Christ’s Humility (The cross and all my life Part 1)

A transcription of a sermon on humility preached by Rev. Martin Holdt.

THE CROSS AND ALL MY LIFE Part 1
Read Philippians 2: 5 – 11

Read part II of this series here: Part II

A call to imitate the humility of Christ

It happens to be one of the greatest Christological statements in the New Testament and it follows a plea to Christians to be humble.  When the apostle Paul introduced the subject he did so in verses 1 to 4 of chapter 2: “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, in the affection and sympathy complete my joy by being of the same mind and having the same love.  Being in full accord and of one mind.”
Before I go on to verse 3 and 4, I suggest to you that the actual theme of Philippians is not so much joy, it is unity.  I wish I had time to show you that.  You read it for yourself and see how often the apostle deals with the whole matter of unity.
Verse 3:  “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility. Count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.
And then the introduction to about what he has to say about Jesus Christ: “Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus.
Then the verses that we are going to be looking at.  It is a call to imitate the humility of Jesus Christ, which none of us will ever do as much as we ought to.  But it is there for us, it is there to challenge us.  There is nothing so like Jesus Christ as true godly humility. If you would be like Him, you need to be humble. Continue reading “Christ’s Humility (The cross and all my life Part 1)”

The cross and the world – what is the Gospel?

Author: Martin Holdt
This is the second part of the sermon, which is transcribed, delivered by Rev Martin Holdt, entitled, The cross and the world.

What is the gospel? It is what God has done in Christ. It is called by the apostle Paul “justification”. Just so that you can understand where we are at, because I don’t think that all of you have got this sorted out. Please allow me in as simple terms as possible to tell you.

Years ago I had a phone call from a lady I did not know. She said on the telephone: “Do you preach the doctrine of justification?” What a strange question, on the telephone, from a woman. So I said, just tell me why do you ask? She said: “Come and see me.” I did. Continue reading “The cross and the world – what is the Gospel?”

Glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ – Part 2

Author: Martin Holdt
This is a continuation of a series of sermons, transcribed, preached by Martin Holdt, “The Cross”. Read further, for part 2 of the message “Glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ”.

There is nowhere else where you will so see the love of God as in the cross. No wonder Paul finds glory in that. I want to drink deep of the fountain of God’s love. So I will make it a daily exercise to stop to pause and to think about that love. Incidently, please don’t think that you have got to get a necklace with a little superstitious cross or a bracelet. No. You ponder and you think about what happened there. God at work. His love and of course His mercy. Is there a God as forgiving as that? You know, it seems to me that this last generation of Christians has all but forgotten what forgiveness is all about. I am not talking about divine forgiveness, that too, yes, but interpersonal forgiveness. The way we harbour bitterness against fellow believers. Go back to God, go back to the cross. Look at the offences there, against the righteous, glorious God. What does the cross tell you? God is merciful, very merciful, o so merciful. Continue reading “Glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ – Part 2”

Glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ – Part 1

Author: Rev. Martin Holdt
These are transcriptions of sermons preached by Rev. Martin Holdt, a series on “The cross”. This is the Part 1 of the message, “Glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ.”
Scripture reading: Galatians 6: 1 – 18
Galatians 6 verse 14: Far be it from me, said the apostle Paul, to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. I prefer the Authorised Version use of the word glory though both is acceptable : far be it for me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is he saying? Let’s be clear about that before we get into the text. He is not saying that he glories in that wooden instrument on which our Lord Jesus was crucified. It doesn’t say that. Cicero once said that the worst form of execution ever invented by the human mind was crucifixion. It was terrible, it was painful and shameful and it was ghastly. Continue reading “Glorying in the cross of Jesus Christ – Part 1”

Die huwelik – die historiese Christelike geloofsiening

Hier volg die vervolg van die transkripsie van die preek van Nico van der Walt, oor die beeld van God in die verhouding tussen man en vrou in die huwelik.
Skrywer: Nico van der Walt
Wat ek hier voorhou is nie my eie teologiese wieletjie nie, dit is die historiese Christelike geloof wat deur van die grootste manne en vroue van God deur die eeue en die diepste denkers as sodanig verstaan is en ons loop dus in pas met die historiese Christelike geloof.
Kom ons kyk nou na God se beeld in ons geslagtelikheid. Ons weet almal baie goed dat die lewende God wat homself geopenbaar het in Christus en van wie ons in die Bybel lees, drie Persone is. Drie Persone wat een is en tog drie Persone. Die Goddelike Drie-eenheid bring tog ‘n besondere aspek van God se beeld en wese vir ons na vore. Ek kan nie dink dat ons ooit die beeld van God kan losmaak van die feit van Sy drie-enigheid nie. In Gen 1v26 vind ons die eerste sinspeling op die Drie-eenheid – “Kom Ons maak die mens as ons verteenwoordiger, ons beeld…” Kom ons maak die mens as ons teenwoordiger! Die mens as skepping van man en vrou kom tot uitdrukking op drie maniere. Dit kom tot uitdrukking in persoonlike verhoudings – veral die intimiteit tussen man en vrou in die huwelik. Tweedens sit dit in hulle gelykheid – persoonlik- en status gelykheid voor die Here. Derdens word dit gesien in die verskillende rolle wat hulle Skepper aan hulle toeken, wat God reg van die begin af aan hulle toeken. Continue reading “Die huwelik – die historiese Christelike geloofsiening”

Makes you think: The effect of Television on homes

“The Stranger”
A few months before I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer, and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later. Continue reading “Makes you think: The effect of Television on homes”

Foundations of faith No. 1 – Historical Christian Faith

Historic Christian Faith

Nico van der Walt

Jude 1v3

It’s a very telling and interesting verse this. One has the impression that Judas was planning to write to them about, as the King James Version put it, “our common salvation”, i.e. about the wonders of their salvation, but then he went ahead and said: “I feel now compelled” and he’s basically on a sidetrack and he started talking about the need to contend for the faith, which he said, “once delivered to us.”

It is very interesting if you look at this verse, where he says: “I felt the need …”;  by saying this he means: “What I want to share with you is of the utmost importance”.Secondly, he says: “you will earnestly contend.” The Greek indicates intense effort, e.g. in a wrestling match. It also indicates an ongoing effort, or an ongoing action. What should they content for? For the faith he says. What faith? “The faith once delivered to the saints or transferred to those that God has set apart for Himself. So it’s not just any religion, he defines faith. This is the faith that was delivered. Continue reading “Foundations of faith No. 1 – Historical Christian Faith”