Bybelskool » Wat is geloof in Jesus Christus? – Die belydenisskrifte
1. Lees die aanhalings uit die Nederlandse Geloofsbelydenis 22, Heidelbergse Kategismus 21, 32-33 en Westminster Geloofsbelydenis 10. Wat leer jy oor geloof in Jesus Christus? Wat beteken dit vir jou? Wat vra dit van jou?
Nederlandse Geloofsbelydenis 22
Ons glo dat die Heilige Gees ‘n opregte geloof in ons harte laat ontvlam om die ware kennis van hierdie groot geheimenis te verkry. Die geloof omhels Jesus Christus met al sy verdienstes. Dit maak Hom ons eie en soek na niks anders as na Hom nie. Daar is dus net twee moontlikhede: In Jesus Christus is nie alles wat vir ons saligheid nodig is nie, óf dit is alles wél in Hom, en dan het hy wat Jesus Christus deur die geloof besit, sy volle saligheid. Om nou te beweer dat Christus nie genoegsaam is nie maar dat daar buite Hom nog iets meer nodig is, sou gruwelike godslastering wees, want dit sou beteken dat Christus slegs ‘n halwe Verlosser is. Ons sê daarom tereg saam met Paulus dat ons deur die geloof alleen of deur die geloof sonder die werke geregverdig is (Rom. 3:28).
Om presies te wees: Ons bedoel nie dat die geloof self ons regverdig maak nie, want die geloof is slegs die middel waardeur ons Christus, ons Geregtigheid, omhels, maar wel dat Jesus Christus ons Geregtigheid is. Hý reken ons sy hele verdienste toe en ook al sy heilige werke wat Hy vir ons en in ons plek gedoen het, terwyl die geloof die middel is wat ons in die gemeenskap aan al sy weldade aan Hom verbind. En as die weldade ons eiendom geword het, is hulle meer as genoeg om vryspraak vir ons sondes te verkry.
Heidelbergse Kategismus 21, 32-33
Vraag 32: Waarom word jy ‘n Christen genoem (a)?
Antwoord: Omdat ek deur die geloof ‘n lid van Christus is (b) en daardeur deel aan sy salwing het (c) sodat ek sy Naam kan bely (d), myself as ‘n lewende dankoffer aan Hom kan toewy (e) en in hierdie lewe met ‘n vrye gewete teen die sonde en die duiwel kan stry (f) en hierna met Christus in ewigheid oor alle skepsels kan regeer (g).
Westminster Geloofsbelydenis 10
1. At the right time, appointed by him, God effectually calls all those and only those whom he has predestined to life. He calls them by his word and Spirit out of their natural state of sin and death into grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.1 He enlightens their minds spiritually with a saving understanding of the things of God.2 He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh.3 He renews their wills and by his almighty power leads them to what is good.4 And so he effectually draws them to Jesus Christ.5 But they come to Jesus voluntarily, having been made willing by God’s grace.6
1. Rom 8.28,30, 11.7, Eph 1.5,10-11, 2 Thes 2.13-14, 2 Cor 3.3,6, Rom 8.2, 2 Tm 1.9-10, Jn 15.16, Acts 13.48, 1 Thes 5.9, Jas 1.18, 1 Cor 2.12, Eph 2.1-10.
2. Acts 26.18, 1 Cor 2.10,12, Eph 1.17-18, 2 Cor 4.6.
3. Ez 36.26.
4. Ez 11.19, Phil 2.13, Dt 30.6, Ez 36.27, Phil 4.13, Jn 3.5, Gal 6.15, Ti 3.5, 1 Pt 1.23.
5. Eph 1.19, Jn 6.44-45.
6. Sg 1.4, Ps 110.3, Jn 6.37, Rom 6.16-18, Mt 11.28, Rv 22.17; see under figure 5 above.
2. This effectual call is freely made by God and is entirely an act of his special grace. It does not depend on anything God foreknew or foresaw about the person called, 7 who is completely passive. God himself gives life and renewal by the Holy Spirit.8 He thereby enables each person to answer his call and to accept the grace he offers and actually gives.9
7. 2 Tm 1.9, Ti 3.4-5, Eph 2.4-5, 8-9, Rom 9.11.
8. 1 Cor 2.14, Rom 8.7-9, Eph 2.5.
9. Jn 6.37, Ez 36.27, Jn 5.25.
3. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ, through the Spirit,10 who works when, where, and how he pleases.11 The same is true of all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word.12
10. Lk 18.15-16, Acts 2.38-39, Jn 3.3,5-6, 1 Jn 5.12, Rom 8.9, Gn 17.7, Ps 105.8-10, Ez 16.20-21, Gal 3.29, Acts 16.15,31-33, 1 Cor 1.16.
11. Jn 3.8.
12. 1 Jn 5.12, Acts 4.12, Jn 3.8, 16.7-8.
4. Others, not elect, may be called by the ministry of the word, and the Spirit may work in them in some of the same ways he works in the elect. However, they never truly come to Christ and therefore cannot be saved.13 And, of course, people, not professing the Christian religion, cannot be saved in any other way at all,14 no matter how hard they try to live a moral life according to their own understanding or try to follow the rules of some other religion. To say they can be saved is extremely harmful and should be denounced.15
13. Mt 22.14, 7.22, 13-15, 20-21, Heb 6.4-6, Jn 6.64-66, 8.24, 1 Jn 2.19, Acts 28.24.
14. Acts 4.12, Jn 14.6, Eph 2.12-13, Jn 4.22, 17.3.
15. 2 Jn 9-11, 1 Cor 16.22, Gal 1.6-8.
2. Loof die Here in gebed vir die spesifieke wysheid en insig wat die geloofsbelydenisse jou gee oor geloof in Jesus Christus.