What is the Gospel?

Views: 241

The gospel means good news.

The good news is that fallen man, who is an enemy of God, has an advocate with God.

The good news is that God sent his son to die in the place of sinners so that God might be both Just in punishing sin, but also be the Justifier who saves those who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The good news is that sin has been dealt with on the cross.

The good news is that we have Hope of eternal life because of Christ who died for sin and who was raised again on the third day.

The gospel is good news that only has meaning when we recognize the bad news; that we are sinners who are separated from God because of our sins.

Fear of man and cowardice

Views: 23

The Book of Revelation depicts the grand finale of human history. The last thing that will happen before our Savior establishes His kingdom on earth is the final judgment, where we will all be held accountable for how we have lived our lives. After that, heavenly existence enters, with the wonderful promise from the Lord Himself: “He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son” (Rev. 21:7).

But there is also something very encouraging in the Bible texts regarding this. To “overcome” is not just about having faith deep in your heart. As crucial as faith in the heart is, it is meant to go hand in hand with confession in the mouth: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Jesus is actually even more pointed when he speaks about this. “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,” he says. “But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32–33). And in another place: “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and in the glory of his Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

Throughout the Bible, one could say, there is a call for God’s people to be bold. “Do not throw away your boldness, which has great reward,” says Hebrews 10:35. It is therefore telling that when Revelation lists those who will not be part of God’s heavenly fellowship, the first ones mentioned are not murderers or idolaters or occultists​—although they are also on the list. Instead, they are “the cowards” (see Rev. 21:8). Those who have not stood up for Jesus and his word.

The call to boldness rests especially heavily on Christian leadership. “Not many of you should become teachers, for you know that we will receive a stricter judgment,” writes Jesus’ brother James (James 3:1). And in the epistle of the Book of Revelation, Jesus repeatedly points out what the churches and their leadership tolerate. So it is not just the ungodly actions of God’s people that are condemned, but their unwillingness to act against groups and individuals who are misleading the church (see Revelation 2:14–16, 20).  In other words: It is the fear of man and cowardice of believers that Jesus addresses.

In Acts 15, we read how the apostle Peter goes against the people to defend Paul and Barnabas in their controversial work among the Gentiles.

One possible background to Peter’s courage is that Paul had previously publicly confronted him when he acted submissively and cowardly in relation to his Jewish Christian brothers in Antioch (see Gal. 2:11–14). Paul’s courage in relation to Peter thus contributed to Peter’s daring to go against the stream a few years later at the apostolic council in Jerusalem.

These are lessons that we in Swedish Christianity and elsewhere need to take very seriously. More than many other countries, we are characterized by a culture of consensus. We do not like to go against the grain, and even in the congregations we are plagued by the curse of the law of janten (don’t think you are more special than others). The basic reflex is to keep our heads down, not to stand out, not to be too … bold.

At the same time, in retrospect, we can see that Christianity’s best moments have been when we have had the courage to go against our cultural norm of caution. When we have boldly stood up for Jesus and his words. When we have broken with fear and timidity. When, like Paul and (later) Peter, we have been clear in our confession, even in the face of pressure from our surroundings.

Let us therefore, in the light of the Bible’s exhortations, come to terms with our own cowardice. Let us stand up for all of God’s counsel. And let us spur each other on to a culture of true, norm-breaking boldness in our congregations!

Good Friday – Jesus is crucified

Views: 81

Before the Passover feast, and in the darkness of the night, Jesus is captured by the Pharisees (the priests). They want Him crucified and put to death. The reasons are many; they don’t believe in everything that Jesus says, and Jesus is confronting and questioning their character. There is also the jealousy of the Pharisees, who were looking for a another kind of savior, a Messiah, and Jesus proclaimation of the Kingdom of God wasn’t well received at all.

Jesus is sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who has the authority to put Jesus to death, the Jews don’t have that legal right. When Pilate questions Jesus, he finds the accusations harmless and believes there should be no charges against him. But the Pharisees are determined to put Jesus to death, so Pilate are pressured to avoid an uprising and therefore agrees to punish Jesus with 39 lashes and torture. After Jesus is severely beaten, he is shown again to the Pharisees and a crowd of people. Pilate who has sympathy for Jesus, wants to release him and tells the people that they can choose to free Jesus or a captured murderer called Barabbas. The Pharisees shout; Jesus, crucify Jesus! So Pilate is forced to decide that Jesus should be sentenced to death when the Pharisees incite the crowd to demand Jesus be crucified. Then Jesus carries the cross to Golgotha, the place where he is crucified next to two thieves.

The thieves who are crucified next to Jesus, together with the spectators, mock Jesus and ask him to help himself and them, if he is the Son of God. But then one of the thieves asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes in the kingdom of God. Jesus replies that he will be with him in paradise.

When Jesus hangs on the cross, darkness falls over the earth and Jesus prays to God with the words from Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And later he says “It is finished” and ask God to receive his spirit.

Jesus gives up his spirit and dies, and the earth shakes and a soldier pierces Jesus’ side with his spear to confirm that he is dead. Another soldier guarding the cross says: “Surely this man was the Son of God. One of the disciples then takes down Jesus’ body, wraps it in linen cloths and spices, and lays it in a tomb near the place where he was crucified. After three days, Jesus rises from the dead and appears to his diciples again.

Short clip how Jesus was crucified on the cross at Golgata. From the move Gospel of John.

Herrnhut brotherly agreement of 1727

Views: 273

In the village of Herrnhut (Sachsen, Germany) a brotherly agreement was made in 1727 between the Christian inhabitants through the hand of Count Zinzendorf.

“WHOEVER DOES NOT DAILY PROVE HIS FAITH BY HIS WHOLE CONVERSATION – THAT IT IS HIS FULL DETERMINATION TO BE DELIVERED FROM SIN,
THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS, AND TO FOLLOW DAILY MORE AFTER HOLINESS,
TO GROW IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS LORD,
TO BE CLEANSED FROM ALL SPIRITUAL IDOLATRY, VANITY, AND SELF-WILL,
TO WALK AS JESUS DID, AND TO BEAR HIS REPROACH AND SHAME
– SUCH AN ONE IS NOT A GENUINE BROTHER.”

2016 el Camino Frances photos

Views: 193

Misty river in the morning
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Trail at el Camino Frances
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Camino Frances 2024
Camino Frances 2024

You probably came to this page because you have received our flyer. We are in Spain where we walk the Camino Frances. If you want to know more about this flyer you can start the presentation below: I came to faith in Jesus 2012. I was a business man in Sweden when I had a radical and supernatural encounter with God. Here you can read my testimony. More and more movies will be published here, from the Camino this April and May 2024. At the moment I have managed to edit and upload five videos on YouTube. Hope you will […]

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New Testament overview

Views: 774

NT contains 27 books and letters, probably written before the destruction of Jerusalem 70 AD but definitely after Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Matthew: A brief history of the life of Christ, pointing to Jesus as the promised Messiah.
AUTHOR: The early church uniformly attributed this Gospel to Matthew, and no tradition to the contrary ever emerged. This book was known early and accepted quickly. Matthew occupied the unpopular post of tax collector in Capernaum for the Roman government, and as a result he was no doubt disliked by his Jewish countrymen. He was chosen as one of the twelve apostles and the last appearance of his name in the Bible is in Acts 1:13. Matthew’s life
from that point on is veiled in tradition.
TIMES: 4 BC-AD 33
KEY VERSES: Mt 16:16-19
THEME: Matthew is typically described as the story of Jesus written by a Jew for Jewish people. In this context it contains the most references to Jewish culture and the Old Testament of the Gospels. The author’s main purpose seems to be proving to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah. Matthew is also the fullest systematic account of Christ’s teachings. These 5 “blocks” of teaching are one of the key differences with the other Gospels: Chapters 5-7, The Sermon on the Mount; Chapter 10, The Mission Charge; Chapter 13, The Parables of the Kingdom; Chapter 18, The Church; Chapters 23-25, Judgment and the End of the World.

Mark: The briefest and most fast-paced history of the life of Christ.

Luke: The history of the life of Christ, focusing on his important miracles and teachings.

John: The life of Christ, including many teachings and events not recorded by the other gospel authors.

Acts: The history of the apostles and the early Christian church.

Romans: Paul writes extensively on key realities of Christian belief and justification by faith alone.

1 Corinthians: Paul speaks to the errors of the church in Corinth.

2 Corinthians: Paul encourages the church in Corinth and defends his character.

Galatians: Paul’s letter points out that believers are justified by faith, not by our own efforts.

Ephesians: Paul’s positive letter focuses on God’s amazing grace and urges the church to live in love.

Philippians: Paul writes on Christian contentment, unity and kindness.

Colossians: Paul warns his audience against following false teaching, focusing on Jesus’ work of salvation.

1 Thessalonians: Paul encourages his listeners to continue to live in a way that pleases God.

2 Thessalonians: Paul encourages the church and talks about Jesus’ second coming.

1 and 2 Timothy: Paul encourages and instructs his young student Timothy in his role as a pastor.
AUTHOR of 1 Timothy: The external evidence solidly supports the position that Paul wrote the letters to Timothy and Titus. Only Romans and 1 Corinthians have better attestation among the Pauline Epistles. Pauline authorship of the Pastoral Epistles requires Paul’s release from his Roman imprisonment (Acts 28),the continuation of his missionary endeavors, and his imprisonment for a second time in Rome. Unfortunately, the order of events can only be reconstructed from hints, because there is no concurrent history paralleling Acts to chronicle the last years of the apostle. It is most probable that Paul wrote 1 Timothy from Macedonia in AD 62 or 63 while Timothy was serving as his representative in Ephesus.
TIMES: AD 62-6390
KEY VERSES: Ti 3:15-16
THEME: The letters to Timothy and Titus are generally called the “Pastoral” Epistles. They are pastoral in tone and in the subject matter they address. While covering much of the apostolic instruction on the life and doctrine of the church, they also provide some guidelines on how Christians in the church should relate to society. One of the overriding concerns of the books is that truth be valued and guarded. Too often today, truth is subjective and culturally conditioned to the point where people don’t even have problems believing mutually contradictory ideas. Paul speaks of the value of truth in his own apostolic role, and he stands against false teachers who would distort the truth for their own ends.

AUTHOR of 2 Timothy: Fearing for their own lives, the Asian believers failed to support Paul after his second Roman imprisonment and his first defense before the Imperial Court (1:15; 4:16). Now he was in a cold Roman cell (4:13) without hope of acquittal in spite of the success of his initial defense. Under these conditions, Paul wrote this epistle in the fall of AD 67, hoping that Timothy would be able to visit him before the approaching winter (4:21).
TIMES: AD 66-67
KEY VERSES: 2Ti 3:14-17
THEME: This is likely the last of Paul’s writings that we have. He writes this letter from a prison cell where he is being kept like a common criminal. He knows that his work on earth is nearing its conclusion, and these are then his last words of counsel to his trusted companion in ministry. One can sense his weariness, but also his strongly held conviction about what is necessary for the continued growth of the church. One can also clearly see the hope that sustains him as he looks forward to going home to Christ.

Titus: Paul encourages Titus in his role as a pastor.

Philemon: Paul asks a believing slave owner to treat a believing slave with kindness.

Hebrews: A discourse on how Jesus is the ultimate and permanent fulfillment of the Mosaic Law.

James: A letter from Jesus’ brother on the necessity of combining faith with work.

1 and 2 Peter: The apostle warns and encourages his audience as they live their Christian lives.

1 John: John elegantly explains basic truths about the Christian life.

2 John: John warns a believing lady about false teachers.

3 John: John’s letter to a believing man thanking him for his hospitality.

Jude: A letter warning Christians against those who try to deceive them.

Revelation: John’s vision of the exalted Christ and the future of the church.

Camino Frances 2024

Views: 507

You probably came to this page because you have received our flyer. We are in Spain where we walk the Camino Frances. If you want to know more about this flyer you can start the presentation below:

I came to faith in Jesus 2012. I was a business man in Sweden when I had a radical and supernatural encounter with God. Here you can read my testimony.

More and more movies will be published here, from the Camino this April and May 2024. At the moment I have managed to edit and upload five videos on YouTube. Hope you will enjoy watching them and that the music with it’s lyrics will have an impact on you.

This link will take you to a playlist on YouTube with all our videos from walking the Camino Frances in Spain in 2017 and 2024.

Pilgrim's progress
Pilgrim’s Progress

We recommend watching the animated movie Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, if you would like to have a wider understanding what challenges lies ahead as a follower of Christ. We are all pilgrims while we walk here on earth, we are just ” passing through”. Here you can watch it for free.

“You are invited to walk with God”, short audio teaching by Bible teacher Derek Prince:

Start of the Camino Continue reading “Camino Frances 2024”

The love of God was so overwhelming!

Views: 1220

Throughout his upbringing, David’s heart was passionate for Islam and he was a jihadist who wanted to get Christians to convert to Islam. But God brought him from his home country to Sweden – where he met God. The emptiness he had felt disappeared and for the first time in his life; he felt loved.
33-year-old David, likes to carry the Bible under his arm. It’s “my weapon,”as he describes it. But there was a time in David’s life when he was searching for completely different weapons.

Born and raised in a strict, Muslim family in Afghanistan, it was Islamic thoughts that characterized him. He tried to be the best Muslim he could. All he did was to honor Muhammed. David, born with a Muslim name, hated Jews. He thought Christians were “poisonous” and felt that they were not following God’s path properly.
But deep in his heart he felt an emptiness, he felt that there had to be something deeper and he have always had a longing for it.

David tried to fill the void inside in different ways. First by investing in kung-fu, where he got a black belt. Then in kickboxing, where he also reached the top. In both sports he discovered that there was a “roof” that could not be lifted – then there was no more. The emptiness persisted. He have been at the top of the martial arts, but still his soul just got weaker.

Later he joined forces with jihadists and wanted to go to Syria and to fight in the war, assured that this was the path the Quran urged him to take if he wanted to come to paradise. He wanted to go out in jihad [holy war; red note]. He needed to kill another man to get to heaven, that was the promise of Allah. So he was convinced and desired to die in battle. But he never came to Syria. Thanks to the grace of God, David explains today. Continue reading “The love of God was so overwhelming!”

Why you need to study the Bible (and more)

Views: 5555

The knowledge of Jesus (who is the Word in the flesh, see John chapter 1) and the knowledge of the written Word, they cannot be separated. To know the Bible is to know Jesus, and vice versa. It is like knowing the author when reading one of his books.
Further more, Academics (knowledge) must lead to Application (wisdom) which must lead to Compliance (obedience). When you hear the Word you must Obey.

It is elementary and of most importance, that we move from carnality into spirituality. This can only happen when you receive the Holy Spirit. That’s called to be Born Again. When the new Spirit starts to live inside us, our new being, it will not completely destroy the old creature (our old man, bond to sin). They coexist and struggle for control (Romans 7:22-25). “Head knowledge” does not change us. “Heart knowledge” is the objective of the teaching gift. We need a change of heart; from a stony heart into one of flesh. One that is open to God, one that loves God above everything. A heart that truly loves people. Which loves to exercise righteousness (do what is right and pleasing to God). Christianity is really a heart (love) issue. A Christian faith and community should be constituted by personal relationship with God through Christ, a relationship known in the heart rather than through the mind. Ezekiel 18:31; 36:26,27

Bible studies draws the students (disciples) into the Word. It allows us to see how we, and our families and our churches measure up. “Mind the gap!” was the mantra of the prophets, who constantly warned God’s people when they went astray. Reading the Scriptures (Bible) should inspire and encourage others to have the same peace and joy we have, as adopted children of God, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, our King and Lord.

Reading the word and meditate on the Bible verses, should encourages us to press toward the mark when we stumble. It helps us to keep the faith and to have patience while under trouble times. The Bible convicts us when we are wrong – and it mirrors us, we can through the stories see the problematic state (fallen nature) we are in. But it also shows us the way out, and gives us joy when we claim and see the promises of God being fulfilled, for those who listen, obey and fear Him. Continue reading “Why you need to study the Bible (and more)”