: Read a short passage out loud.
Observation: What do you notice about the verses?.
Application: How can you apply this to your life?.
Prayer: Pray about what you’ve learned.
REAP
Read: Read the passage carefully.
Engage: Ask questions about the passage.
Apply: Think about how the passage applies to your life.
Pray: Pray about what you’ve learned.
Introduction to the Bible – Bible Summary
Summary of the Book of James
Author: The author of this epistle (letter) is James, also called James the Just, who is
thought to be the brother of Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). James was not a
believer (John 7:3-5) until after the resurrection (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians
1:19). He became the head of the Jerusalem church and is mentioned first as a pillar of
the church (Galatians 2:9).
Date of Writing: The Book of James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament,
written perhaps as early as A.D. 45, before the first council of Jerusalem in A.D. 50. James
was martyred in approximately A.D. 62, according to the historian Josephus.
Purpose of Writing: Some think that this epistle was written in response to an
overzealous interpretation of Paul’s teaching regarding faith. This extreme view, called
antinomianism, held that through faith in Christ one is completely free from all Old
Testament law, all legalism, all secular law, and all the morality of a society. The Book of
James is directed to Jewish Christians scattered among all the nations (James 1:1).
Martin Luther, who detested this letter and called it “the epistle of straw,” failed to
recognize that James’s teaching on works complemented—not contradicted—Paul’s
teaching on faith. While Pauline teachings concentrate on our justification with God,
James’ teachings concentrate on the works that exemplify that justification. James was
writing to Jews to encourage them to continue growing in this new Christian faith.
James emphasizes that good actions will naturally flow from those who are filled with
the Spirit and questions whether someone may or may not have a saving faith if the
fruits of the Spirit cannot be seen, much as Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23.
Key Verses:
James 1:2-3: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
James 1:19: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow
to speak and slow to become angry.”
James 2:17-18: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is
dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without
deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
James 3:5: “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”
James 5:16b: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Brief Summary: The Book of James outlines the faith walk through genuine religion
(1:1-27), genuine faith (2:1-3:12) and genuine wisdom (3:13-5:20). This book contains a
remarkable parallel to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. James begins in the
first chapter by describing the overall traits of the faith walk. In chapter 2 and the
beginning of chapter 3 he discusses social justice and a discourse on faith in action. He
then compares and contrasts the difference between worldly and godly wisdom and
asks us to turn away from evil and draw close to God. James gives a particularly severe
rebuke to the rich who hoard and those who are self-reliant. Finally he ends with
encouragement to believers to be patient in suffering, praying and caring for one
another and bolstering our faith through fellowship.
Connections: The Book of James is the ultimate description of the relationship between
faith and works. So ingrained in the Mosaic Law and its system of works were the Jewish
Christians to whom James wrote that he spent considerable time explaining the difficult
truth that no one is justified by the works of the law (Galatians 2:16). He declares to
them that even if they try their very best to keep all the various laws and rituals, doing
so is impossible, and transgressing the tiniest part of the law made them guilty of all of
it (James 2:10) because the law is one entity and breaking one part of it is breaking all of
it.
Practical Application: We see in the Book of James a challenge to faithful followers of
Jesus Christ to not just “talk the talk,” but to “walk the walk.” While our faith walk, to be
certain, requires a growth of knowledge about the Word, James exhorts us to not stop
there. Many Christians will find this epistle challenging as James presents 60 obligations
in only 108 verses. He focuses on the truths of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount
and motivates us to act upon what He taught.
The epistle also puts to rest the idea that one can become a Christian and yet continue
living in sin, exhibiting no fruit of righteousness. Such a “faith,” James declares, is shared
by the demons who “believe and tremble” (James 2:19). Yet such a “faith” cannot save
because it is not verified by the works that always accompany true saving faith
(Ephesians 2:10). Good works are not the cause of salvation, but they are the result of it.
Inleiding tot die Bybel – Bybel Samevatting
Opsomming van die boek
Jakobus
Skrywer: Die skrywer van hierdie brief (brief) is Jakobus, ook genoem Jakobus die
Regverdige, wat vermoedelik die broer van Jesus Christus is ( Matteus 13:55 ; Markus 6:3
). Jakobus was nie ‘n gelowige ( Joh. 7:3-5 ) tot ná die opstanding nie ( Hand. 1:14 ; 1
Korintiërs 15:7 ; Galasiërs 1:19 ). Hy het die hoof van die Jerusalem-kerk geword en word
eerstens genoem as ‘n pilaar van die kerk ( Galasiërs 2:9 ).
Datum van Skrywe: Die Boek van Jakobus is waarskynlik die oudste boek van die Nuwe
Testament, miskien so vroeg as 45 nC geskryf, voor die eerste konsilie van Jerusalem in
50 nC. Jakobus is in ongeveer 62 nC gemartel, volgens die geskiedskrywer Josephus.
Doel van die skryf: Sommige dink dat hierdie brief geskryf is in reaksie op ‘n
oorywerige interpretasie van Paulus se lering aangaande geloof. Hierdie ekstreme
siening, genoem antinomianisme, het gemeen dat ‘n mens deur geloof in Christus
heeltemal vry is van alle Ou-Testamentiese wette, alle wettisisme, alle sekulêre wette en
al die moraliteit van ‘n samelewing. Die boek Jakobus is gerig aan Joodse Christene wat
onder al die nasies verstrooi is ( Jakobus 1:1 ). Martin Luther, wat hierdie brief verafsku
het en dit “die strooibrief” genoem het, het nie besef dat Jakobus se leer oor werke
aanvul – nie weerspreek nie – Paulus se leer oor geloof. Terwyl Pauliniese leringe
konsentreer op ons regverdigmaking met God, konsentreer Jakobus se leringe op die
werke wat daardie regverdiging uitbeeld. Jakobus het aan Jode geskryf om hulle aan te
moedig om aan te hou groei in hierdie nuwe Christelike geloof. Jakobus beklemtoon dat
goeie dade natuurlik sal voortvloei uit diegene wat met die Gees vervul is en
bevraagteken of iemand ‘n reddende geloof mag hê of nie as die vrugte van die Gees
nie gesien kan word nie, baie soos Paulus in Galasiërs 5:22-23 beskryf .
Sleutelverse:
Jakobus 1:2-3 : “Aanskou dit louter vreugde, my broeders, wanneer julle in allerhande
beproewinge te staan kom, omdat julle weet dat die beproewing van julle geloof
volharding kweek.”
Jakobus 1:19 : “My liewe broers, let daarop: Almal moet gou wees om te luister, stadig
om te praat en stadig om kwaad te word.”
Jakobus 2:17-18 : “Net so is geloof op sigself, as dit nie met dade gepaardgaan nie,
dood. Maar iemand sal sê: Jy het geloof; Ek het dade. Wys my jou geloof sonder dade,
en ek sal jou my geloof wys deur wat ek doen.”
Jakobus 3:5 : “Net so is die tong ‘n klein deel van die liggaam, maar dit maak groot
roem. Dink aan watter groot woud deur ‘n klein vonkie aan die brand gesteek word.”
Jakobus 5:16b : “Die gebed van ‘n regverdige is kragtig en effektief.”
Kort opsomming: Die boek Jakobus skets die geloofswandeling deur egte godsdiens
(1:1-27), egte geloof (2:1-3:12) en egte wysheid (3:13-5:20). Hierdie boek bevat ‘n
merkwaardige parallel met Jesus se Bergpredikasie in Matteus 5-7 . Jakobus begin in die
eerste hoofstuk deur die algemene eienskappe van die geloofswandel te beskryf. In
hoofstuk 2 en die begin van hoofstuk 3 bespreek hy sosiale geregtigheid en ‘n diskoers
oor geloof in aksie. Hy vergelyk en kontrasteer dan die verskil tussen wêreldse en
goddelike wysheid en vra ons om weg te draai van die bose en nader aan God te kom.
Jakobus gee ‘n besonder ernstige teregwysing aan die rykes wat opgaar en diegene wat
selfstandig is. Ten slotte eindig hy met aanmoediging aan gelowiges om geduldig te
wees in lyding, te bid en vir mekaar om te gee en ons geloof te versterk deur
gemeenskap.
Verbindings: Die boek Jakobus is die uiteindelike beskrywing van die verhouding
tussen geloof en werke. So ingeburger in die Mosaïese Wet en sy stelsel van werke was
die Joodse Christene aan wie Jakobus geskryf het dat hy heelwat tyd spandeer het om
die moeilike waarheid te verduidelik dat niemand deur die werke van die wet
geregverdig word nie ( Galasiërs 2:16 ). Hy verklaar aan hulle dat selfs al probeer hulle
hul bes om al die verskillende wette en rituele te onderhou, dit onmoontlik is om dit te
doen, en die oortreding van die kleinste deel van die wet het hulle skuldig gemaak aan
dit alles ( Jakobus 2:10 ) omdat die wet is een entiteit en om een deel daarvan te breek,
is om dit alles te breek.
Praktiese toepassing: Ons sien in die boek Jakobus ‘n uitdaging aan getroue
volgelinge van Jesus Christus om nie net “die praatjie te praat nie”, maar om “op die
wandel te loop.” Terwyl ons geloofswandel, om seker te wees, ‘n groei van kennis oor
die Woord vereis, spoor Jakobus ons aan om nie daar te stop nie. Baie Christene sal
hierdie brief uitdagend vind aangesien Jakobus 60 verpligtinge in slegs 108 verse
aanbied. Hy fokus op die waarhede van Jesus se woorde in die Bergpredikasie en
motiveer ons om op te tree volgens wat Hy geleer het.
What is the Nr 1 Sign that you are a Child of God? The Nr 1 Sign , your are no longer a slave to Fear ! // Wat is die eerste teken dat jy ‘n kind van God is? Die eerste teken, jy is nie meer ‘n slaaf van vrees nie!
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