Confidence In God And His Word.

What question or issue of scripture is being presented, other than a general discussion of the confidence of the scriptures and the ABSOLUTE right that believers have to know and believe the truth? I have the truth and will boldly declare the truth where I have the chance..if that offends you or others? Grow up and get over it! I DONT CARE! :eek:
A good example, I think, of two sides arguing a point where both sides are Christians but neither side can prove absolute truth or knowledge would be a simple doctrinal difference between conservative and non-conservative Christians, let's use Baptism as an example. Some Christians baptize infants and some do not. The ones who do claim to have scriptural backing for doing so. The other side says they don't. I don't want or intend to get into the issue here in this thread but if someone claimed with absolute authority that those who baptize infants are flat out wrong, I would have something to say about that. I know what I believe regarding the matter, but I won't claim to be 100% right with God's blessing on the matter.
 
I think where we might run into problems of a forum regarding this subject is when one person makes a statement along the lines of "X is a wicked and abominable practice because the scriptures are very clear about it." And another person might disagree and provide reasons for saying so. What you have at that moment is a recipe for disaster because person A needs to now consider that someone else sees things another way. In the interests of keeping things civil he has to now at least ACKNOWLEDGE the other position, even if he might still completely disagree, and probably does.

Having been person B in this scenario more times than I can count, what I find annoying is having person A not even considering my position worth thinking about. I simply don't exist. Fight with me, argue, disagree - but don't dismiss me as not worth your time.
 
@Mitspa and I have often butted heads -- enough that I remember well doing that. But I have a special place in my heart for Mitspa. Perhaps it is a combination of that photo he uses to represent himself and his way of being so sure of himself. He reminds me of people I've known.

@PeaceLikeaRiver, you and I recently butted heads, I believe, after I had read a post saying we could no longer bring up a subject I am continuously dealing with, and you had requested another rule to be added. Am I right? Usually, when I butt heads with someone, I do my best to wipe the slate and meet them on a clean level, so that there is no baggage.

However, I never EVER see the person with whom I am butting heads as nonexistent or unworthy of an opinion. I don't know, obviously, but I seriously doubt people do that here. I've been wrong before, but....
 
[QUOTE="TezriLi, post: 366670, member: 13842]
PeaceLikeaRiver, you and I recently butted heads, I believe, after I had read a post saying we could no longer bring up a subject I am continuously dealing with, and you had requested another rule to be added. Am I right? Usually, when I butt heads with someone, I do my best to wipe the slate and meet them on a clean level, so that there is no baggage.[/QUOTE]

I don't recall, I'm not sure I brought up any forbidden subjects, but if you mean the one that starts with H I have butted heads with many people on this forum about that. But I don't take that kind of thing personally.
 
Confidence is a word that means, " the act of speaking. Freedom or frankness in speaking. Confidence or boldness, particularly in speaking" This kind of confidence is not man made, and does come from within mans human nature, or talent. Those who are taught by God himself only have this. Those who do not have this confidence are never to sure of what they believe, and it shows up in their speaking.
The religious leaders of Jesus day stood in awe as Jesus brought forth this boldness with confidence as he taught, because his teaching did not come from himself but his Father.

Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
 
Confidence is a word that means, " the act of speaking. Freedom or frankness in speaking. Confidence or boldness, particularly in speaking" This kind of confidence is not man made, and does come from within mans human nature, or talent. Those who are taught by God himself only have this. Those who do not have this confidence are never to sure of what they believe, and it shows up in their speaking.
To have confidence in one's belief is fine. But I do not believe, and have never believed for even a moment, that God favors some with some kind of bestowed grace and denies this same grace to other Christians. Why would God do such a thing?

And what do you mean exactly when you say "Those who are taught by God himself only have this?" We all have access to God's word.
 
To have confidence in one's belief is fine. But I do not believe, and have never believed for even a moment, that God favors some with some kind of bestowed grace and denies this same grace to other Christians. Why would God do such a thing?

And what do you mean exactly when you say "Those who are taught by God himself only have this?" We all have access to God's word.

Anyone can say they are a Christian. That means nothing to the Lord God, as he looks at the intent and purposes of the heart of man and not what he thinks of himself. Millions of people on planet earth consider themselves Christian, but are not. They are trees with leaves, but have no fruit. They are twice dead plucked up by the roots, all they do is try and cause divisions amongst the sheep. But their shame shall become evident to all. They are the ones who say, "Lord, Lord, have we not cast out devils, laid hands on the sick, did we not prophesy in your name" and Jesus we will say to them, "I never knew you". Or the ten virgins who also thought they were Christians and later found out as Jesus said, "I don't know you". Why call my me Lord and not do the things I tell you?
God has a very special elect group of people that he reveals himself to. They are called the "body of Christ". These are the people who have no high value to their lives and consider themselves unworthy for salvation in every area, and ask God to save them from their owns selfs and sin. They have no self esteem and consider themselves about as smart as a pile of rocks. They put no "confidence" in the flesh, and do not trust themselves at anytime. They are totally at God's mercy for everything. These are God's children, and it is to them he teaches and reveals his Word.

Hos 8:2 To me they cry, "My God, we--Israel--know you."
Hos 8:3 Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.
Hos 8:4 They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.
 
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Can there ever be a "clear reading of scripture"? Or only multiple interpretations?

The answer is Yes. There can be a clear reading of scripture. Bible is limited. It is not like 100 volumes talking about each and ever subject. So the key areas around salvation are laid out in black and white. If someone comes up with multiple interpretation, then that is heresy. For example, Jesus is the way. Now, is there 2 interpretations? That is exactly what people are trying to do! Are we to tolerate? I would say absolutely no. Jesus is the "only" way. No other way around this. However, infant baptism. Bible does not speak a lot about it. Why? That is not the focus of Bible. Bible is all about salvation. We should tolerate differences in such areas.
 
The answer is Yes. There can be a clear reading of scripture. Bible is limited. It is not like 100 volumes talking about each and ever subject. So the key areas around salvation are laid out in black and white. If someone comes up with multiple interpretation, then that is heresy. For example, Jesus is the way. Now, is there 2 interpretations? That is exactly what people are trying to do! Are we to tolerate? I would say absolutely no. Jesus is the "only" way. No other way around this. However, infant baptism. Bible does not speak a lot about it. Why? That is not the focus of Bible. Bible is all about salvation. We should tolerate differences in such areas.
I don't think anyone INTENDS to come up with multiple interpretations, but they just happen because no one can agree. That's not heresy, that's just human nature. With "Jesus is the way" I don't think you're going to encounter too much disagreement from ANY Christian. But with other things - such as the infant baptism example and whether we are to ask saints to pray on our behalf - I don't see how that problem can be avoided. All that any of us HAS is an interpretation.
 
I don't think anyone INTENDS to come up with multiple interpretations, but they just happen because no one can agree. That's not heresy, that's just human nature. With "Jesus is the way" I don't think you're going to encounter too much disagreement from ANY Christian. But with other things - such as the infant baptism example and whether we are to ask saints to pray on our behalf - I don't see how that problem can be avoided. All that any of us HAS is an interpretation.
You are not far from my point :) No one wants to create heresy? I know. Right no one wants to come up with multiple interpretation. But eventually that is what they are doing. A person worshiping idol thinks he is doing the right thing. A terrorist thinks he is doing the right thing. Because it is right for him, does not make it the "truth".

Ohh you got to be kidding! Jesus is the way is one thing Jesus is THE way is another thing. It is one of the highly debated things. A true Christian will not deny this. But people want to be called Christian and deny that Jesus is the way. Such things should not be tolerated. That is my point. That is not something for which we even need to give much thought about the argument. We still have to proclaim the truth in loving way. But no compromise. No acceptance or tolerance.

Whereas the other things like infant baptism - you are right. No way to say someone is absolutely wrong. And all such instances of conflict will be nothing to do with salvation of a person. So we have to be tolerant with such beliefs. That is how all denominations can live in harmony.
 
Hmm, we shouldn't argue over everything. But what about asking the dead to pray for you? I mean, it seems like it can open up our lives to demonic forces. (I'm just asking not trying to argue).

I believe the enemy can deceive us with false teachings. If we're not careful we could think we're doing the right thing but end up doing the wrong thing. When Jesus says to those on His left "depart from me I know you not", is it because they knew they weren't living right for the Lord or they thought they were living right for the Lord but were deceived?

What do you guys think?
 
Hmm, we shouldn't argue over everything. But what about asking the dead to pray for you? I mean, it seems like it can open up our lives to demonic forces. (I'm just asking not trying to argue).

I believe the enemy can deceive us with false teachings. If we're not careful we could think we're doing the right thing but end up doing the wrong thing. When Jesus says to those on His left "depart from me I know you not", is it because they knew they weren't living right for the Lord or they thought they were living right for the Lord but were deceived?

What do you guys think?
Well, from my perspective, you're not asking the "dead" anything, because we don't consider Mary and the saints to be dead, but very much alive in heaven. In the case of intercessory prayer, you're asking someone with favored status with God to convey a message. I don't think there's any danger in getting demons involved.
 
Well, from my perspective, you're not asking the "dead" anything, because we don't consider Mary and the saints to be dead, but very much alive in heaven. In the case of intercessory prayer, you're asking someone with favored status with God to convey a message. I don't think there's any danger in getting demons involved.
How do we know they're alive?
 
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