Subject: The Bible written in code ? |
Bible Note: Hi Hank, Certainly, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. I learned of Christ through His Word, as did we all, either by hearing it preached, or seeing a movie, or testimony of a friend, however it came, it was His Word that came. Tit 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; It is by the preaching of the Apostles, recorded in the New Testament, that God has chosen to proclain His Christ. 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Not all people receive His Word in the same way. For us it is useful for all that things you quoted. It teaches us and changes us and will be used by our Lord to bring us home to glory. But for those who are perishing it is foolishness. How many people sit in the same pews as we do, day after day, week after week, untouched, unchanged. Men like Charles Templeton, who preached the gospel unto salvation for many, was yet not the recipient of saving faith himself. I could not agree more strongly than I do that the Word of God is ignored in faver of feelings, or opinions, or "special revelation". Those who do that imperil their eternal soul, and risk being caught in a web of pride that may send them to hell. I dislike the name of this thread, because the Bible was not written in code, it was written plainly, yet profoundly. Without the Holy Spirit it is meaningless to save, but with His Spirit it is the power of God to salvation. 1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. How does faith come? I don't know, at least in the same sense as asking "how does electricity come through the wire?" It comes through His Word, through preaching, through the glory of the heavens, all I can say is, "Thank You, LORD, that You gave faith to me!" Love in Christ, Mark |