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Growth..sin to some, grace to others.

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OBrenda:
I think I know what Jeff is getting at.  I've though about this also!

Example my Husband and I can go to the movies, see the same movie, and when explaining it to our friends, it's like we saw two different Movies.

Why does this happen?........Perception, personal prejudices & experiences. 
Before I came to BT, I threw my hands up in the air, and said If the God of the Universe wanted to reveal Himself clearly to everybody He would have.  It must be His Will that everybody disagrees!

Then I learned from Ray about Jesus always teaching in Parables to intentional keep some in the dark, I had a "Ah Hah" moment.....

Marques is absolutely right the Scriptures are our foundation, but the interpretation of them correctly rests with the will of God.  Are we at BT off the mark or ignorant in an area, very possible, but we will find at least 2 witness to it in scripture.  And God will lead some to more truth, and some will turn to false ones.  Frightening to know that isn't it?
The whole Old testament to New Testament commandments/covenants where impossible for some to bridge.  To answer your question IMO  the Scriptures are the best test we have, they are not flawed, we are.

Hope this Helped,
Brenda
 

Dave in Tenn:
Jeff, I think what you may be talking about is what we used to refer to as 'head knowledge' vs. 'heart knowledge'.  What profit is it to have all knowledge and lack love?  Faith without works is dead. Is that correct?

As Marques pointed to in Jn 7:16-18, right doctrine glorifies God.  As we handle the truth ourselves, and as we discern the teaching of others (and of spirits whispering to us), it has to pass this test...is it God glorified or the man handling/presenting it?  

It doesn't much glorify God if we have tons of 'truths' but don't obey/submit to any of them.  If the fruits of the Spirit are not becoming evident (and I mean the genuine fruits and not our fleshly imitations of them) then it matters little how much of the scripture we know.

BUT...it's only by and through the scripture that we can know Christ to follow Him at all.  The more of His Word that is in us, the more of Him that is in us.  The two go hand in hand...knowing and obeying the Word of God and doing the will of God.

This is a question for books and serious contemplation, not for easy forum replies.  But for me, testing teaching and our own lives against scripture is the way to 'live', but that life doesn't begin until we begin to know scripture.  Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little, until the whole councel of God is available not just in the book but in our hearts.

Linny:
Jeff,

I think that is an excellent question. I understand what you are saying as well. And as Brenda said, we are blind even to Scripture unless our eyes are opened by God.

You are right, people often see growth as wrong when they themselves haven't gotten there yet. I certainly have done that myself.  :-\

Coming from a place where God has been teaching us truths outside of BT truths (along with BT truths too of course) for years now, I really understand what you are talking about. We were "wackos" (albeit more quiet ones as we didn't scream from the rooftops what we were learning) for long before we came to BT and became the ultimate wackos! ;) ;D

So I agree with Brenda and others that the Scriptures are our ultimate place for finding truth and finding agreement with what we are learning. But I will add to that. The second witness, IMO, is not just something found in Scripture. I think it is a principle that God uses elsewhere.

Whenever I was given a new idea and thought it was from God, I waited patiently for my second witness. Yes, I searched the Word but God always seemed to give me another second as well. It might be finding that same information in another place or meeting someone or talking to someone who becomes a second witness. Then, actually living it out, once I feel strongly it is from the Lord, ALWAYS works out beautifully when He sent the information.

I hope this helps....

Lin

musicman:
What do you mean a growth is a sin?!!  I get growths all over my body from bad sanitation.  And we know that the "cleanliness is next to Godliness" is a false scripture, so you can't use that to justify your hatred for fungus ridden growths.  I mean, we don't have to bathe to be good with God, do we?  I am appalled that people on this forum have the audacity to criticize those of us that are comfortable with big, ugly, festering growths on our body, just because we don't try to keep our living space clean and free of disgusting toxins.

Kat:

Hi Jeff,

What I believe is that you know it is a 'truth' when it fits neatly in with ALL the Scriptures.  There are no contradictions in the Scripture.  I look at the truth as a giant puzzle, when a piece fits in perfectly you know it is right.

What Ray has given us here to remove the errors in the translations and getting us to focus on ALL the words is a great help in our personal study of the Scriptures.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

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