The Bible cannot be fully understood without God’s Holy Spirit

[RichGladden]

I have the same kind of experiences that you do. Suddenly I get hit with inspiration about specific verses and topics, sometimes lasting for several weeks while I go about my day thinking about them. If you ask me, I believe that’s God putting thoughts in our mind. Sorta nudging is in the direction of spiritual knowledge that will be helpful for us.

This has been happening to me since I became a Christian. I did become keenly aware that suddenly I was having almost unnatural obsessive thoughts about certain verses. I believe that’s God’s Holy Spirit guiding you.

It might be helpful to keep a journal of the things the Holy Spirit is leading you to learn about. Maybe you’ll notice a pattern, a theme, or larger message. It could also help you learn a bit more since you can always go back and view your notes.

I also firmly believe in sharing what we know and have experienced like how we are doing now. I think of sharing like the parable of the talents. Be sure to use what we’ve been given in our service to God.

Thanks for sharing bro.

The journal idea is brilliant! God has revealed so much that it is hard to remember all he showed me without some spark to remind me. Just a brilliant idea! thanks.

 

[Runningman]

The journal idea is brilliant! God has revealed so much that it is hard to remember all he showed me without some spark to remind me. Just a brilliant idea! thanks.

My pleasure sir. You can put many things in the journal. It can be either paper or electronic. Prayers, verses, ideas, etc. Try to add dates and times, too. I’m glad that helps.

 

[Runningman]

This thread veered way off course.

Lol yeah but that’s okay. Sometimes the side discussions end up helping in one way or another and that’s so important too.

 

[birdie]

At one point I thought anyone could understand the Bible, but the longer I am around Christians I realize that those who (allegedly, but only God knows) have the Holy Spirit don’t necessarily want to listen or know how to listen to Him.

The Bible isn’t a normal book. Yes some of the surface information can be understood by just reading the words on the pages, but if someone can’t or won’t listen to the Holy Spirit then they’ll never really be able to understand most of the Bible with any depth of understanding.

I know many people have probably heard this a million times and think they’re under some sort of blessing that makes them automatically understand the Bible, but with over 45,000 denominations and countless cults, that just isn’t the case.

Christians must choose to listen to the Holy Spirit everyday, but there are so many reasons why they don’t.

Today, if you’ll hear His voice, listen to the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will guide you, or try rather, but if you won’t follow and won’t listen to your Guide’s directions then you won’t be guided anywhere except by yourself or other influences.

John 16:23 LEB
But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come.

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

These verses from Matthew show that God reveals things to a saved person.

Once we know something, it is hard for us to fathom some times that others don't. For example, I know the sound of local birds, but if I ask another person, 'What kind of bird is that singing?' they frequently don't know. This astounds me because the birds have been part of the surroundings of that person for years, yet they still don't know. Yet there are things that I don't know that that person might know. For example, maybe that person can tell me who is singing on the radio. To them it is obvious, but I don't follow that stuff as closely.

Christians are fortunate that God has revealed that Jesus is the Christ. Amazingly, not everyone knows this. It seems amazing to me that they don't but it might have been different before my conversion. There was a time when I myself may not have known this, but I am so glad that God let me know. And what a wonderful hope I now have.

 

[Adstar]

The Bible cannot be fully understood without God’s Holy Spirit

Correct...

And i strongly suspect God does now allow any human being to understand all the Bible.. I think God gives one person wisdom in one area and another person wisdom in another area.. I think God wants Christians to fellowship so they can share their pearls and grow in understanding together...

Unfortunately in this world a lot of people who are not guided by the Holy Spirit come to conclusions about scripture that are wrong and they go out of their way aggressively to indoctrinate others with these false views..

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

I agree with you, but I do believe it’s possible to audibly hear the voice of God.

Here’s some clues:

Psalm 29:3
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.

Ezekiel 43:2
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

Revelation 1:15
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Revelation 14:2
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

I believe I have heard this before. It comes from the direction of the sky. It sounds like running water or churning water in a creek or river. Out of that sound of water a voice can be heard. The water sounds like background noise like the place has a waterfall or river nearby.

Psalm 46:4
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

It’s very quiet, barely audible. People have to be seriously paying attention to hear this or, in other words, diligently seeking God. Im convinced that this is how prophets receive their information from God.

It's possible yes, I agree. I said "it's not likely" Not likely doesn't mean definitely not.

I was trying to counsel someone who is unsure if they have received yet.
I don't like giving people the wrong impression that they will have something like a phone chat with The Holy Spirit
and there is something wrong with them if they don't hear him that way.

Most believers never hear him audibly in this life.

 

[Evmur]

Hello Femin,
There is no formula, but if you sincerely seek him, he will come to you. He will lead. It's not likely you will hear him audibly
Jesus said this:

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

~Luke 11 (CSB)

excellent

The Holy Spirit leads, He does not push.

Pray and be patient, wait for Him to open the door.

 

[Evmur]

Hello Femin,
There is no formula, but if you sincerely seek him, he will come to you. He will lead. It's not likely you will hear him audibly
Jesus said this:

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

~Luke 11 (CSB)

God's fravrit way of speaking to us will always be through the scriptures, He LOVES to teach us His word. When we are saved, born again, the written word will home with the indwelling living word, will exercise it, grow it within us, water it, feed it, cause it to flourish and bloom.

God speaks to us by pouring His thoughts upon us, our hearts exercised in God's word through the scripture will recognise His voice.

..... spiritual ears

 

[Runningman]

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

These verses from Matthew show that God reveals things to a saved person.

Once we know something, it is hard for us to fathom some times that others don't. For example, I know the sound of local birds, but if I ask another person, 'What kind of bird is that singing?' they frequently don't know. This astounds me because the birds have been part of the surroundings of that person for years, yet they still don't know. Yet there are things that I don't know that that person might know. For example, maybe that person can tell me who is singing on the radio. To them it is obvious, but I don't follow that stuff as closely.

Christians are fortunate that God has revealed that Jesus is the Christ. Amazingly, not everyone knows this. It seems amazing to me that they don't but it might have been different before my conversion. There was a time when I myself may not have known this, but I am so glad that God let me know. And what a wonderful hope I now have.

So true and I agree.

Reminds me of when I was very young, maybe 5 years old or so, and my dad wanted me to believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I honestly thought it was a bunch of nonsense even at 5 years old.

I remember pretending to believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy to a full-grown man, as a child, just because it seemed to make him happy. I’m amazed at the awareness I had even when I was supposed to be completely gullible.

However, he also told me about God and Jesus. I sincerely believed in and respected them without reservation.

 

[ResidentAlien]

It just means ritual washing.

That's all baptism is to you, a ritual washing?

 

[jaybo]

That's all baptism is to you, a ritual washing?

It is a visual statement of burying the old, sinful man, then emerging, having been cleansed of one's sins. In that sense, it is a spiritual washing.

 

[Dirtman]

That's all baptism is to you, a ritual washing?

I'm sorry but this ad hominem is unworthy of any christian, or any person who values integrity.

 

[ForestGreenCook]

Those who are not sanctified but saved (new believers)

Jesus sanctified (made holy) those that his Father gave to him by his death on the cross (Heb 10:10). Jesus also stated in John 6:37 that he would not lose any, but raise them up at the last day. Give me a scripture that says a person can be saved without being sanctified.

Too many, good intentioned, born again children of God, because of their belief that the un-regenerant person can believe in spiritual things, (1 Cor 2:14) will go to great links in misinterpreting the scriptures. The fact that God, by his sovereign grace, without any help from the un-regenerant person, quickens them to the new spiritual life, which includes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (Eph 2:1-5)

 

[ResidentAlien]

I'm sorry but this ad hominem is unworthy of any christian, or any person who values integrity.

No it's not, it's a request for information. I'm sorry if the way I said it seemed like a personal attack; that's wasn't my intention.

I'm not going to try and tell you what to believe, but I think baptism's more than just a ritual washing.

 

[Dirtman]

No it's not, it's a request for information. I'm sorry if the way I said it seemed like a personal attack; that's wasn't my intention.

I'm not going to try and tell you what to believe, but I think baptism's more than just a ritual washing.

The literal definition of a word used does not necessarily carry the full depth of meaning of a word. The context in which I made that statement was in the context of literal definition and translation. Their claim was that it means to dunk under water. I was refuting that claim.

As for the depth of what I believe baptism to be to the christians is far more. It is a sacrament, which is to say that it is one of the ways that God extends His Grace to man kind. It joins you to the body of Christ.

This video may help.

Sorry that I misunderstood you. I thought you were being patronizing.

 

[jaybo]

I'm sorry but this ad hominem is unworthy of any christian, or any person who values integrity.

According to you perhaps, but not according to God's word. Baptism is a symbolic burying ... only.

 

[Dirtman]

According to you perhaps, but not according to God's word. Baptism is a symbolic burying ... only.

Show symbolic in scripture.

 

[jaybo]

Show symbolic in scripture.

Romans 6:4, "Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life."

Do you think this verse is literal? Everyone who is baptized is literally buried into death? It is clearly a symbolic burial.

 

[Dirtman]

Romans 6:4, "Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life."

Do you think this verse is literal? Everyone who is baptized is literally buried into death? It is clearly a symbolic burial.

I dont see symbolism there at all. "We have been" he also in other part says " you are dead to sin". This isnt symbolism. Its a spiritual reality.

 

[jaybo]

I dont see symbolism there at all. "We have been" he also in other part says " you are dead to sin". This isnt symbolism. Its a spiritual reality.

It says "we have been buried with him through baptism into death" Okay, then anyone who baptizes is guilty of first degree murder! I am done with this discussion. You are clearly deluded.