I read a lot in this forum about the study of words, and that is fine, however most of the bible is easily understood just by reading a good translation. There is a problem that is not solved simply by the detailed study of words(though sometimes it could help), and that problem is, what is the meaning of the message? Folks can clearly understand the written words yet there will be fourteen different versions of what was written. For example, there is a sizeable audience that believes that Rev 4:1 is the rapture of the church when it contains no rapture of the church. The problem is not in the written message, the problem is in the hearts of professing Christians. The made up mind will not accept contrary evidence. I have noticed that folks do great study of words and translations and yet they will reject something in the bible that they do not like, I think it would be better to learn to accept what is actually in the bible. It is dangerous to depart from God's truth, if any of you do err from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death...that was written to Christians. Our main concern should be in departing from known truth, that is what we will be judged for.
THE PROBLEM
- Thread starter samuel23
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I have to take exception with that sentence.
I grew up 'knowing' and believing that God punished Jesus on the cross, and that The Rapture was an absolute fact. I also 'knew' that we could lose our Salvation if we picked the wrong sin to commit, or sinned even the 'little ones' too often. Oh yes, I also would have fought you to the death over the 'fact' that my warped instruction of the word 'Repentance' meant to properly and sincerely "feel sorry about my sinning."
And several other things that, today, I am kind of embarrassed at letting myself be led into believing.
I grew up 'knowing' and believing that God punished Jesus on the cross, and that The Rapture was an absolute fact. I also 'knew' that we could lose our Salvation if we picked the wrong sin to commit, or sinned even the 'little ones' too often. Oh yes, I also would have fought you to the death over the 'fact' that my warped instruction of the word 'Repentance' meant to properly and sincerely "feel sorry about my sinning."
And several other things that, today, I am kind of embarrassed at letting myself be led into believing.
For this cause are the majority now in the state of confusion: instead of abiding in what did reach to heaven, men have tore it down into bits and fragments, so that most all know not what another is saying or referring to; it is like a reverse babel in which that which is written is scattered in so many fragments that much all of it is foreign one to another.
I agree that a made up mind can be changed, though imo, it's often very difficult.
I try (often fail) to hold lightly all of my beliefs except for a few core ones.
and example of a core belief
1 CORINTHIANS 15:3 I passed on to you the most important points of doctrine that I had received: Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:4 He was placed in a tomb. He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted.
I try (often fail) to hold lightly all of my beliefs except for a few core ones.
and example of a core belief
1 CORINTHIANS 15:3 I passed on to you the most important points of doctrine that I had received: Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:4 He was placed in a tomb. He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted.
Many years ago, before I was saved, I made it a personal goal to discount the Bible as a false book of religion.
I was of the attitude that I could learn enough scripture to confront my Christian friends and prove their religion false.
I was so backwards, I didn't even realize there were 4 gospels.....
I was listening to them on a series of cassette tapes and thought the tapes were miss labled. I was really dumb.
It took some years of working through so called contradictions in the scripture and makeing a fool of myself arguing with people that I figured out that the Bible does not
Contradict it self. When read like a novel it is the perfect book.
I was amazed and the spirit took me.
I think I had an advantage in growing in Christ. I didn't have any traditions or denominations influencing me. I was a clean slate that was open to learn. Most folks don't have that. I have found that a persons traditions and influencers are very hard to overcome.
I was of the attitude that I could learn enough scripture to confront my Christian friends and prove their religion false.
I was so backwards, I didn't even realize there were 4 gospels.....
I was listening to them on a series of cassette tapes and thought the tapes were miss labled. I was really dumb.
It took some years of working through so called contradictions in the scripture and makeing a fool of myself arguing with people that I figured out that the Bible does not
Contradict it self. When read like a novel it is the perfect book.
I was amazed and the spirit took me.
I think I had an advantage in growing in Christ. I didn't have any traditions or denominations influencing me. I was a clean slate that was open to learn. Most folks don't have that. I have found that a persons traditions and influencers are very hard to overcome.