Can Love for the Bible Get in the Way of a Relationship with God?

[Free]

Preconceived notions? Brother, I got the notion from scripture. Proverbs 2 if I recall correctly. That reason is spoken of in scripture is by no means an instruction to lean to it for our faith!

I don't see how that addresses the passages I gave in response to your post. We cannot ignore reason when it comes to our faith. Our faith is very much based on reason and is reasonable. It can be debated and discussed, with reasons given for why we believe, as we are exhorted to do.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

I partly(clarify shortly)disagree(about 'reason'). If someone's faith and life with Yhwh is based on reason, then it is as if 'humanly discernable' or within the power of humans to accomplish some help (contrary to "what is flesh is flesh, and there is no profit in it"). It is actually , potentially, a long description (days or weeks) from Scripture to identify and verify the troubles with human reason and the commands of Yhwh against it.
What believers are exhorted to do where it looks like "reason" is used in Scripture is never in the basis of flesh, or human knowledge, or human wisdom, which Yhwh thoroughly deals with in several places in His Word.
Rather with , literally, "the mind of Christ", and "IN" Christ, we are given a new mind and renewed mind (various references later as needed)
that is like Christ Jesus said "words are spirit, and they are life" ---
i.e. "Spirit" thinks and lives and acts in every way different from and opposed to "flesh" (normal humankind). they are enemies.
but that's for later if at all....
shalom to all who love Jesus and are called according to Yhwh's Purpose.

 

[for_his_glory]

Many place the Bible above that of God as in respecting a book more than they do God. The Bible is our instruction manual that teaches us how to reconcile ourselves back to God, but before the written word there was the spoken words of God. I showed an example of this when I use to teach in the prisons. I was teaching the importance of God in our lives and how many reverence the book more than they did God. I took my Bible and threw it on the floor and then stood on it. Only two of the inmates got up and said I couldn't do that as it was blasphemous, but the rest understood that even though it is the written word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit that man wrote the letters of their witness that became known as the Holy Bible, that it was also just a book and not to be reverenced as God is to be reverenced. It's not what's in our mind as in what we read, but what's in our hearts that God knows the intents of.

 

[BigSodaExposer]

Many place the Bible above that of God as in respecting a book more than they do God. The Bible is our instruction manual that teaches us how to reconcile ourselves back to God, but before the written word there was the spoken words of God. I showed an example of this when I use to teach in the prisons. I was teaching the importance of God in our lives and how many reverence the book more than they did God. I took my Bible and threw it on the floor and then stood on it. Only two of the inmates got up and said I couldn't do that as it was blasphemous, but the rest understood that even though it is the written word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit that man wrote the letters of their witness that became known as the Holy Bible, that it was also just a book and not to be reverenced as God is to be reverenced. It's not what's in our mind as in what we read, but what's in our hearts that God knows the intents of.

Do you believe one can have the holy spirit before reading the bible? I have heard many say that you need the spirit to properly discern and understand the bible. Will the spirit lead them to the bible, so they know what the spirit of truth is?

 

[for_his_glory]

Do you believe one can have the holy spirit before reading the bible? I have heard many say that you need the spirit to properly discern and understand the bible. Will the spirit lead them to the bible, so they know what the spirit of truth is?

We receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, 1Cor 12:13 as our salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13, 14. As a baby needs milk to grow so we as a babe in Christ need to desire the sincere milk of the word to grow into knowledge and understanding that is revealed in all truth by that of the Holy Spirit teaching us all things, John 14:26. We start out with milk (very little knowledge of the word of God) until we are ready for the meat (deeper things of Gods word) as the Holy Spirit from the beginning of our relationship with Christ develops our understanding. The Bible is more than just a book as the books are actual historical and future witnessed accounts of the prophets and disciples that were led by the very Spirit of God to teach us. The literal we can understand, but that of the Spiritual is where we need the Holy Spirit to discern what is being taught to us. The Bible is literal in its parts and also Spiritual in its parts therefore we need the Holy Spirit to teach us.

 

[BigSodaExposer]

We receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, 1Cor 12:13 as our salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13, 14. As a baby needs milk to grow so we as a babe in Christ need to desire the sincere milk of the word to grow into knowledge and understanding that is revealed in all truth by that of the Holy Spirit teaching us all things, John 14:26. We start out with milk (very little knowledge of the word of God) until we are ready for the meat (deeper things of Gods word) as the Holy Spirit from the beginning of our relationship with Christ develops our understanding. The Bible is more than just a book as the books are actual historical and future witnessed accounts of the prophets and disciples that were led by the very Spirit of God to teach us. The literal we can understand, but that of the Spiritual is where we need the Holy Spirit to discern what is being taught to us. The Bible is literal in its parts and also Spiritual in its parts therefore we need the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Thanks for the reply

 

[for_his_glory]

your welcomed

 

[Edward]

the Words in scripture are Spiritual food for our spirits, nourishing our hearts with the life of God. they feed our spirits, build us up in the Lord, fortify our souls and bodies, and best of all, his Words keep us in the kingdom. Have you comprehended how powerful Gods Words are? They have everlasting power, even on your lips when spoken in faith and love.His Words change lives, transform situations, and make the impossible, possible. We treasure the promise of John 15:7

John 15:7
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you./(KJV)

When you want to see God, look at Jesus! When you want to hear God, listen to Jesus's Words. When you want to know and please God...Obey His Word. If you want to walk with God, do what His Word says and His life and power will flow through you. Then you will be eating His flesh and drinking His blood, just like the Living Word declared, because...the Words that I speak unto you are Spirit, and are life.

John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life./(KJV)

This is no metaphor brothers and sisters. His Words (scripture) are real. There is power and life within the pages of this book. It is the Lord speaking to you. It is not God in and of itself, but the real power within the pages and Words will teach you to know God and is the path to knowing Jesus. Jesus is the path to the Father and redemption. Obey His Words and you will have your relationship with God.

It is a good question, this. The Bible is the key which unlocks the door for us to know God.

 

[for_his_glory]

Edward

 

[Edward]

Thank you, for_his_glory.
That's a powerful book and the only book we need to seek and find good, instruction in righteousness...everything.

 

[Navigator]

I haven't read the bulk of the responses and won't get into any debate, but I think there is some validity in what your friends say, but not to the point where they should be questioning your walk in any way. James says to be not only hearers of the Word, but doers also. (ref. James 1:22). It is GREAT that you are reading into God's Word and it probably is the Spirit leading you through this reasoning process. As someone mentioned in an earlier post, God is not against reason by any means...he says "let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18). But God also wants us to be doers of the Word, not only soaking it up, which is what I think your friends are saying may be lacking.

I would also warn that you don't make your Bible reading an idol. Yes, even really good things can be idols. It's important to always be aware of things that may be given importance over God Himself.

Blessings friend.

 

[Edward]

I haven't read the bulk of the responses and won't get into any debate, but I think there is some validity in what your friends say, but not to the point where they should be questioning your walk in any way. James says to be not only hearers of the Word, but doers also. (ref. James 1:22). It is GREAT that you are reading into God's Word and it probably is the Spirit leading you through this reasoning process. As someone mentioned in an earlier post, God is not against reason by any means...he says "let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18). But God also wants us to be doers of the Word, not only soaking it up, which is what I think your friends are saying may be lacking.

I would also warn that you don't make your Bible reading an idol. Yes, even really good things can be idols. It's important to always be aware of things that may be given importance over God Himself.

Blessings friend.

Don't read the bible too much? Uh, you lost me there brother.

 

[Navigator]

Don't read the bible too much? Uh, you lost me there brother.

Never thought I said that? I said not to make Bible reading an idol, as in feeling like you have to get your "hour's worth of reading in" or you fail, or something of that nature. It is always good to read your Bible..I wasn't warning against reading too much. It IS important to be doers of the Word that we are reading though, which was my main point.

 

[Edward]

Never thought I said that? I said not to make Bible reading an idol, as in feeling like you have to get your "hour's worth of reading in" or you fail, or something of that nature. It is always good to read your Bible..I wasn't warning against reading too much. It IS important to be doers of the Word that we are reading though, which was my main point.

Oh oh oh, I see brother, sorry I misunderstood you. i answered too fast. Doh.
I do try to get in some reading every day, and do feel bad if I don't, but I don't feel as if I fail if I don't, geez i already know that I am unworthy and will always fall short, BUT! i don't let this discourage me, i just remember King David and how much he failed and sinned, and then how he got back up every time and repented and turned back to the Lord. That's encouraging!

 

[Navigator]

Oh oh oh, I see brother, sorry I misunderstood you. i answered too fast. Doh.
I do try to get in some reading every day, and do feel bad if I don't, but I don't feel as if I fail if I don't, geez i already know that I am unworthy and will always fall short, BUT! i don't let this discourage me, i just remember King David and how much he failed and sinned, and then how he got back up every time and repented and turned back to the Lord. That's encouraging!

Amen.