What Jesus Affirmed About the Old Testament and Promised About the New by Rudolph Boshoff
When Jesus walked the earth, the New Testament had not yet been written. So whenever He referred to “the Scriptures,” He was speaking of the Old Testament. What He believed and taught about the Old Testament reveals a great deal about its authority — and even points forward to the New Testament. 1. Jesus Affirmed the Divine Authority of the Old Testament Jesus often used the phrase “It is written” — more than 90 times! [...]
Let Jesus transform you by Henri Nouwen
You are looking for ways to meet Jesus. You are trying to meet him not only in your mind but also in your body. You seek his affection, and you know that this affection involves his body as well as yours. He became flesh for you so that you could encounter him in the flesh and receive his love in the flesh. But something remains in you that prevents this meeting. There is still a [...]
God’s role in pain and suffering: A Theocentric Model for Theodicy by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
Every worldview attempts to explain the significance of pain and suffering, as well as the existence of evil. The atheist argument frequently makes God the direct object of these talks in the majority of these discussions. There are times in the Bible when God's activities are viewed as causing harm or disaster. It should be noted that Christians do not find these comments problematic in any way, and there are several points of view that they [...]
African Prosperity Teaching by Dr Craig S. Keener
Over a decade ago I even planned an entire book challenging prosperity teaching. The prospective publisher turned it down, shortsightedly complaining that no one believes in prosperity teaching anymore. I knew from wide experience that this death knell was premature, but the book would not likely have accomplished much anyway; I would have been preaching to the choir. I would probably go further against prosperity teaching than most people. I am committed to living simply [...]
What is the difference between one-self and three-self models of the Trinity and why does it matter? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
The "one-self" and "three-self" models of Trinitarianism are terms that are often used to discuss different theological understandings of the Trinity. Let me explain the differences between them: One-self Trinitarianism (also known as Monarchianism or Modalism): This perspective emphasizes the unity of God and suggests that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or manifestations of the same divine being. According to this view, there is only one self or person within the [...]
How did the Greek and Latin Fathers differ in their view of the Trinity? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
The Greek Fathers and the Latin Fathers, representing the Eastern and Western Christian traditions, respectively, had some differences in their views of the Trinity. These differences were influenced by various factors, including cultural, linguistic, and theological contexts. Here are some key points of contrast: One significant difference between the Greek and Latin Fathers was the language and terminology they used to discuss the Trinity. The Greek Fathers, such as Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, [...]
Should I expect that miracles are for today? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
Should I expect miracles today? In the first part of this article, I dispelled the idea that miracles only took place in a very short period in the Biblical era. There seems to be a plentitude of faith healers and Churches that seem to think so. A significant proportion of the future Church in Africa seems to hold that miracles are normative, and we can expect God's supernatural way of dealing with our everyday lives. [...]
Did miracles happen only in a fraction of the Biblical era? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
Reformed Theologian Dr. John MacArthur writes. “Most biblical miracles happened in three relatively brief periods of Bible history: in the days of Moses and Joshua, during the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, and in the time of Christ and the apostles... All three periods of miracles were times when God gave his written revelation— Scripture— in substantial quantities. Those doing the miracles were essentially the same ones heralding an era of revelation. Moses wrote the [...]
Why does Jesus love me? By Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
I talked with a gentleman on a flight from Johannesburg (SA) to Durban (SA) a few months ago. Because I was wearing my SATS shirt, our talk veered into the topic of faith and God. First, the gentleman noted that several of his best friends were quite religious, but he didn't see them doing anything special besides attending Church. When I asked him about his faith, he said he never felt good enough to pray or [...]
Does God still hate Sin? By Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
Obviously, I am writing this question being very qualified in the area of Sin. Please, I do not think for a moment that you, the reader, also share any claim to ultimate perfection. I have written elsewhere about the Biblical definition of Sin. I am keenly aware that some of us have justified what is displeasing to the Lord by minimizing what we personally struggle with. For some of us, we have totally disqualified ourselves [...]