Many are the notions I have in my head concerning the things of God. I say notions, because when I study the Scriptures, I find myself letting go of ideas I hold to, thinking they are in "the Book", when, indeed, I find they are not. A notion is described as, " a vague idea in which some confidence is placed".
Coming to conclusions on spiritual subjects is something I will readily do, even if I may not have the evidence to uphold my conviction. While skimming through the Writings, often I will pause and say to myself, "can this be so?", my mind racing to condemn the thought due to having a vague idea of the matter beforehand. Prejudice and bias has always been my enemy in the study of the Word of God, and when I exhibit these things from myself, I do not easily give up my "notions".
Getting back to the Original Writings, the three earliest and intact Greek manuscripts, coupled with a good concordance of the New Testament has aided me greatly in sifting through the misconceptions I have accumulated over the last 30 years which have taken on the appearance of "spiritual" knowledge and understanding. It is amazing how a simple remedy as this could open the doors to the refreshing of truth that is so necessary for a vital life in Christ.
I have spent much time with brothers and sisters in the Lord discussing various "beliefs" and what I have consistenly found is that disagreement arises mostly from either the unwillingness to believe the plain declarations in the Word, or, much the rather, a lack of knowledge that is impeding a true understanding of what is being said. It is sad to have someone refuse to bow to the word of God when it stares them directly in the face, their preferring instead to cleave to some vague or unsubstatiated position taken based upon a notion. I pray to God daily that He discover that in me, and our fellowship remain intact with joy, not sufferring from ideas not found in the Scriptures.
In fact, I pray that for all God's saints.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the recognition of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,19 and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might,YLT Eph 1:17-19
fivesense
Coming to conclusions on spiritual subjects is something I will readily do, even if I may not have the evidence to uphold my conviction. While skimming through the Writings, often I will pause and say to myself, "can this be so?", my mind racing to condemn the thought due to having a vague idea of the matter beforehand. Prejudice and bias has always been my enemy in the study of the Word of God, and when I exhibit these things from myself, I do not easily give up my "notions".
Getting back to the Original Writings, the three earliest and intact Greek manuscripts, coupled with a good concordance of the New Testament has aided me greatly in sifting through the misconceptions I have accumulated over the last 30 years which have taken on the appearance of "spiritual" knowledge and understanding. It is amazing how a simple remedy as this could open the doors to the refreshing of truth that is so necessary for a vital life in Christ.
I have spent much time with brothers and sisters in the Lord discussing various "beliefs" and what I have consistenly found is that disagreement arises mostly from either the unwillingness to believe the plain declarations in the Word, or, much the rather, a lack of knowledge that is impeding a true understanding of what is being said. It is sad to have someone refuse to bow to the word of God when it stares them directly in the face, their preferring instead to cleave to some vague or unsubstatiated position taken based upon a notion. I pray to God daily that He discover that in me, and our fellowship remain intact with joy, not sufferring from ideas not found in the Scriptures.
In fact, I pray that for all God's saints.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the recognition of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,19 and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might,YLT Eph 1:17-19
fivesense
