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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | Huron | 104166 | ||
Scribe, Thanks for your insight. I have been told that natural man is dead to the things of God (Ephesians 2:1 and others). If this scribe hadn't been born again yet, how could he have understood that what Jesus was saying was the truth? Huron |
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2 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | iriandani | 104177 | ||
Hi, I don't know if you are familiar with any of the studies done on paradigms...basically they are a system or grid of assumptions (intellectual, emotional, experiencial, cultural) through which you look at the world and perceive its meaning. We all have them and they help us maintain a sense of control in our lives. The power of a paradigm is that it blinds us to information or ideas that contradict our assumptions (it isn't that we don't want to see the evidence, it is that we can't see it) - the natural man 'cannot' perceive the things of the spirit, for example. We are dependent upon something penetrating our defensive shield that will rock our paradigm, sometimes personal crisis, sometimes a failure of our existing paradigm...but in those moments we are open to change. While the natural man is still dead (not spiritually alive), new birth is not a requirement for the process of questioning existing paradigms. In addition, the apprehesion of truth is also not dependent on new birth. Even if I hear the truth, I may choose not to venture down the path in the direction that truth is pointing...or I may. It seems that we have been built in such a way as to respond (toward or away from) truth when it faces us, regardless of the condition of our spirituality. | ||||||
3 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | Ray | 104188 | ||
Hi iriandani, Welcome to the forum. I thought that this was an excellent post. I thought of John 3:8 while reading it. Everyone can hear that wind, that spirit of truth if you will; even the natural man hears and wonders where it is coming from and where it is going. Everyone is being born from that spirit of truth. But do we know the path that that truth is pointing to? We don't know where the wind [spirit] wishes to blow nor where it comes from or where it is going. We have to be born from above, be born again. I think that is where the Spirit [sic] of truth is active. John 3:11, NKJ, "Most assuredly I say to you, We speak that which We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" Earthly things and heavenly things; different paradigms. Thanks again for your post. From the heart, Ray |
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4 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | iriandani | 104193 | ||
Hi Ray, Caught between two worlds, one passing away, one real. John 3 passage is a personal favorite speaking in part to our uncontrollable freedom (uncontrollable by institutions, systems, the law, 'cancer'). Everything is invested with 'good' purpose. If the only One who is 'good' has chosen not to remove your thorn in the flesh yet, it is because there is purpose in your process. His very presence sustains. |
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