I am so grateful that meeting Jesus healed my relationship with my Dad. His focus was on accepting the death of the old man, and walking in freedom from sin. But perhaps the best wisdom He ever gave me was simple: "You need to read the Bible—exclusively. You do not want to be confused by theology and commentary." He evidently learned this while attending seminary so he could be ordained a Perpetual Deacon in the Episcopal church. He was newly baptized in the Holy Spirit attending a traditional Lutheran seminary [who believed that being born again was the Experiential Christianity heresy]. Thankfully, he was born again before the seminary could stifle that.
The Episcopal Church's ancient conviction was that you do not have to accept anything which cannot be proved by scripture. Sadly, that has been removed from their official beliefs.
The solution is to read scripture after asking the Holy Spirit to explain what you are reading. Only the author knows completely what the scriptures mean in a given situation. He has the power and the wisdom to convert the ink on paper into a powerful rhema which is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before "Him" no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do." Notice that the word talked about in verse 12 goes directly to "and before him".
Only He can make the scripture come alive. Thankfully the denominational doctrines are nearly gone, as He draws near...
We will know the truth as the old intellectual things pass away. These things are titillating to the flesh, but usually serve no other purpose.
I am so grateful that meeting Jesus healed my relationship with my Dad. His focus was on accepting the death of the old man, and walking in freedom from sin. But perhaps the best wisdom He ever gave me was simple: "You need to read the Bible—exclusively. You do not want to be confused by theology and commentary." He evidently learned this while attending seminary so he could be ordained a Perpetual Deacon in the Episcopal church. He was newly baptized in the Holy Spirit attending a traditional Lutheran seminary [who believed that being born again was the Experiential Christianity heresy]. Thankfully, he was born again before the seminary could stifle that.
The Episcopal Church's ancient conviction was that you do not have to accept anything which cannot be proved by scripture. Sadly, that has been removed from their official beliefs.
The solution is to read scripture after asking the Holy Spirit to explain what you are reading. Only the author knows completely what the scriptures mean in a given situation. He has the power and the wisdom to convert the ink on paper into a powerful rhema which is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before "Him" no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do." Notice that the word talked about in verse 12 goes directly to "and before him".
Only He can make the scripture come alive. Thankfully the denominational doctrines are nearly gone, as He draws near...
We will know the truth as the old intellectual things pass away. These things are titillating to the flesh, but usually serve no other purpose.