How Do You Know Your Belief is Right?

[oOfallen_angelOo]

I have been told by other Christians that what I believe is wrong, because what they believe is right. We both have bible verses to back our perspectives up,

Even after these hour long debates / discussions - we both end up having to agree to disagree.

WTF?!

I mean come on now - does anyone else see the problem with everyone's interpretation being accepted as true, just because it suits their personal perspective?

This is how the reformation started, and a million and one different Christian " truths" came to be.

Realistically though;

Everyone can't be right, but everyone can be wrong.

Only the author knows his works; the bible is the absolute truth of God, and God had it written by only HIS divine authority -

There is NOTHING subjective about the bible; God laid down one solid truth, and this is why in Revelations it says not to add or take anything away from the bible.

If you misinterpret the bible, you have either taken something away from it's meaning, or added something to it.

That is FALSE.

This is why I don't understand why everyone is just settling for accepting every interpretation, or adhering so strongly to their own.

How can you be so sure you are correct?

Just look at the logical realization here;

If God is all - knowing and perfect, his word would have to be indisputable so that nothing is up for subjective relativity and all will come into unity under ONE truth - NOT HUNDREDS OF THEM.

There is no reason that one Christian should dispute with another over God and his works - yet everyone and their mama argues over the bible.

So what then? What makes you so right in what you believe, and everyone else so wrong?

~

I am just going to point this out:

Jesus Christ brought with him a teaching; God brought a teaching;

Jesus said that another called " Counselor," will come in his name to " remind you ( us)" of what Jesus had spoken. There's another verse in which this mysterious 2nd Coming Christ is said to guide everyone into all truths.

Just deducing from what Jesus said here ( This is in the book of John btw under the heading " jesus comforts his disciples NIV)

We can logically conclude that the " truth " has been messed up, falsified, and mutilated, or else 2nd Coming Christ would not have been prophesied to come to fix the mess people have made of God's gospel.

So until that time, does anyone really have the authority to say they are absolutely right? Can you really speak with the authority of God, that you know exactly what the bible says?

Even the Pharisee's studied the bible diligently, and ended up crucifying the Savior they had been waiting for.

" Though seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear..."

So who's really hearing...and who's really seeing.

 

[Batman007]

Yes but is it really possible to take everything from the Bible as literal without noticing how often it contradicts itself?

You have to interpret the Bible different ways, because even those who say they take it literally have different interpretations.

 

[kenisyes]

We are all made different, and have different parts to play in the Body of Christ. So we see some things differently.

Life in Jesus affirms Scripture, and Scripture affirms life in Jesus. You need to use the Bible to build a relationship between you and Jesus, and you will know what passages you personally are to follow first. Following those will show you the context on the rest of the Bible, and you will then see that it can all be true, without all being equally relevant to your needs or to your personality. In the long run, it is your intention that matters; Jesus can take of the rest of it. You will someday show the fruit of the Spirit and the fruits of a successful, victorious life and ministry.

And yes, we need to stop arguing. Study is necessary, since God wrote His love letters in Hebrew and Greek, and that makes knowing for sure what He said a little tricky sometimes. But, as a people, Christians need to see that our differences are complementary, not divisive. Part of knowing Jesus is knowing Him in His people, and the more of His people that want to argue, are the more people that make themselves hard to want to get to know.

 

[jimmydiggs]

I suppose I should do like you, and come up with my own idea on the matter before I reply rather than seeing what God has to say.


Sounds like a top notch start!

 

[Tintin]

Much good came of the Reformation, but yes, people used it as an excuse to divide and mark their differences, rather than unite in God's Truth.

 

[Powemm]

we have such an unbelievably HUGE GOD.. I've asked the question myself... " How is it then, any one man can possibly hold all tue knowledge of who He is?". We can't.. Each one of us is beautifully and wonderfully made by Him ... but He who lives in us is the same ....
I've also wondered and asked in my own relationship with Him.... why is there so much arguing ? I can't help but wonder, are we each a stepping stone, a point of view for one another to look at Him from ? Maybe? I know I certainly don't have any answers, but God has all of them. If I don't open my heart to listen to what Others relationship with Him is like, what might I be missing in seeing him from different vantage points.? someone in a deep relationship with Him might see something of Him I have never known.... Possible? Maybe... Iron sharpens iron .. I can not see without Him , and by faith I listen for His voice...his calling... to reveal rather than me knowing or seeing... He guides our very steps ... bringing us all to the same place (home) ... Some are further out, some
Are closer in ... But we are all heading either away or towards Him... fruits of the spirit are live joy peace patience and kindness... the question I ask Him is.... Will you
Make me useable ??? so others come to know " you" better? Make me usable , less of me and more of you.. "walk out" such fruits to others through me? He certainly doesn't have to have my permission to do it ... Nor anyone else's.... but I would like to be a yielding vessel , mire cooperative and flexible so I might enjoy my relationship with Him in others ... I've had to look at the planks in my own eye... As the speck I see in my brother or sisters eye may simply be the very end of a beam coming out of my own ... I'm glad someone is talking about this ... And thank you fir bringing it up ... as we all want and desire the truth... I do know that since coming to know the character of God , it's becoming easier to identify his character coming out through other people's words and actions to match... As He is always the same and never changes ....
Blessings

Michelle ...

 

[dashadow]

Don't worry about what other people think. If you are comfortable in what you believe, you don't have anything to prove. I'm very comfortable in my Faith. But I don't mind listening to others because I feel I can always learn more. My Faith is a personal relationship with God that doesn't require the approval of others. But I don't want to fall victim to pride and self-righteousness, so I like to try and be open to discussion and further understanding.

 

[crossnote]

we know in part, but what we know we should defend respectfully and all along be open that we may be wrong if proven from Scripture.


1Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: ; but now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

[Tommy4Christ]

Only one way, truth and life, and you better be sure you are not under the spirit or error, or under the strong delusion God promised to send to those who do not love the truth, and seek teachers who tickle their ears.

The spirit will guide you into all truth, but most are under the errors of reformed theology, thus getting a mix of truth and error!

Does the truth matter?​

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knows God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Jesus made it clear, He is the truth, John 14-6, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. So truth mattered to Jesus, and His few devoted followers who died to keep it pure and undefiled.
Either you love the truth, and have done what is commanded to receive it by:
Jas 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and overflowing of evil, receive in meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Or you will fall into many false ways and teachings that sound right, where you can take a few scriptures out of context to prove your point, and stop there.
One error breeds another error, and soon the foundation of truth crumbles to the ground, where the harmony of the gospels is made into a mess of twisted scriptures teaching something that has been implied into the word, instead of hard truth.
What puzzles me is some will say it doesn't matter if you mix truth with error, which tells me they do not love the truth, and have received the great delusion promised from God to those who insist on teaching and promoting any false doctrine that clouds the repentance and faith message.
2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie,
2Th 2:12 so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.
We are commanded to keep the word pure, and to dig deep for the truth, to build a strong foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ, who implores His followers to love the truth as we love Him, otherwise He wouldn't have told us He was the truth! So any error added into the word, such as original sin, imputation, penal substitution, OSAS, Calvinism, gradual sanctification, plus a host of many other false teaching’s that were NEVER taught by the early church fathers, Jesus, the apostles, and the profits of old, are not to be taken lightly!
Keeping the word pure doesn't mean mixing any truth with error when it comes to God's plan for redemption, you may get some aspects of the truth, but as the word says adding and subtracting to the gospel has deadly consequences!
Gal 1:6 I marvel that you so soon are being moved away from Him who called you into the grace of Christ, to another gospel,
Gal 1:7 which is not another, but some are troubling you, and desiring to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, and now I say again, If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10 For now do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Remember you can try and prove the sky is pink by quoting a few scriptures, or back up many false teachings, coming from the reformation up to today, but you must dig deep as warned, stop following the wolves in sheep's clothing, do your own research as to where a lot of these teachings came from, by going back to the early church message of Christ crucified, and sin subdued! Where repentance and faith proven by deeds, minus original sin nature, imputation, OSAS etc.,, wasn't even considered at that time, because Christ never taught it.
The message was simple back then, and it is simple today, but as long as mankind insists on adding and subtracting man made doctrines into the simple message of the gospel, there will be many divisions and lost souls confused and unable to find any truth as the day approaches!
Tommy
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest perhaps as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

[Abiding]

I spent twenty years holding on strong to what i believed then another twenty
years correcting to what i held onto. No easy answer. Study, be a workman.
He knows our hearts and He is mercyful. Im not ever surprised to be wrong.

 

[Tintin]

Tommy, how come your introductions are always very generalised? The Bible talks about speaking God's Truth in love and I don't see a whole lot of love from your end, just a lot of accusing.

 

[Jon4TheCross]

2Th_2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

I'll offer the simple answer to this problem. Believe and belief are words with definitions, and those definitions do not include knowledge.

The above scripture has the word "belief" in it, and the definition of this word (according to Strongs) is:
G4102
πίστις
pistis
pis'-tis
From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

I see these words for believe:
G4100
πιστεύω
pisteuō
pist-yoo'-o
From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

G4103
πιστός
pistos
pis-tos'
From G3982; objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believe (-ing, -r), faithful (-ly), sure, true.

These words do not indicate knowledge having anything to do with belief or believe, but I do understand that to believe is a step towards knowledge of the Truth (knowing Jesus/Truth/Good).

To believe not is defined as:
G569
ἀπιστέω
apisteō
ap-is-teh'-o
From G571; to be unbelieving, that is, (transitively) disbelieve, or (by implication) disobey: - believe not.
G571
ἄπιστος
apistos
ap'-is-tos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G4103; (actively) disbelieving, that is, without Christian faith (specifically a heathen); (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing): - that believeth not, faithless, incredible thing, infidel, unbeliever (-ing).

This brings me to the simple answer to all of this, and this is the shortest answer I can come up with concerning this issue of so many saying so many different things, and yet all confess to be Christian:

1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

So how do we all speak the same thing, easy, and it has nothing to do with what we believe.
Joh 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

Only speak what you know, and keep your beliefs to yourself, until you know one way or another, and that is the answer.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

It's a great topic, and there is no doubt that we ought to speak what we know, not what we believe.

2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

[oOfallen_angelOo]

Yes but is it really possible to take everything from the Bible as literal without noticing how often it contradicts itself?

You have to interpret the Bible different ways, because even those who say they take it literally have different interpretations.

Literal does not mean Objective or Truthful; Literal is just looking at things from a non metaphorical or spiritual element;

The bible does indeed have literal aspects in it; like times, dates, kings who ruled, characters in it - those are all real people and events that literally happened.

The bible also has spiritual / metaphorical things, parables as they are called which have to be deciphered to come to understanding.

You can't take the entire bible literally, and you can't take the entire bible spiritually either.

The thing here, is what is literal and what is spiritual? And for the spiritual, what is the truth to the spiritual element?

 

[oOfallen_angelOo]

We are all made different, and have different parts to play in the Body of Christ. So we see some things differently.

Life in Jesus affirms Scripture, and Scripture affirms life in Jesus. You need to use the Bible to build a relationship between you and Jesus, and you will know what passages you personally are to follow first. Following those will show you the context on the rest of the Bible, and you will then see that it can all be true, without all being equally relevant to your needs or to your personality. In the long run, it is your intention that matters; Jesus can take of the rest of it. You will someday show the fruit of the Spirit and the fruits of a successful, victorious life and ministry.

And yes, we need to stop arguing. Study is necessary, since God wrote His love letters in Hebrew and Greek, and that makes knowing for sure what He said a little tricky sometimes. But, as a people, Christians need to see that our differences are complementary, not divisive. Part of knowing Jesus is knowing Him in His people, and the more of His people that want to argue, are the more people that make themselves hard to want to get to know.

Yeah, everyone definitely has their own paths and perspectives no doubt:

What gets me though is that there are two sides - the faith / grace perspective and then the " legalist " perspective I think, in which there are Christians who strictly follow God's laws and commands.

I know for a fact Jesus said, " If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

That's a direct commandment to keep his commandments lol, I'm just not sure which ones because everyone has their own interpretation on which commandments should be followed and which ones are not. If I follow the wrong commandments, or miss some, I wonder if this effects salvation and stuff?

Likewise, there are a lot of contradictory teachings - like the bible says Jesus's breaking of the bread and wine was the Passover; but many churches say it was communion, eucharist, or last supper. What gets me, is that receiving Jesus's body is incredibly important, as he himself said this is the New Covenant and grants one eternal life. The Passover has an appointed time which sets it apart from communion and the other ceremonial things the churches say is the " body and blood" of Christ.

Now, I know people are like, what's the big deal? But the bible has various appointed times for significant things. Sabbath day is another thing being disputed; if it is indeed a sign between God and his people as the bible says, doesn't that mean it was suppose to be kept?

Then of course there are other details in the bible about sex, marriage, how one should live their lives according to Christ etc etc.

I just have to sit back and think which is why I posted earlier about the Mary thing and Catholic church - sorry if I offended anyone, it just doesn't make since that every church has it's own interpretation if there was only one bible and gospel?

 

[Batman007]

Literal does not mean Objective or Truthful; Literal is just looking at things from a non metaphorical or spiritual element;

The bible does indeed have literal aspects in it; like times, dates, kings who ruled, characters in it - those are all real people and events that literally happened.

The bible also has spiritual / metaphorical things, parables as they are called which have to be deciphered to come to understanding.

You can't take the entire bible literally, and you can't take the entire bible spiritually either.

The thing here, is what is literal and what is spiritual? And for the spiritual, what is the truth to the spiritual element?

Oh yes I know, I never claimed that the bible is truthful. The point is it's impossible to say what should be taken literally and what should be taken with a grain of salt, so anyone who claims they take the bible completely literally probably hasn't read the bible or they don't know what literal means.

 

[oOfallen_angelOo]

I suppose I should do like you, and come up with my own idea on the matter before I reply rather than seeing what God has to say.


Sounds like a top notch start!

People say " Wait and see what God says," but when he speaks who actually listens? I sat back and allowed God to do his thing, and now what I know of the bible is a bit different than anything I've ever heard interpreted from it. I believe it to really be the word of God, but it's hard to express this in such a subjective Christian reality. All it does is cause arguing, so I just wanted to see what perspectives people have as to why they feel they are correct in what they believe.

 

[oOfallen_angelOo]

Much good came of the Reformation, but yes, people used it as an excuse to divide and mark their differences, rather than unite in God's Truth.

In a way yes, because it started religious freedom, but then on the other side, it obscured Jesus's original teachings.

 

[Jon4TheCross]

Oh yes I know, I never claimed that the bible is truthful. The point is it's impossible to say what should be taken literally and what should be taken with a grain of salt, so anyone who claims they take the bible completely literally probably hasn't read the bible or they don't know what literal means.

Impossible?

Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

I know of many things that are literal, many that are spiritual, and many that are both at the same time. I do not know all of course, but what I do know I can speak freely, and if it's simply a belief, then I will clarify if there is a need to talk about it for edification purposes.

Joh 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

I'm not saying that you're not recieving our witness, it's just part of the verse.

 

[Tintin]

The Reformation moved people away from the belief that you could buy your way to heaven and that the Bible was only for the educated and 'holy'.

 

[oOfallen_angelOo]

we have such an unbelievably HUGE GOD.. I've asked the question myself... " How is it then, any one man can possibly hold all tue knowledge of who He is?". We can't.. Each one of us is beautifully and wonderfully made by Him ... but He who lives in us is the same ....
I've also wondered and asked in my own relationship with Him.... why is there so much arguing ? I can't help but wonder, are we each a stepping stone, a point of view for one another to look at Him from ? Maybe? I know I certainly don't have any answers, but God has all of them. If I don't open my heart to listen to what Others relationship with Him is like, what might I be missing in seeing him from different vantage points.? someone in a deep relationship with Him might see something of Him I have never known.... Possible? Maybe... Iron sharpens iron .. I can not see without Him , and by faith I listen for His voice...his calling... to reveal rather than me knowing or seeing... He guides our very steps ... bringing us all to the same place (home) ... Some are further out, some
Are closer in ... But we are all heading either away or towards Him... fruits of the spirit are live joy peace patience and kindness... the question I ask Him is.... Will you
Make me useable ??? so others come to know " you" better? Make me usable , less of me and more of you.. "walk out" such fruits to others through me? He certainly doesn't have to have my permission to do it ... Nor anyone else's.... but I would like to be a yielding vessel , mire cooperative and flexible so I might enjoy my relationship with Him in others ... I've had to look at the planks in my own eye... As the speck I see in my brother or sisters eye may simply be the very end of a beam coming out of my own ... I'm glad someone is talking about this ... And thank you fir bringing it up ... as we all want and desire the truth... I do know that since coming to know the character of God , it's becoming easier to identify his character coming out through other people's words and actions to match... As He is always the same and never changes ....
Blessings

Michelle ...

Nice reply -

Ya know, I asked Father the same thing, to use me, make me a vessel. I want to be his daughter and do whatever he wants me to, just because I love him so much.

Thing is, I didn't really understand what I was getting myself into ha ha. I don't regret anything I've learned or seen, and I am eternally grateful and humbled by the blessing Father bestowed on me - but it's hard Michelle; not everyone is a person of God, even though they call themselves a Christian. There's a ton more reality to the bible than what is realized on the surface.

You do learn a lot from other people's perspectives of God and their love for him - however, there is always conflict when it comes to the subjectivity of his word, and this is what worries me; because in coming to understand it, one comes to understand how God is separating the " goats from the lambs," and realizing some of the wolves in sheep's clothing.

God didn't abandon us to just figure it out on our own; the bible also details the wickedness we are to avoid, and one of the biggest corruptions is through false prophets.

False prophets are people of the church, who say they are of God, but in reality, the words from their mouths come to destroy the gospel and confuse the people. There are so many false prophets, in so many churches, and this is why knowing what is wrong and what is right is sorta crucial in the times we live in.

There are so many verses that warn about this.