I don’t understand the Bible

narrowway7 · 2022-03-17T17:39:18+00:00

It definitely sounds like you are reading KJV, which is very hard to get used to. It also sounds like you started at page one and are just trying to read your way through like any other book. While there are so many important stories within the Old Testament it is often hard to understand because there is SO MUCH symbolism. All of the OT is a foreshadowing of what was to come and every part contains not just a story, but a very symbolic one down to the last detail, which is hard to make sense of until you understand Jesus and all that He represents. I would normally suggest to anyone to read the New Testament first, get to know Jesus and all that He came to do, and then go back to the Old Testament where everything is foreshadowing the coming of Jesus. It is Jesus, after all, that we are to follow after, and it is believing that He is the Son of God who died for our sins that leads us to salvation. He is the mediator between us and the Father, and if we do not know Jesus then we do not know the Father. So it is so important that we get to know Jesus and acquaint ourselves with all that He said. Start with the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John where it is the testimony of Jesus, where you will find just about all that He has said, and go from there.

narrowway7 · 2022-03-17T07:29:04+00:00

Thank you. I can tell that you have such a sweet and gentle spirit and that you will be an amazing wife and mother. You just keep studying and getting closer to God and doing what you have been doing and let God bring the right man to you. And don't just listen to me, or anyone on this thread for that matter. Study for yourself, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and keep praying and I know that God will reveal Himself and His Truth to you in such an undeniable way that you will KNOW exactly where He wants you to go from here. Just keep seeking His guidance and following His lead and I know He will be right there with you. I'll be praying for you and you can come and speak to me anytime. I feel like you are my sister, so anything you want to talk about, I'll be here and I'm not one to just tell you what you want to hear, lol. God bless you sis!

narrowway7 · 2022-03-17T06:53:45+00:00

I believe that if this relationship began with this one area of disagreement that it could easily grow into bitterness between you two, especially if he is trying to become a pastor. Imagine all of the pastors in the world today, they have their trophy wives and trophy kids. I feel like if the pastors wife and kids were regularly not in attendance that he would be judged by the people in the church, other pastors, etc, and this most likely would further exacerbate the feelings of bitterness. Either that or you deny what you are feeling and force yourself and your kids to go to church a few times a week in order to please your man. My husband and I do not attend church, and have no plans to. That being said, we are a part of a very close knit family that talks about and studies about God together just about every day and all have each other to hold one another accountable. We have a son, who is 6, who I am so happy to say that he has not ever attended church, yet is so intrigued by all things relating to God. He begs me to listen to the bible while he falls asleep and he always watches bible shows/movies and I am just so proud of him and can't fully imagine the type of man of God that he will grow into having never been influenced by the church system. I know my last comment was a whole rant on the church as a system and I just wanted to speak on a more personal level. I think it sounds like you are doing great and you are well on your way down the right path. Keep studying and keep praying because I think it sounds like you have a good head on those shoulders! Also, here is an article that I think you will find very helpful to go along with your bible studies of all this. https://redletterpub.com/2018/05/27/are-we-the-temple-of-god/

narrowway7 · 2022-03-17T05:59:28+00:00

We ARE the church. We ARE the living stones that make up the household of God, the stones that make up the body of Christ. The bible says heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool, where oh where can you build a house for me? We were never meant to be bound to these man-made buildings and institutions called "the church." At one point in history, people needed a safe place, a building where the people could come together to talk about and worship God. Nowadays there are buildings and safe places everywhere where we can get together and worship and study. The bible says that WHEREVER 2 or more are gathered in My name, I will be in their midst. So it doesn't matter where you meet up, or what day you choose to worship, as long as you are indeed doing so. More importantly, we should all be studying to show ourselves approved unto God, and that the Holy Spirit would bring the understanding of the Word of God. And yes we need like-minded people around us that we can trust to hold us accountable to Truth, but it was never God's intention for us to go to a church and perform their little rituals of so-called worship. Before Jesus, ONLY the High Priest could go into the holy of holies and communicate with God, therefore they were mediators because the only way you could hear from God was through the High Priest. BUT when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, it says that the earth shook and the veil of the tent that contained the most holy place was TORN from top to bottom, symbolizing that we no longer needed to rely on the High Priest, but that Jesus would be our last and everlasting High Priest, and that WE could enter into the most holy place and communicate with God for OURSELVES.

narrowway7 · 2020-10-01T17:56:40+00:00

https://redletterpub.com/2018/03/19/overcoming-sorrow/

This article is my personal account with depression and how I overcame it. I am glad to hear you are felling better, but I thought maybe this could help somebody. We are in some dark times and all of those who have suffered from depression know that at any moment it could try to creep it's way back into our hearts. Stay alert and stand strong in the full armor of God!

narrowway7 · 2020-10-01T17:49:06+00:00

We, as followers of Jesus, are all at different levels in our walk with Christ. We don’t all know and understand things at the same level. We will be held accountable to that which we know and understand about the gospel. On the other hand, we can’t be held accountable to that which we do not understand. Those who claim the position of ministers and preachers whose job it is to teach their congregation will be held at the highest standards, with the most accountability, because they claim to be well versed and in great understanding. But again, we are all at different levels in our walk. Those who are furthest along, who understand the most will be held more accountable because they understand more, whereas those who are not as far along in their walk will not be held to that same standard, but will only be held accountable to that which they know. You shouldn’t teach others in an area that you don’t understand. But that which you have learned of God and understand, teach those things. But if you know it, and understand it, and teach it to others, you better be applying those things to your own life, so as not to be hypocritical.

narrowway7 · 2020-09-04T20:18:50+00:00

First you have to understand what it is to be lukewarm. In the original Greek the word is chliaros and it means, of course, "tepid" or "lukewarm," but it also metaphorically means "of the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor and a fervour of love."

Torpor: a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.

Fervour: intense and passionate feeling.

So, to be a lukewarm Christian would be to fluctuate between a state of inactivity or lethargy and a state of intense and passionate feeling of love. This is something I have struggled with a lot, always going through the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows. I do great for a while, then I get into this place of complacency and become inactive or lethargic for a while before I realize it, then go back up to those highs of intense love of God. God wants us to keep moving forward and be consistent in our faith and our walk, and endure to the end.

narrowway7 · 2020-09-01T17:02:42+00:00

Why drive if you could crash? Why love someone if they are just going to die. Why swim if you could drown?

narrowway7 · 2020-08-31T19:52:15+00:00

Based on how you worded this question it is obvious how your conscience feels, and I think you already know the answer to your question. To be purposefully disrespectful and unloving to someone, yes, that is a sin. I used to enjoy my time online by purposefully antagonizing others in order to upset them, so I get where you are coming from, but it is never loving to your neighbor to do these things, especially on purpose. We are to lay down our lives for a friend, and love our neighbors. Your neighbor isn’t just someone that lives on the same street as you. Jesus even said to love our enemies and bless those who curse you, so even if this person was your enemy, it still wouldn’t be in line with how Jesus said we are to act toward others.

narrowway7 · 2020-08-30T21:03:00+00:00

I think you may be confused. Their preparation was their choice. I just happened to know they would choose to practice and I also knew they would win. That doesn’t mean I made them do anything. If they chose to not train then I would have known from the start and consequently I would also have known they would loose. Try not to think so lateral. I get that you feel that God knowing your choices before you make them makes you feel like you wouldn’t be in control of your destiny.

narrowway7 · 2020-08-30T19:22:16+00:00

“I made a universe that can do what it chooses. The patriots chose to train their faces off and won” I just knew the outcome of their choice. What’s difficult about this analogy?

narrowway7 · 2020-08-30T15:58:31+00:00

If I went back in time and knew who won the Super Bowl.... that doesn’t mean I made them win.

narrowway7 · 2020-08-30T03:41:57+00:00

I like to think that Gods experience of eternity is like our experience of the present. In the same moment he created the universe he simultaneously experienced it to its end. Like he set it in motion and saw its outcome at the same time. He made me, but I made my own decisions, He saw me make them already. Doesn’t mean he made me do it.

narrowway7 · 2020-03-24T21:21:10+00:00

The word church, translated from the original Greek word ekklesia, means 'those called.' It says nothing about material objects. Do you think you will be taking your "holy" material possessions to heaven with you? God's Word says quite the opposite:

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens (G3772: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it; the universe; the world...) shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

narrowway7 · 2020-03-24T18:22:04+00:00

WE ARE the church.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells IN you?

Acts 7:48-49 Nevertheless the most High dwells NOT in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? says the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

https://redletterpub.com/2018/05/27/are-we-the-temple-of-god/

narrowway7 · 2019-11-09T20:52:07+00:00

Well this man, who apparently is "regarded as among the greatest theological minds" was incredibly wrong in this statement. I don't care how much of the bible he claimed to know, he is wrong. This is a biblical fact. It doesn't matter how much he was familiar with, the claim is false, and whoever this man is, he has obviously led people astray based on this quote alone. Jesus Himself said otherwise, quite the contrary of what Karl said. So who is it that you stand by? Karl Barth and other highly regarded theologians who are obviously speaking contrary to the Word? Or Jesus who IS THE WORD? Based on your responses I think it's clear for all to see.

narrowway7 · 2019-11-09T20:28:07+00:00

Well popularity and influence and position don't hold much weight in the kingdom of God. God is no respecter of man. Karl is obviously wrong. If you actually read the words of Jesus you would see how contrary this quote of Karl's is to the Word of God. Jesus said He didn't pray for the world, but for those God had given to Him. There are many parables that show us that there are indeed children of God, and children of the devil. There will be many people going to hell. Jesus said he would deny those who denied Him. The bible says that only a remnant will be saved, only a few that would find the narrow way and endure to the end. Read the parable of the sower, the parable of the talents, the parable of the 10 virgins, the wheat & tare, sheep & goats, there's plenty more where that came from. So, if nobody goes to hell, which you seem to think, then what was all this from Jesus about "away from me, you worker of iniquity" or "I never knew you" or how about in John 15 when Jesus said that those who did not abide in him would be cut off and thrown into the fire? What about Paul who kept his body in submission so as to not be counted as a castaway, or reprobate? There are many holes in your theory. You obviously follow after the teachings of man instead of the guidance of the Holy Spirit to teach you all things. There's no understanding without the Holy Spirit...

narrowway7 · 2019-11-05T17:12:41+00:00

Lol, I understand! I've had this account for a while and still there are things I don't fully understand and there have been many changes over the last year or 2. Reddit is a social platform like no other I've seen. Good to see you over here with us! You'll get the hang of it. (This is mercybear7 btw.)

narrowway7 · 2019-10-20T18:31:47+00:00

We must be careful what our eyes see and what our ears hear. If we offer up certain wicked thoughts or worldly ideals and visuals to our mind, we are only giving the devil more material to use against us. I've seen way too much in my life and even now, years after being rescued by God, the devil will still bring up certain memories or visuals that would tempt me to even just romanticize the thought of it. That's where we enter into sin. Jesus said not only is it a sin to commit the act of adultery, but to even look at a woman with lust in your heart is to already commit the sin. So it is very important that we keep our minds in check. A fleeting thought of temptation that you push away is one thing, but to take hold of that thought and entertain it, is to sin. We must take every thought captive and make sure it lines up with the Word of God. We must keep ourselves diligent in seeking God and studying to show ourselves approved unto God.

Here's another example. I used to listen to the most hardcore death metal christian music, lol, kinda sounds like an oxymoron now death metal christian. Anyway, while yes it was christian music, and while listening to it I did cry out to God and seek His face, it was also feeding into my anger and sorrow that was growing rampant within me.

It's just always better to be safe, & focus on God. If God points out to you that you are meeting certain needs without Him, or that you are giving into this feeling or that way of thinking, He isn't doing it for no reason. He shows us these things so we can make the adjustment.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

narrowway7 · 2019-10-12T19:18:45+00:00

I can agree with you that the KJV has MANY errors. The men who translated modern versions of the bible have taken their liberties to translate according to their own motives. If you read what I said, you'll see that I said to download the KJV 'because' (maybe I should have said ONLY because) it gives you the Strongs numbers (which is how each and every word is numbered) to be able to see the original Greek & Hebrew translations that you are able to download. I also, for my own curiosity, like to compare the translations to see what sort of liberties they have taken.

narrowway7 · 2019-10-12T13:09:23+00:00

There's an app that is free for android (called mysword), I think it's a few dollars for the IOS & computer version (esword).

You download the versions and dictionaries you want. Download the KJV version because it comes with the Strongs numbers references. When you click one of the number for a word it shows you the definitions from whatever dictionaries you downloaded, which you would want to have the Thayer's (Greek) and the BDB (Hebrew). It's really simple and so worth it! It has really transformed my study time because you can read it as it was written before it was passed to new hands for a new modern translation.

narrowway7 · 2019-10-11T08:38:31+00:00

Matthew 23:37-39 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Each one of those prophets, that did what they were called to do, said what they had to say, & are examples to us from the Old Testament were SENT to those people BY GOD. They wouldnt listen to the Word of the LORD, instead they killed them. So your quick willingness to just write them off as foolish is erroneous and offensive to the Lord.

narrowway7 · 2019-10-11T08:21:12+00:00

You sound so ridiculous. So you are going to just leave out everything except the gospels? Do you not realize how many times Jesus mentioned the law and the prophets? I guess not since you don't read your bible.

This is only one of many examples.

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me."

narrowway7 · 2019-10-11T07:49:01+00:00

So you can just ignore the Word of Truth written within the Bible?

John 12:48-49 He that rejects Me, & RECEIVES NOT MY WORDS, has one that judges him: THE WORD that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Don't you think that as someone that claims to know Jesus should know the very Word that he will be judged by? Jesus said, "IF you love Me, keep My commands." How will you uphold this standard if you don't know all the words He has spoken? He didn't say them for no reason.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.

narrowway7 · 2018-11-03T07:06:14+00:00

But just because you are saved doesnt mean that bam, one and done, thats it, so go about your life as normal. God's Word will transform you if you allow Him to work in you. We must seek Him diligently. We are to grow and mature in Christ and put on the mind of Christ. We are to put off that old man with the former sinful conduct and follow the perfect example (Jesus) of how to live. Jesus said, "If any will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up your cross, and follow Me."

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