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NASB | Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ. |
Subject: Joe, is your reasoning not circular? |
Bible Note: 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 |