Unsere neue Identität und Bestimmung

Der offene Himmel

Durch die Sünde des ersten Menschenpaars zerbrach die Gemeinschaft mit Gott (1. Mos 3:1 – 8, 23 – 24)

Durch Jesu Tod am Kreuz (Mt 27:51; Mk 15:38; Lk 23:46; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:11 – 12; Eph 2:13; Heb 4,16; Heb 10:10 – 20; Röm 8:1, 33 – 34) hat jeder wieder freien Zugang zu Gott überall und jederzeit.  Wir können überall und jederzeit mit ihm Gemeinschaft haben (reden mit Gott und hören was er sagt) nicht nur in den Gottesdiensten einer Kirche oder Gemeinde oder an Orten, wo gerade eine Erweckung stattfindet.

Gott erhört unsere Gebete genauso wie die Gebete Jesu (Spr 15:29; Lk 18:7, 8a; Joh 14:13; 15:16, 1. Joh 3:21 – 22), weil wir gerecht sind.

Eine enge vertraute Beziehung mit Gott führt zu Gebetserhörungen (Joh 15:7)

Wir müssen Gott weder überreden noch anbetteln Dinge zu tun, die er sowieso schon tun möchte, z.B. sich Menschen zu offenbaren, dass sie sich für Jesus entscheiden) noch ihn erst durch religiöse Übungen (z.B. Buße tun, fasten) gnädig stimmen damit er unsere Gebete erhört (Röm 10:3 – 4; Kol 2:23; Röm 9:30 – 33)

Das Gesetz

Das Gesetz mit seinen Satzungen und rituellen Reinigungsvorschriften war nur der Schatten des Künftigen (Heb 10:1)

Das Gesetz ist Gottes Standard an Heiligkeit (Mt 5:20)

Es ist gerecht, heilig und gut (Röm 7:12; 1 Tim 1:8).

Es führt zur Erkenntnis von Sünde (Röm 7:7)

Es war ein Zuchtmeister (Gal 3:24)

Es verlangt völligen Gehorsam überall und zu jeder Zeit (5.Mos 28:16 – 68)

Wer aus dem Gesetz gerechtfertigt werden will, muss vollkommen sein, vollkommen bedeutet totalen Gehorsam, wer das Gesetz in einem einzigen Punkt bricht, bzw. es nicht erfüllt hat das ganze Gesetz gebrochen (Mt 5: 20, 48; Jak 2:10)

Wir haben alle gesündigt, die Prostituierte, wie der Religiöse, denn keiner konnte das Gesetz erfüllen (Jes. 64:5; Röm 3:23; 5,12; Gal 2:16.21)

Christus hat das Gesetz nicht aufgehoben, sondern stellvertretend für uns erfüllt (Mt 5:17 – 18; Gal 4:4 – 5)

Die Liebe ist des Gesetzes Erfüllung (Röm 13:10)

Der Austausch

Gottes Anspruch ist Vollkommenheit, vollkommen zu sein wie er (Mt 5:48)

Jesus war das perfekte und vollkommene Opfer. Er allein war gerecht (1. Joh 2:1) und vollkommen (Heb 5:9; 7:28) und er erfüllte das ganze Gesetz stellvertretend für uns völlig und zu jeder Zeit. Er allein war ohne Sünde (Jes 53:9; Lk 23:41; Joh 8:46; 2. Kor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1. Joh 3:5) und wurde an unserer Stelle gekreuzigt (Heb 7:27; 9:12, 14; 2. Kor 5:21; Gal 4:4 – 5; 1. Pet 1:18-19; 1. Joh 4:10; Off 5:9)

Sein Opfer reicht aus für die jede vergangene, gegenwärtige und zukünftige Sünde der ganzen Menschheit (Heb 9:26, 28; 10:12,14,18). Es reicht aus für die Schuld jeder Nation (1. Joh 2:2) und sie reicht aus für deine Schuld, du musst es nur noch für dich persönlich im Glauben in Anspruch nehmen

Er ist der Mittler eines neuen Bundes zwischen Mensch und Gott (Heb 9:15, 10:16)

Jesus, der Gerechte ist für den Ungerechten, den Sünder gestorben, um uns seine Gerechtigkeit im Austausch für unsere Ungerechtigkeit zu geben (Jes. 53:4-6,11; 61:10; Röm 3:26; 4:25; 5:6,18 – 19; 1. Kor. 15:3; Eph 5:2; Gal 1:4; 4:4 – 5; Tit 2:14; Heb 2:9,17; 9:26,28; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; 1. Joh 2:2; 3:16)

Unsere alte selbstsüchtige Natur wurde mit ihm gekreuzigt (Röm 6:6, 11; Gal 2:19; 5:24, Kol 2:13 – 14, 20)

Dadurch dass wir Jesus als unseren Herrn und Erlöser annehmen erleben wir das Wunder der Wiedergeburt (Jesus nimmt Wohnung in uns in Gestalt des Hl. Geistes). In der Wiedergeburt erleben wir den Austausch und empfangen eine neue Natur, die göttliche Natur (Joh 1:13; 3:3; 2. Kor 3:3; 5:17; Eph 4:24; Tit 3:5)

Die göttliche Natur ist in uns, weil Jesus in uns lebt (Gal 2:20; Kol 2:9 – 10)

Das ganze Potenzial Christi, seine ganze Fülle ist in uns, weil Christus in uns lebt und wir Anteil an Gottes Fülle haben durch ihn (Kol 1:19; 2:9 – 10; Eph 1:23)

Unsere neue Identität

Keine Sünder mehr (Röm 5:8; 6:17 – 18, 20, 22), auch keine begnadigten, nicht mehr unter der Knechtschaft der Sünde (Röm 6:6 – 7, 11,18; Röm 8:2; Heb 9:26,28; 10:12; 1. Joh 3:6,9; 5:18) und nicht mehr unter dem Gesetz, sondern unter der Gnade (Röm 6:14; Röm 7:6; Gal 3:25; Gal 4:4)

Heilige  (Eph 1:1,4,7; Heb 10:10,14; Röm 1:7; 5:8 – 9, 19; 6:17 – 18, 20, 22; 1 Kor 1:2; 2. Kor. 1:1; Eph 1:1; Phil 1:1; Kol 1:2,4,12,26; Kol 1:22; Kol 2:14) und Mitbürger der Heiligen, die nicht heiliger werden können, als sie es jetzt schon sind  (Eph 2:19; Heb 2:11, 10:10)

Gerecht durch das Blut Jesu (Röm 5:9), durch seinen Gehorsam (Röm 5:19), durch Glauben (Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11; Röm 1:17; 3:27 – 28,30; 5:1; 8:30,33, 10:4, Heb. 10:38; Gal 2:16; Phil 3:9; Tit 3:7)

Vollkommen durch das Opfer Jesu am Kreuz (Heb 10:14; Kol 1:28)

Geheilt durch seine Wunden (Jes. 53:5)

Frieden mit Gott (Röm 5:1)

Versöhnt mit Gott (Röm 5:10 – 11; Eph 2:16)

Gottes Bundespartner (Mt 26:27; Heb 8:10; 9:15; 10:16; 12:24; 13:20)

Frei von Verdammnis (1. Joh 2:1; Röm 8:1, 33 – 34; 1. Joh 3:19 – 20)

Eine neue Schöpfung (2. Kor 5:17)

Zur Freiheit berufen (Gal 5:1, 13)

Von Gott erwählt und berufen dem Ebenbild Jesu gleich zu sein (Röm 8:28 – 30,33; Eph 1:4; 1 Pet 1:2)

Ein Gefäß der Liebe Gottes, weil seine Liebe in uns ist (Röm 5:5) Gute Werke sind Ausfluss unserer Liebe zu Gott, die ihren Ursprung in unserer Beziehung zu ihm hat

Überwinder weil wir von Gott geboren sind (Röm 8:37; 1. Joh 5:4)

Gottes Knechte der Gerechtigkeit (Röm 6:18; 22)

Bedingungslos geliebt und angenommen von Gott (Röm 8:1,34 – 39; 15:7) Wir müssen uns Gottes Liebe nicht mehr verdienen durch eigene Anstrengungen oder gute Werke

Jesus ist unser Bruder (Heb 2:11,12,17)

Kinder Gottes (Mt 6:9; 7:11; Joh 1:12; Röm 8:14 – 17; Eph 1:5; Gal 3:26; Gal 4:5 – 7; 1. Pet 1:17; 1. Joh 3:1 – 2)

Gottes Erben und Miterben Christi (Röm 8:17; Gal 3:29; 4:7; Eph 1:11; Heb 9:15) Miterben der Verheißung durch Jesus (Heb 6:12,17; Eph 3:6). Alle Verheißungen, die Gott Abraham und seinem Bundesvolk Israel gegeben hat gehören auch uns. Wir haben Anteil an allen geistlichen und materiellen Segnungen (gesellschaftlicher Einfluss, beruflicher Erfolg, Fruchtbarkeit, materieller Segen, Segen in allen Bereichen) (1. Mos 12:2 – 3; 5. Mos 28:1 – 14; Eph 1:3; Röm 4:16; Gal 3:9,29)

Alle Ressourcen, die geistlichen (Weisheit und Erkenntnis) und die materiellen des Vaters stehen uns zur Verfügung (Kol 2:3; Hag 2:8)

Jesus stillt all unsere Bedürfnisse nach Liebe (Joh 3:16; Joh 10:11), Sicherheit (Röm 8:34,38 – 39, Annahme (Röm 15:7), er gibt uns Selbstwert (Ps 139:14) und Bestimmung (Joh 15:8, 16; Röm 7:4) (Mt 6:32; Joh 10:10)

Berufung zu regieren denn wir sind der Kopf und nicht der Schwanz (5. Mos 5:13)

Frei vom Fluch des Gesetzes, weil Christus für uns zum Fluch geworden ist (5. Mos 5:28; Gal 3:13)

Gemeinde ist der Leib Jesu (Eph 1:22 – 23; 3:6)

Sein Werk (Eph 2:10)

Haus Christi (Heb 3:6), ein geistliches Haus aus lebendigen Steinen (1. Pet 2:5)

Gottes Hausgenossen (Eph 2:19)

Gottes Tempel (1. Kor. 3:16; 6:19; 2. Kor 6:16; Eph 2:19 – 23) und Wohnung im Geist (Eph 2:22)

Königliche und heilige Priesterschaft, Gottes heiliges Volk, das Volk des Eigentums (1. Petrus 2:5,9; Tit 2:14; 1. Pet 2:10)

Botschafter (2: Kor 5:20), wir repräsentieren Christus auf Erden

Brief Christi (2. Kor. 3:3), in uns wird Christus für unsere Umwelt sichtbar

Seine Zeugen (Joh 15:27; Apg 1:8), wir bezeugen der Welt, was Gott in unserem Leben getan hat

Wir sind fruchtbar (Ps 1:1 – 3; Ps 92:13 – 15; Joh 15:5)

Wir können die gleichen Werke wie Jesus und noch größere als er tun, weil wir gerecht sind und die ganze Fülle Gottes durch Christi in uns wohnt (Joh 14:12)

Er hat uns Gnadengaben gegeben zum Dienst und zur Auferbauung (Röm 12:6 –

Autorität über alle Macht des Feindes (Lk 10:19 – 20; Eph 1:20 – 23; Kol 2:9 – 10; 1. Pet 3:22)

Zeichen und Wunder (Apg 6:8, 14:3) Über böse Geister, Krankheit (Lk 9:1,6; 10:9,17; Mk 16:17 – 18; Apg 3:6 – 8; 5:15 – 16; 8:6 – 7,13; 9:33 – 34; 14:8 – 10; 16:18; Apg 19:11 -13; 28:8 – 9), Totenauferweckung (Apg 9:36,40 – 41; 20:9 – 12), giftige Schlangen (Apg 28:3 – 5)

Über Naturgewalten

Regen (Jak 5:16 – 18; 1. Kön 17:1, 18:41 – 45)

Unser Bestimmung

Fruchtbar zu sein (Joh 15:8, 16; Röm 7:4). Fruchtbarkeit ist Ausfluss einer engen Beziehung mit Gott (Ps. 1: 1-3; Joh 15:2 – 5)       

Das Reich Gottes, und seine Herrschaft über die ganze Erde auszubreiten und als Könige und Priester zu regieren (Mt 28:19 – 20; 1 Petr 2:5,11; Off 1:6; 5:10)

Die Werke zu tun, die Gott für uns bereitet hat (Eph 2:10; Tit 2:14)

Einfluss zu nehmen auf alle Bereiche der Gesellschaft (1. Mos 1:27 – 28; 9:1 – 2,7; Lk 22:29 – 30; Röm   5:17; 1. Kor 4:8; 2 Tim 2:12)

Für Jesus zu leben (2. Kor 5:15;

Die Wohltaten Gottes verkündigen (1 Pe 2:9)

Jesus und das Werk Christi annehmen bedeutet:

Nicht mehr auf sich selbst und seine eigenen Werke zu vertrauen

Umzukehren von einem selbstsüchtigen, egoistischen Leben

Im kindlichen Vertrauen Jesus annehmen, z.B. durch folgendes Gebet:

Herr, Jesus, ich bekenne Dir, dass ich meinen eigenen Weg gegangen bin, du warst mir gleichgültig, ich habe nicht nach deinem Willen und deinem Plan für mein Leben gefragt. Ich habe Dinge getan, die dir missfallen haben. Ich habe nicht danach gefragt, wie du möchtest, wie ich mit meiner Zeit, meinem Körper und meinen Finanzen umgehen soll. Ich habe dir keine Ehre gegeben, dir nicht gedankt, wo du in mein Leben eingegriffen hast. Ich bitte dich um Vergebung für alle diese Dinge, für alles Schlechte, das ich in meinem Leben getan habe. Ich nehme dich Jesus jetzt als meinen Erlöser an und übertrage dir die Herrschaft über mein Leben.

Amen

The open heaven / El cielo abierto

The first men, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and the relationship with God was destroyed (Ge 3:1-8, 23,24)

Through Christ’s death on the cross (Mt 27:51; Mk 15:38; Lk 23:46; Eph 2:18; 3:11,12; 2:13, Heb 4:16; 10:10-20; Ro 8:1, 33,34) we have gained free access to God everywhere and at anytime. The broken fellowship with God has been restored and we can fellowship with him anywhere and anytime we want (you can talk to God and listen to what he wants to tell you) not only in a church service or in a place where revival takes places.

God answers the prayers of born again Christians as he answers the prayers of Jesus (Prov 15:29; Lk 18:7, 8 a; Jn 14:13; 15:16; 1 Jn 3:31,22) because they are righteous

An intimate relationship with God produces answers to prayers (Jn 15:7)

As born again Christians we don’t need to persuade God or beg him to do things he has promised to do anyway, e.g. to reveal himself to people that they accept Jesus nor try to please him through religious exercises (repentance, fasting) in order that he may answer our prayers (Ro 10:3,4; Col 2:23; Ro 9:30-33)

The law / la ley

The law with his ordinances, ritual cleanings and sacrifices was only a shadow of things to come (Heb 10:1)

The law is God’s standard of holiness (Mt 5:20)

It’ righteous, holy and good (Ro 7:12; 1Ti 1:8)

Through it comes the knowledge of sin (Ro 7:7)

It’s purpose was to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24)

It demands total obedience everywhere and anytime (Dt 28:16-68)

Those who want to be justified by the law must be perfect, to be perfect means total obedience, those who break the law in one single point or doesn’t keep it completely have broken the whole law (Mt 5:20, 48; Jas 2:10)

All have sinned, the prostitute as well as the religious because no one could fulfil the law (Isa 64:5; Ro 3:23; 5,12; Gal 2:16,21)

Christ has not abolished the law but fulfilled it for us (Mt 5:17,18; Gal 4:4,5)

Love is the fulfilment of the law (Ro 13:10)

The exchange / El cambio

God’s claim is perfection, to be perfect as he is (Mt 5:48)

Jesus alone was the perfect sacrifice. He alone was righteous (1 Jn 2:1) and perfect (Heb 5:9; 7:28) and he alone fulfilled the whole law for us completely and always in our place. He alone was without sin (Isa 53:9; Lk 23:41; Jn 8:46; 2 Co 5:21; 1 Pe 2:22; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1 Jn 3:5) and was crucified for us (Heb 7:27; 9:12, 14; 2 Co 5:21; Gal 4:5,5; 1 Pe 1:18,19; 1 Jn 4:10; Rev 5:9)

His sacrifice is sufficient for all past, present and future sin of the whole mankind (Heb 9:26, 28; 10:12,14,18). It covers the sin of all nations (1 Jn 2:2). It covers your own guilt you just have to claim it in faith for yourself

Christ is the mediator of a new covenant between man and God (Heb 9:15; 10:16)

Jesus, the righteous one died for the unrighteous, the sinner to give us his righteousness in exchange for our unrighteousness (Isa 53:4-6,11; 61:10; Ro 3:26; 4:25; 5:6,18,19; 1 Co 15:3; Eph 5:2; Gal 1:4; 4:4,5; Titus 2:14; Heb 2:9,17; 9:26,28; 1 Pe 2:24; 3:18; 1 Jn 2:2; 3:16)

Our old selfish nature has been crucified with him (Ro 6:6, 11; Gal 2:19; 5:24, Col 2:13,14,20)

By accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior we experience the miracle of the new birth (Jesus comes to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit). Through the new birth we experience the exchange and receive a new nature, the divine nature (Jn 1:13; 3:3; 2 Co 3:3; 5:17; Eph 4:24; Titus 3:5)

The divine nature is in us because Christ lives in us (Gal 2:20; Col 2:9,10)

The whole potential of Christ, his whole fullness is in us because Christ lives in us and through him we have received the fullness of God (Col 1:19; 2:9-10; Eph 1:23)

Our new identity / Nuestra nueva identidad

After we received Jesus our status has changed. We are no sinners nor pardoned sinners any more (Ro 5:8; 6:17,18,20,22). We do not live under bondage of sin any longer (Ro 6:6,7,11,18; 8:2; Heb 9:26,28; 10:12; 1 Jn 3:6,9; 5:18). We are no longer under law but under grace (Ro 6:14; 7:6; Gal 3:25; 4:4)

Saints (Eph 1:1,4,7; Heb 10:10,14; Ro 1:7; 5:8,9,19; 6:17,18,20,22; 1 Co 1:22; Col 2:14) and fellow citizens of the saints who can’t be holier as we are already (Eph 2:19; Heb 2:11; 10:10)

Righteous by the blood of Christ (Ro 5:9) through his obedience (Ro 5:19) by faith (Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11; Ro 1:17; 3:27-28,30; 5:1; 8:30,33, 10:4; Heb 10:38; Gal 2:16; Phil 3:9; Titus 3:7)

Perfect through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (Heb 10:14; Col 1:28)

By his stripes we are healed (Isa 53:5)

Peace with God  (Ro 5:1)

Reconciled to God (Ro 5:10,11; Eph 2:16)

Partners of God’s covenant with us (Mt 26:27; Heb 8:10; 9:15; 10:16; 12:24; 13:20)

Free from condemnation (1 Jn 2:1; Ro 8:1, 33,34; 1 Jn 3:19,20)

A new creation (2 Co 5:17)

Called to be free (Gal 5:1,13)

Predestined and called by God to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus (Ro 8:28-30,33; Eph 1:4; 1 Pe 1:2)

A vessel of God’s love because HIS love is in us (Ro 5:5) Good works flow out of our love for God and are a fruit of an intimate relationship with him

Overcomers because we are born of God (Ro 8:37; 1 Jn 5:4)

God’s servants of righteousness (Ro 6:18,22)

Unconditionally loved and accepted by God (Ro 8:1,34-39; 15:17) We do not have to earn God’s love any longer through good deeds and our own efforts

Jesus is our brother (Heb 2:11,12,17)

Children of God (Mt 6:9; 7:11; Jn 1:12; Ro 8:14-17; Eph 1:5; Gal 3:26; 4:5-7; 1 Pe 1:17; 1 Jn 3:1-2

Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Ro 8:17; Gal 3:29; 4:7; Eph 1:11; Heb 9:15) co-heirs of the promise through Jesus (Heb 6:12,17; Eph 3:6) All promises given to Abraham and his covenant people Israel belong to us too through Christ. We are partakers of all spiritual and material blessings (influence in the society, success in our jobs, fruitfulness, material blessings, blessing in all areas of life) (Ge 12:2,3; Dt 28:1-14; Eph 1:3; Ro 4:16; Gal 3:9,29)

All spiritual (wisdom and knowledge) and all material resources of God our father are available to us (Col 2:3; Hag 2:8)

Jesus satisfies all our needs, our need for love (Jn 3:16; Jn 10:11), security (Ro 8:34,38,39), acceptance (Ro 15:7); he gives us self worth (Ps 139:14) and purpose (Jn 15:8, 16; Ro 7:4; Mt 6:32; Jn 10:10)

Our calling is to reign because we are the head and not the tail (Dt 5:13)

Freed from the curse of the law because Christ became a curse for us (Dt 5:28; Gal 3:13)

The church is the body of Christ (Eph 1:22,23; 3:6)

His workmanship (Eph 2:10)

Christ’s house (Heb 3:6), a spiritual house built of living stones (1 Pe 2:5)

Members of God’s household (Eph 2:19)

God’s temple (1 Co 3:16; 6:19; 2 Co 6:16; Eph 2:19-23) and his dwelling place in the Spirit (Eph 2:22)

A holy and kingly priesthood, God’s holy and chosen people, belonging to him (1 Pe 2:5,9; Titus 2:14; 1 Pe 2:10)

Ambassadors (2 Co 5:20) who represent Christ on earth

A letter from Christ (2 Co 3:3), Christ is seen through us by the people around us

His witnesses (Jn 15:27; Ac 1:8), we testify to the world what Christ has done in our lives

We bear fruit (Ps 1:1-3; Ps 92:13-15; Jn 15:5)

We can do the same works Jesus has done and even greater ones because we are righteous and the whole fullness of God dwells in us through Christ (Jn 14:12)

He has given us gifts (Ro 12:6-8)

We have authority over all the power of the enemy (Lk 10:19-20; Eph 1:20-23; Col 2:9,10; 1 Pe 3:22). Signs and wonders (Ac 6:8; 14:3) over evil spirits and sickness (Lk 9:1,6; 10:9,17; Mk 16:17,18; Ac 3:6-8; 5:15,16; 8:6,7,13; 9:33,34; 14:8-10; 16:18; 19:11-13; 28:8,9), resurrection of the death (Ac 9:36,40,41; 20:9-12), poisonous snakes (Ac 28:3-5)

Over nature

Rain (Jas 5:16-18; 1 Ki 17:1, 18:41-45

Our purpose / Nuestro destino

To bear fruit (Jn 15:8,16; Ro 7:4) Fruitfulness is a product of an intimate relationship with God (Ps 1:1-3; Jn 15:2-5

To spread the kingdom and reign of God over the whole earth and to reign as kings and priest (Mt 28:19,20; 1 Pe 2:5,11; Rev 1:6; 5:10)

To do the works God has prepared for us in advance (Eph 2:10; Titus 2:14)

To influence and transform all areas of society (Ge 1:27-28; 9:1,2,7; Lk 22:29,30; Ro 5:17; 1 Co 4:8; 2 Ti 2:12)

To live for Christ (2 Co 5:15)

To declare the praises of God (1 Pe 2:9)

To accept Jesus and the work of Christ means

Not trusting in oneself and his own work any longer

To repent and turn from a selfish and egoistic life

To accept Jesus in childlike faith e.g. through the following prayer:

Lord Jesus, I confess to you that I went my own way, I didn’t care about you. I asked neither for your will and plan for my life nor how to spend my time and money nor how to deal with my body. I have done things which did not please you. I have not honored you. I didn’t give thanks to you where you showed up and helped me. I ask you to forgive me for all the wrong things I have done and I accept you as my personal Savior and ask you to reign over my life as my Lord now.

Amen

In the beginning God created man into his image. Man was a perfect copy of his nature. He was created for an intimate love relationship with God. God had not made a robot but a human being with a free will. He wanted to be loved out of free will and not by force. As a steward man should take care of all what God had created. He gave him dominion to reign over all creation (Ge 1:27 – 28, 31).

Man and God had a very intimate personal relationship. They were close friends. Man lived in paradise. Everything he needed was there in abundance. He lived in total harmony with God, his creator and with creation. He did not know evil. To protect him from all harm God had forbidden man to eat from the tree of good and evil. He wanted to preserve him to think, talk or do evil. He wanted to protect him from the consequences of evil. So he instructed him what would happen if he transgressed his command: Loss of intimacy with him, his creator, loss and perversion of dominion, loss of caretaking of creation and finally death.

One day Satan also called devil, an apostate archangel came in the bodily form of a snake. He seduced man to break God’s command. Man decided to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Now he was able to discern what was good and evil but the price was high.

He lost his intimate relationship with God, he lost his abundant food supply and was driven out of paradise, evilness, pain, sickness, guilt and death came into his world and he had to work hard to make a living.

Wickedness grew and finally filled the whole earth. God was deeply troubled in his heart. Evil was no part of his nature. He hated it to the core. In a worldwide flood he destroyed mankind only Noah and his family who loved God were spared. With Noah God made a covenant and promised never to destroy the earth through a worldwide flood again. The rainbow reminds us of this promise.

Despite of some flaws Abraham had and mistakes he made God found in him a man who fully trusted in him. God made a covenant with him. Abraham became the ancestor of Israel.

He chose Israel as his people. Through Israel the nations should come to know him. To Moses he gave the Ten Commandments and his law (the Mosaic Law). Israel should live according to this law. The purpose of the law was to show that it was impossible to Israel to serve God by her own strength. The law showed God’s standard of absolute obedience and perfection. It demonstrated his claim on man. Who ever wanted to be righteous by following the law had to perfect, totally obedient all the time. This was impossible. No one could reach that standard. Even the high priest who represented Israel before God had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins first and then for the sins of his people when he entered the holiest of holies. Year after year he did that once a year. This was a temporary and imperfect solution unable to solve the problem permanently. It was only a shadow to the future.

But how could this problem of sin which separated man and God be permanently solved? There was a dilemma. God loved man and desired to be in an intimate relationship with him again but he could not deny his standard. How could he, the personification of love, absolutely holy in all of his nature who hated sin to the core have intimate fellowship with man? How could he re-establish man in his original destination without breaking his own law and to become unfaithful to his own nature?

The solution was: God himself became man! Jesus came to the earth and took the bodily form of a man. He was born by the Virgin Mary. She became supernaturally pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the only man who ever lived on this planet without any sin. He lived in such an intimate relationship with the Father as no one else before had. He was totally obedient to God all the time. He only did what the Father showed him to do. He completely fulfilled the law which God had given all the time. He freed us from the curse of the law. He paid the price no one could pay to reconcile us with God and to make us righteous. The price was his life. He gave it for all our unrighteousness, sin, lack of love and compassion, our bitterness and indifference against God and man.

Through his death he passed to us his righteousness in exchange for our unrighteousness. He made sinners to saints. He healed the broken relationship between God and man and man was put back in his original state and calling.

Now, everyone who accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior and his sacrifice in simple faith will experience this.

This can happen in a simple prayer like that:

Lord, Jesus I confess to you that I lived a selfish life. I was indifferent towards you, your plans and your calling for my life. I lived my life according to my own ideas and not according to your will.  I trusted in myself, my own efforts, in my good works to come into heaven. Please forgive me my selfishness. Forgive me all my sin against you and others. In simple faith I ask you Jesus to become my personal Savior and to take control over my life.

Amen.

Afraid of “THE GREAT TRIBULATION”…?

already hiding yourself in the woods?

You don’t need to! If you would have attended Materbuilder’s seminary on “A Victorious Future” – Eine siegreiche Zukunft” or studied the Bible passages on the endtime speeches of Jesus you would know that the GREAT TRIBULATION is already an HISTORIC EVENT. Yes it already happened, AD 66 – 70 and you missed it.

Biblical passages on the GREAT TRIBULATION you should know:

Daniel 9:25 – 27; Matthew 24:1 – 34; Mk 13:1 -23, 30; Lk 21:1 – 24

Non Biblical Sources on the Great TRIBULATION

“The Jewish War” by Flavius Josphus, a Jewish historian and contemporary eyewitness

1) The GREAT TRIBULATION happened between AD 66 – AD 70

In Mt 24:34; Mk 13:23 Jesus says to his disciples that all things which HE described in Mt 24:1 – 33 will happen during the lifetime of THIS PRESENT generation. Jesus said that before his crucifixion, AD 30. A biblical generation lasts about 40 years, so all the signs and events Jesus talks about in Mt 24:1 – 33 must have been fulfilled between AD 30 – AD 70

Let’s see whether that’s true

a) Jerusalem was sieged, conquered, the temple destroyed, the daily sacrifices and the complete sacrifical system ended, Jews were slaughtered, starved to death, enslaved and deported (see Mt 24:2; Mk 13:2, 14 – 23); Lk 21:6, 20 – 24; Dan 9:26 – 27). The Anointed One Daniel is speaking of is the Messiah, “the people of the ruler who will come to destroy the city and the sanctuary” is the emperator Titus and the Roman army, the city is Jerusalem and the sanctuary is the temple

2) THE GREAT TRIBULATION happened to the Jews

see Dan 9:24 (“your people”; “your holy city”) “Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on a Sabbath (Mt 24:20) (NIV), Jesus addressed his Jewish disciples. “There will be great distress in the land and wrath against THIS people. (Lk 21:23 b) (NIV)

3) THE GREAT TRIBULATION happened in Israel

see Dan 9:24 (“your people”; “your holy city”, “let those you are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mt 24:16) (NIV) ”

How were the signs of the end in Mt 24: 1 – 33 fulfilled in history?

First, we must define what is meant with “the end”. Jesus does not speak of the end of the material world but of the end of the Old covenant, which means the end of the sacrificial system. With the perfect sacrifice of Jesus there was no need for daily sacrifices anymore, a new covenant was made, Jesus fulfilled the law and gave us HIS righeousness in exchange for our Unrighteousness, He transferred HIS holiness to us and took our sins upon the cross.

When the Bible speaks about the “LAST DAYS” it speaks about the last days of the old covenant with its sacrificial system its dietary and ceremonial laws (e.g. circumcision, regulation on certain food which was allowed or not allowed to eat). These last days began AD 30 with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and ended with the destruction of the temple AD 70 (see Acts 2:16 – 21,40; 1 Pet 1:5; 1 Pet 1:20 – 21; Heb 9:26; Heb 1:1 – 2)

Now let talk about the signs described in Mt 24: 1 – 33

1) False prophets, heresies, apostacy

The early church was both threathened by Judaizers who wanted to bring the disciples back under the Jewish law (dietary laws, ritual laws …) and by Gnosticism see Acts 15:1, 5 (the council at Jerusalem: Should Gentile believers be circumcised (Acts 15:1, 5), do they have to follow the dieary laws) and Ga 1:6 – 9; Gal 2:3 – 4; Gal 2:14 – 16,21; Gal 3:1 – 5; Gal 5:1 – 12; Acts 28:29 – 30; Rev 2:26; Rev 2:14 – 16; Rev 2:20 -24; 2 Tim 16:18; 1 Cor 15:12 – 14; Col 2:8, 16 – 23; 1 Tim 4:1 – 6; 2 Pet 2:1 – 3; 9- 22; James 4:8, 10 -13, 16 – 19; Rom 16:17 – 18; 2 Cor 11:3 – 4, 12 – 15; Phil 3:18 – 19; 2 Tim 4:2 – 5; 1 Tim 1:19 – 20; 1 Tim 6:20 – 21; 2 Tim 3:1 – 9, 13; 2 Tim 4:10, 14 – 16.

Simon the Magician (Acts 8:9 -11);

Barjesus (Acts 13:4, 6, 8 – 11)

Jewish exorcists (Acts 19:11 – 17)

2) Persecution

mostly by Jews who opposed the gospel, sometimes by Non-Jews because of material reasons (losing income)

see Acts 4:1 – 3, 5 – 11, 16 – 22, 27 – 28; Acts 5:17 - 18, 27 – 28, 30 – 33; Acts 7:51 – 58; 8:1, 3; Acts 9:22 – 30; Acts 12:1 – 4, 17; Acts 14:43 – 45, 49 – 51; Acts 14:1 – 6; Acts 14:19 – 20; Acts 16:16 – 25; Acts 17:1 – 9; Acts 18:1 – 2; Acts 18:12 – 17; Acts 19:23 – 30; Acts 20:1 – 3; Acts 21:10 – 11; Acts 21:27 – 36; Acts 22:22 – 25, 30; Acts 23:2 – 5, 10 – 16; Acts 23:26 – 30; Acts 24:1 – 9, 22 – 23, 27; Acts 26:1 – 15, 17 – 21, 24 – 25, 30 – 32

the persecution under the rule of Nero, AD 64 in Roma

b) the spirit of antichrist and the antichrists (note the plural, the Bible does not speak about THE antichrist!)

1 John 2:18 – 19, 22 – 23, 26; 1 John 4:1 – 6; 2 John 7 – 11

3) wars and rumors of wars

There are numerous wars and military conflicts which took place in the period between AD 30 – AD 70/73, this is an excerpt of the military history of the Roman Empire  and his military conflicts with other nations and within its empire.

uprising in Roma because prices for goods were raised (AD 32)

Annexion of Mauretania (AD 42)

the Chattians invade Roman territory from Germania liberia and are foreced to withraw by the Roman army under Pomponius (AD 50)

war with the Parthians, unsuccessful attempt to conquer Armenia, war with Germanic tribes in Germania, all in AD 58

uprisings in Britannia, AD 61

uprising of Julius Vindex in Gallia, AD 68

civil war in Roma, AD 69

war with the Garamantes in Libyia, AD 69

revolt of the Batavians under Julius Civilis, AD 69

the Jewish – Roman war AD 66 – 70 (the Jewish fortress Massada fell in AD 73)

4) famines and earthquakes

Agabus, a prophet, predicted a severe famine under the reign of emperor Claudius which started in AD 45 and ended AD 48.

(see Apg 11:27 – 28)

famine in Roma, AD 51

When Jesus was dying an earthquake took place in Jerusalem

(see Mt 27: 50 – 54)

Colosä (a Greek city) is destroyed by an earthquake (AD 61)

A severe earthquake took place in the Roman Empire in the Campania, AD 63

Pompeij suffers an earthquake, AD 63

5) The gospel was preached to the ends of (the known) world of the 1st century

see Col 1:5 – 6, 23; Rom 1:8; Rom 10:18

Conclusion:

There is enough biblical and nonbiblical historic evidence to conclude that the events preceding the GREAT TRIBULATION and THE GREAT TRIBULATION itself are historic events. Of course wars, earthquakes, apostacies, false prophets and persecutions have happened since AD 70 until now but the “GREAT TRIBULATION” the Bible speaks of has become history.

So let us not speculate on who the Antichrist is or will be, when the tribulation will take place, whether we will be raptured before or after but let us focus on expanding the kingdom of Christ here on earth, so that all come under the rulership of Christ.

from kadosh