Questions: Marriage, adultery and divorce

In order to know what marriage is and foreshadows and – consequently- why God hates divorce, it is necessary to look to the beginning of marriage. It has been instituted by God himself in relation tot our first parents, Adam and Eve: 18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet for him."


Questions: Romans 15: 17-21 and Corinthians 10: 14-17

Romans 15:17-21 17 I have therefore cause that I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed,


Questions: Is the Bible the Book of God?

Who in our country will still read the Bible? The Christians that do it, will no doubt be a small percentage of the population. Many think even the idea of reading the Bible ridiculous. They are convinced, that we are living in the post Christian age and that Christians and their churches are fighting a rearguard action in a lost war in which they moreover are little zealous.


Questions: Does God exist?

This world is not what it should be. Are you happy with the world? More than two hundred thousand people died by the tsunami near Adceh. A young woman with little children has a tumour in her head and is dying. Her old mother meanwhile is so feeble, that she even cannot visit her daughter any more; it would be her own death. She only can pray for her.


Questions: God, what's keeping Him?

Go aside please. Let me try. There they stand together, bent under the opened bonnet of their car, halfway on the shoulder. Go aside, please, and one is pushing the other in order to be able to see what is the matter. Meanwhile all have got dirty hands, but the motor still does not run.


Misunderstandings: Speaking in tongues

A sign to Israel. In 1 Corinthians 14:27 and 28 the apostle wrote about speaking in tongues: “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or at the most by three, and then in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.


Misunderstandings: The image of the potter

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Misunderstandings: It has to be given to us

Aunt Ger had grown old and could no longer be alone in her house. She therefore had chosen to live in lodgings at a farm, for elsewhere a farmers wife cannot easily feel at home. She was a really old woman and probably would not live much longer. Nephew Hans visited her and tried to speak about the grace of God, in the hour of death the only sure and reliable foundation.


Misunderstandings: Religion and violence

In various recent conflicts and certainly in the tragic events of 11 September religious convictions have plaid a role. Owing to that some criticize all religion and call it the big source of violence and war. Others are trying to find answers and solutions that enable them to defend and clear their own religion in that respect.


Explanations: Christians and politics

Make the cross count, the title of a pamphlet re politics. The crux of the matter the brochure is dealing with in my opinion is threefold: How do you understand the so called Cultural Commision in Genesis 1:28, what are its implications? How do you see the world before Christ? How do you see the world we are now living in?


Explanations: Seven Parables, Seven mysteries

In Matthew 13 we have seven parables of the Lord re the Kingdom of heaven. His disciples asked Him: "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" 11 He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. Matthew 13:10, 11.


Explanations: Rebirth

What is that? That question has been asked by Nicodemus, who went to the Lord Jesus in the hours of the night. He did not want anyone to know that he had spoken with Him. He, Nicodemus, was a rabbi in Israel and supposed it to be worthwhile to speak with the rabbi of Nazareth.


Explanations: Jonah, fish and gourd

Preaching against Nineveh? Announcing judgment? That meant that the Lord wanted to warn the inhabitants, in order that they would repent and judgment would no longer be necessary. That was not what Jonah liked. The people in Nineveh were good for nothing. Let them be judged! So Jonah turned and went down to Joppe in order to flee to Tarshish.


Explanations: The prophecy of Nahum

Postponement is no cancellation. 1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. Another prophecy speaking of Nineveh only? Yes, for the mercy and grace of which the book of Jonas witnesses, could lead to a wrong conclusion, like now many draw wrong conclusions as well from Gods grace and longsuffering, thinking there will never be judgment.


Explanations: The return of a runaway slave

A unique address. The epistle of Paul to Philemon is the fourth epistle of the apostle in the New Testament, that has been written to one person. The other three are the two epistles to Timothy and the one to Titus But the epistle to Philemon has a characteristic which the other three have not. In his greeting Paul did not direct himself to Philemon only, but he included the sister Apphia,


Bible Book: Colossians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ, who are at Colossae: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Bible Book: Colossians 2

1 For I would that ye knew how great is my conflict for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may acknowledge the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ,


Bible Book: Colossians 3

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.


Bible Book: Colossians 4

1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equitable, knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven. 2 Continue in prayer and watch therein with thanksgiving,. There have always been masters and servants. And each often thought to have full say on his own field.


Bible Book: Ephesus 1

Christ and the faithful in Him. The church in Ephesus (Chapter 1). Among the churches that are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures the church in Ephesus has a very special place. Not without reason and it is worth while to pay attention to what has been written about Ephesus, before commenting on the epistle to the saints in that town.


Bible Book: Ephesus 2

The beginning as a sinner and the consequence of his being in Christ. 1 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.


Bible Book: Ephesus 3

An extensive parenthesis. 1 For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles— This beginning of the chapter is resumed in the first verse of the next chapter. Before resuming the apostle has given a parenthesis in this chapter, going on till the end of it. The apostle did not mean to say that he was a prisoner for Christ’s sake,


Bible Book: Ephesus 4

Admonition to be unanimous, Gifts of Christ for the edifying of his body, the church 1 I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, 3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.


Bible Book: Ephesus 5

Followers of God, followers of Christ. 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. If we have learned Christ, put on Christ, and have been created after God in righteousness and true holiness,


Bible Book: Ephesus 6

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor thy father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise, 3 "that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." In this epistle the high and blessed heavenly position of the church is emphatically explained.