As promised I would like to continue our discussion on unequally yoked with unbelievers and we "the church" being separated from the world.
We've touched on 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
When we read further down in this chapter we come to verses 17 and 18 it reads "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Paul is telling us to separate ourselves from the world, but to some degree Paul is only telling us what the Spirit of God has already done.
We are Unequally yoked with unbelievers in this world where lifestyles and morrows clash! Darkness and light cannot coexist.
A believer baptized with Christ spirit has a new nature that combats the old nature.
Not just outward sin but we now think different.
Listen to Paul again talking to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Also, John 15:18-21.
Notice verse 21? "But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT HIM THAT SENT ME.
When the Holyspirit causes us to follow Christ and His teachings we're at odds with the world.
We have "separate" fathers.
God and Satan!
Satan has his ministers also. Look at Paul in his day. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Satan appeals to the flesh and worldly wisdom.
One thing they can't do is bare fruit! Matthew 7:15-18.
Jesus the Messiah/Christ God's only begotten Son is the purpose, I do not know if I am reading your question correctly, may you and others have more or different understandings.
1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have the mind of Christ, but no one can know the mind of God. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus. All began with Jesus; Jesus is the beginning of God's plan. Isaiah 45:18Isaiah 46:8-10 God and there is none like Him, He declared the end from the beginning His counsel (His purpose and plan by His will) shall stand and God will do all His pleasure, Psalms 33:11.
God is not in our time the end of His plan is as the beginning God's plan was completed when He made it, we have the Bible, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit His plan is made known to us as our time comes to be, as in Ephesians 1:10-12 to be the praise and glory to God.
God declared from the very beginnings of history, Acts 17:24-26 there is but one human race, we all are of the same blood, and in Jesus Christ we become brothers and sisters. In God's plan, it is finished, nothing will change. In God, it is finished already to Him who is from everlasting to everlasting, Psalms 90:2 and how He can "calleth those things which be not as though they were." Romans 4:17-18.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
So what does it mean to be Spiritually DEAD and condemned to DEATH in body and soul?
It means what we read in 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT the things of the Spirit of God: for they are FOOLISHNESS unto him: NEITHER CAN he KNOW them, because they are SPIRITUALLY discerned.
It means that both in our body and our soul we LUST after SIN and are in REBELLION against God. We want to go OUR own way and have no desire to be under the AUTHORITY of God; to HUMBLE ourselves and be OBEDIENT to the Law of God, the Bible. We want to do it OUR way, not GOD'S way".
It means that in both our body and our soul we are subject to eternal DEATH as required by the Law of God because of our sin.
It means that we have NO ABILITY NOR DESIRE to become right with God, ON GOD'S TERMS.
IT means that apart from God's intervention in our life we CANNOT NOT and WILL NOT come to Him ON HIS TERMS.
This is what God sees as He looks down the corridors of time before He ever created this world and mankind, i.e. what He sees in each and every one of us WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
So how then, how does anyone "get right with God" and "become saved"? What must we DO to be saved? How do we become RESURRECTED from Spiritual Death to Spiritual Life? And what does it mean to be "Saved"?
Let's answer the last question first by asking another. What do we need to be saved from? We first must endure the penalty demanded for our sins by the Law of God, eternal DEATH. God's justice must be satisfied. But how can we accomplish this if the penalty is eternal DEATH? The answer is we CANNOT. We then must be made totally righteous in our entire being, both body and soul, in order to even be in the presence of God and not be consumed by Him; how can we do this? The answer again is we CANNOT.
So the answer to all of these questions is this: We can do NOTHING. We are totally utterly helpless to DO any of this or CONTRIBUTE to any of this because of our Natural Condition.
Thank you for sharing that Brother Michael Dorsey. I do agree with what you have written, & especially noted, "The only perfect translation You are going to find is to have the Original Manuscripts". I too have used Bible Hub for years, mainly for its Hebrew & Greek Lexicons & found it to be very good & useful in better understanding words (especially those debatable ones) giving me a fuller understanding of the passage. However, one Greek brother who comes on here sometimes, did check me on what I had once written to someone (when giving a meaning of a word). He said that in Greek, my advice given was incorrect & he went further to do research on why that word was used. Apparently, it wasn't taken from the Greek text as given in the Textus Receptus, but from another source. So I say this, as one may need to take care, seeing that Bible Hub doesn't necessarily use the TR/KJB as the source material for publishing its Greek words.
And even here on this Site, a little while ago there has been debate on the word 'perfect', as found in e.g. Matthew 5:48, Matthew 19:21, 1 Corinthians 2:6. This word 'perfect' has been used by some here to denote, 'sinlessness', that we have to be, or even now, are sinless. Not sure of your position on this, but reading the Greek, 'teleios', seems to indicate more towards 'completeness, full-grown, mature'. Now in Matthew 5:48 we have a problem, we see that Jesus gives the command, to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." So, clearly the absolute perfection that our Father fully has within Himself, cannot be the same that we need to have/strive for on Earth: that is, not towards sinlessness, but towards maturity & completeness. So, I share this just to show how important the original languages are to assist us in understanding God's Word, and especially the KJB (17th Century) which uses language & expressions that sometimes are quite foreign to us here in the 21st Century.
Paul Apostle left very clear saying to the Church of Corinthians, as follow:
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of GOD.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But GOD hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of GOD knoweth no man, but the Spirit of GOD.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of GOD; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of GOD.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Matthew 11:27
... no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
In fact GOD created the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd heavens(the 3rd is the heaven where Paul Apostle was caught up- 2Corinthians 12:2), and created the heaven of the heavens- 1Kings 8:27.
Genesis is a GOD's Plan to restore or of restitution of all things: Acts 3:19-21. The earth(not the Planet) was created when GOD said: "Let the WATERS under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the DRY LAND(THE CLAY) appear: and it was so". This LITERALLY fulfilled when GOD SEPARATED the seed of Abraham from thee reign of Pharaoh in Egypt and placed them in the Promised Land.
10 And God called the dry land earth(Israel); and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas(peoples, and nations, and multitudes of all tongues in the time of Moses - Gentile peoples): and GOD saw that it was good.
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom GOD hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also GOD made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE of GOD's Person(GOD is Spirit), and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
My Lord JESUS - the Greater Light, Genesis 1:16- the Word made flesh, came here in the fourth Day, around 4000 years after Adam, around 2000 years ago, and He said : My Father worketh hitherto(fourth Day), and I work - Jphn 5:17.
1 Corinthians 2:14&16 :
14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of GOD: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
You say "Let's look to the Spirit which inspired the Holy Scriptures for our understanding of them," but how can you, not yet being born-again, guide a born-again believer in the ways of understanding scripture? How can a person who does not yet have Christ dwelling in them even understand the things of God based on what we are told in 1 Corinthians 2:14? So, if you don't have the Spirit of God, and the things of God are spiritually understood, and the natural man just has his normal psyche, he's not going to receive it. He can't, because the things of God are spiritually taught by the Spirit of God.
Frankie, as I said earlier, I do have a concern for your spiritual welfare. I hope that one day soon, I will read your words sharing with us that you have received Christ into your life and are born-again or born from above as Jesus told Nicodemus that "Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
As I said "Christ is truth and by faith we believe him! Why? Because the Holyspirit testifies of him!
Is faith 'not" a gift of God? Yes it is.
Is it not caused by the Holyspirit?
Yes, it is persuasion.
It's NOT man's faith we're discussing here but Christ faith.
For example;
Take 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 and harmonize it with your meaning of faith and you will see "IF" it directly means belief then it doesn't change anything according to the context we're debating.
That what you believe in has to be given for us to have faith and trust in God!
Vs 9) But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Vs 10) But GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.)
"That's Persuasion! (9 Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: ) [ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1]
IF YOU TRANSLATED THAT TO BELIEF, IT STILL NOT OF YOURSELF!
Vs 11. For WHAT MAN KNOWETH THE THINGS OF A MAN, SAVE THE SPIRIT OF MAN WHICH IS IN HIM? EVEN SO THE THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
There's your source of belief/faith/Persuasion Giannis.
Vs 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE FREELY GIVEN TO US OF GOD.
Vs 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD:
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again." John 3: 5, 6, 7.
My friend, if you cannot fully appreciate the word of God, believe its' promises, and perceive with your heart and mind all the glories, joys, and happiness of the kingdom of God; if you cannot enjoy the fellowship with God in a parent - child relationship, and experience the sense of justification and forgiveness of sins past, present, and future, perhaps it is because you have never truly been "born again" into the family of God. When Adam and Eve our first earthly parents disobeyed God at the very beginning of creation, they sold their birthright to Satan, and since then every human being that has ever been born has inherited the sin nature, and comes into the world already estranged from God. So, when we are born, we are born in the flesh only. Our spiritual life does not begin at the time of our physical birth.
Although God is the creator of all, he is not the father of all until his child has been conceived and born. God is spirit, he must be worshiped in spirit, and to become a child of God, we must be born in the spirit.
"The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2: 14.
In order to be born into the family of God, it is totally a work of God's grace. We must be drawn by God to hear and accept the word of God as absolute truth, and by faith believe, as it says that - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God", and that "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy ghost."
Thank you for your response, your words of encouragement mean a lot to me, as well all the relevant scripture regarding worshiping God in Spirit and Truth, and overcoming sin. I agree with all, and if we our honest with ourselves and take the time to evaluate our true walk with Christ we should be conforming to the scripture you mentioned such as 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 1 John 1:5-6 and if born again should have a mind like Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16
Scripture tells us we can have a mind like Christ! Not conformed to this world, but have renewed minds, and prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God Romans 12:2 Sinning is not acceptable to God, and for Christians to maintain the steady drum beat that they can't stop sinning is unbelievable per all of the scripture telling us that we are required STOP sinning, even including Jesus telling us that with Faith nothing is impossible for us! Matt 17:20
We are supposed to be as HOLY as Jesus and walk like him.Through the Spirit of God we CAN stop sinning. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:50 The Bible emphasises several times that we are supposed to be holy:Ye shall be holy: for I theLordyour God am holy. Leviticus 19:2
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt 5:48 Frankie, I think we can both agree that being perfect is without sin. But the multitude of worldly Christains say they can't ever be perfect and will always be sinners in this life - so they are saying Jesus/God is lying in Matt 5:48 and they are not accepting this Truth!
OSAS. True spiritual gifts vs false manifestations.
1 Corinthians 2:14 says: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Deuteronomy 32:28-29 states "For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"
There are many reasons people may go to church and not be believers; a general statement would be there are many confessors but less who are POSSESSORS of the Holy Spirit. Focusing on earlier posts discussing how Satan focuses his attacks on the church we need in general to see how Satan is not only opposed to God but comes as s substitute; and mimics every spiritual gift in outward manifestations that may appear to be the same to the undiscerning (such as listed in 1 Corinthians 2:14 above).
As to spiritual manifestations; the "Kundalini" experience often mimics what are true spiritual experiences. We see mention in past revivals of people shaking or trembling at His Word which is scriptural ( Isaiah 66:2). But certain ritualaistic manifestations
cause abandon (usually coiling up like a snake on the floor). Godly sorrow certainly can cause weeping as was reported in many revivals from the past; uncontrollable laughter however is not something that seems edifying. Tongues of angels certainly can be imitated by demons as evidenced by experiences of those in the occult.
In looking at these "charismatic" gifts; we shoiuldn't ignore the "religious" spirit which involves endless ritual and legalistic practices that exceed the scope of the Word. The Pharisees added things with their traditions ( Mark 7:13 and other verses) and this was associated with pride; self righteous and leading others astray. (see Matthew 23:15). The opposite of this is using grace as a license to sin which Romans 6:1 warns about.
You was saved from death 2000 years ago, when you were resurrected a NEW CREATION.
Christ (TRUTH) began revealing himself to you in 1979, this Revelation of "Christ in you" will continue until the angel ls sent to harvest HIS SEED.
Luke 20:36 Neither can they (YOU) DIE ANY MORE: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN of the RESURRECTION.
You are now in the birth pains of being born again.
Christ revealing who you are IN HIM.
1 Peter 1:23 Being BORN AGAIN ..... by the WORD(s) of GOD ...... TRUTH ......
Revelation 12:2 .... and she (YOU, Christ wife) being with child, travailing in birth, pained to be DELIVERED ......
1 Timothy 2:14 .... but the woman, being deceived (by a carnal mind) was in the TRANSGRESSION ....
1 Timothy 2:15 ..... she shall BE SAVED IN CHILDBEARING ...
Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron....
Philippians 2:5 Let this MIND be IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:6 Who being in the form (image) of God, thought it not robbery to equal to God.
1 Corinthians 2:16 ....we have the MIND of CHRIST ....
Romans 8:29 .... being predestinated (by the resurrection of Christ) to be conformed to his image .....
Revelation 2:26 And to him that overcometh (deception) and keepeth MY WORKS, to him will I give power over the nations .....
Thank you, God, who cannot be tempted of evil, James 1:13 or lie, Titus 1:2. God could not fulfill the law, flesh had to fulfill it because the curse of sin was on flesh. How could you fulfill a law if you were not capable of breaking it? We are told Jesus the Son of God was tempted as we are, Hebrews 4:15. He was made flesh for the suffering of death, Hebrews 2:9.
2 Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Jesus had a will of his own but was obedient to the Father, Luke 22:42. Jesus did the works of the Father, John 5:36. Jesus was sent by the Father, John 4:34John 7:16. Jesus did all the miracles by the Spirit of God that was given to Him without measure, Matt. 12:28John 3:34, when He was anointed at the Jordan, Mark 1:10Luke 4:18.
I hope this is correct forgive me if I am wrong. The Father is God but is not the Son and is not the Holy Spirit. The Son is God but is not the Father and is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God but is not the Father and is not the Son. One God is three coexistent, co-eternal, and co-equal Persons.
If I may ask. If they are three persons, who is the Father of Jesus the Son of God? Matt. 1:18Luke 1:35. Jesus many times said He has a God and a Father, Matt. 7:21Matt. 12:50John 20:172 Cor. 11:31Ephesians 1:31 Peter 1:3. Jesus came in His Father's name, John 5:43.
My understanding, this is not a mystery that cannot be understood. God is a Spirit, John 4:24 It is His Spirit that dwelleth in us, 1 Cor. 3:161 Corinthians 2:10-12. God is Spirit, God is Holy. It is the Spirit of God that is the Holy Spirit.
Paul never used the Holy Spirit in his salutations. Jesus was begotten by His Father, Heb. 1:5. Jesus said His Father was greater than He John 14:28. Rev. 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
You said you disagree with me about his natural abilities. He was a very intelligent man prior to his conversion with many skills and abilities that God used.
And you said you don't think Paul is meaning in the verses I quoted that he was illiterate, nor unskilled with language or reason prior to conversion.
Re examine my post, I didn't say either of those things.
Here's all I said; Paul in his "Natural mind/ Wisdom persecuted Christians and did not understand the things of God.
Referring to this verse.
1 Timothy 1:13-14.
And IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF!! That wasn't a blessing.
Everything else I posted that you disagree with was scripture I copied pasted and posted.
The emphasis is that NO! God doesn't need anything intellectual from anyone and nor does he seek out those things.
The reason being is that we will do exactly what you are displaying now. Glory man and not God.
Listen to Paul again here in
1 Corinthians 2:1-4.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
FOR I DETERMINED NOT TO KNOW ANY THING AMONG YOU! save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
AND MY SPEECH AND MY PREACHING WAS NOT WITH ENTICING WORDS OF MAN'S WISDOM, BUT IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER:
Paul says he came to them as someone Knowing nothing!
This section of scripture Parallels with the passage you disagree with in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
When we are born again we start out as babes in Christ and we feed on the sincere milk of the word whereby we grow, as Peter mentioned in his epistle.
The Holyspirit is the most neglected member of the Godhead amongst the Church,
That's why there is so much ignorance in the word of God.
There's many verses that disagree with you
Philippians 3:4-8.
So I disagree with your take that God blessed and prepared Paul with intellect to prepare him for ministry.
Yes God blessed the Apostles, including Paul with wisdom of words, But until AFTER they were converted!
Paul in his "Natural mind/ Wisdom persecuted Christians and did not understand the things of God.
Listen to Paul in his own words.
1 Timothy 1:13-14.
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I DID IT IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ.
Paul said he did it "IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF!! That wasn't a blessing.
Here again.
1 Corinthians 2:4.
1 Corinthians 2:6
1 Corinthians 2:12.
1 Corinthians 2:14-15.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31.For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
The following are the fundamental rules of Bible interpretation that the God lays down:
Christ is the author of the Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
...the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
As we approach the end of the world, and Christ's return, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end. This is spoken of as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie.
Daniel 12:9-10 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation is not found in the Bible. It seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that the whole Bible is written for us today.
Thank you for your reply, I really enjoyed your post and hearing from you.
The subject is very profound evidently, however, as Paul Apostle did say, "our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of GOD; we speak the wisdom of GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory- 1 Corinthians 2:5&7. Our Lord JESUS promised saying: Unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: ...
I like to meditate deeply in the Word of GOD-the Word is GOD( John 1:1), and to deceipher the biblical enigmas. The psalmist said: I will bend my ear to a parable, with a lyre(harp) I will solve my riddle.
In my view, Genesis is a GOD's Plan of RESTORATION of all things( Acts 3:18-26), revealed to Moses around 2500 years after Adam, or after two and half GOD's Days working in His creation. By the way, around 4000 years after Adam(end of fourth Day), our GOD was still working:JESUS, the EXPRESS IMAGE of GOD, said:My Father worketh hitherto, and I work- John 5:17KJV. What was the work of JESUS? To fulfill LITERALLY Gen.1:26-27:
26 And GOD said, Let US make man(MANY) in OUR image, after OUR likeness: and let THEM have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing UPON the earth.---> By the way, compare with Revelation 11:15 to 18 Here, our Lord JESUS still was in the BOSOM of the Father- John 1:18The question, you know, is that our GOD "calleth those things which be not as though they were"- Romans 4:17. Only now has the sixth GOD's Day arrived, so, only from now on will Genesis 1:26-27 be fulfilled LITERALLY( Luke 20:35-36) AS A PROPHECY. Romans 8:18-25 explain better. In my understand, Adam is a human gender.
The following are the fundamental principles of Bible study that the God Himself lays down in the Bible:
Christ is the author of the whole Bible. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1,14
"Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" 2 Peter 1:21
Christ spoke in parables, earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." Mark 4:34
We compare spiritual with spiritual. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:13
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation employed by the churches seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that we are to compare spiritual things with spiritual to discover the underlying gospel message.
Moreover, the churches fail to recognize that as we approach the end of the world, where we are today, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end ( Daniel 12:9-10). This is spoken of in the Bible as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie.
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:2-3
I believe in Samaria they had a head knowledge of the things that Phillip was teaching, and they were baptized by water but in this instance, they weren't converted until Peter came and laid hands on them and they received the Holyspirit.
You can't be saved without the Holyspirit!
It takes the Holyspirit to show you the things of God, not miracles! 1 Corinthians 2:10-11.
These people were bewitched by Simon who used sorcery and they presented him to be some great one.
The unclean spirit can leave a person but it takes the Holyspirit to seal him.
This reminds me of Matthew 12:43-44.
"They received the word of God" even Simon!
When the apostles were able to bring on about the Holyspirit by the laying on of hands then that which they received (The word of God) was sown in them. It took the Holyspirit to seal them, water baptism didn't do it and their head knowledge didn't do it.
Acts 8:14-24. The Apostles were given this power to demonstrate the power of God. Romans 15:18-19. 2 Corinthians 12;12.
In James 1:5-8, James gives us the explanation of the prayer of faith. He ended off in Verse 4 saying wanting, or more literally, lacking in nothing. And then he says in James 1:5, but if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
The word lack is the same word as in Verse 4. Most of us have heard Verse 5 before, "if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God," and we take that and tell others to ask God and He'll give you wisdom, as if this magical thing falls out of the sky and all of a sudden, we have wisdom. But wisdom is gained through enduring our trials by faith. And so, when James says if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, we have to be careful.
If we say, "I would really like to have God's wisdom," okay, but we're going to have to go through a lot of trials. If I had to give a personal definition of wisdom that summarizes its application in the New Testament, I would say that wisdom is seeing life as God sees life. It's like looking through His eyes!
And 1 Corinthians 2:16 plays a big role in this, in that we have been given the mind of Christ. That's the word NOUS, which means perceptive. By His Spirit, we can perceive God and His working in our circumstances. That's wisdom, seeing life as God sees life. Now how am I going to do that? By experiencing Him, and by enduring my trials and circumstances and totally trusting the Lord Jesus Christ!
James says God gives to all liberally, and He upbraids not, that is to say He will not chide you. If you lack wisdom and you ask Him, He's not going to say "Are you kidding? I'm not going to give you wisdom!"
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Matthew 13:10-17
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 13:34,35
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
When a Christian passes away here on earth, can you tell me if they immediately go to Heaven? I Thesselonians talks about the rapture where the dead in Christ will rise first. So I'm a little confused about this.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Matthew 13:10-17
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 13:34,35
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
I'm not altogether sure what you are asking here but let me, again, say this.
There is no question that we are to interpret the Bible by "comparing scripture with scripture". 1 Corinthians 2:13.
That means looking at both the immediate context of a verse, a phrase, or a word AND the larger context of the entire Bible.
When God speaks about "fire", I believe it is always referring in some way to the Judgment of God. This can be the Judgment of Satan and the unsaved on the Last Day, the Judgment that Christ endured for the True Believers, the condemnation that the Law of God imposes each time we commit sin, the Judgment on National Isreal, the Judgment on the Churches and Congregations, etc. It can be used in a very physical sense and / or a spiritual sense, and always, I believe, in relation to some aspect of the Gospel, which includes both God's Judgment and Mercy.
So again, we must look at BOTH, the IMMEDIATE context AND the context of the WHOLE, Bible, if we are going to come to truth about any passage in the Bible. And it is ultimately God Himself that must give us understanding.
Hello Betsy. You can pick up on the Apostle Paul's narrative from verse 10. Paul is comparing what the spiritual man receives & understands to the natural (or, carnal) man's understanding. Those who have God's Spirit in them are already thinking & discerning matters of the world & eternity at a completely different level than those without His Spirit.
When we speak about spiritual things to the carnal, natural man, they can seem absurd (or, foolishness, as v14 puts it) to him. It's like we're talking nonsense to him. So in verse 15, Paul writes, 'that the spiritual person (the one indwelt & led by God's Spirit) judges (or, examines, discerns) all things (at that higher level - with the Mind of God). But the spiritual person cannot be correctly judged (discerned) by the carnal person because he has no reference at all to God, to God's Words or to God's Ways.' The spiritual person is an oddity to him & whatever he thinks of, or gives judgement about the Christian, it will likely be founded on falsehood & surmisings & not in the Truth that is hidden in the spiritual Life in Christ.
Because of some of the comments I see here, I feel compelled to again state what the Bible declares regarding how we are to view and interpret the Bible.
> Christ is the author of the WHOLE Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
> the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
> Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
> We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience. This method, however, fails to recognize that GOD is the AUTHOR of the WHOLE Bible and that the WHOLE Bible is written for us TODAY.
Moreover, as we approach the end of the world, and the coming of the bridegroom, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end ( Daniel 12:9-10). This is spoken of in the Bible as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie ( Habakkuk 2:2-3).
God did not write the Bible so that it is easy to come to truth. Faithful Bible teachers that apply these principles can guide us in our understanding.
But THE BIBLE ALONE AND IN ITS ENTIRETY must be our ultimate authority as we compare scripture with scripture praying that God in His mercy would open our our understanding and lead us into Truth.
The following are the fundamental rules of Bible study that the Bible lays down:
> Christ is the author of the whole Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
> the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
> Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
> We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation employed by the churches seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that the Bible is written for us today.
Moreover, the method of Bible interpretation employed by the churches fails to recognize that as we approach the end of the world, and the coming of the bridegroom, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end ( Daniel 12:9-10). This is spoken of in the Bible as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie ( Habakkuk 2:2-3).
God ultimately must lead us into truth as we apply these principles and pray for understanding with a view to being obedient to His Word.
As promised I would like to continue our discussion on unequally yoked with unbelievers and we "the church" being separated from the world.
We've touched on 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
When we read further down in this chapter we come to verses 17 and 18 it reads "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Paul is telling us to separate ourselves from the world, but to some degree Paul is only telling us what the Spirit of God has already done.
We are Unequally yoked with unbelievers in this world where lifestyles and morrows clash! Darkness and light cannot coexist.
A believer baptized with Christ spirit has a new nature that combats the old nature.
Not just outward sin but we now think different.
Listen to Paul again talking to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Also, John 15:18-21.
Notice verse 21? "But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT HIM THAT SENT ME.
When the Holyspirit causes us to follow Christ and His teachings we're at odds with the world.
We have "separate" fathers.
God and Satan!
Satan has his ministers also. Look at Paul in his day. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Satan appeals to the flesh and worldly wisdom.
One thing they can't do is bare fruit! Matthew 7:15-18.
They despise truth and hate the Brothern.
See 1 John 3:10-15.
Perhaps more later on a separate thread.
God bless you.
God's eternal purpose
Jesus the Messiah/Christ God's only begotten Son is the purpose, I do not know if I am reading your question correctly, may you and others have more or different understandings.
1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have the mind of Christ, but no one can know the mind of God. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus. All began with Jesus; Jesus is the beginning of God's plan. Isaiah 45:18 Isaiah 46:8-10 God and there is none like Him, He declared the end from the beginning His counsel (His purpose and plan by His will) shall stand and God will do all His pleasure, Psalms 33:11.
God is not in our time the end of His plan is as the beginning God's plan was completed when He made it, we have the Bible, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit His plan is made known to us as our time comes to be, as in Ephesians 1:10-12 to be the praise and glory to God.
God declared from the very beginnings of history, Acts 17:24-26 there is but one human race, we all are of the same blood, and in Jesus Christ we become brothers and sisters. In God's plan, it is finished, nothing will change. In God, it is finished already to Him who is from everlasting to everlasting, Psalms 90:2 and how He can "calleth those things which be not as though they were." Romans 4:17-18.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
God bless,
RLW
So what does it mean to be Spiritually DEAD and condemned to DEATH in body and soul?
It means what we read in 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT the things of the Spirit of God: for they are FOOLISHNESS unto him: NEITHER CAN he KNOW them, because they are SPIRITUALLY discerned.
It means that both in our body and our soul we LUST after SIN and are in REBELLION against God. We want to go OUR own way and have no desire to be under the AUTHORITY of God; to HUMBLE ourselves and be OBEDIENT to the Law of God, the Bible. We want to do it OUR way, not GOD'S way".
It means that in both our body and our soul we are subject to eternal DEATH as required by the Law of God because of our sin.
It means that we have NO ABILITY NOR DESIRE to become right with God, ON GOD'S TERMS.
IT means that apart from God's intervention in our life we CANNOT NOT and WILL NOT come to Him ON HIS TERMS.
This is what God sees as He looks down the corridors of time before He ever created this world and mankind, i.e. what He sees in each and every one of us WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
So how then, how does anyone "get right with God" and "become saved"? What must we DO to be saved? How do we become RESURRECTED from Spiritual Death to Spiritual Life? And what does it mean to be "Saved"?
Let's answer the last question first by asking another. What do we need to be saved from? We first must endure the penalty demanded for our sins by the Law of God, eternal DEATH. God's justice must be satisfied. But how can we accomplish this if the penalty is eternal DEATH? The answer is we CANNOT. We then must be made totally righteous in our entire being, both body and soul, in order to even be in the presence of God and not be consumed by Him; how can we do this? The answer again is we CANNOT.
So the answer to all of these questions is this: We can do NOTHING. We are totally utterly helpless to DO any of this or CONTRIBUTE to any of this because of our Natural Condition.
More to follow
And even here on this Site, a little while ago there has been debate on the word 'perfect', as found in e.g. Matthew 5:48, Matthew 19:21, 1 Corinthians 2:6. This word 'perfect' has been used by some here to denote, 'sinlessness', that we have to be, or even now, are sinless. Not sure of your position on this, but reading the Greek, 'teleios', seems to indicate more towards 'completeness, full-grown, mature'. Now in Matthew 5:48 we have a problem, we see that Jesus gives the command, to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." So, clearly the absolute perfection that our Father fully has within Himself, cannot be the same that we need to have/strive for on Earth: that is, not towards sinlessness, but towards maturity & completeness. So, I share this just to show how important the original languages are to assist us in understanding God's Word, and especially the KJB (17th Century) which uses language & expressions that sometimes are quite foreign to us here in the 21st Century.
Paul Apostle left very clear saying to the Church of Corinthians, as follow:
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of GOD.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But GOD hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of GOD knoweth no man, but the Spirit of GOD.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of GOD; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of GOD.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Matthew 11:27
... no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
Greetings in Christ JESUS
In fact GOD created the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd heavens(the 3rd is the heaven where Paul Apostle was caught up- 2Corinthians 12:2), and created the heaven of the heavens- 1Kings 8:27.
Genesis is a GOD's Plan to restore or of restitution of all things: Acts 3:19-21. The earth(not the Planet) was created when GOD said: "Let the WATERS under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the DRY LAND(THE CLAY) appear: and it was so". This LITERALLY fulfilled when GOD SEPARATED the seed of Abraham from thee reign of Pharaoh in Egypt and placed them in the Promised Land.
10 And God called the dry land earth(Israel); and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas(peoples, and nations, and multitudes of all tongues in the time of Moses - Gentile peoples): and GOD saw that it was good.
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom GOD hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also GOD made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE of GOD's Person(GOD is Spirit), and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
My Lord JESUS - the Greater Light, Genesis 1:16- the Word made flesh, came here in the fourth Day, around 4000 years after Adam, around 2000 years ago, and He said : My Father worketh hitherto(fourth Day), and I work - Jphn 5:17.
1 Corinthians 2:14&16 :
14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of GOD: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
GOD bless
Frankie,
You say "Let's look to the Spirit which inspired the Holy Scriptures for our understanding of them," but how can you, not yet being born-again, guide a born-again believer in the ways of understanding scripture? How can a person who does not yet have Christ dwelling in them even understand the things of God based on what we are told in 1 Corinthians 2:14? So, if you don't have the Spirit of God, and the things of God are spiritually understood, and the natural man just has his normal psyche, he's not going to receive it. He can't, because the things of God are spiritually taught by the Spirit of God.
Frankie, as I said earlier, I do have a concern for your spiritual welfare. I hope that one day soon, I will read your words sharing with us that you have received Christ into your life and are born-again or born from above as Jesus told Nicodemus that "Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Part 2.
As I said "Christ is truth and by faith we believe him! Why? Because the Holyspirit testifies of him!
Is faith 'not" a gift of God? Yes it is.
Is it not caused by the Holyspirit?
Yes, it is persuasion.
It's NOT man's faith we're discussing here but Christ faith.
For example;
Take 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 and harmonize it with your meaning of faith and you will see "IF" it directly means belief then it doesn't change anything according to the context we're debating.
That what you believe in has to be given for us to have faith and trust in God!
Vs 9) But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Vs 10) But GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.)
"That's Persuasion! (9 Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: ) [ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1]
IF YOU TRANSLATED THAT TO BELIEF, IT STILL NOT OF YOURSELF!
Vs 11. For WHAT MAN KNOWETH THE THINGS OF A MAN, SAVE THE SPIRIT OF MAN WHICH IS IN HIM? EVEN SO THE THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
There's your source of belief/faith/Persuasion Giannis.
Vs 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE FREELY GIVEN TO US OF GOD.
Vs 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Where is the energy behind your faith? or belief?
God bless.
Born Of God.
By: Robert A. Searles
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again." John 3: 5, 6, 7.
My friend, if you cannot fully appreciate the word of God, believe its' promises, and perceive with your heart and mind all the glories, joys, and happiness of the kingdom of God; if you cannot enjoy the fellowship with God in a parent - child relationship, and experience the sense of justification and forgiveness of sins past, present, and future, perhaps it is because you have never truly been "born again" into the family of God. When Adam and Eve our first earthly parents disobeyed God at the very beginning of creation, they sold their birthright to Satan, and since then every human being that has ever been born has inherited the sin nature, and comes into the world already estranged from God. So, when we are born, we are born in the flesh only. Our spiritual life does not begin at the time of our physical birth.
Although God is the creator of all, he is not the father of all until his child has been conceived and born. God is spirit, he must be worshiped in spirit, and to become a child of God, we must be born in the spirit.
"The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2: 14.
In order to be born into the family of God, it is totally a work of God's grace. We must be drawn by God to hear and accept the word of God as absolute truth, and by faith believe, as it says that - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God", and that "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy ghost."
What is our cross for?
To DIE on or cross.
Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the DEATH (on our cross) of his saints.
If we die on the cross of Christ, the we were MARRIED to him in his RESURRECTION.
1 Corinthians 15:43 .... raised in GLORY .....
1 Peter 1:21 WE by him (Christ) do BELIEVE in God, who raised him from the dead, and GAVE him GLORY....
John 17:22 And the GLORY thou GAVEST ME, I have GIVEN them, that as we are ONE, they may BE ONE in us.
There was ONLY ONE BODY raise at the RESURRECTION of Christ.
Ephesians 4:4 .....ONE body .......
1 Corinthians 12:27 ..... ye are the BODY of Christ ......
Ezekiel 36:26 A NEW HEART will I give you .....
1 Corinthians 2:16 .... ye have the MIND of Christ .....
We are a NEW Creation, ONE BODY, with the heart and mind of Christ.
Psalms 107:31 Oh that man would praise the LORD for his goodness, his wonderful works to the children of men!
God Bless YOU!
Thank you for your response, your words of encouragement mean a lot to me, as well all the relevant scripture regarding worshiping God in Spirit and Truth, and overcoming sin. I agree with all, and if we our honest with ourselves and take the time to evaluate our true walk with Christ we should be conforming to the scripture you mentioned such as 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 1 John 1:5-6 and if born again should have a mind like Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16
Scripture tells us we can have a mind like Christ! Not conformed to this world, but have renewed minds, and prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God Romans 12:2 Sinning is not acceptable to God, and for Christians to maintain the steady drum beat that they can't stop sinning is unbelievable per all of the scripture telling us that we are required STOP sinning, even including Jesus telling us that with Faith nothing is impossible for us! Matt 17:20
We are supposed to be as HOLY as Jesus and walk like him.Through the Spirit of God we CAN stop sinning. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:50 The Bible emphasises several times that we are supposed to be holy:Ye shall be holy: for I theLordyour God am holy. Leviticus 19:2
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt 5:48 Frankie, I think we can both agree that being perfect is without sin. But the multitude of worldly Christains say they can't ever be perfect and will always be sinners in this life - so they are saying Jesus/God is lying in Matt 5:48 and they are not accepting this Truth!
GBU
1 Corinthians 2:14 says: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Deuteronomy 32:28-29 states "For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"
There are many reasons people may go to church and not be believers; a general statement would be there are many confessors but less who are POSSESSORS of the Holy Spirit. Focusing on earlier posts discussing how Satan focuses his attacks on the church we need in general to see how Satan is not only opposed to God but comes as s substitute; and mimics every spiritual gift in outward manifestations that may appear to be the same to the undiscerning (such as listed in 1 Corinthians 2:14 above).
As to spiritual manifestations; the "Kundalini" experience often mimics what are true spiritual experiences. We see mention in past revivals of people shaking or trembling at His Word which is scriptural ( Isaiah 66:2). But certain ritualaistic manifestations
cause abandon (usually coiling up like a snake on the floor). Godly sorrow certainly can cause weeping as was reported in many revivals from the past; uncontrollable laughter however is not something that seems edifying. Tongues of angels certainly can be imitated by demons as evidenced by experiences of those in the occult.
In looking at these "charismatic" gifts; we shoiuldn't ignore the "religious" spirit which involves endless ritual and legalistic practices that exceed the scope of the Word. The Pharisees added things with their traditions ( Mark 7:13 and other verses) and this was associated with pride; self righteous and leading others astray. (see Matthew 23:15). The opposite of this is using grace as a license to sin which Romans 6:1 warns about.
Who created the carnal mind? Did not God create man and give him a carnal mind? YES
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity (in direct rebellion) against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
God created the problem and God solved the problem by the death and resurrection of Christ.
The old was done away with; behold. ALL THINGS have become NEW.
1 Corinthians 2:16 .....We have the mind of Christ ......
The GOSPEL is about BELIEVING what GOD HAS DONE.
Christ bowed his head in DEATH and SAID it is FINISHED. Three days later Christ arose and ALL THINGS BECAME NEW.
God Bless YOU!
You was saved from death 2000 years ago, when you were resurrected a NEW CREATION.
Christ (TRUTH) began revealing himself to you in 1979, this Revelation of "Christ in you" will continue until the angel ls sent to harvest HIS SEED.
Luke 20:36 Neither can they (YOU) DIE ANY MORE: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN of the RESURRECTION.
You are now in the birth pains of being born again.
Christ revealing who you are IN HIM.
1 Peter 1:23 Being BORN AGAIN ..... by the WORD(s) of GOD ...... TRUTH ......
Revelation 12:2 .... and she (YOU, Christ wife) being with child, travailing in birth, pained to be DELIVERED ......
1 Timothy 2:14 .... but the woman, being deceived (by a carnal mind) was in the TRANSGRESSION ....
1 Timothy 2:15 ..... she shall BE SAVED IN CHILDBEARING ...
Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron....
Philippians 2:5 Let this MIND be IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:6 Who being in the form (image) of God, thought it not robbery to equal to God.
1 Corinthians 2:16 ....we have the MIND of CHRIST ....
Romans 8:29 .... being predestinated (by the resurrection of Christ) to be conformed to his image .....
Revelation 2:26 And to him that overcometh (deception) and keepeth MY WORKS, to him will I give power over the nations .....
God bless you
Thank you, God, who cannot be tempted of evil, James 1:13 or lie, Titus 1:2. God could not fulfill the law, flesh had to fulfill it because the curse of sin was on flesh. How could you fulfill a law if you were not capable of breaking it? We are told Jesus the Son of God was tempted as we are, Hebrews 4:15. He was made flesh for the suffering of death, Hebrews 2:9.
2 Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Jesus had a will of his own but was obedient to the Father, Luke 22:42. Jesus did the works of the Father, John 5:36. Jesus was sent by the Father, John 4:34 John 7:16. Jesus did all the miracles by the Spirit of God that was given to Him without measure, Matt. 12:28 John 3:34, when He was anointed at the Jordan, Mark 1:10 Luke 4:18.
I hope this is correct forgive me if I am wrong. The Father is God but is not the Son and is not the Holy Spirit. The Son is God but is not the Father and is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God but is not the Father and is not the Son. One God is three coexistent, co-eternal, and co-equal Persons.
If I may ask. If they are three persons, who is the Father of Jesus the Son of God? Matt. 1:18 Luke 1:35. Jesus many times said He has a God and a Father, Matt. 7:21 Matt. 12:50 John 20:17 2 Cor. 11:31 Ephesians 1:3 1 Peter 1:3. Jesus came in His Father's name, John 5:43.
My understanding, this is not a mystery that cannot be understood. God is a Spirit, John 4:24 It is His Spirit that dwelleth in us, 1 Cor. 3:16 1 Corinthians 2:10-12. God is Spirit, God is Holy. It is the Spirit of God that is the Holy Spirit.
Paul never used the Holy Spirit in his salutations. Jesus was begotten by His Father, Heb. 1:5. Jesus said His Father was greater than He John 14:28. Rev. 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
God bless,
RLW
You said you disagree with me about his natural abilities. He was a very intelligent man prior to his conversion with many skills and abilities that God used.
And you said you don't think Paul is meaning in the verses I quoted that he was illiterate, nor unskilled with language or reason prior to conversion.
Re examine my post, I didn't say either of those things.
Here's all I said; Paul in his "Natural mind/ Wisdom persecuted Christians and did not understand the things of God.
Referring to this verse.
1 Timothy 1:13-14.
And IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF!! That wasn't a blessing.
Everything else I posted that you disagree with was scripture I copied pasted and posted.
The emphasis is that NO! God doesn't need anything intellectual from anyone and nor does he seek out those things.
The reason being is that we will do exactly what you are displaying now. Glory man and not God.
Listen to Paul again here in
1 Corinthians 2:1-4.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
FOR I DETERMINED NOT TO KNOW ANY THING AMONG YOU! save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
AND MY SPEECH AND MY PREACHING WAS NOT WITH ENTICING WORDS OF MAN'S WISDOM, BUT IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER:
Paul says he came to them as someone Knowing nothing!
This section of scripture Parallels with the passage you disagree with in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
When we are born again we start out as babes in Christ and we feed on the sincere milk of the word whereby we grow, as Peter mentioned in his epistle.
The Holyspirit is the most neglected member of the Godhead amongst the Church,
That's why there is so much ignorance in the word of God.
There's many verses that disagree with you
Philippians 3:4-8.
So I disagree with your take that God blessed and prepared Paul with intellect to prepare him for ministry.
GB.
Yes God blessed the Apostles, including Paul with wisdom of words, But until AFTER they were converted!
Paul in his "Natural mind/ Wisdom persecuted Christians and did not understand the things of God.
Listen to Paul in his own words.
1 Timothy 1:13-14.
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I DID IT IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ.
Paul said he did it "IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF!! That wasn't a blessing.
Here again.
1 Corinthians 2:4.
1 Corinthians 2:6
1 Corinthians 2:12.
1 Corinthians 2:14-15.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31.For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
God bless.
The following are the fundamental rules of Bible interpretation that the God lays down:
Christ is the author of the Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
...the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
As we approach the end of the world, and Christ's return, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end. This is spoken of as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie.
Daniel 12:9-10 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation is not found in the Bible. It seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that the whole Bible is written for us today.
Greetings in Christ JESUS
Thank you for your reply, I really enjoyed your post and hearing from you.
The subject is very profound evidently, however, as Paul Apostle did say, "our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of GOD; we speak the wisdom of GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory- 1 Corinthians 2:5&7. Our Lord JESUS promised saying: Unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: ...
I like to meditate deeply in the Word of GOD-the Word is GOD( John 1:1), and to deceipher the biblical enigmas. The psalmist said: I will bend my ear to a parable, with a lyre(harp) I will solve my riddle.
In my view, Genesis is a GOD's Plan of RESTORATION of all things( Acts 3:18-26), revealed to Moses around 2500 years after Adam, or after two and half GOD's Days working in His creation. By the way, around 4000 years after Adam(end of fourth Day), our GOD was still working:JESUS, the EXPRESS IMAGE of GOD, said:My Father worketh hitherto, and I work- John 5:17KJV. What was the work of JESUS? To fulfill LITERALLY Gen.1:26-27:
26 And GOD said, Let US make man(MANY) in OUR image, after OUR likeness: and let THEM have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing UPON the earth.---> By the way, compare with Revelation 11:15 to 18 Here, our Lord JESUS still was in the BOSOM of the Father- John 1:18The question, you know, is that our GOD "calleth those things which be not as though they were"- Romans 4:17. Only now has the sixth GOD's Day arrived, so, only from now on will Genesis 1:26-27 be fulfilled LITERALLY( Luke 20:35-36) AS A PROPHECY. Romans 8:18-25 explain better. In my understand, Adam is a human gender.
Christ is the author of the whole Bible. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1,14
"Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" 2 Peter 1:21
Christ spoke in parables, earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." Mark 4:34
We compare spiritual with spiritual. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:13
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation employed by the churches seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that we are to compare spiritual things with spiritual to discover the underlying gospel message.
Moreover, the churches fail to recognize that as we approach the end of the world, where we are today, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end ( Daniel 12:9-10). This is spoken of in the Bible as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie.
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:2-3
Part 2.
Acts 8:5-25.
I believe in Samaria they had a head knowledge of the things that Phillip was teaching, and they were baptized by water but in this instance, they weren't converted until Peter came and laid hands on them and they received the Holyspirit.
You can't be saved without the Holyspirit!
It takes the Holyspirit to show you the things of God, not miracles! 1 Corinthians 2:10-11.
These people were bewitched by Simon who used sorcery and they presented him to be some great one.
The unclean spirit can leave a person but it takes the Holyspirit to seal him.
This reminds me of Matthew 12:43-44.
"They received the word of God" even Simon!
When the apostles were able to bring on about the Holyspirit by the laying on of hands then that which they received (The word of God) was sown in them. It took the Holyspirit to seal them, water baptism didn't do it and their head knowledge didn't do it.
Acts 8:14-24. The Apostles were given this power to demonstrate the power of God. Romans 15:18-19. 2 Corinthians 12;12.
God bless.
In James 1:5-8, James gives us the explanation of the prayer of faith. He ended off in Verse 4 saying wanting, or more literally, lacking in nothing. And then he says in James 1:5, but if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
The word lack is the same word as in Verse 4. Most of us have heard Verse 5 before, "if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God," and we take that and tell others to ask God and He'll give you wisdom, as if this magical thing falls out of the sky and all of a sudden, we have wisdom. But wisdom is gained through enduring our trials by faith. And so, when James says if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, we have to be careful.
If we say, "I would really like to have God's wisdom," okay, but we're going to have to go through a lot of trials. If I had to give a personal definition of wisdom that summarizes its application in the New Testament, I would say that wisdom is seeing life as God sees life. It's like looking through His eyes!
And 1 Corinthians 2:16 plays a big role in this, in that we have been given the mind of Christ. That's the word NOUS, which means perceptive. By His Spirit, we can perceive God and His working in our circumstances. That's wisdom, seeing life as God sees life. Now how am I going to do that? By experiencing Him, and by enduring my trials and circumstances and totally trusting the Lord Jesus Christ!
James says God gives to all liberally, and He upbraids not, that is to say He will not chide you. If you lack wisdom and you ask Him, He's not going to say "Are you kidding? I'm not going to give you wisdom!"
1 Corinthians 2:13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Matthew 13:10-17
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 13:34,35
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
When a Christian passes away here on earth, can you tell me if they immediately go to Heaven? I Thesselonians talks about the rapture where the dead in Christ will rise first. So I'm a little confused about this.
Thank you for your help.
Daryl Bearstail
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Matthew 13:10-17
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 13:34,35
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
I'm not altogether sure what you are asking here but let me, again, say this.
There is no question that we are to interpret the Bible by "comparing scripture with scripture". 1 Corinthians 2:13.
That means looking at both the immediate context of a verse, a phrase, or a word AND the larger context of the entire Bible.
When God speaks about "fire", I believe it is always referring in some way to the Judgment of God. This can be the Judgment of Satan and the unsaved on the Last Day, the Judgment that Christ endured for the True Believers, the condemnation that the Law of God imposes each time we commit sin, the Judgment on National Isreal, the Judgment on the Churches and Congregations, etc. It can be used in a very physical sense and / or a spiritual sense, and always, I believe, in relation to some aspect of the Gospel, which includes both God's Judgment and Mercy.
So again, we must look at BOTH, the IMMEDIATE context AND the context of the WHOLE, Bible, if we are going to come to truth about any passage in the Bible. And it is ultimately God Himself that must give us understanding.
When we speak about spiritual things to the carnal, natural man, they can seem absurd (or, foolishness, as v14 puts it) to him. It's like we're talking nonsense to him. So in verse 15, Paul writes, 'that the spiritual person (the one indwelt & led by God's Spirit) judges (or, examines, discerns) all things (at that higher level - with the Mind of God). But the spiritual person cannot be correctly judged (discerned) by the carnal person because he has no reference at all to God, to God's Words or to God's Ways.' The spiritual person is an oddity to him & whatever he thinks of, or gives judgement about the Christian, it will likely be founded on falsehood & surmisings & not in the Truth that is hidden in the spiritual Life in Christ.
> Christ is the author of the WHOLE Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
> the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
> Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
> We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience. This method, however, fails to recognize that GOD is the AUTHOR of the WHOLE Bible and that the WHOLE Bible is written for us TODAY.
Moreover, as we approach the end of the world, and the coming of the bridegroom, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end ( Daniel 12:9-10). This is spoken of in the Bible as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie ( Habakkuk 2:2-3).
God did not write the Bible so that it is easy to come to truth. Faithful Bible teachers that apply these principles can guide us in our understanding.
But THE BIBLE ALONE AND IN ITS ENTIRETY must be our ultimate authority as we compare scripture with scripture praying that God in His mercy would open our our understanding and lead us into Truth.
The following are the fundamental rules of Bible study that the Bible lays down:
> Christ is the author of the whole Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
> the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
> Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
> We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation employed by the churches seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that the Bible is written for us today.
Moreover, the method of Bible interpretation employed by the churches fails to recognize that as we approach the end of the world, and the coming of the bridegroom, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end ( Daniel 12:9-10). This is spoken of in the Bible as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie ( Habakkuk 2:2-3).
God ultimately must lead us into truth as we apply these principles and pray for understanding with a view to being obedient to His Word.