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There are those who gather their " facts " from their favorite outlets.
And only their favorite outlets..
The " outlets " become the source of truth alone.
I wish someone can explain to me how a group of books, written at different times, in different languages, thousands of years ago, by people who were writing from memory . And in many cases by authors who were writing on behalf of others.
Oh, and what individual books were included is STILL in dispute.
How can anyone say with authority that the books they choose are the only authoritative expression of God's will. As if somehow, God dictated His instructions, and they were written down verbatim.
This worship of books, is starting to look like a form of idolatry.
It is NOT idolatry;
Any more than a bride makes an idol out of love letters sent to her from far away by her bridegroom.
It is not idolatry for her to fawn over those letters and to seek to glean everything that she can out of them.
When the bridegroom arrives, she doesn't need the letters any more.
While both bride and bridegroom may indeed reminisce by going over the letters once the bridegroom has returned.
We know that everyone will be judged by the words that Jesus spoke.
I think that this includes the things that were inspired by His Spirit to be written (1 Peter 1:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:16).
My friend I cannot speak for others, but our God is the ONLY One to worship. Once His glorious presence touches you, a new and glorious day has begun.
Looking into Jesus the Author and perfector of faith.
The testimony of His Spirit is not that everyone will go to heaven in the end.
I have experienced His glorious presence; and I testify that He has created everlasting fire for the devil and his angels and that those who are on His left hand on the day of judgment will be cast therein (Matthew 25:41).
It's not something that I take pleasure in; it's not something that He takes pleasure in;
But freedom is a central virtue in God's economy and certain sacrifices have to be made for the sake of freedom (see 2 Corinthians 3:17).
But we seem to be reading different " letters" and disputing what they mean to each of us individually.
Ou relationships with the bridegroom are distinct and uniquely individual.
Which is why we can benefit from sharing our individual relationships.
It's not just about the letter.
If we diminish the importance of the letter it can be that the truth will be compromised; while I will agree that there is life in the spirit and that the letter kills.
The question is, how does it kill?
Should we take this scripture (2 Corinthians 3:6) to mean that it is expedient to neglect our Bible reading?
I think that the "killing" that is spoken of in 2 Corinthians 3:6 amounts to what we find in Galatians 5:24, Romans 6:6, Romans 7:8.
...and I testify that He has created everlasting fire for the devil and his angels and that those who are on His left hand on the day of judgment will be cast therein (Matthew 25:41)....
That's the flesh being spoken of, called the "goats" on His left hand, as opposed to the spirit, called the "sheep" on His right hand.
The parable in Mat 25:31-46 describes the resurrection of judgment using metaphors such as nations, goats and sheep. It describes the soul, and the two nations that comprise the soul (those Nations/Kingdoms consisting of flesh and spirit) that stand before Christ in judgment. It's where all flesh together, perishes. And it happens for all:
Job 34:15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
Ecc 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all return to dust.
Ecc 12:7 And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.
It's the same type of judgment that Paul pronounced against sexual immorality committed in the church of Corinth, here:
1Co 5:3 For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing,
1Co 5:4 in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
1Co 5:5 to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The flesh is to be delivered over for destruction, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (the day of judgment).
If we diminish the importance of the letter it can be that the truth will be compromised; while I will agree that there is life in the spirit and that the letter kills.
The question is, how does it kill?
Should we take this scripture (2 Corinthians 3:6) to mean that it is expedient to neglect our Bible reading?
I think that the "killing" that is spoken of in 2 Corinthians 3:6 amounts to what we find in Galatians 5:24, Romans 6:6, Romans 7:8.
Your 1st sentence had me hopeful that perhaps we may be coming to understand each other.
But then you lost me.
My default position is RELATIONSHIP. I want to know YOUR unique relationship with OUR bridegroom.
( I'll assume your relationship is informed by reliable scripture. And I have no doubt you know it, and can quote it.)
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