Explore Scripture's power for true reconciliation and godly living.
Gospel Truth and Reconciliation
Explore Scripture's power for true reconciliation and godly living.
About Gospel Truth and Reconciliation
Who am I?
My name is Jonathan Holdt. I am the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Pretoria, South Africa. I was saved from my sin and eternal damnation by the grace of God at the age of 22 years. When I was 25 years I began studying for the ministry at the London Theological Seminary. In 1997 I began my first pastorate at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Kwazulu-Natal. In 2005 I was called to pastor Bethany Baptist Church, Pretoria, where I have been ever since. I am happily married to my beautiful wife and have been blessed with three children and two grandchildren.
What will you find on my blog?
My blog covers a wide range of topics related to gospel ministry. I also write about my personal experiences in my life and ministry. My passion is to see the gospel of Jesus Christ advance through people being reconciled to God through the cross of Jesus. The fruit of gospel reconciliation will be peace and reconciliation with one's neighbour. In a world full of pride, prejudice, hatred, immorality, greed and corruption, I believe that the only remedy for fallen humanity is the gospel of Christ. The truth of the gospel must be preached, proclaimed and shared far and wide. We must continually hold out the sure hope of the advancement of the gospel despite the wickedness of this world and that every tongue, tribe and nation will in due course come to enjoy the blessings of the gospel. I ever cherish the hope of true, God-sent revival and pray to this end. I look forward to the fulfillment on Revelation 7:9-10 where the Apostle John wrote, "After this I I looked, and behold a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
Why did I start this blog?
Having being diagnosed with inoperable cancer in 2016, I have lived with the realization that life is brief and the step into eternity but a moment away. God has been gracious to preserve my life for 9 years. However, following a procedure to dilate my left bronchus which had collapsed to 2.8mm, I suffered a set back. My oxygen levels plummeted and I was placed on a ventilator. My life hung in the balance but due to God's grace and the prayers of His people, I was delivered from the shadow of death and restored to my wife, family and God's people. I do though realise that I am now in the last and final stretch of my life, however long that may be. I wish to make it count. For this reason, I felt it necessary to make available various resources and articles that I have written for the cause of the gospel. I trust that this website may indeed be to the glory of God and the honour of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
About My Blog
I am a Reformed Baptist pastor with a concern for gospel truth and reconciliation. The world in which we live is estranged from God, steeped in sin and under his judgment. The only hope for salvation is found in believing in Jesus Christ who reconciles man to God. Those who are reconciled to God are enabled to love their fellowman by God's grace and become peacemakers on earth. This world is full of fear and hatred toward others. The gospel of Jesus Christ is able to remove the hostility in human hearts to God and their fellow man.
Whatever articles are written and published will be with the sole aim of glorifying God, exalting Jesus Christ and promoting gospel peace in our families, communities and lands where God has sovereignly placed us. My appeal to authority is the holy, inspired, infallible Word of God which consists of the 66 books of the Bible. My theological convictions align with the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.