The Biblical Defense Series

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johnchao

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Ecc 1:2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Ecc 1:3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Ecc 1:4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. Ecc 1:5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. Ecc 1:6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. Ecc 1:7 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. Ecc 1:8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. Ecc 1:9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecc 1:10 Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. Ecc 1:11 There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.
 

johnchao

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Concerning “GOD and Religions”Genesis 2:9: YAHWEH caused all kinds of trees to grow up from the earth, pleasing to the eye and good for food. What does it mean today? The Bible says: a ghost-like voice is from the earth (Isa29:4), and the things of men belong to Satan (Mt16:23). Trees refer to believers (Isa5:7a). Each religion has its scripture book(s) for its own food; and each religion has its own VIPs to interpret its own book(s) for its believers to be pleased with and convinced by. Christian faith is different from Christianity or religion. Faith comes by hearing the word of GOD (Rom10:4). Religion by hearing the word of men. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews narrates our ancestors who received approval by their “dead” faith in the word of GOD. Yet, when Emperor Constantine became a believer, he started interpreting the Scripture with the word of men for his ruling purpose. The Bible is the word of GOD. When interpreted with the word of men, the word of GOD has been turned into the word or doctrines of men. Then Christian faith turned out to be Christianity--a religion like other religions, with their respective denominations and cults. The word of men is not Spirit. To worship GOD in the word of men is in vain (Mt15:7-9). This is religion. The word of GOD is Spirit and life (Eph6:17, Jn6:62-63). The word is GOD (Jn1:1). This is faith. YAHWEH is the GOD of all flesh (Jer32:26-27), for YAHWEH is the breath of life in everyone’s nostrils (Gen2:7). YAHWEH is not a GOD of any religion. Religions are invented by men with their understanding, for the breath of the ALMIGHTY gives men understanding (Job32:8). GOD created one. Why one? For He desires godly offspring (Mal2:15). But men do not revere Him. So GOD allots the times of their existence (Ac17:24-28), and withdraws His breath and spirit from them in their times (Job34:12-15). So both religious believers and non-religious ones die, from generation to generation.
 

johnchao

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Jesus has been considered both man and GOD throughout the history of Christianity. Now let’s search from the Bible about its meaning. Jesus the Word is GOD (Jn1:1-2), while Jesus the flesh is man. Jesus the flesh was the Word that became flesh (Jn1:14). What does this mean? Jesus the flesh was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Mt1:18-23), and Jesus the flesh was the temple of GOD (Mt3:13-16, Mk1:9-11, Jn2:21). Jesus the flesh was speaking in the Holy Spirit (Lk10:21), for it was the Father who commanded him what to say and what to speak (Jn12:47-50). So what Jesus the flesh spoke was the word of GOD (Lk5:1, Mk4:33-34) and the word of GOD was GOD, or Jesus the word from of old (Pr8:22-32). Jesus the flesh was even addressing his disciples, “What if you see the son of man ascend to where he was? It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life (Jn6:62-63)”. GOD is spirit (Jn4:24). So, once more, what Jesus the flesh spoke on earth was GOD, but Jesus the flesh is not GOD, but man.When Jesus the flesh gave up his last breath on the cross as the Lamb of GOD for the sins of the world (Jn1:29), the curtain of the temple was split in two (Mt27:50-51, Mk15:37-38). The curtain refers to the body of Jesus (Heb10:19-20). That is to say, one half, the flesh of Jesus went up to heaven, and the other half, on earth Jesus is the word of GOD our Savior (Ti2:9-10,Rev19:11-16). And what the disciples spoke after the Pentecostal was the message of the gospel, the word of the LORD, the word of GOD (Ac15:7, 1Pe1:25, Ac13:44-45, Rev1:1-2). Hope this will offer some clarity in understanding the say: both man and GOD.
 

johnchao

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GOD did not die, but the flesh of Jesus was crucified. And on the cross Jesus the flesh cried" my GOD, my GOD, why have you forsaken me?"(Mt27:45-46, Mk1533-34). Jesus the flesh was saying, "Father, I commend my spirit into your hand" (Lk23:46). The Father of Jesus the flesh was also the Father of his disciples, and the GOD of Jesus the flesh was also the GOD of his disciples (Jn20:17). Jesus the flesh was the Word that became flesh (Jn1:14). So, Jesus the word was GOD, for He was the word from of old (Pr8:22-32, Jn1:1-2). But Jesus the flesh is not GOD.In the long history of Christianity the flesh of Jesus was taken as GOD or a mixed one: both man and GOD, dating back to the period of Emperor Constantine, who wanted to promote himself to the position of a Savior on account of his contribution to the Christian church and therefore made Jesus the flesh as GOD, for there couldn't be two Saviors. It's also why Catholics today still worship Mary as the mother of GOD. Jesus the flesh was saying, “Whoever hears the word of GOD and does is my brother and mother” (Lk8:19-20). And “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt12:46-50). Then the Catholics should have come to worship these as well! GOD is Spirit (Jn4:24), the breath of life (Gen2:7), and fills heaven and earth (Jer23:23-24). Men breathe, move and exist in Him (Ac17:24-28). What a Mary it would be if she could have given birth to GOD!When we understand the difference between Jesus the flesh and Jesus the word, it will be easy for us now to understand "in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Mt28:19). For example, Paul speaks in the Holy Spirit (Ac13:9), and what he speaks is the word of GOD (Ac13:44-45), and the word of GOD is Jesus the Son of GOD, and the word of GOD is also spirit (Eph6:17, Jn3:34) and God is spirit. So, the Three are one. The doctrine of men has been producing a few sensible analogies concerning trinity, yet none is satisfactory throughout history.
 

johnchao

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Concerning the Gospel of ChristGal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Alas, so many are perverting the gospel of Christ! Why say so? Now let's see the gospel of Christ in the Bible. According to 1Pe1:25, the word of the LORD is the gospel. What the prophets spoke in the revelation of the Spirit of Christ was the word of the LORD (1Pe1:10-12). The gospel Paul preached was not of any human origin, nor taught by any men, but a revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal1:11-12), for GOD was pleased to reveal His Son in him (Gal1:15-16), that is, Christ was speaking in him (2Co13:3). And the word of the gospel was in the mouth of Peter (Ac15:7), for Peter was speaking what the LORD commanded him to speak (Ac10:33). So, the gospel of Christ is the word, not the flesh. However, so many are just speaking the word of men. Isn't the gospel of Christ perverted?
 

johnchao

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(Jerusalem Junkie;59771)
Why do you feel you need to defend it? I thought it was almighty and all knowing having doubts?
As a servant of His, I have come to realize day by day that I have this responsiblity to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jud3). What is the faith? The faith comes through the prophetic writings (Rom16:25-27). Yet so many have been led astray from the faith because of their propfession of "knowledge" which seems yes but actually no (1Tim6:20-21). This is the real junkie for the Christian faith.
 

johnchao

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Concerning "How can we enter through the narrow gate?"The teaching Jesus gave his disciples about the narrow gate, the wide gate, the broad road, and the narrow road: Jer 21:8 "Furthermore, tell the people, `This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Mt 5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: The teaching of Jesus to his disciples. Mt 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. The believers of Jesus, Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it; Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Enter through the narrow gate, walk through the narrow road, then what is the narrow gate? Jesus is the gate: Jn 10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. Jn 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The explained words in Moses’ Law and the prophets are Jesus himself: Lk 24:25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. The scriptures testify to Jesus: Jn 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, The Word of God our savior: Tit 2:10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Rev 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyous are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. The Lord speaks through the lips of foreigners 1Co 14:21 In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. The last “me” means Jesus, the gate. The words Jesus speaks are spirit: Jn 6:62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Begin with the Spirit: Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Jesus teaches: Enter through the narrow door to be saved: Lk 13:23 Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, `Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, `I don't know you or where you come from.' 26 "Then you will say, `We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 "But he will reply, `I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' From above, few are those who believe Jesus, enter through the narrow gate, and walk on the small road, and even have found it; many are those who enter through the wide gate and walk on the large road.
 

johnchao

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Lk 22:14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[Note: Jesus said, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes, see:Lk 17:20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, `Here it is,' or `There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." Blood refers to the life, see:Lev 17:10 "`Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood--I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites, "None of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood." In the blood is the life.Dt 12:23 But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. 24 You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. Ps 37:30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. 32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; 33 but Yahweh will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial. (The law of God is in the hearts of the righteous.)Dt 32:45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."(Obey carefully all the words of the law, for they are not just idle words for you—they are your life.)]1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord 's death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. What is it that Paul has received from the Lord and passed on to you? Gal 1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Gal 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 2Co 13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. Christ speaks in Paul, and the words Paul has received from the Lord are the bread taken by the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, and are the body of Jesus, see:Bread:Am 8:11 "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Yahweh, "when I will send a famine through the land-- not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of Yahweh. (The words of Yahweh are bread.)Heb 10:16 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, The laws are put in the hearts and written on the minds, and a new and living way is opened through the curtain, that is, his (refers to Jesus’) body, see:Mt 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. The law is Yahweh’s glorious name:Dt 28:58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name--Yahweh your God-- This is called: Jesus fulfills the law, and it’s also the new covenant made by the blood of Jesus, for Jesus is the life, see:1Jn 5:10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. He who has the Son of God has life.In a worthy manner:It refers to the words Paul has received from the Lord, which are the word of Yahweh, see:Ps 19:9 The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of Yahweh are sure and altogether righteous. 2Co 4:1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.The word of God is the truth, the truth refers to Jesus: Jn 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. That’s to say, anyone not following the word of God is guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
 

johnchao

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Lk 24:25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. The words explained – are the Word of God.Jesus talks and opens the Scriptures:Lk 24:32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" The words of the Scriptures explained are the Word of God.[This makes us think that while the flesh of Jesus breathed his last on the cross for our sins, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, the curtain is Jesus; one half of the curtain is his flesh, which went up to heaven, and the other half on the earth is the words of God—the Word of God. See: The flesh of Jesus was resurrected and stands by the right hand of God, and has entered the curtain for us and become a high priest for ever:Heb 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.Ac 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Ac 2:31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured down what you now see and hear. Ac 2:36 "'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (The flesh of Jesus was resurrected and taken up to heaven, and received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and poured down, and the Holy Spirit which came down is the Word of God:Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Tit 2:10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the doctrine of God our Savior attractive. )Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.Jn 2:21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.] Lk 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."(All the words explained must be fulfilled.)Lk 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.)Lk 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.(Note: Be clothed with power from on high. The power refers to the word of God:Lk 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.)
 

WalkingJames

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Peace B W/U JonI was interested in understanding where you heard about the torn veil as being one half going to heaven and the other remaining on earth? I have never heard that. :bible:
 

johnchao

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Concerning “the Spirit’s direction of the heart” The Bible says: as we obey what has been commanded by Paul, the LORD will direct our hearts (2Th3:1-5). Why? The LORD is Spirit (2Co3:17). What Paul speaks is the word of GOD (Ac13:44-45), and the word of GOD is Spirit (Eph6:17). To lay the word of GOD to heart is to lay His Spirit to heart. To cast His words behind, we will turn out to be an evil person before Him (Ps50:16-17). Of course, there is no possibility of direction in the heart from the LORD. The words of the Bible were the LORD (2Ch34:21, 2Ki22:13). For what the prophets spoke in the Spirit of Christ was the word (1Pe1:10-12, Rom10:17). Those who are really led by the Spirit of GOD are the children of GOD (Rom8:14). The law is spiritual (Rom7:14). Then we have to ask ourselves whether the law has been written in our hearts (Heb8:10-12). what is the law? What Yahweh spoke through the prophets is the law (Dan9:9-10, 2Ki17:13). Paul's letters are also the law (Ac24:14). So the Bible is a book of the law. If the law is written within, a new and living way is opened for us, through the curtain of the temple, that is, the body of Jesus (Heb10:16-20). The end or the total of the law is Christ (Rom10:4). No doubt that the Spirit will guide us as we acknowledge him in everything, not leaning on our own understanding (Pr3:5). And if the LORD guides us, we will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail (Isa58:11), that is, streams of living water will flow out of our belly (Jn7:37-3. The water is the water of life given by Jesus (Jn4:14), and is the word (Eph5:26). To be directed by the LORD, we need to be warned against going our own ways, serving our own interests and speaking our own words (Isa58:13) so that the LORD will feed us with the heritage of Jacob (14). The heritage is the LORD (Eze44:22).
 

epistemaniac

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tell me JohnChao.... why is it that YOUR interpretations of God's word are NOT "interpreting scripture with the words of men", yet, other people's interpretations are merely "the word of men.". What makes your interpretations more spiritual than theirs? I see you quote a verse or a passage fot he Scripture, and then supply your understanding of the verse or passage... this is merely man interpreting the scripture according tot he word of man..... I see you make a point and then try to back the point up by appealing to what your interpretation says is the appropriate verse or passage of scripture . But this is not any different from what any other typical commentator on the scripture does. I just do not see how what you do is any different from what any other person does. And it is not as if you can even avoid doing so, or even want to. It is impossible to communicate without providing our own words as we seek to understand and communicate the truths of God's word. We do this by rephrasing the Scriptures, by adding our commentary as to what we think the text means, we apply the scripture to various situations in our lives by interpreting the scriptures to have a certain meaning, this is unavoidable. None of us can communicate with one another by merely swapping verses and passages of the Bible. And so, whenever and wherever we add our own words, our own understanding of what the text means, we are interpenetrating by using the words of men. But God is the one who gave us language, and all who are filled with the Holy Spirit are able to interpret the Scriptures. Of course, we cannot all be right in our interpretations, because interpretations cannot be directly contradictory, and God's word does not contradict itself, nor can contradictory meanings all be true, therefore people who are filled with the Holy Spirit can still make mistakes. So we have to solve the contradictions in our interpretations by other means, this "means" we make use of are the science, art and tools of hermeneutics.... so we use the tools of language i.e. a Greek/Hebrew dictionary like Strongs or Vines or Thayers..... we use interlinear translations of the Scriptures, we use commentaries, we ask other teachers in the church what they think a given verse or passage of scripture means, and we pray. But in the end none of us, not even you, are infallible. All our words are the "words of men".Listen again to these wise words from Charles Spurgeon as he reminds us that God Himself has given teachers to the church, and that means that we ourselves are not the only ones to have the Holy Spirit and interpret the scriptures, others have come before us in the church who also have interpreted the Scriptures, and also have the Holy Spirit:"In order to be able to expound the Scriptures, and as an aid to your pulpit studies, you will need to be familiar with the commentators: a glorious army, let me tell you, whose acquaintance will be your delight and profit. Of course, you are not such wiseacres as to think or say that you can expound Scripture without assistance from the works of divines and learned men who have laboured before you in the field of exposition. If you are of that opinion, pray remain so, for you are not worth the trouble of conversion, and like a little coterie who think with you, would resent the attempt as an insult to your infallibility. It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others. My chat this afternoon is not for these great originals, but for you who are content to learn of holy men, taught of God, and mighty in the Scriptures. It has been the fashion of late years to speak against the use of commentaries. If there were any fear that the expositions of Matthew Henry, Gill, Scott, and others, would be exalted into Christian Targums, we would join the chorus of objectors, but the existence or approach of such a danger we do not suspect. The temptations of our times lie rather in empty pretensions to novelty of sentiment, than in a slavish following of accepted guides. A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might have saved many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences. Usually, we have found the despisers of commentaries to be men who have no sort of acquaintance with them; in their case, it is the opposite of familiarity which has bred contempt." (Commenting on Commentaries)blessings,ken
 

Christina

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(WalkingJames;60778)
Peace B W/U JonI was interested in understanding where you heard about the torn veil as being one half going to heaven and the other remaining on earth? I have never heard that. :bible:
Because its a lie thats why you never heard it God never said it its just a spoeculative bunch of baloney that why its not bible verese but pages and pages of men talking reminds me of Jobs friends going on and on and on about speculation and mens wisdom or lack of it might be better description,