Well, but that just becomes a lie? Please give us your interpretation of this verse then, or are you both just throwing toothpicks.
OK, fine. My interpretation (my understanding of what that verse probably means, in terms of the intent of the writer) is not far from yours, really. Ask a spirit if it confesses (believes, affirms) that Jesus Christ came to earth in the flesh (was born as a human), and the answer it gives will tell you whether the spirit is from God or not. There may be some further theological implications there, beyond the mere birth of a human being -- i.e., that this baby was special, the Son of God, or Lord. It doesn't say that, but I could accept that it's implied.
Now, the main problem I have with this as an instruction on how to distinguish good spirits from bad spirits (assuming that these exist) is this: it may or may not work, and you have no way of knowing if and when it does work! It is pointless. You even said these spirits could give the "right" answer, and yet be "not from God". You apparently have to know whether the spirit is sincere. Looking for enthusiasm is pointless, since that can be faked -- you can't know if you've been fooled by their act! You simply can't.
This problem exists also with humans, clearly. Ask a human to confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, and if he says Yes, I guess you must accept that he is from God. E.g., he is a genuine prophet -- if that's what he is claiming, and verse one, in fact, mentions false prophets and seems to go on to explain how to tell a good one from a fake. You can't possibly claim that a false prophet would be unable to utter the words "I confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" and add any other words you'd want to hear, like "is Lord" or whatever. And if humans can pretend, why couldn't other spirits?
The Bible even says that Satan himself can be disguised as an angel of light, without even trying to help you tell which angels are real and which ones are disguised demons. What a predicament!
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I would guess that satan himself might be even tougher, lol...but you mischaracterize my post, and corrected me on the language, which a spirit will not be able to agree with or repeat if they are evil. Period. You are going to know, if this is undertaken in earnest. you cannot say you agree with me or this Scripture "if it's true."
This is because spirits do not have mouths to lie with--you cannot lie in that plane. You can only deceive humans. This should be connected with "ignorance" being "hell." Here you can lie, there you cannot. You will not have a "garment" of lies to cover yourself; your answer will proceed from your center there..
I would guess that satan himself might be even tougher, lol...but you mischaracterize my post, and corrected me on the language, which a spirit will not be able to agree with or repeat if they are evil. Period. You are going to know, if this is undertaken in earnest. you cannot say you agree with me or this Scripture "if it's true."
This is because spirits do not have mouths to lie with--you cannot lie in that plane. You can only deceive humans. This should be connected with "ignorance" being "hell." Here you can lie, there you cannot. You will not have a "garment" of lies to cover yourself; your answer will proceed from your center there..
If there are spirits, and if they are capable of deception, then you cannot know if you have been deceived. You cannot know if your discernment is good enough. You can only think you know.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
If there are spirits, and if they are capable of deception, then you cannot know if you have been deceived. You cannot know if your discernment is good enough. You can only think you know.
Yup. Until you grasp that you can test spirits, and get an unqualified agreement or no that Christ has come in flesh, a Scriptural principle laid out there in plain English, you are sure right. If is an imaginary word here sorry.
Yup. Until you grasp that you can test spirits, and get an unqualified agreement or no that Christ has come in flesh, a Scriptural principle laid out there in plain English, you are sure right. If is an imaginary word here sorry.
What do you mean?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Why don't you quit before you get to the bottom of the hole?
It is hard to discuss what we are thinking in some threads...this may be one of them.
Funny how human nature would have a guy on a summit at the bottom of a hole, lol...or am I missing something in this verse? I only thought I had peace before this--I remember guessing.
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