Many questions

[James_Lai]

Prophecy is another proof of the bible. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies found within the Old Testament.
Granted, the prophecies don't deal with date and time in the sense of specifics, but do establish a signpost in the time stream.

Isaiah was penned approximately 700 years before Jesus and has many prophecies about Jesus. Chapter 53 cannot be misconstrued.
Some of the Psalms were written perhaps 1000 years before Christ and contain quotes from Jesus' mouth.

Psalm 22:1
1My God, my God,

why have You forsaken me?

365 Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ & Printable Gospel Tract - Eternal Evangelism

Fulfilled prophesy is amazing. Definitely something out of this world. When I look at how Jesus Christ fulfilled prophesies, I wasn’t there when the books were written, also sometimes it’s not very clear what the prophecies say or about whom. I can write fiction book about a man that fulfils the prophesies of Edgar Cacey or Nostradamus. A book in itself isn’t enough proof.

So I mostly look at what I see today.

 

[Mark Quayle]

wha are examples of those acts?

Which —nowadays? I have seen in my own life very few that I would expect others to accept, certainly not to write them down as miracles. But I know of several others. One person who frequents this site can tell of the healing as a result of prayer. (Don't remember the name). In several accounts we hear of God intervening to miraculously save the lives of Christians persecuted in Africa and China, and other places. My own father should have fallen 30 feet when a form for a concrete column collapsed under him, his foot caught in the rebar, but my mother was told by God to pray, simultaneous with this event, not even knowing what she was to pray about. She told him about it before he told her what had happened, that somehow he was able to make the 10-foot leap to the floor on the other side of the column. There were witnesses to the event also, that it should not have been possible.

 

[James_Lai]

Which —nowadays? I have seen in my own life very few that I would expect others to accept, certainly not to write them down as miracles. But I know of several others. One person who frequents this site can tell of the healing as a result of prayer. (Don't remember the name). In several accounts we hear of God intervening to miraculously save the lives of Christians persecuted in Africa and China, and other places. My own father should have fallen 30 feet when a form for a concrete column collapsed under him, his foot caught in the rebar, but my mother was told by God to pray, simultaneous with this event, not even knowing what she was to pray about. She told him about it before he told her what had happened, that somehow he was able to make the 10-foot leap to the floor on the other side of the column. There were witnesses to the event also, that it should not have been possible.

Thank you for telling me the story about your father. Amazing. Glad he’s safe.

I heard similar stories from Muslims or Buddhist. Also in my childhood I was reading about unusual strength shown in extreme situations. E.g. solders in battlefield jumping over a tall fence, or slim medic girls somehow carrying out a heavy weight wounded on themselves. Afterwards nobody could understand how they did it. One student from Iraq told me how his Muslim mother saw in a vivid dream her husband his father wounded in the head, so she texted him, ‘wear your helmet!’ He listened and wore it the whole day on patrol, but it was too warm so he was getting angry and then a sniper shot him from afar in the head but the helmet saved his life.

such phenomena are very intriguing to me, but it’s not clear if they’re from God, or some hidden human ability, and is it Jesus? Maybe Allah or St.Mary or Krishna?

 

[timf]

Christianity can definitely seem confusing. Here is a web site that has some free videos on Understanding Christianity that may be helpful;

Christian Pioneer - Current blog

Another series of brief videos may be helpful on consider What in the World is Wrong.

Christian Pioneer - Current blog

 

[St_Worm2]

When I read the Bible, I can see that the way of thinking and the way to express themselves, their thought was so different in the past and in their culture. It’s very distant for me. Nowadays we have a very different background in knowledge, upbringing, culture, traditions, way of thinking. It seems that much of the Bible is just not for me, or that I’m missing a lot of its contents and message because I lack the underlying foundation of what was in people’s hearts, minds, daily life then. I can understand some by trying to put in the historic, cultural and linguistic context, but it’s blind guessing and unsure what if I’m reading too much into it or the wrong thing or not enough. There’s commentaries, and they help, but they differ. Or there are Judaist commentaries and Christian ones and they can say different things about the same book or passage. Sometimes when reading the Bible I feel I see the tip of the iceberg and I’m missing the main point that’s hiding under the water. Also because the books that are gathered inside the covers of the Bible are like little pieces of several big puzzles most of which have been lost, that got accidentally put together to form a new picture.

Hello James, I'm a latecomer to this thread (and I have not read through most of it yet), so I apologize ahead of time if what I am about to say has already been discussed.

You are correct about our need to put the Bible in its historic/cultural and linguistic context to understand all of it correctly/as God intended, but I don't believe that this is so where Christianity 101 is concerned (as you hardly need to know everything about God and the Christian faith to be able to understand your absolute need of Him/why you need Him to be your Savior, as well how to be "saved" by Him).

--David
p.s. - we were all born into this physical world as physical beings, but the Lord Jesus tells us plainly that we must also be "born again" if want to be part of His Kingdom .. John 3:3. I mention this because there is far more to understanding and/or accepting what God tells us in the Bible than simply knowing the context in which it was written.

Question, in your seeking, have you discovered why He said that and why it's important for us to know, why Jesus told us that we ~must~ be born again?

 

[James_Lai]

Hello James, I'm a latecomer to this thread (and I have not read through most of it yet), so I apologize ahead of time if what I am about to say has already been discussed.

You are correct about our need to put the Bible in its historic/cultural and linguistic context to understand all of it correctly/as God intended, but I don't believe that this is so where Christianity 101 is concerned (as you hardly need to know everything about God and the Christian faith to be able to understand your absolute need of Him/why you need Him to be your Savior, as well how to be "saved" by Him).

--David
p.s. - we were all born into this physical world as physical beings, but the Lord Jesus tells us plainly that we must also be "born again" if we ever want to be part of His Kingdom .. John 3:3. I mention this because there is far more to understanding (and/0r accepting) what God tells us in the Bible than simply knowing the context in which it was written.

In your seeking, have you come to discover why He said that, why Jesus told us that we 'must' be born again?

The Bible is way more than the Gospels. I love the Gospels, but have issues with some other books and with the understanding that all of the Bible is God-breathed.

Born again, to have a new spiritual man born in you as Jesus explains, otherwise you can’t enter Heavenly Kingdom. Is it an earthly physical country? Is it equivalent to heaven, that is otherworldy eternal paradise?

I know that the Spiritual realm must be so much different and more complex than all we know! So Jesus like many enlightened Beings has a hard time explaining certain ideas in earthly terms

Born again - new life, a new creation. Father and Mother give physical birth, but in this case God says something has to appear in you that God puts in there. Sounds like sci-fi movie where an alien takes over a human being from the inside

As in the physical birth, one does not control in any way their own conception and birth, so it must be 100% to God to touch you and initiate this Heavenly possession. This makes me think more in Calvinist term - you are chosen, you did not chose.

 

[Andrewn]

The Bible is way more than the Gospels. I love the Gospels,

The Gospels are the heart of the Bible. In traditional Christianity, the congregation would stand when the Gospels are read. But they would stay sitting when the reading is from other portions.

but have issues with some other books and with the understanding that all of the Bible is God-breathed.

Some people take 2Tim 3:16 too far. All it means is that Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. In traditional Christianity, the Torah and The Prophets portions of the OT are never read during church service (except for occasional portions of Isaiah, which are prophecies of Christ).

Born again, to have a new spiritual man born in you as Jesus explains, otherwise you can’t enter Heavenly Kingdom. Is it an earthly physical country? Is it equivalent to heaven, that is otherworldy eternal paradise?

When you are born from above, you continue living your life on earth. But you have a love for God and for people that gives you longing to spend time in meditation and to serve other people. This is why Christians throughout the ages established hospitals, schools, and other social services.

I know that the Spiritual realm must be so much different and more complex than all we know! So Jesus like many enlightened Beings has a hard time explaining certain ideas in earthly terms

Yes, I like your insight.

Born again - new life, a new creation. Father and Mother give physical birth, but in this case God says something has to appear in you that God puts in there. Sounds like sci-fi movie where an alien takes over a human being from the inside

Perhaps some sci-fi movies get their concepts from spiritual realities. But God never takes over a human being. The human being always has a free will to guide his thinking and behavior.

As in the physical birth, one does not control in any way their own conception and birth, so it must be 100% to God to touch you and initiate this Heavenly possession. This makes me think more in Calvinist term - you are chosen, you did not chose.

Taking a metaphor too far always leads to wrong conclusions. Calvinist theories were never believed in traditional Christianity. Rational beings have a free will that works in synergy with the divine will in love.

 

[klutedavid]

Hello.
I grew up with no religion, but now I am interested in religion. So I look at different teachings. I have really many questions about the Christian faith. Maybe you can help. I already asked questions to different people.

I read the Bible, first time reading as adult. And remember, no religious background. The book seemed quite old, but maybe because I was using an old Chinese translation. So I take modern English translation like NIV. Still many ideas are so old and very difficult to understand. Or some places for me impossible to accept. I expected more logical and more deep book. It seems so much a mixture of different things.

Then I go to church, and I see a teaching that differs in different churches. Also it seems they base the teachings on the Bible loosely. Like only taking some portions that they like and then applying to how they want to interpret them. I don’t always understand where the teachings are actually coming from. Maybe there was a different book, or just an oral tradition that formed over time and became accepted.

There are books I love. The Gospels. Or in old Testament, some Psalms are so beautiful or the Book of Job is excellent, thought provoking discussion of their philosophy. Most books to me are confusing, boring, unacceptable or irrelevant. Some are neutral like history for example.

I speak to people from churches, I make appointments. We had Zoom meetings during lockdowns. So I ask questions not so much about the teachings, but their experience. I ask, you claim so and so, please tel me how it is in your life.

My first and biggest question was, I do not see or feel God around. I do not see any difference in life of believer or unbeliever. Please give me example of how God works in your life, or how prayer works for you. All they tell me for now is that they just believe normal happening as work of God. I was disappointed, because I was waiting for true story of magical or miraculous.

I have many more questions, sorry if I’m writing in confusing way.

Micah 5:2-5
With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.
But as for you, Bethlehem Ephratah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
Therefore He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has borne a child.
Then the remainder of His brethren
Will return to the sons of Israel.
And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
This One will be our peace.

I wonder who was born in Bethlehem?

He will be great all over the world?

 

[James_Lai]

Thank you to all for your answers!!!

Leaving this site, good bye!

All the best to you all.