Redefining God's Word

[Phinehas2]

Dear artybloke,

Not at all. If you can't see the Spirit of God in the people you meet every day, then you won't find it in the Bible either. If you approach the Bible looking for rules and regulations, you'll certainly find them; but you won't find the Spirit.

On the contrary one can find the Spirit of God in the Bible, Jesus said His words are the truth, and they are spirit and life. .. that’s different from regulations. Jesus says if we obey his teaching we will know the truth and the truth will set us free, many people think that obeying teaching is regulation, but obeying Jesus teaching by doing it, sets us free.

Then you're helping them to rediscover the Christ within them. Fantastic!

Not quite. Christ within us is the hope of Glory, (Rom 5:2, Col 1:27) many people do not have the hope of glory because they do not know about or have faith in Jesus Christ.

The light of God may burn very low in some people, but it never completely goes out.

yes I agree. The Kingdom of God is within or not far, the Kingdom being God’s rule. (Luke 17:21)

 

[artybloke]

On the contrary one can find the Spirit of God in the Bible,

and every else if you're looking.

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear artybloke
I have shown you scripture from the Bible which says the words are spirit and life.

and every else if you're looking

I dont understand your point?

 

[artybloke]

No you haven't.

The Spirit is not confined to your self-imposed limitations.

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear artybloke,
I have no ability whatsoever to cofine the Holy Spirit to any limitations.
What in earth do you mean. The HolySpirit of God is the same Holy Spirit available to all believers

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Dear artybloke,
I have no ability whatsoever to cofine the Holy Spirit to any limitations.
What in earth do you mean. The HolySpirit of God is the same Holy Spirit available to all believers

Sounds like the "My opinion is my opinion and your opinion is your opinion."

 

[artybloke]

The HolySpirit of God is the same Holy Spirit available to all believers

The Holy Spirit is not confined to believers, or non-believers, or believers in the wrong thing, or people whose lifestyles you like, or don't like. The Holy Spirit is available to/in everyone. All you have to do is turn to her, in love, and find her in those people you meet every day and find so easy to condemn because they don't come up to your standard.

 

[Ohioprof]

Dear Ohioprof,
So where do get God's revelation? If the gnostics what do they say about homosexuality?

I don't believe that the writings of the Gnostics are the word of God either.

I think that God reveals him or herself in all of creation. Not in any one book or collection of writings. I don't believe in any scripture.

 

[Ohioprof]

I feel like you are taking that out of context. I didn't say people couldn't know God without the bible, but only that they would not know His commandments, Will, and character just to name a few. But most importantly without the bible we would not know the Christ, which is the center of most of our belief.


So yes, its possible to know God just by looking at His creation, but without His word how would we know what He requires of us?

I don't think God "requires" anything of us except to live our lives.

 

[Ohioprof]

Go to your nearest homeless centre. You'll see Christ in every face you meet.

What a great answer.

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear artybloke

The Holy Spirit is not confined to believers,

I didn’t suggest He was. I said He is available to believers.

or non-believers or believers in the wrong thing,

Those who receive the Holy Spirit believe. Eph 1.

or people whose lifestyles you like, or don't like.

Nothing to do with me, the Holy Spirit is God.

All you have to do is turn to her, in love, and find her in those people you meet every day and find so easy to condemn because they don't come up to your standard.

Nothing to do with my standards artybloke, the Holy Spirit is God and available to anyone, but we test spirits to see if it is the Holy Spirit.
And I don’t condemn anyone artybloke, that’s your lie and false accusation.

 

[artybloke]

The Holy Spirit is available to anyone. Not just believers.

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear Ohioprof,

don't believe that the writings of the Gnostics are the word of God either.

I think that God reveals him or herself in all of creation. Not in any one book or collection of writings. I don't believe in any scripture.

Ok thanks but obviously you dont even know how to address your god. Nonetheless, I can accept one can know of God through creation but you can see in creation disease and life. You can see that two animals of the same kind cant produce life, but you can see that a man and woman can concieve life. So where is your god? You can see the people do things that are good and things that are bad, but how do you know what your god thinks are good and bad? How do you know its your god's idea and not just your idea?

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear artybloke,

The Holy Spirit is available to anyone. Not just believers.

yes definately available to anyone, thats what I wrote as well. But you can only see the Holy Spirit operating where He makes known what is of God. if nothing of God is being made known. Also we find Him living in us and others, we dont just have to look for Him in others.

 

[artybloke]

You can see the people do things that are good and things that are bad, but how do you know what your god thinks are good and bad?

If you look for the devil, you'll find the devil. If you look for Christ you'll find Christ.

It seems to me you're unduly worried about what is good or bad. Look for what is loving, look for what is faithful and true, stop worrying about whether something is right or wrong, stop hiding behind correct doctrines or disputations about what is or is not correct behaviour.

God is love. Wherever you find love you find God.

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear artybloke,

If you look for the devil, you'll find the devil. If you look for Christ you'll find Christ.

Not necesarily, How do you know who or what to look for? and how do you know when you have found Christ or the devil?

God is love. Wherever you find love you find God.

On the contrary, God is love wherever you find God you find love. Many people have all kinds of ideas about who God is and what love is.
Besides how do you know God is love? Many people in the world blame God for all kinds of things like disease, they dont think God is love.

 

[Ohioprof]

Dear Ohioprof,
Ok thanks but obviously you dont even know how to address your god. Nonetheless, I can accept one can know of God through creation but you can see in creation disease and life. You can see that two animals of the same kind cant produce life, but you can see that a man and woman can concieve life. So where is your god? You can see the people do things that are good and things that are bad, but how do you know what your god thinks are good and bad? How do you know its your god's idea and not just your idea?

How are all these questions on topic for this forum?

 

[Ohioprof]

Dear Ohioprof,
Ok thanks but obviously you dont even know how to address your god. Nonetheless, I can accept one can know of God through creation but you can see in creation disease and life. You can see that two animals of the same kind cant produce life, but you can see that a man and woman can concieve life. So where is your god? You can see the people do things that are good and things that are bad, but how do you know what your god thinks are good and bad? How do you know its your god's idea and not just your idea?

I know how to address God. This seems more like an attack on my faith than a discussion of the issue in this thread.

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear Ohioprof,
We have identified that our faith and Gods are different.
As to an attack on your faith, I would say you are attacking my faith as you deny the testimony of Jesus Christ in the Bible. However all I have done is ask you questions about your faith. I am perfectly happy to answer questions about mine.

PS I know how to address my God, as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is yours a he or a she?

 

[artybloke]

On the contrary, God is love wherever you find God you find love.

It works both ways, brother.

Not necesarily, How do you know who or what to look for?

What is Christ to you? Look for that.

and how do you know when you have found Christ or the devil?

Doesn't Jesus say, seek and you shall find? If you seek Christ, you will find Christ. If you're constantly worried whether something might be the devil, you'll probably find the devil.

Many people have all kinds of ideas about who God is and what love is.

Many of them might well be interesting. Why not try listening to them? You might find out something.

Many people in the world blame God for all kinds of things like disease, they dont think God is love.

I'm not sure you do yet.