Sabbath or Sunday? How the Early Church Understood the Lord’s Day by Rudolph P. Boshoff
The question of whether Christians should observe the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) or worship on Sunday has been debated for centuries. Some groups insist that Saturday observance is still binding, while the majority of the global Church worships on Sunday. What does the Bible actually say? And how did the early Church understand Jesus’ fulfillment of the Sabbath? The Sabbath in the Old Testament The Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:8–11) was central to Israel's covenant with God: [...]
Understanding Fulfillment, Not Abolition by Rudolph P. Boshoff
One of the most contested and often misunderstood teachings of Jesus is His statement in Matthew 5:17-20: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (NASB) This verse has stirred theological debate for centuries. What does it mean for Jesus to "fulfill" the Law? Does this mean we must keep all of the Old Testament commandments, or did Jesus redefine the [...]
Are Christians Picking and Choosing Bible Commands? by Rudolph P. Boshoff
One of the most common critiques of Christianity is that believers “cherry-pick” the Bible. Skeptics point to Old Testament commandments, like not wearing clothes made from mixed fabrics (Leviticus 19:19) or not boiling a goat in its mother’s milk (Exodus 23:19), and ask why Christians obey some biblical commands while seemingly ignoring others. Are we being inconsistent? The short answer: no, but the issue deserves a thoughtful, biblical explanation. A Book Full of Commandments The [...]
Did Jesus Abolish the Old Testament Law? by Rudolph P. Boshoff
A persistent question in Christian theology is this: Should Christians still keep the Old Testament law, or did Jesus abolish it when He died on the cross? This topic has sparked much debate, especially when interpreting New Testament passages that seem to pull in different directions. However, Jesus' own words in Matthew 5 provide a strong foundation for understanding how He viewed the law and what that means for His followers. What Is the Old Testament [...]
Why Evangelicals Do Not Venerate Mary Like Catholics Do by Rudolph P. Boshoff
As a result of a question posed to me and several friends expressing their deep admiration for Mary, the Mother of God, I decided to write a short article explaining why evangelical Christians often struggle to understand the Catholic perspective. First, let me clarify that there is no scriptural prohibition against venerating Mary. Yet, Scripture appears to encourage prayer to Christ alone, rather than to anyone who has passed away. Furthermore, most Christians seem to [...]
Universalism vs. Traditional Christianity: A Challenge to Core Doctrines by Rudolph P. Boshoff
Recently, I interviewed with my long-time friend, Maverick Witlouw, during which we discussed his views on Universalism. You can watch the conversation here. Universalism, the belief that all people will ultimately be reconciled with God and saved, faces several criticisms from other Christian theological perspectives, particularly from traditionalist and exclusivist viewpoints. Below are the main criticisms, grounded in theological arguments commonly raised: Undermines Biblical Authority and Scriptural Evidence: Critics, especially from evangelical and reformed traditions, [...]
What Christians need to know about Ramadan by Rudolph P. Boshoff
Have you ever thought why Muslims take a month out of each year to practice ritual fasting? I have, and I would love to share this reality with you so you can have some points to speak to your Muslim friends about and so that you can also pray for them. Ramadan marks the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Since it follows the lunar cycle, its exact dates change annually based on the [...]
Soul winning as an battle skill to advance the Kingdom by Rudolph P. Boshoff
It does not take much effort to look at the Church today and realize that it tends to function more inwardly. We urge our members to bring new people to church, essentially inviting them to join the "Jesus club." In all seriousness, however, every member of the community must be a soul winner for the Kingdom of Christ. This is not just because we are soldiers under His command but because this is how the [...]
God Suffering: Peering into the rhythm of qualified passibility by Rudolph P. Boshoff.
The question of whether God has emotions and can be emotionally responsive to humans centers on the debate of divine passibility versus impassibility. Passibility means God can be affected by external actions, experiencing pleasure or pain caused by others, or changing his own emotions internally. Impassibility, on the other hand, asserts that God cannot be acted upon or experience emotional changes. Biblical evidence often depicts God as experiencing emotions in response to human actions, such as [...]
What did Jesus the unique Son of God accomplish and what did Jesus the perfect man accomplish? by Rudolph P. Boshoff
The life and work of Jesus Christ stand at the heart of the Christian faith. Historically, Jesus encompasses two realities: one of transcendent infinitude and one of immanent finitude. Jesus was the God-Man, or as the Reformer Theologian R.C. Sproul said, "Truly God and Truly man." So, to fully grasp His significance, believers must explore two essential aspects of His identity: Jesus as the unique Son of God and Jesus as the perfect man. These [...]