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What a merciful God to have written down everything that he wanted to reveal about himself, is in the Bible.
I too appreciate the written word, but I could not live without the Living. Those that are led by the Spirit of God - they are the sons of God. (Rom 8:14).
We must have a living, vibrant, alive relationship with the One who gives wisdom as how to divide the word of truth, imo.
Twin - Why did you leave out love? I know there are plenty of Bible references to love - aren't there?
Do you have a relationship with God apart from the Bible? Surely you feel some sort of connection to him apart from a book - right?
I'm not meaning to sound judgemental - merely curious. Just trying to get a better understanding of your faith. I guess what I'm reminded of is that speech by Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting - when he talks about the difference between reading something in a book and experiencing something in life. Not that I'm saying you can't get guidance and wisdom from a book - but it just seems to me that there is more to life than a book - and that maybe there is more to faith than the book, as well. You can gain insight and guidance from the Bible, I'm sure - but isn't your faith more of a living, breathing thing that is based upon your personal life experiences as well? Wouldn't God speak to you beyond the Bible, too?
Like I said, not judging - merely curious and trying to get a better idea of what your faith means to you.
Twin - Why did you leave out love? I know there are plenty of Bible references to love - aren't there?.
Dewdrop93,
I didn't leave out references to love. (John 3:16)
Do you think that Jesus saying "I tell you the truth" isn't loving?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewdrop93
Do you have a relationship with God apart from the Bible? .
1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Through the living and enduring word of God is how a believer's relationship exisits. "Through the living and enduring word of God" is a person been born again ... and that is the foolishness of God that unbelievers deem it to be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewdrop93
Surely you feel some sort of connection to him apart from a book - right?.
I'm sure - but isn't your faith more of a living, breathing thing that is based upon your personal life experiences as well? Wouldn't God speak to you beyond the Bible, too?.
Personal life experiences are subject to emotions ... Where as Jesus is the same forever, all the time. Anything beyond the Bible is not the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 1:23
When the time comes for people to meet Jesus face to face ... he will either be their loving Savior or a terrifing judge. John 3:36
The most loving thing I can do is to repeat Jesus who announces "I tell you the truth"
So all of your faith - your entire relationship with God - is basically just the Bible? I guess that's just not the answer that I thought I would get. I was just under the assumption that most religious people had a more personal relationship with God - that they talked to God or felt like God talked to them. I didn't know that for some - it was only about the Bible.
Please don't misunderstand - this is not about me at all. I'm simply trying to understand your faith.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Its awesome!
Furthermore:
1 Cor 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is the most important thing. Its how you know God.
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