Results 1 - 6 of 6
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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 | 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. | ||||||
2 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | Huron | 104326 | ||
Interesting point of view. What you are saying makes a lot of sense to me. In explaining this verse the person I'm conversing with wants me to limit my reasoning to scripture only. Any way to put your response into a scriptural formulation? |
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3 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | iriandani | 104334 | ||
Hi. Perhaps the easiest place to start is with Romans where Paul argues that the truth about God and reality can be understood and discerned from observing the natural creation, so much so that ignoring it is sufficient for judgment. This would mean that the natural man can indeed apprehend truth but that their natural inclination is to actively suppress the truth in order to please the self. You could also talk about Jesus late night discussion with Nicodemus in John 3, a converstaion heavily laden with truth that Jesus expected Nicodemus (a natural man) to comprehend. Hope that helps. | ||||||
4 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | Huron | 104428 | ||
Very helpful. So, to recap, you don't see any contradiction between this view of understanding the things of God, and us being dead without being regenerated? Huron |
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5 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | iriandani | 104440 | ||
None whatsoever. There are two kinds of life. The first is 'bios', which is the normal and physical type, it is what you do everyday, it is breathing in, breathing out. The second is 'zoe', which is spiritual life, God's type of life. Jesus said, I have come to give you life (zoe) and zoe more abundantly. Bios doesn't preclude intelligence, imagination, creativity etc, all elements of being created in the image of God, and through which we understand and apprehend the meaning of the world and universe we find ourselves in, and through which the Holy Spirit confronts and convicts us. But 'life' and 'death' are fundamentally understood as relating to the presence or absence of zoe, God's kind of life. Apart from that life, we are dead. Only God is zoe and if He does not dwell within you, making you alive, then you are dead. Hope that helps. | ||||||
6 | Natural man understanding truth? | Mark 12:34 | Ray | 104463 | ||
Hi iriandani, I believe that God is zoe and I also believe that He is Zoe. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is Phos and phos. He is the Light of the world and He gives light. John 8:12, my interpretation for what it is worth: Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of *Life." Also, Colosssians 3:4 for what is worth: When *Christ, who is our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. From the heart, Ray |
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