In your scheme there is no test of faith....just the kind of belief that a Viking had that there was an after life in Valhalla.... if he could just hang onto his sword. This is on a religious level, NOT a spiritual level. The "afterlife" is according to hope not faith. Many confuse a future glory with a present walk in glory. Many confuse faith with hope. So then a Viking HOPES to dine with Odin in Valhalla...just as a believer might hope to dine with Jesus at the great feast. Sure. There is a hope of a future with God.
But that's not what faith is about. Jesus said that even the smallest amount of faith (NT faith) could do miracles...in the after-life? No, in this life. And the greatest thing we can do NOW is to enter into the promises of Christ...the kingdom realm of the Spirit to walk as He walked...in the same anointed power and holiness. By grace through faith. This is a great mystery and a great secret as the devil has successfully obliterated the gospel in full resolution for millennia. Whereas I, like Paul, seek to FULLY preach the gospel...in its full resolution. It just so happens that the gospel in full resolution is about the FULNESS of God in the one who is translated to where God is...in Zion..in heaven. To walk in BOTH kinds of life...bios AND Zoe.
But the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. One can actually experience that higher walk in the holiness of the living God...Be holy for I am holy...where there is NO sin. We do this by entering personally INTO Christ to abide with Him WHERE He is. In Him is no sin. All else is unbelief. We must be converted to accept impossible sounding things as a child would. Otherwise we shouldn't wonder that we know nothing of the higher walk.
Matt. 18:3 "Truly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the kingdom of heaven
In my scheme, what do you mean 'My' scheme? I do not have a scheme. And what made you strike out without any knowledge?
Don't be so trained of judging a person's state of spirituality out of ignorance. I would safeguard my own first.
And I would not presume and take lightly that
God's scheme for my salvation, and the faith He provided me, does not require spiritual training and I guess for your comfort, then a testing of some type, and this meaning can also be deceptive in itself if not clearly defined.
Yes, a believer’s faith is then tested by God. According to the Bible, God tests believers to
help build their faith and grow them spiritually. This testing can come in various forms, such as
trials, difficulties, and challenges. The purpose of these tests is to
refine and strengthen a person’s faith,
making them more dependent on God and increasing their endurance. Paul would agree with all this.
As stated in James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” This verse suggests that God’s testing of our faith is
not meant to harm us, but rather
to help us grow and mature in our relationship with Him.
Additionally, the Bible teaches that God’s testing of our faith is not the same as Satan’s temptation.
God does not tempt us to sin, but rather tests us to refine our faith and make it stronger. As 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” And not saying we do not fall into sin.
In summary, God tests a believer’s faith to build their trust in Him, increase their endurance, and help them grow spiritually. This testing is a
normal part of the Christian life, and it is meant to refine and strengthen our faith, not harm us.
My faith over the years has always been 'tested' for the glory of God first, and then for my benefit. Although not for the loss of my salvation as I believe you may think, as part of your private doctrine, as it's not grounded in scripture.
My faith, as all genuine believers, have it from God as a gift. It is tested through active and dynamic demonstration. It had been developing and strengthening me, becoming increasingly as Christ's faith. The Spirit within me keeps it on track, as a gentle yet firm guide and truly involved in my heart and mind,, daily and consistently, and not as a stern whipping master as I sense you might mean. His, the spirit of Christ, in his Father, his yoke is light, indeed. amen.
So why did you have to develop or build a straw man with the pagan Vikings and their Kingdom of Valhalla, and involve me in it? Pointless I would think, as I do not relate to their pagan or religious form of spirituality. I'm a believer in Christ. I would think you already knew that point already Epi.
And now you continue on arguing with it (straw-man), like fighting with yourself to make some type of point, again with me as your focus. Please keep me out of your inner thoughts, they are not mine.
And then you lost me again, with the rest of your post speaking to your 'levels of ' doctrine, of religion and spirituality this time. Sorry I cannot contribute to something I truly do not understand, and especially because you cannot or have not as of now, articulated it clearly; and I presume it is an essential core truth for your personal doctrine clearly.
And your scripture verse you cited is grossly misplaced as it relates to your general thought and theme of your post. It does not fit into the holy picture word as a genuine biblical jigsaw piece. You have badly dog eared it, and forced it to fit. Oh well.
You have not been humble at all in this post, imo
(Mat 18:2) And he called to himself a little child and set him in the midst of them,
(Mat 18:3) and said: Truly I say to you, except you turn and become as little children, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 18:4) Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 18:5) And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.
(Mat 18:6) But whoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a great millstone should be hung about his neck and that he should be drowned in the depths of the sea.
I would heed the last two verses Epi.
Now this is what I am, and doing today Epi:
(1Pe 1:13) Wherefore girding up the loins
of your
mind, be sober and set your hope completely on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(1Pe 1:14) As children of obedience,
do not be conformed to the lusts you had in your former ignorance.
(1Pe 1:15) But like He who called you is holy,
be you yourselves holy in all manner of living.
(1Pe 1:16) Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.
This is the how and what my faith has done for me, made me holy in the sight of God. And innocence abounds within it, like a child of God.