a better understanding of the gospel

[Neighbor]

3 hours ago, Mr. M said:

A sound understanding of the Gospel brings unity among the Saints.

When we partake of "One Bread", we share in the understanding that

Paul attained by accepting and abiding in his stewardship to the end.

1 Corinthians 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: 

for we are all partakers of that One Bread.

 

Is today's Church of One Mind?

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. 

Do not set your mind on high things,

but associate with the humble.

Do not be wise in your own opinion.

The success or failure in the Church's understanding

can largely be defined here.

The Church today seems to be a marketplace of divergent opinions,

not sound comprehension.

 

Hi M.,

Unity of purpose yes  but unity of understanding perhaps yet I think perhaps not. I do think there's reason to question and challenge meanings of the word of God as well as how to make application. I think that has always been so, and that it is necessary in order to have unity of purpose to allow for challenge as to meaning, while each individual tries to make application of the Word itself.

Seems to me Paul preached tolerance of another's many different conclusions and practices.

[Mr. M]

20 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Unity of purpose yes  but unity of understanding perhaps yet I think perhaps not. I do think there's reason to question and challenge meanings of the word of God as well as how to make application.

This is what I constantly advocate; to question the translation, to use original language to find other verses using the key words in the verse for comparison, to make every effort to verify conclusions by 2-3 witnesses.  The problem with opinions are that they are often formed without this witness. 

23 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

I think that has always been so, and that it is necessary in order to have unity of purpose to allow for challenge as to meaning, while each individual tries to make application of the Word itself.

This is the very nature of the Protestant Revolution and the translation of scripture to "vulgar" languages. Before this point in history, Rome was dictating understanding of scriptures, and conducting inquisitions against those who tried to exercise the liberty we are to have in Christ. They had unity of purpose all right. The Popes and those devoted to this rigid interpretation I believe were called Papists.

 

30 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Seems to me Paul preached tolerance of another's many different conclusions and practices.

Paul was devoted to a pure doctrine, with liberty in life application. However, this came with admonitions.

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

When a group follows a leader in breaking away, those who follow are at risk to be coming under the power of that leader. The testimony and history of the Church in just the last few hundred years supports this.

1 Corinthians 10:

23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 

24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

Therefore we are given a standard by Paul to strive for:

1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

[Mr. M]

48 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Unity of purpose yes  but unity of understanding perhaps yet I think perhaps not.

I believe the opposite. We must have unity in doctrine, but not every saint or even congregation is called to the same purpose. 

1 Corinthians 12:

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?

If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 

18 But now God has set the members each one of them,

in the body just as He pleased. 

19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

[Your closest friendnt]

17 hours ago, farouk said:

I do believe as dispensationalists tend to say that it's the Gospel - rather than the law - that is the rule of the New Testament believer's life.

Each one to his own. One Jesus for all. 

[Your closest friendnt]

On 8/13/2024 at 9:02 PM, Ghostdog said:

would you say that today we have a better understanding of the gospel than paul did?

Is there something you want to discuss? 

[Ghostdog]

i think paul had a better understanding than we do today. one reason is cause he had access to the original scripts whereas we have copies of copies. and as  some said its been diluted over the years.

[Your closest friendnt]

I am not speaking against. But Paul did not have the scriptures the way you made it sound because someone else said so. He had the scriptures from his teachers and the Synagogue and the way the Pharisees teach them. He had the teachings of the Rabbis. 

Paul said that after he had the teachings of the disciples in Antioch at some time later Jesus took him away from them and he had to do it again to teach him things they did not know or they did not understand. 

Jesus had to take him away to teach him new things as it also pertain to correct him in many things. 

Non of them had the bible with them when they teach. It was done by memory. No the way we do today. 

Edited August 15, 2024 by Your closest friendnt

[TheBlade]

On 8/13/2024 at 7:02 PM, Ghostdog said:

would you say that today we have a better understanding of the gospel than paul did?

Not even close. Ok when we read Acts that is Christianity. Today we are not even close to what was. We are so divided where so many (many based on just those I know and seen) have the real truth and you don't. Yeah they will not budge or move because they are right. Sorry but no we don't. Now I am saying this looking at the whole Church. But based only on what I know and seen some that have had a great encounter with God not like Paul, they never share all they have seen and heard. Well its a given. Well you never share everything. You always watch where you cast. 

A song come to mind sang by oh my favorite B J Thomas "Would They Love Him Down in Shreveport"

If they saw Him riding in, long hair flying in the wind,
Would they love Him down in Shreveport today?
If they heard He was a Jew and a Palestinian too,
Would they love Him down in Nashville today?

If they saw Him talk with ease to the junkies, whores, and thieves,
Would they love Him out in Wichita today?
Would the rich men think it funny if He said give up your money?
Would they love Him up on Wall Street today?

If He made the wine from water, gave it to their sons and daughters,
What would the folks in Salt Lake City say?
If He talked of brotherhood as he walked their neighborhoods,
Would they love Him up in Boston today?

If He said love those who use you, and forgive those who abuse you,
If He turned the other cheek, what would you say?
Would you laugh and call Him crazy, and just send Him on his way,
If Jesus came to your town today?

 

[Hopefully]

On 8/13/2024 at 9:02 PM, Ghostdog said:

would

“Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “You believe because you see me. Great blessings belong to the people who believe without seeing me!””
‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭ERV‬‬

 

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 

I think we have a greater understanding of faith because we have not seen with our eyes.
 

[Your closest friendnt]

On 8/15/2024 at 2:21 AM, Ghostdog said:

i think paul had a better understanding than we do today. one reason is cause he had access to the original scripts whereas we have copies of copies. and as  some said its been diluted over the years.

Jesus on the first day of his resurrection he appeared to two of his disciples who were not part of the twelve and he said to them "that in the volume of the book and the Psalms and the Prophets is written about me, that the Christ had to suffer and die in the hands of the religious leaders of the people and raised up on the third day. 

Jesus did not point to any specific translation at the time and to any specific words of the translations and make an issue about it and there were many.

When he said in the volume of the book of the Law and the Psalms and the prophets is written about me he referred to events that took place and which they all are recorded in all versions of the Bible. The story of Noah and his sons. And the story of Jonah, the story of Joshua the Son of Nan. And the Priests who carried the ARC of the Covenant and the moment they stepped in the waters of the Jordan River the waters were pulled up.

The Prophetic in Genesis about the seed of the woman who had to be keeled first before he caused the Serpent to loose his authority over mankind at the time of their death. The authority he had just aquire with Adam eating from the forbidden fruit.  

The story of Issac and Abraham on Mount Moriah. It was not Issac with the miraculous birth to be the sacrificial Lamb God was looking forwards to. 

And the Lord let us know that the Lamb God will provide it had to be a mature man at least thirty years old. Like the Ram he provided to Abraham for the sacrifice, which is at least a three years old male Lamb. And as he had promised to Abraham that from his seed God will raised the Lamb of God and that will have a special birth brought by a miracle from God like it was with Issac. But this time God will provide the Lamb and not Abraham. 

Issac was tricked to go up the mountain and carry the wood for the sacrifice. And it was done without his consent not knowing that he was the one to be offered to God .

But the Lanb of God had to be of mature age to knowingly go up the mountain and carried the Cross. He willingly obeyed God and walked up the hill of Golgotha carrying his Cross and he made himself an offering to God and willingly died knowing that he was  the Lamb God had required. He lived the last years of his life knowing that he will die in the hands of the Priests of God. 

Edited August 18, 2024 by Your closest friendnt