> General Discussions
Parables?
ericsteven:
--- Quote from: winner08 on October 17, 2008, 11:35:30 PM ---Why? was it not meant for them to know?
--- End quote ---
Perhaps a quote from Paul to the Corinthians may at least partially shed some light as to why many are blinded and few are not.
I Corinthians 11:19
(KJV) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
(NASB) For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
(YLT) for it behoveth sects also to be among you, that those approved may become manifest among you;
(RSV) for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
Heresies, factions, sects, and denominations are all the result of various stages of spiritual blindness. This spiritual blindness is what causes many to accept the strong delusion (II Thes. 2:11) sent by the Lord to confuse the many so that the chosen, the few - the 'sons of God who have been given eyes to see and ears to hear - may be made manifest. Because it's not until these chosen are made manifest that the hope that Paul speaks about in Romans will begin to be realized.
Romans 8:19ff For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope...
As several posters have already explained, everyone is, was, and will be at some point in their life spiritually blind as a bat. But those who only God knows as His chosen, those to whom He has given eyes to see, will be used by Him to open the eyes of everyone else now in this time and in the future millenial reign of Jesus our Messiah as they reign as kings and priests on the earth.
Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Even though Paul is specifically referring to the Jews vs. Gentiles in that verse, I don't necessarily see it is a stretch to view it in regards to the chosen vs. all the brothers and sisters who are still blind in Churchianity.
As Jeff said, it all serves a purpose. But more often than not, at least in my opinion, the best that many of us will ever be able to do is explain various aspects of the who, what, when, and where of the things of God. The why may ever elude us. But it's the why that keeps us going forward. It's the why that keeps us constantly in the Word, constantly seeking, constantly asking questions, constantly praying. But, I tell ya, even if we never know the why of all this in this lifetime, we know that whatever our station is in the grand scheme of God's plan, we will all eventually know the answer to the big why and we will all rejoice because I have no doubt it will be magnificent.
Okay, I'll get down off my box. :) I don't know, perhaps that will help.
Eric
Richard D:
Hi Darren.
I was viewing your thread again and perceived with the excerpt from Ray’s work one could intrepid from the first line DON’T WASTE GOD’S WORD ON SPIRITUAL DOGS AND PIGS) that this could have been directed towards your friend and I just wanted to clarify it was not directed towards your friend but only and answer to your friend why Christ spoke in parables.
As I read through all the responses I find in each one truth but the bottom line is Jesus could have spoken plainly to the whole world so that everyone could understand. So we ask why Jesus did speak in parables and its obvious he did not want everyone to understand. So we ask why did Jesus not want everyone to understand?
So then we ask who did Jesus want to understand? Then we say Jesus only wanted the called out ones to understand but do the entire called out one understand. No they don’t but only the elect of the called out ones. Then we ask why did Jesus only want the elect to understand?
Then we say because Christ is building his church which is his body and not everyone is included at this time but only the elect. Then we ask why is not everyone included at this time?
I think the (why) will never stop being asked. Perhaps we should not be asking why but rather should be saying what must I do Lord.
I’m sure there is and exacted explanation to why Christ spoke in parables but the fact remains Jesus spoke in parables. Why. ;D
In His Love. Richard.
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: mharrell08 on October 17, 2008, 09:25:26 PM ---Hello Darren,
Now as to 'why' He does it...think about the tree in the Garden of Eden. It was the tree of knowledge but had good AND evil in it. Both were in the same tree because knowledge IS knowing good and evil.
Now, think about being first introduced to the teachings of the church. It seemed okay at the beginning right? But only when you were later introduced to the truth did you have a greater love and understanding of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. You would not have been able to completely appreciate having a knowledge of the truth (knowledge of good) if you did not first receive the heretical, false teachings of the church (knowledge of evil).
Ecc. 1:13 It is an experience of evil God has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it
Gen. 50:19-20 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought EVIL AGAINST ME, but God MEANT IT UNTO GOOD, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive
Hope this helps,
Marques
--- End quote ---
Darren,
The reason why Ray states constantly that the Bible is one giant parable is because their is 1 reason behind everything in it: God is making man into his image. That's what everything is about. No matter what question you come up with, this is the foundational answer.
Obviously, to be in his image requires a knowledge of good/evil. This is why I stated the comment above.
Here is an excerpt from 'What is the Gospel of the Kingdom' (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,6142.0.html):
UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK
If we don’t understand that God never intended for the masses of humanity to understand this Bible, then we won’t understand this book. This is not a book written to be understood. Human intellect will not allow you to understand this book. You can learn a lot about it, where and how it was written, the culture, the history and you can memorize it.
You can be like Jack Van Impe and I don’t know he says he’s memorize 25,000 verses or whatever. But he has not a clue as to what the gospel is, not a clue. I don’t mean to pick on people. James Kennedy speaks Greek and Hebrew fluently and has not a clue as to what the gospel is. I’m serious, not a clue. You say, ‘oh well he doesn’t have it quite down yet.’ No, not a clue, he has not a clue.
If you think God is going to torture most of humanity for all eternity, then you have not a clue as to what the gospel is… you have not a clue as to what Jesus Christ is… you have not a clue as to what God the Father is. Not a clue. You can not say in the same breath that God is love and God tortures most of humanity for all of eternity. You can’t say that! That is as opposite as God and Satan, to say that. Yet this is fundamental Christianity... God is love… God will torture most of humanity in real fire for all eternity. It’s insane! If you can’t see that that is insane, if you just sit there and say, ‘well I don’t know Ray, it makes sense to me.’ Then you will never understand this book. You just will never understand this book.
This book was written so that nobody could understand it, until God picks somebody out and says I want you to understand this book and I’ll show you how to understand it. That’s the only way. He’s got to pick you out and open up your mind or you will never understand this book. This book is written in all kinds of symbolism, figurative language, types, figures, images, examples, analogies, parables, metaphors and people think all those things are literal. That is confusion. That’s why the church is confused. That’s why there are supposedly 3000 Christian denominations in the world, because they don’t understand any of this stuff.
Jesus Christ said to His Apostles, to you it is given to understand, but to them it is not given to understand.
Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12 that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand;
To you it is given, to them it’s not given. There’s you and there’s them and that’s just the way it is and the way it will be until the close of the age.
They are talking about worldwide revival. Ron Parsley was saying at the rate they are converting people, 250,000 a day, that in 12-14 more years the whole world will be Christianized, in just a matter of not too many years. But Christ says when He returns will He find faith? Well that‘s all He’ll find is faith, everywhere, in every human being. NO! No, He ask the question because He won‘t find faith. There is not faith among millions, no, billions, we have to say billions now, there are 2 billion professing Christians.
Remember, God is making mankind into His image. This is what everything is all about. No matter what question (who, what, why, how, etc) that pertains to God's plan & intentions, this is the ultimate destiny and goal of mankind.
It's really as simple as well complicated as that. To the chosen who have their eyes opened, it's simple. To those who are spiritually blind, it's complicated.
Don't forget, the chosen/Elect are saved the EXACT SAME WAY as the called & unbelievers. Lake of Fire, Gehenna fire, eonian fire, etc are all the same fire that ALL will be judged with. Here's a link to Ray's LOF #16 pt. E: that goes into more detail about that: http://bible-truths.com/lake16-D5.htm.
Hope this helps,
Marques
OBrenda:
--- Quote from: ericsteven on October 18, 2008, 03:12:53 AM ---
--- Quote from: winner08 on October 17, 2008, 11:35:30 PM ---Why? was it not meant for them to know?
--- End quote ---
Perhaps a quote from Paul to the Corinthians may at least partially shed some light as to why many are blinded and few are not.
I Corinthians 11:19
(KJV) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
(NASB) For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
(YLT) for it behoveth sects also to be among you, that those approved may become manifest among you;
(RSV) for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
Heresies, factions, sects, and denominations are all the result of various stages of spiritual blindness. This spiritual blindness is what causes many to accept the strong delusion (II Thes. 2:11) sent by the Lord to confuse the many so that the chosen, the few - the 'sons of God who have been given eyes to see and ears to hear - may be made manifest. Because it's not until these chosen are made manifest that the hope that Paul speaks about in Romans will begin to be realized.
Okay, I'll get down off my box. :) I don't know, perhaps that will help.
Eric
--- End quote ---
Eric,
That helped me even understand why amongst ourselves we have "issues" it's like enduring "Boot Camp" in the military!
It's very unpleasant training but it has a purpose,.....to get everybody out alive!
;D ;D
Brenda
Awesome...Marques!
winner08:
Yes beloved: that is exactly what I am trying to do> This works best when I can keep it short in simple. When If O start explain and I go to long I will just confused the person more than he already is.
KISS
K-keep
I-it
S-short
S-simple
Darren
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