You guys are not getting the main point I am making. It does not prove the bible to me. I only use it to encourage others the bible is true, I cannot believe for them as I believed the Bible for myself before I saw any miracles. So all I can do for those who struggle is show them the experiences that I had AFTER I believed the word. That is the best way I know how to encourage someone to believe the word before THEY see. I had to have faith in what the bible said FIRST before I saw any of these things. This encourages them to BELIEVE FIRST and then see, too.
And I've had the almost completely opposite experience. I've come to a place where God has proven His existence to me in ways that I can not explain away or argue with or deny any longer. After that, the Bible became less of an issue. There are still issues, and honestly may always be, but they're not what they were before.
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
OK. So, you believed first, then got the miracles. Now, if I read this correctly, you expect others to hear your stories of these miracles and believe the Bible because of them.
Not really. I expect others to be encouraged to perhaps try the BIBLE for themselves and also see God work. And if I can get them to believe first without seeing, I think I am doing something good.
Quote:
Your faith was of the type Jesus told Thomas about (believe without seeing). Theirs (the people who believe because of your miracles) is of the type Thomas had (believing after seeing).
Am I getting it now?
Almost.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
And I've had the almost completely opposite experience. I've come to a place where God has proven His existence to me in ways that I can not explain away or argue with or deny any longer. After that, the Bible became less of an issue. There are still issues, and honestly may always be, but they're not what they were before.
Thanks for your thoughts.
But to clarify it more for me, are you saying you do not agree we need to believe first without any evidence before we will see God as real? Sorry if I missed your point. That is why I am asking.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Not really. I expect others to be encouraged to perhaps try the BIBLE for themselves and also see God work. And if I can get them to believe first without seeing, I think I am doing something good.
Almost.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Not sure what is funny there, but let me put it this way, Timmy, in case I did not explain it sanely enough for you . I am using my experiences to encourage people to TRY this faith. And when they TRY it after my encouragement, I have not proved anything to them. But what I did do was perhaps help them on the road that will cause them to have experience their proof.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
But to clarify it more for me, are you saying you do not agree we need to believe first without any evidence before we will see God as real? Sorry if I missed your point. That is why I am asking.
I'm sending you a PM.
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
Here's a thought. If we have PROOF, there is no need for faith. Proof is seen. Faith is the evidence of things NOT SEEN. Perhaps we've been using incorrect terms, or least I have. Faith needs no proof. But faith will cause proof to occur if it's rightfully directed. And so what Jesus said to Thomas is true. We are blessed without PROOF, when we do not have to see before we have that faith.
If we claim to have faith only after we have seen, then that is weak faith.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
The bible is saying we need to believe God without proof. How's that?
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Not sure what is funny there, but let me put it this way, Timmy, in case I did not explain it sanely enough for you . I am using my experiences to encourage people to TRY this faith. And when they TRY it after my encouragement, I have not proved anything to them. But what I did do was perhaps help them on the road that will cause them to have experience their proof.
(Just chuckling at the "almost". )
I tried it for 50 years. For me, it didn't work. If it works for you, great.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
. I am using my experiences to encourage people to TRY this faith. And when they TRY it after my encouragement, I have not proved anything to them. But what I did do was perhaps help them on the road that will cause them to have experience their proof.
)
Linear Mode
