Originally Posted by
Burninglight
Sure, not a problem; there are many difficulties for me in the Bible I don't know the answer to nor do I accept all of what other Christians give as solutions, but I don't give up on the Bible, but I would give up on it if its transmission was like that of the Quran (direct dictation from God), but it was only written by the way men understood God interacted with them, and we Christians try to glean from it what God's purpose and will is for our lives, but it gets more involved when a believer becomes born again and filled by God's Spirit. We then see things that bear witness with our spirit that confirm personal revelation from God to us. God interacts with born again believers that is what Jesus told Nicodemus "You must be born again to see the kingdom of heaven" Nicodemus was a religious Jew who carefully followed OT Mosaic law, but Jesus was telling him that is not enough, and that he must be born anew. Nicodemus couldn't understand it. He asked "how can a man enter his mother's womb and be born again when he is old?" Jesus responded, that which is flesh is flesh and that which is spirit is spirit. The wind blow where it wants. You hear it but don't where it is coming from or where it is going; so are those born of the spirit. Nicodemus said how can that be. Jesus said, if you don't believe earthly things I tell you, how can you believe or understand the spiritual things?" I have been born again and understand what Jesus was talking about, but I cannot make it make sense to someone who hasn't experienced this new birth Jesus spoke of. These stories are not Biblical corruptions. it is the foundations of our salvation. You will know it only when you ask Jesus to be born again like a child believing. Jesus said "except you become a child you shall not enter into heaven." He said be like a child (in faith) not childish!
Maybe, but just the same, it doesn't hurt the central gospel message in my mind's eye or in the eye of Christianity obviously.
Not to me. It is consistent with the fact that Jesus took on the sin of the world, and God turned His back on Him (sin) for a short time as given in prophecy: "For I short time I forsook you, but I have taken you back with loving kindness" It makes perfect sense to me. It is not like Jesus' righteous disappeared. He put on our sin, and when we accept God's gift by accepting Jesus, the righteousness of Christ comes on the believer. That is why Jesus said "you will die in your sin unless you believe I am he and no comes to God except through me." Jesus was joking when He kicked them out of Eden, and it wasn't for no reason He shed His blood. The shadow of Jesus sacrifice was like that of the Passover in the torah. The blood of the lamb saved their souls like the blood of Christ saves ours from spiritual eternal death, but we have to meet God on His terms.
Not to me. It makes it more creditable, because if every thing lined up perfectly, you could think this was put together by one person who made all the pieces fit perfectly. As I had mentioned, if 12 people go to an event and report back, their stories will not be identical, but that doesn't mean the event didn't happen the way they understood it and reported it. They may have seen it from a different point of view. I don't know for sure, but I am not going to let it rob me of my faith, the joy and strength God has blessed me with.
peace
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks