people of God – Kanisa la Christadelphian huko Anderlecht

How to find out that you belong to God’s people and are a chosen one

mars 22, 2024mars 21, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Almighty God, Faith, Jesus Christ - son of God, Thought for today

In many churches, people hear talk about God’s People. There are those who claim that these are no longer the Jews but the Christians. By this they mean those Christians who worship the Trinity. those Trinitarians then say that preaching is only for God’s people and that only the elect are saved.

The question here is who they see as chosen ones. The fact is that one can agree that only « elect » may acquire salvation and be blissful who will be allowed to reside in the Kingdom of God.

However much certain Christians may want it, one cannot exclude the Hebrew People from their role. The believing Jews belong to the People of God anyway – undeniably!

All people on earth are given the opportunity to know about God. They can see around them and find the wonders of the Lord. In more developed areas, people can also come into contact with the « written Word of God« . For example, one can say that many people can read the Bible. That Book of Books talks about a saviour who would come. That leader of trust is also said to be the Christ and the Bread of Life. That life-giving bread is at everyone’s disposal. It has been given to the whole world.

The question is who is hungry for it. Are those around us hungry? Are you hungry for what seems so elusive to many?

However, the sent of God is not as elusive or incomprehensible as many think. God is understanding and knows the needs of man. He wants to go into it, but he does want people to look for it.

God wants to satisfy you. He made His son pay the ransom for you and I, even all humanity. Christ Jesus was not haughty, but humbled himself and let sinners come to him. He received and ate with them.

Jesus Christ can be seen as the only mirror of election and the only ground of salvation. Our concern and need do not save us, but only faith in him. Jesus is the chosen one of God who was authorized to act as the ruler of the mentor and completer of faith.

True faith is a gift of grace from God. In this world there are many who call themselves Christians and claim that as believers they belong to that People of God. But when we speak to them and hear how they do not worship the God of Christ, but a deity they call the « Holy Trinity, » we realize that they have deviated far from the truth and still have a long way to go. to be counted with that People of God.

As a community of believers, or ecclesia, we can only act as servants and invite everyone to become a participant in the pilgrimage to the narrow gate of the Kingdom of God. By opening our doors to everyone who wants to hear, we will be able to help people hear and allow the Spirit to penetrate them. For it is God’s Spirit who determines everything. It is He who calls people to Himself and gives them insight. We as servants of God can only position ourselves in such a way that we give people direction to get to know both Jesus Christ and His Heavenly Father.

We must be ready for the hungry and thirsty. As brothers and sisters, we must welcome outsiders and make them as pleasant as possible without going against the Will of God. Brotherhood with Christ must always come first and that family, being a child of God, must persuade people to also want to become children of God.

Only when the conditions described in the Bible are met can one proceed as a child of God and become part of the blessed People of God.

Additional texts

There were also loyal persons among the Jews

février 24, 2024février 21, 2024 par Bijbelvorsers, publié dans Almighty God, Behaviour or attitude towards others, Bible text quotes, Thought for today

Today is very similar to earlier times, when there were also many people who did not want to know about God.

They are a rebellious people, . . . who are unwilling to hear the law of Jehovah.—Isa. 30:9.

Because the people refused to listen, Isaiah foretold that Jehovah would allow them to suffer calamity. (Isa. 30:5, 17; Jer. 25:8-11)

5 They will all be put to shame By a people who can bring no benefit to them, Who offer no help and no benefit, Only shame and disgrace.”+ (Isaiah 30:5)

17 A thousand will tremble at the threat of one;+ At the threat of five you will flee Until what is left of you is like a mast on the top of a mountain, Like a signal pole on a hill.+ (Isaiah 30:17)

8 “Therefore this is what Jehovah of armies says, ‘“Because you would not obey my words, 9 I am sending for all the families of the north,”+ declares Jehovah, “sending for King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar* of Babylon, my servant,+ and I will bring them against this land+ and against its inhabitants and against all these surrounding nations.+ I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and something to whistle at and a perpetual ruin. 10 I will put an end to the sound of exultation and the sound of rejoicing from them,+ the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride,+ the sound of the hand mill and the light of the lamp. 11 And all this land will be reduced to ruins and will become an object of horror, and these nations will have to serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.”’+

12 “‘But when 70 years have been fulfilled,+ I will call to account* the king of Babylon and that nation for their error,’+ declares Jehovah, ‘and I will make the land of the Chal·deʹans a desolate wasteland for all time.+ 13 I will bring on that land all my words that I have spoken against it, all that is written in this book that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. 14 For many nations and great kings+ will make slaves of them,+ and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their own hands.’”+

(Jeremia 25:8-11, 12-14)

And, indeed, they were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. However, there were some faithful ones among the Jews, and Isaiah told them that one day Jehovah would restore them to favour. (Isa. 30:18, 19)

18 But Jehovah is waiting patiently* to show you favor,+ And he will rise up to show you mercy.+ For Jehovah is a God of justice.+

Happy are all those keeping in expectation of* him.+

19 When the people dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem,+ you will by no means weep.+ He will surely show you favor at the sound of your cry for help; he will answer you as soon as he hears it.+ (Isaiah 30:18-19)

And that is exactly what happened. Jehovah brought an end to their captivity. However, their deliverance would not come right away. The statement

“Jehovah is waiting patiently to show you favor”

indicated that some time would pass before the faithful ones would be rescued. In fact, the Israelites spent 70 years in exile in Babylon before a remnant was allowed to return to Jerusalem. (Isa. 10:21; Jer. 29:10)

21 Only a remnant will return, The remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.+

22 For though your people, O Israel, Are as the grains of sand of the sea, Only a remnant of them will return.+

An extermination has been decided on,+ And justice* will engulf them.+ (Isaiah 10:21-22)

10 “For this is what Jehovah says, ‘When 70 years at Babylon are fulfilled, I will turn my attention to you,+ and I will make good my promise by bringing you back to this place.’+

11 “‘For I well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ declares Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity,+ to give you a future and a hope.+ 12 And you will call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’+

13 “‘You will seek me and find me,+ for you will search for me with all your heart.+ 14 And I will let you find me,’+ declares Jehovah. ‘And I will gather your captives and collect you together out of all the nations and places to which I have dispersed you,’+ declares Jehovah. ‘And I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to go into exile.’+ (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

Once the people were back in their homeland, the tears of sorrow were replaced by tears of joy.

A world where one must make oneself clearly known #1 From the first to the 19th century

février 15, 2024février 7, 2024 par obligingworldviewer, publié dans Christadelphian, Faith, History & news feed, Jesus Christ - son of God, World events & environment

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

In this world where there is a lot of commotion, there is little room for the Divine Maker, and the majority of the people in our region are busy collecting money and material goods.

Yet there are certain people, who are often looked at as madmen, who afford to look beyond this earthly world. They are firmly convinced that in the future, after a terrible war (World War 3 or Armageddon), there will be a much better will develop a world in which people will be fully happy.

For some years now there have been such people in Belgium who also try to convince others that there is a better future ahead, for a long time it was just lonely goons or lonely trekkers who moved from « Jet » to « Jar » to proclaim the Good News for a long time they had to feel lonely in a world where there was little obedience to that special news.

But things started to stir in the capital of Europe during the previous year. Some people indicated that they no longer wanted to move up alone, but that they wanted to join others who had also traveled a bit here in Europe. had travelled away. Some islanders who saw their land torn away from the European Union did not give up the courage to continue talking about their faith on the mainland, they had already managed to pull a pioneer to the New World to walk down the steppes there From there from that United States it went back to Europe where seeds were planted in Great Britain in the late 19th century, but also on the Western European mainland.

They were followers of Dr. John Thomas who wished to make it clear to others that almost two millennia earlier a Nazarene preceptor had brought about a change in the world of faith Yeshua ben Josef, better known here by the name of Jesus Christ, had the way been cleared there in the Middle East for goyim or non-Jews to now possibly come under that large umbrella and be included as members of God’s People.

But to be able to join that People of God one must be willing to do something for it Already from the first century of our era, that was made clear by that Jewish rabbi who had come to fulfill the prophecies as the son of God, his faithful followers too, the apostles, were aware of the importance of what their teacher had to say and why it was necessary for them to explain this further.

Preceding

Additional reading

Choose the right name for your travel registration

février 13, 2024février 6, 2024 par jeshuaist, publié dans Christadelphian, Faith, History & news feed, Jesus Christ - son of God, Thought for today

plannen van een reis of trektocht - planning of a voyage or trekking - passport on map, paspoort op landkaart - photo camera on map - fototoestel op landkaart — Foto door Element5 Digital op Pexels.com

We start our pilgrimage during the dark hours of dawn, wanting to put that world of despair behind us, we realize that there is a lot going wrong in that world we want to turn our backs on.

The People of God, who were largely made up of itinerants, knew all too well that one had to turn away from that world which had no eye for the Great Designer of this earth. They too, knew that one had to turn away from sin. In their journeys they did all they could to succeed, but like every man they were also sometimes weak and fell into sin. We too, we too, during our journey, we must be aware that this will also be part of our lives.

About two thousand years ago there was also another man of God who came to explain the Heavenly Father and who called on people to follow him as the light in the darkness. It was a sent one from God who spoke to humanity and asked them to follow him. He was a Nazarene Jew who knew the Scriptures very well and loved his Heavenly Father above all the worldly lords, many of these spiritual leaders were not served, which also turned them against that man who received more attention than them and who dared to call himself son of God.

It is following that Jewish teacher that we want to join those who believe in the long-awaited son of God whom we want to accept as the Kristos – the Anointed of God – or Christ. We believe that he is the Messiah that people have been looking forward to for so many centuries.

It is important to know under what name one wishes to be known in the world.

passport - paspoort — Foto door Ekaterina Belinskaya op Pexels.com

Before the trek, one could say that those who are interested in walking would also like to be regarded as his followers or brothers and sisters, which is why they would be happy to bear his name and record it on their passport.
That important preacher mentioned Yeshua or Jeshua ben Josef and that is why we want to continue to travel the world under his name as « Yeshuaist » or « Jeshuaist« , which means « follower of Jeshua« .

While the many ‘name Christians‘ do not follow the authority of Holy Scripture at all, we want those who go on a trek with us to take the Bible as a guide and recognize the Word of God as the highest authority.

Those who go with us through the fields, mountains and valleys and cross the waters with them will continue to see together how important it is to get rid of a name that covers the wrong charge. If one pretends to be a Christian, most will think of all those other Christians who believe in the Holy Trinity. But one does not want to belong if one wants to end the trek together in the place where we must arrive, which is why it is important that you indicate from the beginning that you want to go through life as a Jeshuaist or follower of Jeshua, and even in that capacity that you are a Brother in Christ, or for the women and Sister in Christ.

During our journey we will make it very clear to the outside world that we as Brothers and Sisters in Christ want to continue through life.

Preceding

Additional reading

Beginning of a Pilgrimage

février 2, 2024février 1, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Announcement, Behaviour or attitude towards others, Christadelphian, Faith, Thought for today, Words of encouragement

2024 didn’t just bring us the start of a new year. It was also the point where some people shook hands and expressed their desire to join a brotherhood together.

On January 6, 2024, we could rejoice that the start was given in Anderlecht to form an ecclesia and to set off together from there to get to know and serve the One True God better.

The third week of January 2024 is the time to take the first step in the pilgrimage to the foundation of God’s Son, the Church of God.
A pilgrimage refers to going to a place to pray there. In our case, we set out for an ecclesia of Brethren in Christ under the direction of Jesus Christ, the son of God and with the blessing of his Heavenly Father, Jehovah the God above all gods.

Here today we find people who have decided to travel with us. They want to undertake the journey that will bring them to greater freedom and security in life, even if some do not yet fully realise the freedom and blessings that await them if they succeed in completing that journey.

To get to that endpoint where God would like us to arrive, we will have to climb many mountains and cross many valleys. Sometimes it might take sweat and tears. But today we find here people who are eager to travel, and who are eager to travel with their life experiences, and who want to share their experiences with their fellow travellers. They can expect a very rich, but not always easy expedition. But because there are several of us, we will be able to help each other and help over the most difficult cliffs and deepest waters.

There are business trips, pleasure trips, play trips, fairground trips, candy trips, day trips, night trips, leave trips, vacation trips, art trips, company trips, summer trips, winter trips, land and sea trips. Our journey is just about all of that, while we are allowed to oversee a real voyage of discovery and research.

Together we will walk to get to know God better. To this end, we will make good use of the Guide He Himself has provided. His Word, written down in the Bible, is our best companion, which we will make good use of in the coming weeks and months.

Just as a traveller takes travel goods, packing or luggage with him, everyone here present, also takes his ballast or packing goods with him. Everyone has experienced some things in life that can have been pleasant but also very unpleasant. Every one of us has been up to things that aren’t so kosher. Not everything we do is according to the wishes of the Divine Creator. During our pilgrimage, we will have plenty of time to think about what God wants, to meditate and to work on ourselves.

Provided that we are not going to walk over ice in one day, we must dare to take the time to let ourselves be put back in the right folds. All creases need to be smoothed out.

During our long journey (or pilgrimage) it is important to finally get rid of our old self and put on a new self. At the end of the day, we must be able to present ourselves to God, cleared of all blame. In the meantime, some may decide that they are ready to enter into the « water of life » and ask God to “whitewash” them so that they may be redeemed from their past sins, in order to be cleansed, to continue the important journey. For this baptism is not an endpoint, but a starting point of a new life, in which the baptized person has decided to live completely according to the will of God.

That baptism is then a passage through the Reed Sea (or Red Sea) where God’s People were also freed from slavery. But as we can read in Scripture, they still went in the wrong direction a few times and did things that God did not like. That can happen to us too. For this, we need to pay attention and support each other.
As soon as we see someone deviate, we have to show them back the right way to the Path. All together, as in the first centuries, the followers of Jesus must follow « The Way« . To this end, the regular meetings will be a helping hand. But that won’t be enough. Each person will also have to take initiative and examine the scriptures daily. Without regular Bible reading and study, the road will be much more difficult.

If we are willing to listen to God’s Word, He will be willing to listen to us. Then the time has come for us to talk to Him. In the same way, we will regularly enter into dialogue with God through our prayers, requests, praises and songs.

Hopefully, we will be able to talk to more lost people on our trek and let them go with us to a point where it will be wonderful to stay.

All those who will succeed in ending the pilgrimage, will be able to look back with satisfaction at what they have been able to leave behind as ballast along the way. Freed from all these burdens, they will be allowed to step into a new life, with many to walk together to and through that narrow gate of the Kingdom of Christ.

Preceding

Additional reading

Gathering and meeting for God

janvier 4, 2024décembre 28, 2023 par Bijbelvorsers, publié dans History & news feed, Jesus Christ - son of God

In ancient times, Jehovah God of the heavenly powers had called His People to meet regularly to reflect on Him and His deeds and to honour Him. For example, God-loving people came together at a time „ or ” agreed place „ (1 Samuel 13: 8; 20:35) in, for example, a ” tent of meeting „ (Exodus 27:21). Such a „ place of meeting ” was derived as miq · raʼ from the basic verb qa·raʼ (calling), to indicate that it was an answer to the call of God.

Qa·halʹ is related to a verb that „ convenes; meeting ” means (Exodus 35: 1; Leviticus 8: 4) and is often used to designate a municipality as an organized group of people. Sometimes qa·halʹ (municipality) is used together with ʽe·dhahʹ (meeting) (Leviticus 4:13; Numbers 20: 8, 10).

The Greek ek·kleʹsi·a (from ek, „ from ”, and kleʹsis, „ a call ”) is usually used in the Greek Septuagint as a translation of the Hebrew qa·halʹ (municipality) and sometimes of ʽe·dhahʹ (meeting), although the latter word is also represented by the Greek expression su·na·goʹge (which means „ a gathering ”, from sun, „ at a ”, and aʹgo, „ bringing ”).

For looking at our meetings we go to the meetings that the followers of Jesus held. We speak of an ecclesia for the place as well as for the group or collection of believers, as indicated in the Christian Greek Scriptures the « municipality » with ek·kleʹsi·a.
In Acts 7:38 it is used with regard to the congregation of Israel. The Greek word su·na·goʹge appears in Acts 13:43 („ meeting in the synagogue ”) and in James 2: 2 („ meeting ”). Another Greek expression, pa·neʹgu·ris (from pan, „ als ”, and aʹgo·ra, which denotes any kind of meeting), is displayed in Hebrews 12:23 with „ general meeting ”.

There were certain days when people were seen to gather with the family with other believers. For example, there was the weekly Sabbath, a day of „ complete rest, a holy meeting ” (Leviticus 23: 3), taking the time to consider God’s Word, as in the later synagogues, where ’ Moses was read every Sabbath ’ (Acts 15:21).

The new moon was also celebrated (Numbers 28: 11-15), the day of trumpet call (Numbers 29: 1-6), the annual Day of Atonement (Le 16), and was celebrated as the main event of the year the Passover (in commemoration of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt; Exodus 12:14), of which God ordered to celebrate this for eternity, making this also for true Christians and therefore also for us Christadelphians here in Belgium, is the most important day of meeting (on Nisan 14 for the Passover feast or Passover).

In memory of the salvation for the Jews of impending extermination in the Persian Empire; Esther 9: 20-24) there was the Purim feast, as well as the Initiation Feast (recommending the temple’s rededication on 25 Kislev 165 BC.; John 10:22, 23).

In addition, there were three annual „ periodic festivals of Jehovah ”: the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks (Shavuot) (later called Pentecost) and the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth (Leviticus 23), as to which feasts God decreed:

„ On three occasions in the year, all that is male among you will appear before the true Lord, Jehovah ” (Exodus 23:14-17).

It is therefore a form of devotion to God and succession to His commandments that we can now also keep these festivals in mind and honour.

Because of the great spiritual value of these festivals, many men ensured that their entire family was present (Luke 2:41-45). Moses also explicitly said that once every seven years, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the men, the women, the children and indwelling strangers of Israel had to gather in the place that Jehovah would choose,

„ that they may listen and that they may learn, as they must fear Jehovah your God and make sure to accomplish all the words of this law ” (Deuteronomy 31:10-12).

So provisions were made that the Israelites could meet very often to consider Jehovah’s Word and intentions. Even today, we can find reasons enough to meet regularly and bring honour to God.

Originally they came together in open nature and in a space or tent covered with a tarp. It was when the Jews were in Babylonian exile, or shortly thereafter, that they turned to stone buildings, which were used as synagogues, places of worship, or as Jewish places of gathering. Over the years, cities grew and several synagogues were distributed in the city to accommodate the different people. For example, large cities obtained more than one synagogue.

Synagogues were initially meeting places where people could exchange ideas about the Word of God. Reading and teaching from the Scriptures. In those places of meeting, a space for prayer was provided or the study rooms were also places of worship. These places where God was praised were also a testimony to the love and loyalty one had for the Creator God.

Jesus Christ and his disciples used to go there to study and discuss the Scriptures together, as well as to praise God. It was in the synagogues that Jesus and his disciples ventured to teach and encourage those present (Mt 4:23; Lu 4:16; Acts 13:14, 15; 17:1, 2; 18: 4). Because the Scriptures were regularly read in the synagogues, James could say to the Christian governing body in Jerusalem:

„ Traditionally, Moses had people preaching him in city after city, because he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath ” (Acts 15:21).

The basic features of the synagogue-led services were adopted by Christians for their meetings, where the scriptures were read and explained, encouraged each other, prayed, and praised God. — 1 Corinthians 14: 26-33, 40; Colossians 4:16.

To this day, it is our job as the former People of God, Jesus Christ and his apostles, and their followers, get together and don’t leave the meeting. It is therefore important to keep an eye on the times and to always encourage each other so that everyone can grow and persist in faith, encouraging each other, and all the more as we see the day of God approaching. (Hebrews 10: 24-25).

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness* for the way of entry+ into the holy place*+ by the blood of Jesus, 20 which he inaugurated for us as a new and living way through the curtain,+ that is, his flesh,+21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,+22 let us approach with true hearts in the full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience+ and our bodies bathed with clean water.+23 Let us hold fast the public declaration* of our hope+ without wavering,+ for he is faithful+ that promised. 24 And let us consider one another to incite+ to love and fine works,+25 not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together,+ as some have the custom, but encouraging+ one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near.+(Hebrews 10:19-25).

In such meetings or meetings it is important to think about the basic doctrine and to continue maturing. (Hebrews 6:1-3). At such meetings we as the prudent can try to acquire knowledge and do our utmost to offer ourselves approved to God. (Proverbs 18:15; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Timothy 2:15) It is there at such meetings that we can help each other to grow in Christ and be excellent servants of Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 4: 6)

Our job as followers of Jesus Christ is for us as Brothers and Sisters in Christ to bear witness to our faith and take on us to meet regularly to each other as well to feel the feeling of unity and to study the Word of God together and to bring honour and praise to the God above all gods, Jehovah the Lord of hosts.