The character of God

[Trish1947]

I am not denying that he is the head of the church and I am not saying don't look to him. That is, as I have said, the most intergral part of the christian walk. What I am saying is that we can get a deeper understanding by looking at all parts of the Bible to better understand the characters of both him and God.

How many God's are there? Jesus came to show us the Father. Jesus said those that have seen me, have seen the Father. Thomas didn't bow before Jesus and claim My Lord and My God for nothing. Jesus did nothing of himself, but only what He saw the Father doing. If this isn't what God wanted us to see, of the mercy and grace and goodness that would be extended to those that abide in Christ, then there would be no reason for Him to come, provide a new covenant, recreate a heart being made into the image of His Son, that can have faith and the ability to love from the heart.

 

[foadle]

I haven't denied and will not deny any of that. God is God. There is only one God and the Bible is the word of God is it not?

 

[JimfromOhio]

Thank you Jim. That really makes a lot of sense and ultimately is the reason I posted this thread. I desire my heart to be constantly growing closer to him. Actually I got a little be of a rebuke from him recently telling me I get too impatient. I want to learn so much and know so much and as I was reading your post I was reminded of what he has been saying to me. Let him guide my heart and learning. I still believe the Bible is hugely important in revealing that but God does have the authority.

This is when God really blesses you and I learned that after over the years. Real faith is to Trust God as who He is and He will bless you along the way. HE taught me so much.

 

[LittleRocketBoy]

But this is exactly the opposite of what the word says. The word says that Jesus is the perfect image. We interpet the rest of the bible by what He said, not the other way around.
The Hebrews commited this exact error as discussed in Heb 5-6. They sought to interpret who and what Jesus was according to their understanding of Aaron. So they were taking OT "shadow" images and and altering the perfect Jesus image to suit their needs. It was a matter of which revelatoin takes presedence. Are you going to interpret Jesus in the light of the OT (like the Jews were trying to do) or are you going to interpret the OT in the light of Jesus?

Heb 5:11-14 KJV
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

They were in need of someone teaching them "which be the first principles." It was not that these Jews did not know the scriptures... but they, like many today, sought to overrule the Jesus revelation with the things in the OT that were only intended to be types and shadows. He said they were babies and unskillful in the word of righteousness because of this and in fact it could even hinder their progress. (Heb 6:1-3). God may even deny them permission to go forward because they did this.
This is the sad state many believers are in today.
Jesus is the first and the last. He is never overruled or interpreted in the light of the OT.

Therefore we need to get a better image of who God is based on the rest of the Bible. We can't just say look at Jesus because we are not in that living relationship in that way that the first century church were. I am not diminishing the role of Jesus do not get me wrong. He is and should remain the most intergral part of our chirstian walk. What I am saying is that we can get a clearer image by looking at the rest of scripture also.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable fro doctirn, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
This question is one based on the instruction of righteousness - all scripture is relavent.

 

[KingZzub]

The issue is that Foadle says that we are not in the same living relationship with Jesus as the early church.

We are in a faith relationship with Jesus that is more meaningful than John laying his head on his bosom.

Remember, they did not know Jesus after the spirit. At times knowing him in the flesh was a hindrance: they could not understand what he was saying. We can, we are alive spiritually.

I know Jesus better than Peter did. At least until the day of Pentecost.

Cheers,
|ZZ|

 

[Trish1947]

The issue is that Foadle says that we are not in the same living relationship with Jesus as the early church.

We are in a faith relationship with Jesus that is more meaningful than John laying his head on his bosom.

Remember, they did not know Jesus after the spirit. At times knowing him in the flesh was a hindrance: they could not understand what he was saying. We can, we are alive spiritually.

I know Jesus better than Peter did. At least until the day of Pentecost.

Cheers,
|ZZ|

Amen to that, Zzub

If Jesus isn't our Lord in the Spirit, our truth, if He isn't our councellor in the spirit, our redeemer, our healer, our comforter, our friend, our guide, our blessing, our consolation, our life, in the spirit, then I don't know what is meant by a relationship with Him.

 

[TreeOfLife]

The issue is that Foadle says that we are not in the same living relationship with Jesus as the early church.

We are in a faith relationship with Jesus that is more meaningful than John laying his head on his bosom.

Remember, they did not know Jesus after the spirit. At times knowing him in the flesh was a hindrance: they could not understand what he was saying. We can, we are alive spiritually.

I know Jesus better than Peter did. At least until the day of Pentecost.

Cheers,
|ZZ|

Amen.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Actually Hebrews 5:11-14 is really about the spiritual dynamics underlying the Christian's stalled growth in Christ. New babes fails to understand the true nature of the Christian life, which is not static but dynamic and expanding. Many of us had plenty of time to mature and we had adequate time to grow and change is not a problem. These verses explains that Christians continue to manifest childish behavior instead of growing to spiritual adulthood. They often ignore the sanctifying effects of the cross carrying and skip the need for spiritual training. Spiritual training which is necessary for forming spiritual fruits that are needed to wrestle against the world, the devil and the flesh. Spiritual growth with maturity and balance will happen only when we apply ourselves to God's guidance. This is like an athlete training for physical prowess, our spiritual renewal involves moral conditioning through making the right motives from our hearts which leads to spiritual and emotional maturity. The main principle is going back what Jesus commanded: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross!" In our spiritual training of the Cross, certain number of distractions are bound to come to each one of us; but if we learn to be inwardly still these can be rendered relatively harmless. Grace of God will enable us to overcome distractions. Our hearts are like a garden and must be kept free from weeds and insects. To expect the fruits and flowers bloom in an untended heart is to misunderstand completely the processes of Grace and God's will. (Read Hebrews 6:7-8). Later in Chapter 11, there were examples of great Faiths who kept their heart with God.

Quote by A.W. Tozer:

"In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews we have a long list of benefits which faith brings to its possessors: justification, deliverance, fruitfulness, endurance, victory over enemies, courage, strength and even resurrection from the dead. And everything that is attributed to faith might with equal truth be attributed to prayer, for faith and true prayer are like two sides of the same coin. They are inseparable."

Of course, we must not forget Hebrews, Chapter 12 where our spiritual training really happens. God wants us to be strong and He is our spiritual trainer and He will do anything to get us prepared and go for the prize. God's promise is great, but it is as great as we experience spiritual growth from God's perspectives by cultivating the knowledge of God while at the same time cultivate our faith. As we are training for our spiritual growth, we look NOT AT our faith but in Christ of WHO we have faith in, who is THE author and finisher. "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1). The Holy Spirit tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus not on others who are also running the race! There are important things each of us should know and understand about our struggles as the faithful people of God. Jesus provides both strong warning and loving encouragement, for there is always the danger of losing the race, but there is also the victor's reward awaiting those who run with patience and endurance.

 

[JimfromOhio]

1. Living in Spiritual Worship: Romans 12
2. Living in Love: 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 3
3. Living in Spirit: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 5 - 6
4. Living in Light: Ephesians 5 and 1 John 1
5. Living in the Armor of God: Ephesians 6
6. Living to know Christ: Phillipians 3 and 2 Peter 1
7. Living Spiritually Alert: 1 Thessalonians 5
8. Living in Faith: Hebrews 11
9. Living Close to God: James 4
10. Living in Holiness: 1 Peter 1
11. Living in Truth: 2 John

Spiritual growth requires us to understand the Scriptures and get to know our God the Father, our Savior the Son, and our comforter the Holy Spirit.

There is only ONE Good News Galatians 1:6-10
Grow in the Knowledge of God 2 Peter 1:1-11
Know the Wisdom of God 1 Corin. 1:18- 2: 16
Live and Worship in Spirit Romans 12:1-21
Put on the Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-20
Stand Firm to your Faith 2 Thess. 2:13-17
Know false and true teachings 1 Timothy 6:1-21
Promote True teachings Titus 2:1-15
Grow from basic Christian towards MATURE Christian Hebrew 6:1-8
Learn to discern false teachings 1 John 4:1-6

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

 

[TreeOfLife]

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[foadle]

The issue is that Foadle says that we are not in the same living relationship with Jesus as the early church.

We are in a faith relationship with Jesus that is more meaningful than John laying his head on his bosom.

Remember, they did not know Jesus after the spirit. At times knowing him in the flesh was a hindrance: they could not understand what he was saying. We can, we are alive spiritually.

I know Jesus better than Peter did. At least until the day of Pentecost.

Cheers,
|ZZ|

Thanks Zzub, that is exactly what I am talking about. Great post.

 

[foadle]

Found it for you

 

[BarbB]

Thanks, foadle - I only read the last page - and I'm speechless. I keep wanting to scream, "My Lord and my God is so much more than this". I usually find that Jim from Ohio posts someone who I can delve into and learn better how to express myself!

I'll bring it back tomorrow when my poor weak brain is fresh!

 

[KingZzub]

Looking forward to it!

 

[BarbB]

Looking forward to it!

Ha ha ha - does your doggie avatar need fresh meat?
http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN
Nice doggie, nice doggie! Don't wake up the doggie!

 

[JimfromOhio]

Noticed that people DO have limited view of God's Character. This is sad.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Thanks, foadle - I only read the last page - and I'm speechless. I keep wanting to scream, "My Lord and my God is so much more than this". I usually find that Jim from Ohio posts someone who I can delve into and learn better how to express myself!

I'll bring it back tomorrow when my poor weak brain is fresh!

I took a break yesterday but I did lurk . Its was interesting watching the threads.

Hope you had a great Easter.

 

[KingZzub]

Lurking... an interesting hobby

 

[foadle]

So if there is so much more we can learn from the Bible about the character of God what is some of it. I mean I really do believe this and God is revealing more to me each day but what has he revealed to you guys?