Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion titled "Just A Question........." begun by The Bald Guy, he asks the question, "Why continue the same old tired arguments in the Religion Forum -- every single day? All you people do is argue, get mad, call each other names -- and start over tomorrow! If I could prove there 'was no God or is a God' -- do you really think I'd start here, in this forum?. . . Sometimes, you just have to take things on 'faith!'"
Well, Guy, speaking for myself -- most often when I post, I do try to avoid the "spitting contests" -- and post things which I believe may be of interest to other believers, especially new believers, and to those who are just beginning to consider seeking a relationship with God.
This is why, when discussions have gone on so long that they have deteriorated into personal "spitting contests" -- or have been purposely hijacked by non-believers who want to detract from the teaching of God's Word -- I will just excuse myself, as I have here, and begin a new discussion.
At least this way, those with an interest will see what I have written and can choose to read it if I have captured their interest. If I post on the bottom of a hijacked or anti-Christian discussion -- many Christian believers will not see it; for they will most likely do as I do and avoid such discussions.
But, in response to Guy's original question, Puppy has declared, "What The Bald Guy is referring to is "blind faith." There's a difference."
Actually, Puppy, it is not "blind faith." In my case, it is a faith which began after I participated in worship service, Sunday School, and Bible study for a period of six months. Why did I participate? Well, Christian love is what first attracted me. At a party, I met a very Godly pastor who exuded the love of God. The following day, this love I saw in Pastor Sam Lacanienta led me to visit the church where he was pastor.
At this church, I felt the love of God flowing through this man, permeating the entire congregation -- and coming to me. This led me to attend their Sunday Schools and Bible studies to learn more about God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. After six months of study -- I chose to become a Christ Follower, a Christian believer -- through faith in what I had learned up to that point.
However, even then, I was still a "babe in Christ" -- with much to learn. At that time, I could not understand how a person could attend Seminary and study the same book, the Bible, for four years. Yet, I have been studying it for 24 years -- and still learn more every day.
What began as a "baby faith" for me, has grown into a mature faith which is still growing daily. What is the foundation of my faith? Well, it begins with the cornerstone of the Bible, Genesis 1 -- along with the cornerstone of our Christian faith, John 1. These, amplified by the other 64 books of the Bible, are bound together by a personal spiritual mortar which has been growing in strength for 24 years -- consisting of (1) personal revelations from God, (2) definitely answered prayers, both for me personally and for close friends, (3) and capped by fulfilled prophecy -- which is found only in the Bible -- over 1800 prophecies.
I realize that when I wrote "personal revelations from God" -- this will bring barbed chides from my non-believing Friends. Am I claiming to be a prophet -- or a special person to whom God gives special revelations? No. I am merely a Christian believer who, through daily study of God's Word, will gain new revelations -- things He reveals to me -- as I study His Word.
Let me give you a couple of examples. About 20 years ago, when I was first studying the prophecies of the End Times; I could not understand what would happen to believers still alive at the end of the Tribulation. Would they be raptured into immortal bodies -- or what?
One day I was driving home from work and was stopped at a traffic light. Sitting there, thinking only of getting home and relaxing -- suddenly the thought came to me -- those believers will go into His Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies. And, they will continue to marry and have children in His 1000 year Millennial Reign. I wasn't even thinking about any of this, only thinking of getting home. Yet, God put this on my mind at that time. That was a revelation from God. No, it does not make me a prophet; just a blessed believer.
One other example: For a long time I had tried to read the book of Job -- and could not make sense of it. One evening, I was sitting on my patio studying thea Bible. I was reading in John. At one point, a reference Scripture was given and it was Job 42:10, "The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold."
Wow, Job had lost everything -- his children, his wealth, his health -- and all he had left was a nagging wife and four friends who told him that this was all his fault because of past sins -- yet, Job was a Godly man. But, when Job prayed for these questionable friends -- God restored him -- twofold!
When I read this verse, I was intrigued. So, I turned to Job 1:1 and began reading. That night the book of Job was easy to read -- almost like reading an interesting novel. This is the book I could never read before. Yet, that night I read completely through Job and understood what I was reading. This was a special revelation from God -- in His perfect time.
The capstone of Biblical validity is prophecy. No other supposedly sacred book contains fulfilled, confirmed prophecies -- and those in the Bible have been proven, by religious and secular sources, to be 100% accurate. This alone confirms the validity of the Bible as God's Written Word.
Then, of course, He confirms this in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 when, through the inspired writing of the apostle Paul, He tells us, "ALL Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." This Scripture passage not only tells us that God was the inspiration behind the writing of the Bible -- but, that He wrote the Bible to be used by all men of God, i.e., all Christian believers.
Given all of this, how can one say that faith in Jesus Christ is "blind faith"? It is a faith built upon a solid foundation and held together by very strong spiritual truths for the mortar.
Puppy, you really should take your eyes off the world and give Jesus Christ a try. I promise, you WILL be eternally happy if you will do -- and, I promise that, if you will come to Him -- He will receive you with open arms (Revelation 3:20).
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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