The Bible’s View of Itself

Though being the most reprinted and most translated book many people doubt the authority of that bestseller of all times.

English: End page of the Lübeck Bible (1494), ...
End page of the Lübeck Bible (1494), showing the end of the book of revelation and the printer de:Steffen Arndes’ kolophon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Not all people are convinced it has something to say for them. Even lots of Christians never took the time to read the Bible from A to Z. Lots of people do think it is from the old times and as such ‘passé’. They have no idea how the Bible is still best for contemporary use. Much more people should come to see that it is really a book to cherish because it offers many lessons for life and sustains future hope, bringing meaning and power to the present.

In the previous message we said already that Western civilization is in a severe “authority crisis” which is not confined solely to the realm of religious faith, nor is it specially or uniquely threatening to Bible believers.

We should be much aware that our look at the bible can influence our society very much. Too many people do forget that regard for the Bible is decisive for the course of Western culture and in the long run for human civilization generally. People should come to recognise that there is more behind the human writers who scribbled down many words, not of their own. Many wise words they never claimed to be their own. They even say that what they wrote down is not written down from  their own inspiration but form the Higher Being which directed them.

Let us therefore have a look at what an encyclopedia of the Bible says about this library of books its own view.

(KJV) 1631 Holy Bible, Robert Barker/John Bill...
(KJV) 1631 Holy Bible, Robert Barker/John Bill, London. King James Version (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Bible’s View of Itself

The intelligible nature of divine revelation — the presupposition that God’s will is made known in the form of valid truths — is the central presupposition of the authority of the Bible. Much recent neo-Protestant theology demeaned the traditional evangelical emphasis as doctrinaire and static. It insisted instead that the authority of Scripture is to be comprehended internally as a witness to divine grace engendering faith and obedience, thus disowning its objective character as universally valid truth.

Somewhat inconsistently, almost all neo-Protestant theologians have appealed to the record to support cognitively whatever fragments of the whole seem to coincide with their divergent views, even though they disavow the Bible as a specially revealed corpus of authoritative divine teaching. For evangelical orthodoxy, if God’s revelational disclosure to chosen prophets and apostles is to be considered meaningful and true, it must be given not merely in isolated concepts capable of diverse meanings but in sentences or propositions. A proposition — that is, a subject, predicate, and connecting verb (or “copula”) — constitutes the minimal logical unit of intelligible communication. The OT prophetic formula “thus saith the Lord” characteristically introduced propositionally disclosed truth. Jesus Christ employed the distinctive formula “But I say unto you” to introduce logically formed sentences which he represented as the veritable word or doctrine of God.

The Angel Appears to John. The book of Revelat...
The Angel Appears to John. The book of Revelation. 13th century manuscript. British Library, London. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Bible is authoritative because it is divinely authorized; in its own terms, “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tm 3:16 NIV). According to this passage the whole OT (or any element of it) is divinely inspired. Extension of the same claim to the NT is not expressly stated, though it is more than merely implied. The NT contains indications that its content was to be viewed, and was in fact viewed, as no less authoritative than the OT. The apostle Paul’s writings are catalogued with “other scriptures” (2 Pt 3:15, 16). Under the heading of Scripture, 1 Timothy 5:18 cites Luke 10:7 alongside Deuteronomy 25:4 (cf. 1 Cor 9:9). The Book of Revelation, moreover, claims divine origin (1:1–3) and employs the term “prophecy” in the OT meaning (22:9, 10, 18). The apostles did not distinguish their spoken and written teaching but expressly declared their inspired proclamation to be the Word of God (1 Cor 4:1; 2 Cor 5:20; 1 Thes 2:13).

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (p. 298). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

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Preceding:

Life and an assembly of books

The Bible a book of books

Revolt against the Authority of the Bible

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Additional reading

  1. Necessity of a revelation of creation 1 Works of God and works of man
  2. Necessity of a revelation of creation 6 Getting understanding by Word of God 4
  3. Necessity of a revelation of creation 13 Getting wisdom
  4. Redemption # 1Biblical doctrine of salvation
  5. Challenging claim 4 Inspired by God 3 Self-consistent Word of God
  6. In a world which knows no peace sharing blessed hope
  7. Theologians and a promised Spirit to enlighten us
  8. Our life depending on faith
  9. Collection of books
  10. A collection of holy writings to show God and His Works
  11. One not without the other
  12. Recommended articles about the Book of books the Bible
  13. Unread bestseller

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Further reading

  1. The Good News: A Bible Study
  2. Unfolding God’s Word
  3. Best news I’ve heard!
  4. Pennies from Heaven
  5. Changes
  6. What Does The Bible Say About Friendship?
  7. In a Whisper
  8. There is something missing!
  9. Psalm 39 – Please Ignore Me
  10. Slap To Reality
  11. Live Your Life Worthy
  12. There’s no other way
  13. One of The Great Metaphors: The Tree of Life
  14. Taking That Step of Faith
  15. Your Word for This Day: “Faithful to God, No Matter What…”
  16. God’s Word
  17. 283 Things In The New Testament
  18. Therefore Jesus Said to Them
  19. Word
  20. Morning Prayer: Forgive Our Seeking
  21. Little by Little
  22. Bible-In-A-Year Day 237: Ezekiel 5-8
  23. Wisdom 2.6
  24. Our Great High Priest
  25. A Highway in the Wilderness
  26. God’s Glory
  27. Trust In God’s Mercy
  28. “Every day sees humanity more victorious in the struggle with space and time”*…
  29. I Don’t Like the Word “Religion”

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Words of God to stand and to be followed and to believe

The Aleppo Codex is a medieval manuscript of t...
The Aleppo Codex is a medieval manuscript of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), associated with Rabbi Aaron Ben Asher. The Masoretic scholars wrote it in the early 10th century, probably in Tiberias, Israel. It is in book form and contains the vowel points and grammar points (nikkudot) that specify the pronunciation of the ancient Hebrew letters to preserve the chanting tradition. It is perhaps the most historically important Hebrew manuscript in existence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From the beginning of times Words were given to man declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, that His counsel shall stand, and all of what He likes shall come into being. He has given His advice and the thoughts of His heart, for all generations to learn from it and to get more wisdom.

Man may be slow of mouth but the Most High is the One Who let others speak in His Name. It is His Spirit Which lifted up several men of God, and the hand of יהוה Jehovah the Elohim was strong upon them (Ezekiel 3:14)

Even the most known sent one from God, whom many take as their god, did not use his own words, which he would have done when he is God. Today there are still several people who do not believe what Jesus said that he could not do anything without his heavenly Father Whose words Jesus brought to mankind and spoke to his disciples. (John 5:17-36; 14:10,28)

That Word written down for mankind was spoken so man could take it as a harness, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word not of human origin but breathed by יהוה Jehovah God for our edification, profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that those who love God may be children of God completed, thoroughly equipped for every good work (Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Exodus 20:1 (RNKJV)

Exodus 20
1 And Elohim spake all these words, saying,

Exodus 33:11  (RNKJV)
And יהוה spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Numbers 12:8  (RNKJV)
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of יהוה shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

Deuteronomy 4:33  (RNKJV)
Did ever people hear the voice of Elohim speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

Deuteronomy 4:36  (RNKJV)
Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.

Deuteronomy 5:4  (RNKJV)
יהוה talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,

Deuteronomy 5:22  (RNKJV)
These words יהוה spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (RNKJV)
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other elohim, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which יהוה hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of יהוה, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which יהוה hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Isaiah 6:8  (RNKJV)
Also I heard the voice of יהוה, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 7:7  (RNKJV)
Thus saith the Master יהוה, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

Isaiah 46:8-13 (RNKJV)
8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am El, and there is none else; I am Elohim, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Psalms 119:98-100  (RNKJV)
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Psalms 33:11  (RNKJV)
The counsel of יהוה standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Proverbs 1:1-4 (RNKJV)

Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

Proverbs 9:10  (RNKJV)
The fear of יהוה is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Jeremiah 1:2  (RNKJV)
To whom the word of יהוה came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Jeremiah 1:4  (RNKJV)
Then the word of יהוה came unto me, saying,

Jeremiah 1:9  (RNKJV)
Then יהוה put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And יהוה said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Jeremiah 8:9  (RNKJV)
The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of יהוה; and what wisdom is in them?

Jeremiah 23:28  (RNKJV)
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith יהוה.

Jeremiah 23:29  (RNKJV)
Is not my word like as a fire? saith יהוה; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

2 Samuel 23:1-5 (RNKJV)

2 Samuel 23
1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the Elohim of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of יהוה spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The Elohim of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of Elohim. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5 Although my house be not so with El; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

Ezekiel 1:3  (RNKJV)
The word of יהוה came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of יהוה was there upon him.

Joel 1:1  (RNKJV)
The word of יהוה that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

Habakkuk 2:2  (RNKJV)
And יהוה answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Luke 5:1  (RNKJV)
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of יהוה, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

Luke 8:21  (RNKJV)
And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of יהוה, and do it.

John 14:10  (RNKJV)
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Ephesians 6:17  (RNKJV)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of יהוה:

1 Peter 1:25  (RNKJV)
But the word of יהוה endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Timothy 4:1  (RNKJV)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (RNKJV)
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Yahushua the Messiah. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of יהוה, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of יהוה may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Hebrews 4:12  (RNKJV)
For the word of יהוה is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Acts 1:16  (RNKJV)
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Yahushua.

Acts 3:21  (RNKJV)
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which יהוה hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Acts 8:14  (RNKJV)
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of יהוה, they sent unto them Kepha and John:

Acts 28:24-28 (RNKJV)
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of יהוה is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

2 Corinthians 9:8  (RNKJV)
And Elohim is able to make all favour abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Romans 10:17  (RNKJV)
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of יהוה.

2 Peter 1:16-21  (RNKJV)
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Master Yahushua the Messiah, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from יהוה the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of יהוה spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2:13  (RNKJV)
For this cause also thank we יהוה without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of יהוה which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of יהוה, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

 

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Preceding articles

All about love, not needing disasters

Are there certain books essential to come to faith

Evolution of the biblical facility.
Evolution of the biblical facility.

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Additional reading:

  1. Necessary to be known all over the earth
  2. How to look for and how to handle the Truth
  3. The Bible: God’s Word or pious myth?
  4. Why believing the Bible
  5. Of the many books Only the Bible can transform
  6. Coming to understanding from sayings written long ago
  7. The Bible is a today book
  8. Written down in God’s Name for righteousness
  9. Appointed to be read
  10. Do Christians need to read the Old Testament
  11. Bible for you and for life
  12. Unsure about relevance Bible
  13. A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn’t
  14. Possibility to live
  15. Power in the life of certain
  16. Who Wrote the Bible?
  17. No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation
  18. Pure Words and Testimonies full of Breath of the Most High
  19. Fools despise wisdom and instruction
  20. Looking for wisdom not departing from God’s Word
  21. Words to inspire and to give wisdom
  22. Eternal Word that tells everything
  23. Hearing words to accept
  24. Bible Word from God
  25. Bible, God speaking words profitable for doctrine, for reproof and for correction
  26. Bible, sword of the Spirit to come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man
  27. Bible, helmet of health, salvation and sword of the spirit
  28. Bible, helmet of salvation, God’s Words put in the mouth of prophets for perfecting, to reprove and correct
  29. God-breathed prophetic words written torah and the mitzvot to teach us
  30. Scripture words written for our learning, given by inspiration of God for edification
  31. The Right One to follow and to worship
  32. The radiance of God’s glory and the counsellor
  33. Did the Inspirator exist
  34. Believing what Jesus says
  35. When you don’t know what to do and hate yourself
  36. Bible ownership and Bible knowledge slumped
  37. Why can’t Bible scholars agree on how to interpret the Bible?
  38. Out of Context: How to Avoid Misinterpreting the Bible
  39. The Metaphorical language of the Bible
  40. Cosmogony
  41. Getting to know the Truth
  42. Not all christians are followers of a Greco-Roman culture
  43. Scripture alone Sola Scriptora
  44. Luther’s misunderstanding
  45. Accuracy, Word-for-Word Translation Preferred by most Bible Readers
  46. Celebrating the Bible in English
  47. What English Bible do you use?
  48. The Most Reliable English Bible
  49. 21st Century Version of the Christian Scripture or Mark Heber Miller Bible
  50. NWT and what other scholars have to say to its critics
  51. The NIV and the Name of God
  52. Cell phone vs. Bible
  53. Determined To Stick With Truth.
  54. Bringing Good News into the world
  55. Bible like puddle of water
  56. Working on the Bible being like re-wiring an old house
  57. The manager and Word of God
  58. Feed Your Faith Daily
  59. Rebirth and belonging to a church

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Religious people and painful absence of spring of living water

Religious people often are looking for their gods or for The God and may find those gods or God useful for obtaining things in life. It is said that

Christians find God beautiful and knowing Him is the chief good they seek. {Gazing Upon True Beauty}

Ichthys (Ichthus) Icon for Stub One of the sym...
Ichthys (Ichthus) one of the symbols used by early Christians (prior to Constantine) to identify themselves to each other. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lots of those people who call themselves Christian do not see the spiritual lifeline that will keep them from giving their heart to lesser loves and other beauties that will ultimately lead them into bondage, misery, and despair.

With most of those calling themselves Christian there is a painful absence of the spring of the living water, welling up in the lives of many walking around on this earth.

The fundamental reason why is that we have obeyed our thirst rather than embracing God’s gift. {Image is Nothing…Thirst is Everything…Obey Your Thirst}

Most Christians do not listen to the words of Jesus or do not want to hear what he says about his relationship with his heavenly Father.  They prefer to listen to the false teachings of those who call themselves theologians and twist the words of the Holy Scriptures.

To cherish to commend gave on 2016 March 18 a sound definition from the British-born Canadian Christian theologian who is known in the low church Anglican and Reformed traditions, James I. Packer his classic book Knowing God in the chapter “Thy Word is Truth”

“A person who acknowledges and lives under the Word of  God. He submits without reserve to the Word of God written in ‘the Scripture of truth’ (Daniel 10:21), believing the teaching, trusting the promises, following the commands. His eyes are to the God of the Bible as his Father, and the Christ of the Bible as his Savior. The Word of God has convinced him of sin and assured him of forgiveness. He aspires to have his whole life brought into line with it. The promises are before him as he prays, and the precepts are before him as he moves among others.

He knows that in addition to the Word of God spoken directly to him the Scriptures, God’s Word has also gone forth to create, and control, and order things around him; but since the Scriptures tell him that all things work together for his good, the thought of God ordering his circumstances brings him only joy. He is an independent fellow, for he uses the Word of God as a touchstone by which to test the various views that are put to him, and he will not touch anything which he is not sure that Scripture sanctions.”

J.I. Packer asked back in 1973: “Why does this description fit so few of us who profess to be Christians these days?” He concludes: “You will find it profitable to ask your conscience, and let it tell you.” {What is a Christian}

Jesus very well knew the Scriptures. After he was born he had to learn everything and before his death had still to say he did knew a lot of things not, whilst only God knows everything. The One Who can not die placed Jesus above the angels (him having been lower than angels before), but Jesus knew also he could not do anything without God Who is greater than him.

3rd quarter of 16th century
High-priest Jeshua presenting his body as an offering to God – 3rd quarter of 16th century (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Resurrection of Christ
Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Only True God Who send his only begotten beloved son to the world has given the world a spring for new life. Because that man, not doing his own will, not falling for temptation, always showing his love for God and fulfilling God’s commandments, accepted his ransom offering and took him out of the dead, to come to sit next to (or besides) Him (God) as a high-priest and mediator between Him (God) and man.

Ephesians 1:20  (Anderson)
which he made active in the Christ when he raised him from the dead, and caused him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Matthew 26:64 (Anderson)
64 Jesus said to him: You have said. Moreover, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming upon the clouds of heaven.

Hebrews 1:3  (Anderson)
who, being the effulgence of his glory and the exact representation of his essence, and upholding all things by his own powerful word, when he had by himself made expiation for our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 10:12  (Anderson)
but after offering one sacrifice for sins, he himself sits continually at the right hand of God,

Hebrews 3:1-3 (Anderson)

Hebrews 3
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who is faithful to him that appointed him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has builded the house, has more honor than the house.

Hebrews 3:1-3 (Anderson)

Hebrews 3
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who is faithful to him that appointed him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has builded the house, has more honor than the house.

1 Timothy 2:5-7 (Anderson)
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, [of which] the testimony [has been given] in its proper times, 7 to give which testimony I have been appointed a preacher and an apostle; (I speak the truth, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faithfulness and in truth.

Holy Week at Santhome Basilica, Chennai (HDR)
One of those building s where Christians come together but where graven images of God and other gods or idols can be found in front many of them bow down. -Holy Week at Santhome Basilica, Chennai (HDR) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Those who call themselves Christian should belief what Jesus says and what the God Who does not tell lies says. they also should come together to the city of the living God, becoming partakers of the Body of Christ. Together they should unite and become one with Christ, as Christ is one with God. The ones who call themselves “Christian” should belong to the congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant. They should really appreciate to have received the grace of salvation under the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.

Real Christians are those who follow the teachings of Christ and take care not to refuse the one who is speaking!

Hebrews 12:22-27 (Anderson)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels; 23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, 24 and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you reject not him that speaks: for if they escaped not who rejected that earthly man who gave the oracles, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that is from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I will shake not the earth only, but also the heaven. 27 And this [prophecy], Yet once more, signifies the removing of the things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that the things which can not be shaken may remain.

The native New Mexican with roots in Santa Fe and Albuquerque Paul Smith, ventures into troubling waters today or is into foggy skies, wrestling for the past few days with a question that recurs frequently in conversations among brothers and sisters in Christ.

That question is, “Who is my brother or sister in Christ?” {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

Which is a very important question by which we as Christians should stand still. Because being a Christian is as follower of Christ also wanting to be a Brother in Christ.

At the center of the discussion is the frequently repeated and much discussed phrase, “in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus charitas.” (in matters of necessity, unity; in matters of doubt, liberty; in all things love) Confusion and ignorance reign. {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

We should be fully aware that there is a big difference in which way those Christians consider Jesus to be “Lord“. Lots of them want to make him to be the Most Highest Lord of lords instead of the worldly Lord of lords, the son of man and son of God.

Intellectually we may know that God’s grace must exceed our own human limits – otherwise we would be God!

– but emotionally I have a hard time welcoming those who disagree with me. After all, I am always right (c’mon – my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek). {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

writes the blogger of Instrument rated theology.

He seems to know that he must reject out-of-hand the growing chorus of the “easy believeism” that is sweeping through the Churches of Christ, and says

That is nothing other than the “Cheap Grace” identified by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We cannot accept that two diametrically opposite views of Holy Scripture can both be correct. We cannot accept that two diametrically opposed views of worship – or especially of the requirements of Kingdom membership – can both be correct. We must allow for differences of opinion and conscience, but at some point there must be a determination of wrong and right, of heresy and of sound doctrine. Likewise, we must be careful that we do not elevate our own intellectual prowess to the level of God’s judgment. We do not tell God who is a part of his Kingdom, God does that. Refer to my Undeniable Truth for Theological Reflection #1, the foundation for theology must be humility. Our greatest error is in proclaiming that we are beyond making errors. If universalism is wrong, so is Phariseeism. {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

At the same time it is that want to have our human ideas instead of accepting the words of the Holy Scriptures that is dividing Christendom and Christianity. Human beings preferring to stick to human doctrines instead of Biblical doctrines make it that we do have so many denominations.

Problem is that not enough people are willing to pray for God’s Spirit to guide us into the healthy truth. When they ask their own gods (except from the Only One True God, not Jesus but Jehovah), whoever they might be, we do not think they will get answers from them, but if they listen carefully they shall be able to hear the Call of God, because God knows the heart, and when they sincerely want to look for God He shall guide them.

– the truth that sets proper boundaries where God has placed them, and not where fallible humans have placed them. {Boundaries of Brotherhood}

Pastor Craig Schweitzer thinks

Jesus is challenging us to open our hearts and minds to hear today’s humbling good news – God’s immeasurable love. {“God Loves You.” 03.06.2016 Sermon}

and asks

Are you and I open to that good news? The good news of our prodigal God’s immeasurable love that is freely and extravagantly shared with all: love that we cannot earn, love that we do not deserve. And our response to God’s grace and mercy encourages and invites us, even pleads with us, to share God’s perfect love with others. Even when those others look and act a whole lot like the two sons in today’s parable. (This section was inspired by the writing in Day Resources, Sundays & Seasons.com) {“God Loves You.” 03.06.2016 Sermon}

It makes it important for us to decide which way we do want to go. do we want ot keep to human tradition and keep sticking to the so called Holy Trinity, or do we want to take the Word of God, the Bible to be infallible and telling us the truth?

Fewer and fewer people take the time for deep study and thought anymore, partly because of the busyness of our lives.  We are quick to believe what we hear on social media or in the news because we just can’t be bothered with actually taking the time to investigate and think for ourselves. {Sounds Nice, But is it in the Bible?}

At this site we do ask you to compare what we and others say, with what is written in the most sacred Book of books and best-seller of all times: the Bible.

Let the living water flow of the pages of that book. Let it come into your hands, into your heart and into your spirit, opening your eyes and showing you that Jesus is the Way to the Only One True God.

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Read also

  1. Not all christians are followers of a Greco-Roman culture
  2. A Royal Rule given to followers of Christ
  3. Follower of Jesus part of a cult or a Christian
  4. Names, Titles, and Characters of Jesus Christ
  5. Lord and owner
  6. Lord in place of the divine name
  7. People Seeking for God 7 The Lord and lords
  8. A God between many gods
  9. Lord or Yahuwah, Yeshua or Yahushua
  10. Hashem השם, Hebrew for “the Name”
  11. Background to look at things
  12. The Bible and names in it
  13. Written to recognise the Promissed One
  14. Scripture about Creation and Creator Deity
  15. Bible, helmet of salvation, God’s Words put in the mouth of prophets for perfecting, to reprove and correct
  16. The very very beginning 1 Creating Gods
  17. The very very beginning 2 The Word and words
  18. Accuracy, Word-for-Word Translation Preferred by most Bible Readers
  19. Some Restored Name Versions
  20. Al-Fatiha [The Opening] Süra 1: 4-7 Merciful Lord of the Creation to show us the right path
  21. Almighty God above all other gods greater than all gods
  22. El-Shaddai God Almighty Who no-one may see and live
  23. No man see the Almighty God and live
  24. The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods
  25. The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods
  26. Genuine Christians content with going through motions of ritualistic religion
  27. Necessity of a revelation of creation 6 Getting understanding by Word of God 4
  28. Necessity of a revelation of creation 11 Believing and obeying the gospel of the Kingdom of God
  29. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #13 Prayer #11 Name to be set apart
  30. Another way looking at a language #5 Aramic, Hebrew and Greek
  31. Another way looking at a language #6 Set apart
  32. Let us recognise how great God is
  33. Pluralis Majestatis in the Holy Scriptures
  34. Faith, storms and actions to be taken
  35. Holiness and expression of worship coming from inside
  36. Listening and Praying to the Father
  37. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God

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