Problem with Christians, some equate knowing the bible with knowing Jesus. This is false.

Rodo7777777

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Jesus was familiar with the Pharisees, even though they memorized great portions of the scriptures, he chastised them for NOT coming to Him, so they could have life.

Many today think that Jesus and the bile are the same thing, they are not. The bible didn't die for you, nor was the bible raised from the dead.

Some "professing" Christian people know their bibles, yet seem to not know Jesus, displaying hatred for those who disagree with their denomination, or doctrines. Similar to knowing the scientific discoveries or writings of Einstein, and yet not knowing Einstein himself.

This devotion to doctrines, denominations, and other such religious things is idolatry, and dangerous since it divides the body of Christ, and is nothing more than religious pride.

We need to examine ourselves and see if we are in Christ.

Do you know Him, do you have a testimony of experiencing Jesus on a daily basis, do you tell others all the things Jesus has done for you, is your heart consumed with talking about Him, or do you just talk about the bible, and bible knowledge.

EVERYONE in the old and new testament experienced God. had experiences with the living God, who is not dead, without that you have no testimony, Jesus is impersonal to you.

I speak this for your own good, not to harass you. Prove my word untrue, do it for your own sake, if not mine.

Let me explain in more detail.

First off let me say, I love the scriptures, I think they are from God, and are truth, this truth, is revealed by the author, and the author is to be known. The truth is within the text, explained by the same one who wrote it, if we interpret it, we end up with a private interpretation. The author is greater than the book, yet that doesn't diminish the book, or the truth that it contains.

Today many know the bible, but have never had God become real to them through the scriptures. Most people have never had God make himself known to them even through a beautiful sunset. To most God is just history, or he is way off in space somewhere.

The importance is not in experiences, but instead experiencing God. I contend, you have to experienced God. Possibly he opens the scriptures to you, and makes them come alive, they became a "word" of God to you. Possibly it would be like you and I having coffee everyday together, sharing life and all things included. We would age together and become deep friends. We may never have a spiritual experience, but we would definitely experience each other, as Moses experienced God at the tent, when Miriam and Aron spoke against Moses, and God spoke about how He and Moses were friends. Moses experienced God. God was experienced by everyone we read about in the OT and the NT.

I fear that the so-called church, the large visible body that meets on the corner of every city in America is missing God. There are many within this so-called visible church (though fewer in number) that truly belong to Jesus, these are the invisible church. From my point of view, the visible church has sprung up not from experiencing God, but from its exposure to the bible "The Scriptures", but this is not necessarily so, of the invisible church "The Ecklesia".

For example most people throughout history couldn't read, we had no printing presses, and when printed most people couldn't afford the bible, this is seen during the dark ages, yet the ecklesia thrived. How? It wasn't because they had a bible; it was because God was real and made himself known to them. Possibly through someone who had a bible, but probably not.

Brother Lawrence / Laubach; in his book practicing the presence; makes the claim that God became real to him, by seeing a tree losing it leaves, knowing life would again come to the tree the following year.

Here forgive me.... Let me expound more and just be open, even though we don't know each other, possibly we can glean from one another as two who see the forest from different angles?

Could it be, that True and False Christianity...Are both produced by the Bible. Everything is about contrast (light, dark, evil, and good), or it's to express God's glory, and his many attributes...God even created evil for this purposes.

The contrast in Christianity is the true church, and the false church. The invisible ecklesia -vs- the large visible body of people in every church, on every corner. The wheat, and the chaff or tare. The good seed and the bad seed. The Pharisee, and Jesus, sheep and Goats, Light and darkness.

Today is a replay of the life of Jesus in his body singular (the one that died on the cross); now this body "His Body" is plural, many membered...The same prosecutions, torments, dying, will happen in us as it did in him. Now the Pharisees are the religious of today. True Christianity and false Christianity, is so close, to the real church, the real walk, the real life...So close that it could even fool the elect, if that were possible....

So how does God establish the tare, this large so-called church. Do we see it throughout time? Yes, and it all started with two trees. The tree of life, and the tree of knowledge. We see the essence of these two trees, in many forms. One is in the visible church, and the invisible church, the wheat and tare.

The large visible church exists and is sustained by the visible, tangible, written word (The Bible). They find themselves at home with the text, they can control it, they build laws, rules, religious rituals, and doctrines. By this same knowledge they also remove God, who is Spirit, out of their midst, issues of control, a form of religion, and rules, that denies the power thereof. There is no body ministry, led of God's Sprit.

Do you think this would all be obvious, and plainly visible, or only visible to us by discernment? It had to be hidden, even from those who were in the midst of it, or else they would not have participated. Both sides, real and false are hidden, even from themselves. If not hidden, you couldn't get anyone to participate in this plan of God.

I'm not against these people; most are genuine, nice, sweet people. But we are discussing truth here. Now God is revealing these things to us, and getting ready to reveal us to each other, to reveal the true church to herself, to reveal the false church to the true.

While most of the members of both groups are wonderful people and well intentioned, the visible false church, is still like the Pharisees of old. They search the scriptures daily, but won't come to Christ, that they might have life. In fact they were never destined to life, this is what the scriptures say, the body / the ecklesia / the invisible church has life, they were destined to life, from the beginning.

The true body, the ecklesia exist by "the word", they know a hidden walk, they know the masters voice. This has got to be the common denominator throughout time, since many could not read, and the few that could read, didn't have a copy of the bible. Yet the Ecklesia flourished, even in the dark ages, and in countries that never allowed sacred texts, like China, and Russia...

Today both flourish, and this thing called church, or churchianity, has said to all, we represent God. But they do not, and God is getting ready to show this world, his true church, the ecklesia....God's mercy, and the world demand such an event, to rid God, of the stain of falsehood. Whether that be TV preachers, or even all the pain caused to so many in the name of God by so-called Christianity, which was NOT Christianity, but instead, it was this false church the large, visible church, this system.

God is separating HIS people "The Ecclesia from this thing called church, "churchianity". He is building his kingdom, it is on the inside. That is what Jesus says.

There is no way for light and darkness to fellowship together and there is NO way all those people in all these churches are truly born again via an encounter with Christ. That encounter must take place...We must experience God.

So there is no way they can fellowship with you, or you with them, if you are part of that invisible "REAL" church, for what fellowship does light have with darkness. You might as well go to a Safeway store and try and "do church" with all the people there, it will not work.

Remember Jesus says "my sheep hear my voice", and man shall not live by bread alone, the word of the Lord came unto, peter rise and eat, ETC. You see what I mean? "The word of the Lord" via "The scriptures" can become a fresh word to you, but, we can not use the terms "The word" and "the bible" interchangeably.

The point I'm making is, there is a lot written in the bible about hearing, hardly anything about reading. Everything written in the bible was spoken before it was written. Genesis was spoken, and then written by Moses.

We must come to a common denominator, for people to receive Christ, to hear the message, or to experience Christianity, and it cannot be the bible, even though God has used the scriptures to do so on occasion. Still I love the scriptures, and they are true, they are God inspired. They have just been elevated to a position by this false church, where they have taken the place of God.

Also to express my point, do this: Every place in the scriptures where it says, "the word" or "the word came unto" replace every instance with "The bible"....It just will not make sense...

As far as people hearing "The word" vs studying "The scriptures" I see a big difference between the two. One is heard, one is read. Many can read, few can hear. One is always spoken, and one is written, but can be made alive to you, and become a spoken word. God also speaks apart from the scriptures, remember God spoke to Adam and Moses before there was a written bible.

Thus we have interchanged the two, elevating "The bible" above God, and the leading of the Spirit, and we have placed the bible above "The Word"...

I wonder, could we say that we love the scriptures, and that they are inspired, but God never meant for us to live by them, nor the jewish people the Torah. But instead by the Spirit / the word / His breath...His words of promise, leading us into all truth?

We have two types of church. Those led by the Spirit, and those seeing and leaning only on "The book". I love the scriptures, and I have several bibles. BUT we must not elevate the bible above God, and I'm afraid that is what many churches (people) have done.

The "Word" and "The bible" are not one and the same...The common denominator throughout time Has been God reaching out to man, possibly by a sunset, or a person who was "LED" of the spirit to witnesses to you, or God speaks to you, but God has not, at all times used the bible. Of course there are times that the Spirit moves someone, through the use of Scripture, but that is not my point.

What do we say of the first 3000 years of man, until Moses wrote the Torah, where was God? He was doing what he has always done, personally interacting with man.

The faith we have is more than intellectual knowledge, it IS LIFE...Two trees were in the garden; today we face that same thing? "Knowledge" OR "Life"...
 
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ToBeLoved

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Jesus was familiar with the Pharisees, even though they memorized great portions of the scriptures, he chastised them for NOT coming to Him, so they could have life.

Many today think that Jesus and the bile are the same thing, they are not. The bible didn't die for you, nor was the bible raised from the dead.

Some "professing" Christian people know their bibles, yet seem to not know Jesus, displaying hatred for those who disagree with their denomination, or doctrines. Similar to knowing the scientific discoveries or writings of Einstein, and yet not knowing Einstein himself.
I don't think any Christian worth their salt, feels hatred for any other denomination unless it is a flat out cult.

Second, I have no idea what you are trying to say about the Bible didn't die for you. I think most people know that, or else they have worse issues to contend with besides not liking other denominations.

I think you must see debate as hatred or something, but it is not the same at all. I can disagree with people and love them. I disagree with a lot of people I love and respect a lot. I'm not sure what you are really trying to say here, because correct theology is important. Most of the New Testament is Paul teaching and correcting the new churches theology, so if your stance is that it is not important (theology) than how do you think much of the Bible was formed? Letters about theology to new churches far away that he couldn't visit.
 
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Kerensa

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Thanks, friend. It breaks my heart when I see Christians ripping into fellow Christians over differing interpretations of the Bible — and yes, it does happen, all too often, especially online. There are whole websites devoted to it. Denouncing other denominations and branding them as "cults" or "heresies" is in itself not Christian. If we disagree on some details of doctrines or interpretations, we can at least do so as family and with respect and Christian love — not trying to pick the mote out of our brother's eye while we can't see the beam in our own. o_O

The Bible is our guidebook, but it's not the destination in itself. "Christ is the path, and Christ the prize", as the hymn says (Fight the Good Fight, John S. B. Monsell). As you say, Rodo, the Pharisees could quote reams of Scripture (and that was simply what we now call the Old Testament — the NT didn't exist in Jesus' time!!), and yet they couldn't see what and who was right in front of them. He surely mustn't be any happier with modern-day Pharisees among his professed followers now than he was with the Pharisees who dogged his earthly ministry.

This devotion to doctrines, denominations, and other such religious things is idolatry, and dangerous since it divides the body of Christ, and is nothing more than religious pride.

We need to examine ourselves and see if we are in Christ.

Amen, brother. :blacksunrays:
 
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Rodo7777777

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I don't think any Christian worth their salt, feels hatred for any other denomination unless it is a flat out cult.

Second, I have no idea what you are trying to say about the Bible didn't die for you. I think most people know that, or else they have worse issues to contend with besides not liking other denominations.

I think you must see debate as hatred or something, but it is not the same at all. I can disagree with people and love them. I disagree with a lot of people I love and respect a lot. I'm not sure what you are really trying to say here, because correct theology is important. Most of the New Testament is Paul teaching and correcting the new churches theology, so if your stance is that it is not important (theology) than how do you think much of the Bible was formed? Letters about theology to new churches far away that he couldn't visit.

We have a habit of saying "The Word of God" and saying that the bible is Jesus. Now it is true, that Jesus is the word of God, the bible says so in John 1 and in Revelation. It is written on His thigh.

But to make the claim that the bible is the same as Jesus is to take away from Jesus. Hebrews 4:12, John 1: and Genesis 1 is not talking about the bible, even though those words are true and also happen to be written in the bible.

So the bible is God's words, spoken at a different time, to someone else, and recorded for us to read, and enjoy, and we love the bible, I read it as often as I can, BUT it is NOT Jesus, who is the word of God.

Jesus wasn't missing for hundreds of years until the printing press was invented, nor was "The Word" of God missing, for it was still saving the lost, and God was interacting with men, even when people had no bibles, and when most people were illiterate.
 
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Rodo7777777

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Thanks, friend. It breaks my heart when I see Christians ripping into fellow Christians over differing interpretations of the Bible — and yes, it does happen, all too often, especially online. There are whole websites devoted to it. Denouncing other denominations and branding them as "cults" or "heresies" is in itself not Christian. If we disagree on some details of doctrines or interpretations, we can at least do so as family and with respect and Christian love — not trying to pick the mote out of our brother's eye while we can't see the beam in our own. o_O

The Bible is our guidebook, but it's not the destination in itself. "Christ is the path, and Christ the prize", as the hymn says (Fight the Good Fight, John S. B. Monsell). As you say, Rodo, the Pharisees could quote reams of Scripture (and that was simply what we now call the Old Testament — the NT didn't exist in Jesus' time!!), and yet they couldn't see what and who was right in front of them. He surely mustn't be any happier with modern-day Pharisees among his professed followers now than he was with the Pharisees who dogged his earthly ministry.



Amen, brother. :blacksunrays:
SO TRUE thanks you said it much better than i did.
 
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Rodo7777777

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I had ONE experience...I think?...back when I was a non-believer.

I have been seeking Him but I haven't really had any experiences. Is that a good or bad sign?

Don't worry I think you are doing just fine... Just trust Him, knowing He loves you.
 
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Rodo7777777

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I think the bible (The scriptures) are from God, and contain his words, and they are true.

They are the words of God...Spoken to others in time past, and written down for us...

BUT the bible describes itself as the scriptures, and it describes something else too...

In several verses it proclaims something, and we read it and never quite see it, but it's there in full bloom...It's something different than the scriptures that we see described.

It's something that is so important to have operating in our lives, so that WE like those written about in the bible, can look each other, and say “I too have experienced that the same thing”.

What is that thing that we need to experience?

It's "THE WORD"...

It's spoken about in Gen 1, John 1, and Hebrews 4:12...

We see it described in Acts...

Peter says it happened to him, the word came to him and said rise and eat....

Phillip had the experience when the word came and told him to join himself to the chariot...

It happened to Paul when it knocked him off his horse...

And this very thing we are discussing is named for us in Revelation 19:13: "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood”: and his name is called “The Word of God."

He is NOT the bible, and the bible is NOT Him.
 
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Rodo7777777

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IF Jesus is not our answer, and you think instead that that power resides in the bible, and that the bible is our answer for our spiritual life we have to then consider, what the scriptures say about the bible.

Who had the bible, and who did not have the bible.

Then we must ask which of those persons had life, true life, the kind that Jesus promises.

I submit our life and truth comes from somewhere else, the scriptures are a road map, a plumb line...

IF that is not the case God failed a huge group who never had access to God's word (that is IF the bible is your definition of the word of God).


1). Did any of the masses have access to the bible (scriptures) in the Old Testament? NO!

2). Did any of the masses in the New Testament have access to the bible? NO!

*Could the masses read the bible if they had one? NO!

3). How many after the Resurrection, thru the dark ages had access to the bible and could read it? ZERO!

4). How many countries had "LIMITED" access to copies of the O.T. bible, in their own language? Only Israel!

5). When did, the bible become available in English, the language of the masses? The mid 1550's! How many people were literate? Hardly none!

6). When was the printing press created? 1440!

* SO basically, the masses (those that could read) have had a bible available to them for the last 500 yrs...

* Man, has a history that spans approx. 6000 years minus 500 years...

*So, for 5500 years' man was without the word of god...IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?

Further Proof:

When you see the term "The Word of God" in the Bible it is either referring to Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

"He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called "The Word of God." (Rev 19:12-13)


When you see the following terms in scripture, this is what it is referring to:

The word = The gospel

Examples:

(Acts 4:4) Howbeit many of them which heard the word (The gospel) believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

(Acts: 4:29) And now, Lord, behold their threatening's: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word (The gospel),

(Acts 16:6) Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word (The gospel) in Asia,

(2nd Timothy 4:2) Preach the word (The gospel); be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

(Hebrews 4:2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word (The gospel) preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

(It is important to note in the verses above that the Bible had not yet been written yet as the OP has already mentioned, so how could "the word" be referring to the Bible? It's not possible.)


The Word of God = Jesus/Spirit

(Acts 4:31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God (Jesus) with boldness.

(Acts 13:5) And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God (Jesus) in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

(Acts 15:35) Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord (Jesus), with many others also.

(Acts 17:13) But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God (Jesus) was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

(Acts 18:11) And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God (Jesus) among them.


There are times in the Bible when "word" means a spoken word, but it is never referring to a written word. This tells us that the Bible is not the word of God and there is nowhere in the Bible that claims that it is. Instead the Bible tells us that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and that Jesus is "The Word of God." (Rev 19:13)

An example of the spoken word can be found in Rev 12:11

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

Their testimony would have no doubt been about the gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, the book of Revelation is about the revealing of Jesus Christ (Not some apocalyptic events in the future as Christians believe). And since the Bible interprets its self, whenever we see the "word of God" written anywhere in the Bible, it has to refer to Jesus. It never refers to to Bible.
 
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Rodo7777777

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Allow me to share an example of "The Word" happening in my own life as I interacted with about 15 to 20 different people one afternoon a long time ago:

Life come from Jesus... I was on the east coast, I wanted to go to a fellowship at a brother house. It was so fun then, cuz God always showed up.



So I went to the highway, I was going from Philly to Atlantic City, and decided to hitch rides. It wasn't illegal then.

I got 5 rides packed with kids and adults, and as I got into each car I told them "I am a Christian and God is going to bless you for picking me up"

God did too, for in that span of an hour and a half, 15-20 people got saved, born again in their cars as we drove down the highway.

God told me very intimate (secret) details about each of them, as we drove along.

They all started to cry, guys and girls, asking me "how did you know those things about me".

I said I didn't but God did, and he loves you.

 
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Rodo7777777

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Some even feel they have the right to persecute those whom theologically disagree with them. Well, I guess the Protestant vs Catholic wars easily provide a very poignant historical example of it.

Yes and the pharisees also provide a poignant example of critical Christians
 
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Albion

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We have a habit of saying "The Word of God" and saying that the bible is Jesus. .

Everyone from the Rev. Billy Graham to the Pope in Rome refers to the Bible as the "word of God" so don't be too quick to consider that a mistake. Besides that, I don't know anyone who thinks the "bible [sic] is Jesus.''
 
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Jamminontha1

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Jesus was familiar with the Pharisees, even though they memorized great portions of the scriptures, he chastised them for NOT coming to Him, so they could have life.

Many today think that Jesus and the bile are the same thing, they are not. The bible didn't die for you, nor was the bible raised from the dead.

Some "professing" Christian people know their bibles, yet seem to not know Jesus, displaying hatred for those who disagree with their denomination, or doctrines. Similar to knowing the scientific discoveries or writings of Einstein, and yet not knowing Einstein himself.

This devotion to doctrines, denominations, and other such religious things is idolatry, and dangerous since it divides the body of Christ, and is nothing more than religious pride.

We need to examine ourselves and see if we are in Christ.

Do you know Him, do you have a testimony of experiencing Jesus on a daily basis, do you tell others all the things Jesus has done for you, is your heart consumed with talking about Him, or do you just talk about the bible, and bible knowledge.

EVERYONE in the old and new testament experienced God. had experiences with the living God, who is not dead, without that you have no testimony, Jesus is impersonal to you.

I speak this for your own good, not to harass you. Prove my word untrue, do it for your own sake, if not mine.

I see this problem a lot as well when dealing with atheists who waste their time reading the Bible just to "know about God," but never get to know him, causing confusion to themselves.

You can't interpret the word of God unless you know the one who spoke it into existence. The same way that you can't decipher an inside joke unless you were there to experience it.
 
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Albion

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Yes and the pharisees also provide a poignant example of critical Christians
The Pharisees were not Christians at all, whether poignant or critical or something else.
 
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Kerensa

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You can't interpret the word of God unless you know the one who spoke it into existence. The same way that you can't decipher an inside joke unless you were there to experience it.

That's a good way of putting it. :)
 
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