Bible Discussion Thread

Is.14:13 "For thou hast said" (1 of 2)

"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:"

There are two ways of speaking. One is this, "I believed therefore have I spoken." St Paul annotates it to indicate salvation that comes from open confession. At the bottom what works is the spirit of faith which outpours from God a Spirit. Holiness of God makes no separation and every man is entitled to it. So St Paul explains,"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Ps.116:10; 2 Co.4:13; Ro.10:10)

Second way is what Lucifer, an angel employed. God charges him thus, "For thou hast said in thine heart,"I will ascend into heaven." God makes angels spirits so their thoughts have a centre. Since they do not have a body we cannot foist upon them a heart that we associate with human anatomy. Mind is indicated here. Satan expresses, "I will" which contradicts the will of God the Father so pride is a spiritual anomaly that Satan has coined. No man may invent in the world of the Spirit as one invents a tool from flint or a water wheel. He works with his visible world. Now what is evolution but tinkering with what is already existing, which is outside the will of man. The Bible is the God document and the Spirit is not teaching us anthropology or a treatise on ethnography but of the righteousness of God.

Without the Spirit giving us grace, what is faith as it is bandied about in the churches? Justification, yes but works, oh no! I wonder if Luther had got his scripture right? St James in his epistle was correct to connect works where it rightfully belongs. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."(Jas.2:17)