The Testimony of 5% of US Citizens and Literal Bible Exegesis?

GoldenKingGaze

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According to Jesus taking Him at His word, literally, to have life you must have faith in God, repent from all know sin, be born again, be baptized in water, love God with all your mind and heart and soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. And love as Christ loved us, and also love your wife as Christ loved the church, you must be hot or cold, not luke warm and you must have the power of the resurrection to quicken your mortal body. Also, you must eat His flesh and drink His blood. You need the fruit of the Spirit. You must be perfect, or holy. You must forgive as Christ forgave you, from your heart.
Acts 2:38, John 3, Mark 12:30, John 13:34, Ephesians 5:25, Revelation 3:14-16, Romans 8:9-11, John 6:54, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 18:35.

That is all very demanding, but then their are the testimonies in modern times of people who died but were resuscitated by medical Doctors. It makes up for example, in the USA, 5% of people. These are all sorts of people, Christians, atheists, children, parents, lecturers, firemen, oldies, youths... 85% have a seeing the light experience, enter a part of paradise, or see Heaven's gates... They meet a being of light who sometimes identifies as Jesus, seeing a most brilliant light shine from His face. He asks things like, "do you love me, what have you done for your fellow man, what have you done with your life", and, "do you want to return?"
5% have had a near-death experience

Such an experience is one Paul the apostle testified of.

Can testimonies of so many, alter the way we see scripture and God? And do so without breaking Scripture?
 

disciple Clint

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According to Jesus taking Him at His word, literally, to have life you must have faith in God, repent from all know sin, be born again, be baptized in water, love God with all your mind and heart and soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. And love as Christ loved us, and also love your wife as Christ loved the church, you must be hot or cold, not luke warm and you must have the power of the resurrection to quicken your mortal body. Also, you must eat His flesh and drink His blood. You need the fruit of the Spirit. You must be perfect, or holy. You must forgive as Christ forgave you, from your heart.
Acts 2:38, John 3, Mark 12:30, John 13:34, Ephesians 5:25, Revelation 3:14-16, Romans 8:9-11, John 6:54, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 18:35.

That is all very demanding, but then their are the testimonies in modern times of people who died but were resuscitated by medical Doctors. It makes up for example, in the USA, 5% of people. These are all sorts of people, Christians, atheists, children, parents, lecturers, firemen, oldies, youths... 85% have a seeing the light experience, enter a part of paradise, or see Heaven's gates... They meet a being of light who sometimes identifies as Jesus, seeing a most brilliant light shine from His face. He asks things like, "do you love me, what have you done for your fellow man, what have you done with your life", and, "do you want to return?"
5% have had a near-death experience

Such an experience is one Paul the apostle testified of.

Can testimonies of so many, alter the way we see scripture and God? And do so without breaking Scripture?
It will for some but we do a poor job of getting this information out to people who need it.
 
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GoldenKingGaze

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It will for some but we do a poor job of getting this information out to people who need it.
I have read through through Life After Life by Dr Raymond Moody, 1975ish, and Living Beyond by Ivan Rudolph 2015. The earlier is one of the first works and well known. The latter is a good sum up, respecting other religions but finding the being of light is usually identified as Jesus. And 16 million Americans not forgetting British, Japanese, German... is a great many witnesses, with blind tests.

The witnesses have organizations like NDERF, IANDS and near-death.com and often give up regular jobs to work in palliative care and social work...
 
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Norbert L

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Such an experience is one Paul the apostle testified of.

Can testimonies of so many, alter the way we see scripture and God? And do so without breaking Scripture?
To have visions does not necessarily require the NDE. You can go into a trance like Peter found in chapter ten of Acts.
 
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Christian7777777

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According to Jesus taking Him at His word, literally, to have life you must have faith in God, repent from all know sin, be born again, be baptized in water, love God with all your mind and heart and soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. And love as Christ loved us, and also love your wife as Christ loved the church, you must be hot or cold, not luke warm and you must have the power of the resurrection to quicken your mortal body. Also, you must eat His flesh and drink His blood. You need the fruit of the Spirit. You must be perfect, or holy. You must forgive as Christ forgave you, from your heart.
Acts 2:38, John 3, Mark 12:30, John 13:34, Ephesians 5:25, Revelation 3:14-16, Romans 8:9-11, John 6:54, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 18:35.



How does all of that talk ( remembrance) be upto self interpretation ?


Through not enough detail given, of actual things to do , why and who did them.


Jesus loved the church by dying for it, this is how He loved us, and that love in anyone means they follow the advice..


John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.




Yes to follow the narrow path is by deed not talk, and if Jesus did speak to anyone in near death, of course He would repeat His testimonies for them ( He cannot add nor take from them nor can anyone)

Again it is told the way to follow, we do it, or do it not..


Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
 
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GoldenKingGaze

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How does all of that talk ( remembrance) be upto self interpretation ?


Through not enough detail given, of actual things to do , why and who did them.


Jesus loved the church by dying for it, this is how He loved us, and that love in anyone means they follow the advice..


John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.




Yes to follow the narrow path is by deed not talk, and if Jesus did speak to anyone in near death, of course He would repeat His testimonies for them ( He cannot add nor take from them nor can anyone)

Again it is told the way to follow, we do it, or do it not..


Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Do you do all this?
And little babies, do they? Where do they go when they die?
It seems grace can begin to fill people at death, and then they grow in keeping the testimonies of Jesus.
 
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GoldenKingGaze

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To have visions does not necessarily require the NDE. You can go into a trance like Peter found in chapter ten of Acts.
Yes but the intense light from God, Jesus, the Lords face as from 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul well knew, left him blind. Many people out of the body see this, millions, so it could be the same thing.
 
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Christian7777777

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Do you do all this?


1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: FOR HE THAT HATH SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HATH CEASED FROM SIN;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein THEY THINK IT STRANGE THAT YE RUN NOT WITH THEM TO THE SAME EXCESS OF RIOT, SPEAKING EVIL OF YOU:
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES.

2 Peter 2:14 Having EYES FULL OF Adultery, AND THAT CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Jude 1:8 Likewise also THESE FILTHY DREAMERS DEFILE THE FLESH, DESPISE DOMINION, AND SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES.
 
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Christian7777777

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It seems grace can begin to fill people at death, and then they grow in keeping the testimonies of Jesus.



The testimony of grace is to not receive the grace of God in vain, by giving no offence to anyone to not let the ministry be blamed, but approving themselves as the ministers of God as witnessed..



2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,




Also it is testified these bad ones crept in ( to the ministry) who through allowing lust deny the Lord God Jesus Christ and turn that grace of God into their sin allowance and doctrine..



Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
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Norbert L

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Yes but the intense light from God, Jesus, the Lords face as from 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul well knew, left him blind. Many people out of the body see this, millions, so it could be the same thing.
To keep myself on topic I will quote some of your previous text:
Can testimonies of so many, alter the way we see scripture and God? And do so without breaking Scripture?
I think a difficulty comes for me when reading the word "we". So I'll break it down individually. You and I get to see the scripture after the scholars have translated it for us. Will NDE change what was written thousands of years ago? I would say obvious no. Will NDE change how a person reads what is written? I would say that is very possible for the person who actually had the NDE. Will NDE affect how the translators write the scriptures into English? There are already translations that are highly criticized for accuracy. A NDE influenced version will have competition for having severe problems.

I believe neither the amount of NDE nor the type of supernatural experience will change the scriptures. However from what I'm aware of, it already affects numerous churches that identify as Christian but use new age techniques.
 
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According to Jesus taking Him at His word, literally, to have life you must have faith in God, repent from all know sin, be born again, be baptized in water, love God with all your mind and heart and soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. And love as Christ loved us, and also love your wife as Christ loved the church, you must be hot or cold, not luke warm and you must have the power of the resurrection to quicken your mortal body. Also, you must eat His flesh and drink His blood. You need the fruit of the Spirit. You must be perfect, or holy. You must forgive as Christ forgave you, from your heart.
Acts 2:38, John 3, Mark 12:30, John 13:34, Ephesians 5:25, Revelation 3:14-16, Romans 8:9-11, John 6:54, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 18:35.

That is all very demanding, but then their are the testimonies in modern times of people who died but were resuscitated by medical Doctors. It makes up for example, in the USA, 5% of people. These are all sorts of people, Christians, atheists, children, parents, lecturers, firemen, oldies, youths... 85% have a seeing the light experience, enter a part of paradise, or see Heaven's gates... They meet a being of light who sometimes identifies as Jesus, seeing a most brilliant light shine from His face. He asks things like, "do you love me, what have you done for your fellow man, what have you done with your life", and, "do you want to return?"
5% have had a near-death experience

Such an experience is one Paul the apostle testified of.

Can testimonies of so many, alter the way we see scripture and God? And do so without breaking Scripture?
I have a great deal of scepticism when it comes to NDE. Some are plainly occult. Most I'm doubtful about. A few seem genuine.

There is way too much emphasis on what we must do to be saved. Salvation is God's business. True salvation is God removing the old, sin nature through the death of Christ on the cross. Then, through the resurrection of Christ, we gain a new nature. That's what it means to be born again. "You must" is the Law. Lord Jesus did indeed say those things, but that was under the old covenant.

If you need evidence for this, consider the rich young ruler. He asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Lord Jesus asked him about the commandments. No problem there, he had kept them from his youth. Surely that would be enough? Yet the man knew he lacked something. He did not have life and Lord Jesus was and is the Life.

Lord Jesus pointed to the idol in the young man's life. Money. And the man went away disappointed.

The disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" No doubt they were shocked that a seemly righteous man was disqualified.

Lord Jesus said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."

You can obey all the requirements of the gospel outwardly and still be dead inwardly. Salvation is God's business. He saves us in spite of the very best that we can do. "God be merciful to me, a sinner" is still all that God requires - when it is a cry from the heart. Those who boast in their works may find that they boast in vain. Much better to boast in the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:17),
 
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fhansen

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According to Jesus taking Him at His word, literally, to have life you must have faith in God, repent from all know sin, be born again, be baptized in water, love God with all your mind and heart and soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. And love as Christ loved us, and also love your wife as Christ loved the church, you must be hot or cold, not luke warm and you must have the power of the resurrection to quicken your mortal body. Also, you must eat His flesh and drink His blood. You need the fruit of the Spirit. You must be perfect, or holy. You must forgive as Christ forgave you, from your heart.
Acts 2:38, John 3, Mark 12:30, John 13:34, Ephesians 5:25, Revelation 3:14-16, Romans 8:9-11, John 6:54, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 18:35.

That is all very demanding, but then their are the testimonies in modern times of people who died but were resuscitated by medical Doctors. It makes up for example, in the USA, 5% of people. These are all sorts of people, Christians, atheists, children, parents, lecturers, firemen, oldies, youths... 85% have a seeing the light experience, enter a part of paradise, or see Heaven's gates... They meet a being of light who sometimes identifies as Jesus, seeing a most brilliant light shine from His face. He asks things like, "do you love me, what have you done for your fellow man, what have you done with your life", and, "do you want to return?"
5% have had a near-death experience

Such an experience is one Paul the apostle testified of.

Can testimonies of so many, alter the way we see scripture and God? And do so without breaking Scripture?
Those experiences do not constitute new revelation, and cannot add to or conflict with the revelation we’ve received from Christ, of course. But if they support the truths we already know, as the ones you mentioned seemed to do, then more power to them; they may be genuine experiences that can bolster what we already believe. We just can’t bank on them as defining or determining our faith.
 
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Clare73

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According to Jesus taking Him at His word, literally, to have life you must have faith in God, repent from all know sin, be born again, be baptized in water, love God with all your mind and heart and soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. And love as Christ loved us, and also love your wife as Christ loved the church, you must be hot or cold, not luke warm and you must have the power of the resurrection to quicken your mortal body. Also, you must eat His flesh and drink His blood. You need the fruit of the Spirit. You must be perfect, or holy. You must forgive as Christ forgave you, from your heart.
Acts 2:38, John 3, Mark 12:30, John 13:34, Ephesians 5:25, Revelation 3:14-16, Romans 8:9-11, John 6:54, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 18:35.

That is all very demanding, but then their are the testimonies in modern times of people who died but were resuscitated by medical Doctors. It makes up for example, in the USA, 5% of people. These are all sorts of people, Christians, atheists, children, parents, lecturers, firemen, oldies, youths... 85% have a seeing the light experience, enter a part of paradise, or see Heaven's gates...
They meet a being of light who sometimes identifies as Jesus, seeing a most brilliant light shine from His face. He asks things like, "do you love me, what have you done for your fellow man, what have you done with your life", and, "do you want to return?"
5% have had a near-death experience
Such an experience is one Paul the apostle testified of.
Paul received inexpressible revelations which man is not allowed to speak, and because of their surpassing greatness he was given a thorn in his flesh to keep him from becoming conceited.

This doesn't sound like any of the other reports.
Can testimonies of so many, alter the way we see scripture and God? And do so without breaking Scripture?
Private revelation today is not authoritative for the body of Christ.
 
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GoldenKingGaze

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David sang, your testimonies are sure. Testifying is part of our faith. And there are 16 million is the US which is one in twenty people. Seeing the light is Biblical. But it is the mercy that is not scripturally literal, although the New Testament show a merciful Christ. And it is unthinkable that infants who die in abortions or by natural causes end up in Limbo. The reports that see them in the light of life is more like God, who is good.
 
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Christian7777777

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David sang, your testimonies are sure. Testifying is part of our faith. And there are 16 million is the US which is one in twenty people. Seeing the light is Biblical. But it is the mercy that is not scripturally literal, although the New Testament show a merciful Christ. And it is unthinkable that infants who die in abortions or by natural causes end up in Limbo. The reports that see them in the light of life is more like God, who is good.



Testifying is by showing our faith through our deeds, and also there is denying Christ in their deeds..


James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
 
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