Subject: I just started reading the Bible and.... |
Bible Note: Pete, I beg to argue the case: I did not issue any dictum to you or anyone else that you must read the Bible 50 times in order to undertand God's message of salvation! I merely alluded to the practice followed by a Bible commentator, whose name was G. Campbell Morgan by the way, who is on record as saying that he read a book of Scripture at least 50 times before picking up his pen to comment on it. ...... In this brief response, Pete, I will not attempt to address individually the myriad of questions you throw my way but will offer a succinct comment to the final comment of your post. You say there must be a simple way There is, Pete, but first you must disembarrass your soul of the notion that you have a powerful mind, for such is your claim in your post. Pete, how can you, how dare you or I or any other man with feet of clay and eyes that see so dimly claim to have a powerful mind with which to approach the eternal word of the trancendent and mighty God? I quoted it in my former post to you and I'll quote it again in case it was overlooked: Illumination is the ministry of the Holy Spirit by which He enables Christians to understand the truths of God revealed by Scripture. See Psalm 119:18. ...... But you have not indicated whether you are a regenerate believer, but I do pray that you are, Pete. ..... There was a time when I was like Saul of Tarsus, fighting against the goads, challenging the word of God and even God Himself, trying to figure everything out for myself (I also thought I was very intelligent back in those days). By the grace of God I came to realize that I couldn't go it alone, that I was not nearly the mental cracker jack that I thought I was, that I was in fact nothing but a wretched sinner in dire need of a Savior, and that the only way out of my abyss was, as the phrase goes, to "let go and let God" have His way in my life, to surrendor my stubbord will to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God says in His word, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10). ...... Oh, by the way, G. Campbell Morgan didn't stop after his reading through the Bible 50 times. He topped 100 times before the Lord called him home. --Hank |