jriccitelli wrote:Jon wrote; " There is definitely danger in thinking that you are free from deception with your own thoughts about God's word"
True, I will not be able to use the excuse; "God I was led astray by false teachers, it was not my fault". Or "I only believed what my Grandmother taught me". Instead I am guilty of choosing to believe Gods Word. When I first became a believer, I was led to find a printed copy of a Dead Sea scrolls page of Isaiah, at the Library downtown, and find the verse where it says; "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). I don’t read Hebrew but I could take the letters one by one and compare them with the languages to determine that this verse was, at least to my own satisfaction, persevered. And also evidence that God would divinely keep His Word available to man, and me.
I think I explained earlier that, as Jesus said, those who have ears to hear would believe.
The Words are in common language and right on the page in front of me, why should I have another human 'tell me' what the words mean? The Words themselves teach the 'basic principle' to not trust another mans interpretation (without miracle or authority from God), especially when I can see the words right here in front of me.
I am doing everything scripture asks; Trust His Words, learn them, write them on my heart, search them, study them, examine them, gain understanding, show yourselves approved, do not be led astray, beware of false teachers who come to you in wool coverings, "Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold". These things I find we are to do, and if we do God will guard our hearts, thats all we can do. It is as simple as that 'Trust Him'. I do not find anything that tells me to put my trust in man, in fact scripture (as I pointed out) says over and over not to put 'trust' in anothers interpretation, 'especially' when they themselves are teaching me that 'i must trust in them', rather than hold to the scriptures. Is not the Talmud, and other collections of Rabbinical midrash what Jesus Himself denounced as without authority?
We cannot demand that "our personal thoughts are free from error or diversion" and this is exactly why we cannot trust another man to think for us (in these matters).
But God promises that if you; "Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck, when you walk about they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you. (Prov.6:21-23)
Therefore the Biblical command is to trust that only Gods Word can keep us from sin and deception. (Is there not 'hundreds' of scriptures, stories and illustrations to this effect?) (And is there not 'hundreds' of examples of what happens when they did 'not' hear, fear and trust in His words and Prophets?)
1 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your intimate friend;
5 That they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with her words. (Prov. 7:1-5)
I have never read a verse, in any translation, that instructs me to tie a Pope, or the Roman Catholic church around my neck.
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Greating Jon; I will not listen to anyone that does not teach the hole written Word; The Church is perishing dailey for the lack of the word
being taught;I believe the Word means what it says; and says what it means. Most churchs don't reckonize the word to be for today; yet all of this writings in the bible are Spirit inspired. Respectfully; Parsonsmom
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace and truth.