I'm not quite sure what you mean by this question. Here are several answers, all of which are true:
- We were created for God's pleasure. Our purpose is to praise him and glorify him in every aspect of our lives. We are to love God with all our strength, heart, body, mind, and soul and to love others as we love ourselves.
- The creation story is written in a poetic style. As such, we have to read it as poetry. That does not mean that it is not true, but the primary purpose of the story is to tell us about the who, not the how. Some people are determined to read into it things that simply are not there -- like the insistent belief that the earth is at the exact center of the universe.
- God's ways are higher than ours.
- The creation story does use allegory. God said that Adam and Eve will "surely die" if they ate the fruit. God was primarily referring to spiritual death when he said this. God also said:
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."This statement uses allegory to express a truth: Satan will injure Christ and other followers of God, but Christ will have the ultimate victory.
2. How much of the Bible do you actually believe is true?
Every jot and tittle. In English, this phrase has come to mean "everything." Check the link for the Hebrew meaning.
3. There are specific instances of parables or allegory in the Bible. How do you personally determine which are and are not where it is not outlined?
By the context and the style. There can also be allegory in other biblical truths. For example, only after Jesus came did believers come to recognize that Psalms 22 was referring to more than just King David. I believe that we will recognize other instances of allegory after Christ returns.
4. Do you believe Jesus is the only way to heaven?
Yes.
5. Did Jesus really die on the cross as a substitute for our sins?
Yes.
6. Was Jesus really the Son of God (in the sense He was the ONLY begotten Son of God)?
Yes.
Who says the earth is the exact center of the universe, and how would one scientifically determine the center of something with no edges?
Excellent...thanks for the jot and tittle explanation. It’s what I believed in essence but I really enjoyed reading the original context.
Your explanation of the allegory used in Genesis was also very enlightening. When you explain it that way I have to agree. I appreciate the fact you are open with your faith. There is zero chance of winning anyone if we hide it under a bushel or proclaim our Christianity is too much a private matter. We’re told in Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”
Of course I can’t wait til they start ripping that one apart.
God Bless you, my friend.