|
|
Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion
|
You are not a Christian if you interpret the Bible literally.
|
|
In an age of a multitude of literal Bibles most would consider a person “a heretic” for making such a statement but only because:
1 They don’t know what it means to be a Christian.
2 They also don’t understand what is meant by a literal interpretation.
To be a Christian Jesus stated: “Ye must be born again.” And the believer must understanding what Jesus meant when he said this to Nicodemus and not what it has come to mean today.
The believer must also understand what is a literal interpretation. Many today believe that those who state that the Bible should not be interpreted literally are saying that the Bible is not real or not reliable or some such thing...Wrong!
Jesus Christ was our teacher. He came to show us “the way.” The way by which the natural man (the man of the flesh) can become the man of the spirit (the child of God.)
Paul speaking to the Corinthians:
1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The natural man (those that are not born again) cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. Why? because they are spiritually discerned.
In other words we cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God (which is written) through the human mind or by literal interpretation.
Paul also said:
1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Those that have received the spirit which is of God (those that are born again) interpret the scripture by the spirit and not literally.
We receive spiritual understanding through the spirit and not through the flesh as Jesus explained to Peter.
He also said, “upon this rock I will build my church;” In other words this is a fundamental understanding of Christianity.
Matt. 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matt. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
|
|
TRWord 12/01/2012 12:44 |
|
| |
Lost Sheep
|
12/01/2012 17:01 |
So how should one interpret the bible? I read your post and you never really explained how it should be interpreted.
|
| |
TRWord
|
12/02/2012 05:44 |
Exactly Lost Sheep I’m not trying to explain how you should interpret the scripture. What I’m trying to do is, highlight the fact that most of us are ignoring the instructions given, as to how we should.
I’m saying that how we interpret the scripture is the “litmus test” as to whether we are Christians or not.
Jesus said that the prerequisite to being a Christian is; “You must be born again.”
This is step one. Before this requirement has been met we are not even in the game..so to speak. We are still what Paul called “the natural man” unable to receive the things of God, (1 Cor. 2:14).... blinded to “the fundamental understanding of Christianity.” (Matt. 16:17&18)
In the days of our Lord Jesus Christ, His disciples knew Him as their teacher. Unfortunately today Jesus Christ is know only as “a sacrifice that paid our way,” consequently we ignore everything He said.
“Ye must be born again,” is not as readily understood as many of us today believe.
John the Apostle is emphasizing this fact using Jesus conversation with the Pharisee Nicodemus. He is highlighting the fact that Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews (no fool) yet he had no clue what Jesus was speaking about.
|
|
