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Results from: Notes Author: Bill Mc Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does God hate or love sinners, or both? | Rom 5:8 | Bill Mc | 42419 | ||
Hi Arnie, This is an old post where I responded to Steve's fondness for searching out supposedly "scriptural errors" and I was using tongue-in-cheek. I do not feel that there are errors in either the OT or the NT, but I do believe that the OT points to the New and the reality of Christ. |
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2 | Joe, how do you know truth? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20486 | ||
Joe, This is my opinion (as is everything that I write, I'm sure you would agree):) God is truth. Truth is God's viewpoint. Unlike your criteria, I do not consider human nature reality. Human nature is born fallen and should not be considered reality. God is true reality. If we want to know the truth, we must consult God. He and His Word are the embodiment of truth. God, through His Word, is the primary revealer of truth. He did not leave us without an Interpreter. Christ said that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will lead us into all truth, which, obviously, always leads us back to God. I believe in interpreting the Bible by asking and then trusting the Holy Spirit to show me the mind of God behind the words. 'Who has known the mind of God? No one except the Spirit.' 'We have the mind of Christ.'- it's available to us because He lives in us. That is one of the primary reasons He dwells in us. He takes the things of Christ and makes them known to us. To do this, I try to let the scripture say what is says without 'reading' my meanings into it. I use other related scripture to ensure consistency. I try to interpret verses in light of the context, of the chapter, the book, and the whole Bible. I try to interpret scripture in the plain sense of the scripture making allowances for idioms, historical settings, literary devices (hyberbole, parables, poetry, etc.) I then compare my 'interpretation' against what my pastor believes, what other SS teachers believe, what some of my commentaries say (Believer's Bible Comm and various study Bibles, Ryrie, Nelson, NIV, NASB, etc), other books in my library. I also put my interpretation up before other forum members to get their opinions. I do have a few friends who know Greek to help me with passages that are, to my understanding, ambiguous. But, over the years, because I did not use these techniques, and simply trusted and believed everything I was told, here are some things that I used to hold to simply because that is what I was taught: You don't have the Holy Spirit if you don't speak in tongues. God will heal everyone if they have enough faith. God wants you to be rich. "If you don't send me X amount of money, God will take my life." "If you send me X amount of money, God will repay you 10-fold." Christians can lose their salvation. There is no way to know for sure that you are saved until you die. Not all of your sins are forgiven, only the ones you confess. True worship is lifting your hands and being slain in the spirit. If you have any sin in your life, God cannot use you. If you take communion and forget a sin, God could strike you dead. Being a good Christian is keeping the 10 Commandments. Every one of these statements have scripture to back them up. Those choice is eventually mine to make. I alone am responsible to God for my interpretation or my belief system. In light of the fact that all teachers have their 'pet' scriptures (even me), ultimately, I have to weigh everything and decide for myself who I listen to. And, ultimately, I have to trust that God can cut through all this 'garbage' that I have collect over the years to reveal Christ alone as my hope of glory. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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3 | Is truth relative? How do we know it? | John 8:32 | Bill Mc | 20481 | ||
Dear Hank, Thanks for your responses, brother. I, too, love C.S. Lewis. 'Mere Christianity' is a staple in my library. 'The ScrewTape Letters' is excellent, too. That a Christian could have such insight into the diabolical mind shows us indeed where God has brought us from and how radical our translation from darkness to light truly is. My question, Hank, is not posed as a rally cry to eliminate denominations. Although, like you, I don't feel that their existance is the ideal, the fact of the matter is that they do. The fact of the matter is the we have to deal with them. And, I believe that in spite of all our man-made lines and boxes, God works His plan of salvation for any who will seek Him. I don't think that denominations pose a big barrier to Him for He looks on our hearts. My question is really centered in the fact that we DO have to search for God amongst this 'haystack' of man-made religion. And though God has no problem 'finding' us (PTL), we have many problems of knowing who to listen to. No denomination, no church, no pastor, and certainly no forum guide is going to say, "Listen to me. I will teach you false doctrine." Everyone believes they are right (even ME, beware :)). This puts a new believer in an awkward, sometimes overwhelming position. In another thread, I shared that, for me, the Word of God was my sole standard for knowing the truth. It is my plumbline. I was basically told that if that was my standard, then I could easily either start or fall prey to cultic beliefs. It was advanced to me that I need to be under a human teacher's teaching to know the absolute truth. While I realize that God does indeed work through the teachers, pastors, evangelists, elders, and other offices that He has given to the body of Christ, my question is how do you make the determination of who to listen to? If I cannot trust the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of God's Word to me when I am using correct interpreting techniques, and I must seek out a human teacher (for that is all the church offers at this point), how do I know who is teaching the truth? Or the truer truth? Any thoughts? (For the record, although God's Word is infallible, my interpretation of it is not. Therefore I will often check my interpretation up against what my pastor teaches, what other Christians think, what other men or women of God have written in commentaries and literature, and even, sometimes, what other forum members think. That's why we are here. So I do not exist or study in a closed vacuum. But my starting point is always trusting the Lord to illuminate His Word to me first. I feel that if God so 'dead' that He can no longer teach us from His own Word, we might as well close down this site and go play 'Solitaire.') In Christ, Bill Mc |
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4 | Joe, how do you know the truth? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20435 | ||
Dear Tim, I appreciate your input. You may have a point. But at the same time the 'church' also taught purgatory, praying to the saints, the sinlessness and intercessory power of Mary, forgiveness through confession to priests and the sale of indulgences, the crusades and the burning of 'alledged' witches. This is the result of the 'church' leaving the Bible as the sole authority for doctrinal purity and insisting that no one but the special select few had a right to interpret the Bible. Now, of course, one is going to then start to argue, "Well, that was before the Reformation." Granted, but it was still the 'church' that people were told to trust in. The 'church' alone held the keys to heaven and hell. And the 'church' burned William Tyndale at the stake for wanting a Bible in English. "Heresy, cult!" they cried, "God's Word is ONLY inspired in Latin." Even today, many Catholics are told that they can READ their Bible but they have no right to INTERPRET it or think that the Holy Spirit has the capability to do so. "You must be LEARNED, embracing intellect as the key to understanding the scriptures." I'm sorry, Tim, but this is WRONG! If the 'church' believes that God cannot speak to me from His Holy Word, right here, right now where I am through the enablement of His Holy Spirit and divine power, then the 'church' has once again entered the dark ages. In Christ and trusting Him, Bill Mc |
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5 | Joe, is your reasoning not circular? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20393 | ||
Joe, We do need teaching, correction, and discipline in the body of Christ. But that is primarily the Holy Spirit's job. Primarily. Will He use others to do it? Yes, I believe He will. Usually when the organized church has to step in to discipline, it is because the believer is NOT listening to the Holy Spirit or the Word of God. And God gives guidelines as to how that discipline should be done. We are never perfect receptors of the Holy Spirit's teaching. But you and I both know that God can speak from His Word, from others, from circumstances, and from His Spirit to ours. I never said that the Holy Spirit has already told me everything He wants me to hear. It is a process, isn't it? What He tells us (or what we think we hear) had better agree with scripture or, at the very least, not conflict with it. His is the Author, after all. Maybe you misunderstood my 'recommendation,' Joe. I was not saying to never be involved in the church. I said that it would probably be good for a new believer to FIRST study the Bible himself, trusting the Holy Spirit. Then, after that, bump it up against what other believers, the church, the church fathers, or commentaries say. I'm sorry if you perceived this as a threat, Joe. But the last thing I would tell a new believer is to go pick a church, any church, and seek out a teacher in order for him to grow in the Lord. We seldom to that, even on this forum. People come here as new believers and they want to know how to grow or learn more. We usually tell them to get a Bible and go to one of the gospels and just let God speak to them. Is that wrong? We who claim to tightly to God's sovereignty, do we not trust that He is the Author and completer of our faith? God does indeed have purpose in corporate functions but those things must never take the place of a personal one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ as revealed through the Word and His Spirit in us. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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6 | Joe, is your reasoning not circular? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20383 | ||
Joe, I bear you no ill will, brother. This is exactly the way that Law is. The only thing that it can do is point out where you don't measure up: You're not 'intellectual' enough. You're not 'teachable' enough. You are so prideful. You can't hear the Holy Spirit for yourself. You still sin. You are WRONG. Law knows nothing of grace, unmerited favor. It is completely bound up in commands that none of us can keep. It offers no help other than, "Do this or die." The focus is never on Christ and what He has done. It is always on us and how we fall short or what we do. And it always concludes with, "You have sinned." Thank God for the grace that we stand in, brother. Under grace, Bill Mc |
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7 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20371 | ||
Let me rephrase to prevent misunderstanding. You are worshipping the written Word as opposed to the Living, Incarnate Word - Jesus Christ. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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8 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20370 | ||
kalos, Both a and b are true, Jesus was not the Law revealed, He was God revealed. The Law pointed to Christ. The OT points to Christ. The NT points to Christ. The problem that I see is that you are worshipping the Word of God instead of the God of the Word. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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9 | Joe, is your reasoning not circular? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20369 | ||
Nice of you to point out my 'sin'. You're not the first, the Holy Spirit got to me long before you did. Thank God I'm under grace, huh? Bill Mc |
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10 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20367 | ||
Yes, you make sense (and without insulting me). Thank you for the clarification. Bill Mc |
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11 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20366 | ||
kalos, again you miss my point. My whole point was that one could have the Scripture (OT and NT together) without any other book or teacher and be able to reach a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Friend, this could not happen if all you had was the Old Testament. You might understand God's holiness and man's sinfulness but you would not understand fully Christ's sacrifice to redeem us from the curse of the law and to give us eternal life. That is all I am saying. Jesus told the Pharisees that they searched the scriptures that are "magnified above Thy name" because they thought that by keeping the Law, they would have life. But He noted that they would not come to HIM, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, to receive the very eternal life they sought. Stupid in Christ, Bill Mc |
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12 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20357 | ||
The Word (Jesus Christ) was made flesh. The Bible was never incarnate. If, per kalos understanding, all scripture is still true, then we need to reinstitute animal sacrifices. BTW, Steve, the word was "idiotic" - id·i·ot·ic - adj. - Showing foolishness or stupidity. Calm and in Christ, Bill Mc |
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13 | Joe, is your reasoning not circular? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20355 | ||
Kalos, I do believe the entire Bible. But the Bible is a progressive revelation of God and His plan to redeem fallen man. The animal sacrifices of the OT pointed to the 'truer' sacrifice of the Lord in the NT. The physical Israel points to the 'truer' people of God, the church. There are many shadows of Christ in the OT. In the NT, He is revealed to us in fulfill. Does this make the OT not true? Not at all. But is was a shadow of the New. The church is a mystery that was not revealed in the OT. So if I want to research the truth of the church as the living body of Christ, I will not go to Leviticus. This is all I am saying. All of God's Word is the truth but there is a progressive revelation. That is why I said that Christ is 'truer' than the OT. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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14 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20353 | ||
Thanks, Steve, I'm glad you understood what I was saying. Good question, BTW. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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15 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20350 | ||
You miss my point completely, kalos. The Law was a shadow of the reality that is found in Christ. While the Law points to some attributes of God's character and nature, "Don't kill," Jesus Christ is the EXACT representation of God, "Love your enemies." There is no need to be insulting to me "Be blessed in your bliss (ignorant implied)." If you feel the need to be insulting, I would appreciate it if you would find someone who would not pick up on your veiled slurs. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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16 | Is there any practical difference? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20266 | ||
Questions, Part 2 - 8.Your fellowship with other believers? I see fellowship with other believers as a great privelege that can hep us grow in Christ. God frequently uses other believers to teach, encourage, and correct me. We are all members of His body, the church. I see the true church as an organism, not an organization. I endeavor not to let denominational boundaries influence my ability to fellowship. While denominations probably necessary at this point, I believe that they are not scriptural. 9. Your involvement in the local church? I am active in my local church through fellowship, the music program, and teaching Sunday School and small group. But I also realize that my Christian maturity is not based on how much or how well I serve. 10. Your involvement in missions? I am not active in missions at this time, other than contributing to the offering. 11. Your manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit? I believe that I have a teaching gift but it is not given for my edification at all. And it is only done properly as I allow the Teacher to teach through me. 12. The fruit of the Spirit in your life? I believe that the fruit of the Spirit is not something that we produce. I believe that Christ produces it through us and that we just get to 'bear' it. He produces the fruit as we abide in Him. If I am not abiding in Him as my source and life, I will attempt to produce 'flesh' fruit that may look like the real thing but will be burned up at the Bema seat. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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17 | Is there any practical difference? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20215 | ||
Tim, on second thought, because I don't claim to be from either camp, I will share my beliefs in these areas. This is not a 'middle ground' because I've been told that there cannot be one. To my knowledge, I have not been formally taught either C or A. But, obviously, my human teachers may have been one of the other. Well, here goes.. 1. Your personal relationship to God? I was born in Adam, dead in trespasses and sin. God, throught Christ work on the cross and His resurrection, has offered me forgiveness of my sins and His very life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Responding to this offer, I accepted. My spirit is completely saved - a new spirit. My soul is in the process of being saved. My current body never will be saved - I'll get a new one. God indwells me and He will never leave me or forsake me because the only thing that could cause Him to do so, sin, has been dealt with by Christ. 2.How accepted you feel that you are to God? Because I am 'in Christ', I am 100 percent acceptable to God. We have been united through the Spirit's baptism and will never be separated. Because of some of my actions, I don't always 'feel' accepted, but I remind myself that truth is what God says not what I feel. 3. Your prayer life? I feel that prayer is mainly an atttitude of constand communication with God. Someone said, "Pray always, if necessary use words." I feel that prayer is one of the main ways I can express to God my thankfulness to Him and agree with Him concerning what He is doing in my life. 4. Your Bible study? I feel that if I study the Bible in a spirit of humbleness, that the Holy Spirit will lead me into all truth. I do see doctrine through an Old Covenant and New Covenant viewpoint. I view commentaries as a supplement - handy to have but not absolutely necessary. I try to study everyday using my interlinear and Vine's. 5. Your worship of God? While I enjoy 'worship services', I think that alot of it is for show. I view true worship as the act of submitting my body to Christ to live out through. As with prayer, I see worship as an attitude, not a discreet action, but a constant awareness that I am in Christ and that Christ is in me. I feel that true worshipping is setting your mind upon things above - being consumed with Christ. 6. Your ability to share the gospel with others? I endeavor to share with any that is open. I do not actively go 'door-to-door.' I feel that Christ died for all men, that all sins were forgiven at the cross, but that we need to respond to Christ's provision and accept it. I feel that my sharing of the gospel is not "You've sinned, so come be forgiven" but rather "You are dead and separated from God, so come and receive life and union with God. Forgiveness makes that possible." 7. Your efforts to disciple others? I endeavor to show others that God's Word is the standard and that God will reveal Himself to all who truly seek Him. I endeavor to help others see that Christ is our life, that He doesn't want to come 'into' your life but that He wants to give you a completely new life as a new creation. I long to see others leave the performance-based mentality of the law and abide in a real relationship with Christ as life. More later. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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18 | Do all TEACHERS teach the truth? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20207 | ||
Pastor Kwaku, That was my very point to begin with. As you have said, one should be well-versed in the Scriptures. My original proposal was that a man who is able to read will be able to understand the Bible through the enablement of the Holy Spirit if that is all he has access to. The premise being advanced here is that God has had different men down through the ages who He has given a 'deeper revelation' of scripture to than what is available to the 'average' Christian. So I asked what, aside from the Bible, would be necessary. The answer I got was teachers. But what right do teachers of the scriptures have to add to or detract from the Holy Spirit's revelation of the scriptures. And how does one guage whether one is being taught truth or not. I think that the question ultimately has to go back to the fact that we, individually, must know what the Bible says and means in order to guage anyone else's interpretation. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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19 | Is there any practical difference? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20202 | ||
Dear Tim, a minor observation. If this question had been on the theological differences (w/associating scriptures) between C and A, I would have had to scroll down by now. Instead, it is on what practical difference does it make in your Christian experience and there is only one person who has responded. And that response was that he would rather discuss the theological arguments pro and con. C'mon, believers, now is your chance to demonstrate why the Calvin/Armenian issue is so important. If it does not impact your life on a practical level, why is it so hotly debated? Surely something which has such a polarizing effect amongst the body of Christ must have some practical results. Humbly challenging all you C and A believers to prove the pudding, Bill Mc |
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20 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20100 | ||
BTW, Sir Pent, I do have a label. It is a child of God, a son, a saint, a new creation, a citizen of heaven, an heir of God. I just couldn't find Armenianism or Calvinism in the NT. :) The un-Cola, Bill Mc |
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