Circular conundrums

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notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#21
Is greater subject to our cultural norms or is there a Spiritual constant in the word?

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

What is greater? Is not winning a soul to Christ the pinnacle of our witness for Him? Have we left our first love? So asks the Spirit to the seven churches in Asia. Revelation

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#22
There is nothing greater than raising the spiritual dead as born again persons, as the gospel. The greater has to do with numbers. The Son of man according to his three year ministry who was limited to perhaps five hundred followers informs us unless he goes away disappearing out of sight , the Holy Spirit would not come.

The Holy Spirit came and spoke through Peter... in the twinkling of the eye three thousand souls, the greater number, entered the kingdom of God the new heavenly Jerusalem prepared as His bride the church as born again believers.

Those who seek after a sign before they believe would have us believe they can resurrect the dead,and drink poison. But take them to a cemetery and they prove it is useless .Have them drink poison and they will die.

The Holy Spirit is still quickening the souls of men giving them an eternal spirit that will be raised on the last day to receive the final promise of their new faith. their new incorruptible bodies.
There were 5,000 in attendance when Jesus fed them the loaves and fishes. Since the Joel Osteens of the world attract more, do you think they are the fulfillment of Jesus' words that we would do more? If that prophecy indeed only applies to sheer numbers? Remember, we have already looked at 2 things that occurred after Jesus rose that Jesus Himself never did. I think the answer is that it applies to new things happening, not just bean-counting numbers.

And we're not talking saving lost souls here (primarily) We're talking about what we, as saved believers, are able to do that goes beyond what scripture reports. And how to tell how far beyond scripture is too far.

I agree that tempting God by purposefully handling snakes and drinking poison is not going to end well. But do you not believe that God will protect His own from these dangers, when faced accidentally?
 

Latour

Active member
Jun 11, 2018
437
255
43
#23
I think we would all agree that whatever we believe and do, we should have scripture to back it up.

But we would also agree that scripture can be made to back some seriously twisted stuff.

Too, scripture itself admits it's not telling the full story. John 21:25 - Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. Earlier in John 14:12, even Jesus admits that we will do things He has not done... Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

So, the circular conundrum is that while we are constrained to work our lives within the confines of scripture, scripture tells us we will do more than is reported in it.


we are constrained to work our lives within the confines of scripture

scripture tells us we will do more than is reported in it.


How do you wrap your human brain around that one?
With Christ all things are possible. I don't know what that means to be confined to scripture...because all things means ALL things. So then the universe cannot hold all that is possible in Christ...never mind a little book.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#24
With Christ all things are possible. I don't know what that means to be confined to scripture...because all things means ALL things. So then the universe cannot hold all that is possible in Christ...never mind a little book.
The universe is contained in that little book. God created all things and without Him nothing was created.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#25
With Christ all things are possible. I don't know what that means to be confined to scripture...because all things means ALL things. So then the universe cannot hold all that is possible in Christ...never mind a little book.
Everything we do is supposed to be scriptural. I.e., everything we believe and do, we should be able to find some example or lesson of in scripture. That's what I mean by being confined, if we do something that is not backed up by scripture it is wrong.

And yet ... scripture itself says that it is not a complete record of all the things Jesus did;

and Jesus Himself said that everything He did we will do - and even more.

So, the question is, how are we supposed to do things that are not recorded in scripture, if we aren't supposed to do things that are not recorded in scripture?
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#26
Now wait a minnit ... why am I seeing Roger's post here but not in the other thread?
 

NayborBear

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
#27
Everything we do is supposed to be scriptural. I.e., everything we believe and do, we should be able to find some example or lesson of in scripture. That's what I mean by being confined, if we do something that is not backed up by scripture it is wrong.

And yet ... scripture itself says that it is not a complete record of all the things Jesus did;

and Jesus Himself said that everything He did we will do - and even more.

So, the question is, how are we supposed to do things that are not recorded in scripture, if we aren't supposed to do things that are not recorded in scripture?

By "testing the spirits!" They are "under authority", in answering TRUTHFULLY, in their "confession" of Jesus Christ, having "come in the flesh!" If you don't demand/command/ask, their confession? You'll never get it out of 'em! "Jesus is Lord!" Is another good "test!"

Rejoicing in your presecution, because you will be persecuted! Wasn't it Paul who said "I would EVERY man call me a liar!" ;)
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#28
By "testing the spirits!" They are "under authority", in answering TRUTHFULLY, in their "confession" of Jesus Christ, having "come in the flesh!" If you don't demand/command/ask, their confession? You'll never get it out of 'em! "Jesus is Lord!" Is another good "test!"

Rejoicing in your presecution, because you will be persecuted! Wasn't it Paul who said "I would EVERY man call me a liar!" ;)
Very true! Another test is to follow the glory up the food chain. if the spirit/act does not focus it's glorify on God, it's false :)
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#29
There were 5,000 in attendance when Jesus fed them the loaves and fishes. Since the Joel Osteens of the world attract more, do you think they are the fulfillment of Jesus' words that we would do more? If that prophecy indeed only applies to sheer numbers? Remember, we have already looked at 2 things that occurred after Jesus rose that Jesus Himself never did. I think the answer is that it applies to new things happening, not just bean-counting numbers.

And we're not talking saving lost souls here (primarily) We're talking about what we, as saved believers, are able to do that goes beyond what scripture reports. And how to tell how far beyond scripture is too far.

I agree that tempting God by purposefully handling snakes and drinking poison is not going to end well. But do you not believe that God will protect His own from these dangers, when faced accidentally?
5000 attended as partakers of the Holy Spirit, as those who had tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come. Nothing about soul added. Could of been none or a few?

120 where recognized prior to the 3000 new believers .

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)Acts 1:15

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.Acts 2:41

No I do not beleive God will protect His believers. He could aid them if they have snake venom antidote for that.

The parable where we find the use of poison was to represent false prophecy. It will not harm a believer who has a faith according as it is written not adding or subtracting from it.

It is why Jesus called those who made up the "law of the father" as commandments or oral traditions of men of men a brood of vipers. False prophets brining false prophecy.

The laying on of hands another metaphor representing the unseen work of the gospel.

Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.





They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. SelahPsalm 140:3
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#30
With Christ all things are possible. I don't know what that means to be confined to scripture...because all things means ALL things. So then the universe cannot hold all that is possible in Christ...never mind a little book.
The context was Peter starting grapevine rumors as lies in a hope of making the oral traditions of the fathers equal to scripture . If every time the Spirit of Christ prevented lies as oral tradition of men was written down .I suppose the whole world would no be able to contain the volume upon volumes that could be written . One reminder in John 21 should be enough