[kosta50]

The point should be that knowing the Scriptures is not enough.

Your post is a little out of context. Hospeipe was suggesting that multitudes of Christians who were illiterate until the 20th century and couldn't afford a bible didn't matter. This didn't come from the fatc that they could hear the Scripture in church, but because "Lucky for them that Jesus left the Holy SPirit to handle all that(literacy stuff).."

So, perhaps you and hosepipe need to discuss this. Hose obviously believes the Bible was not necessary for 2,000 years. Why would it be needed now?

We must be born again (John 3) - and indeed, the Spirit will lead us (John 15-17, Romans 8) There is no substitute

Which begs the question, what about those who (supposedly) have indwelling spirit but not the Bible? Are they deficient? If not, then is the Bible really necessary?

As I understand it, you, kosta50, have dismissed Paul as a “Gnostic” so you probably will also dismiss my testimony on the same basis. That is fine by me, go where God leads you

I didn't dismiss +Paul as a Gnostic; Gnostics claim him as one of their own. His claim to have received the conversion that made him instantly an Apostle is definitely Gnostic. Many other sayings attributed to +Paul are perceptibly Gnostic. He subordains the Son to the Father and the Spirit to the Father. Those are not exactly accurate Trinitatian concepts.

Nevertheless, many of my other brothers and sisters in Christ will probably agree that the language we speak to one another is spiritual per se and must be spiritually discerned. A non-Christian cannot "get it:"

That's all fluff, A-G and you know it. You have no more evidence or proof of Spirit than I do. Your belief is as good as mine.

[hosepipe]

[.. That's all fluff, A-G and you know it. You have no more evidence or proof of Spirit than I do. Your belief is as good as mine. ..]

Interesting view in that post..
PROOF?.. of the Holy Spirit?.. You need proof?..
The Holy Spirit (if real) is not a moron..
Subject to no man or angel..

I would say challenge the Holy Spirit yourself to reveal himself..
He will not smush you.. honest.. He will be as real to you as you are with him..
Proof is available.. Go get it..

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Kosta, your argument is the exact same one the atheist makes -- "prove it."

A-G is correct. We "prove it" by reading and understanding and debating from Scripture because we have been given faith that the Holy Spirit leads our study.

You, for some reason, do not believe in the ability of Scripture to answer all and any questions worth asking and answering regarding our salvation and God's instructions for our lives. You, for some reason, place your faith in other men and fallible groups of men and an intricate and imperfect system of Greek nomenclature while decrying the ability of the Holy Spirit to move whom He wills where He wills.

We can and should debate our understandings, but it is foolish of you to deny the Holy Spirit's mission in our lives. As b-d pointed out, that's no small error.

[Alamo-Girl]

You have no more evidence or proof of Spirit than I do. Your belief is as good as mine.

The atheists on the science threads make the same demand: show me evidence, show me proof!

I say to them “proof exists but you may not be able to receive it.” Namely, I know Jesus personally. And I have known Him through the indwelling Spirit for nearly a half century. I love Him, I believe Him and I trust Him.

He is not a hypothesis. He lives.

God’s Name is I AM.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent...For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. – I Corinthians 1:19-25

How do you respond to an atheist who says ”My belief is as good as yours”?

Which begs the question, what about those who (supposedly) have indwelling spirit but not the Bible? Are they deficient? If not, then is the Bible really necessary?

God the Father has revealed Himself in four ways: (1) through Jesus Christ, whose Name is called The Word of God, (2) through the indwelling Holy Spirit, (3) through Scripture and (4) through Creation, both spiritual and physical.

Abraham did not have the benefit of God's revelation in Scripture - nor did Isaac. And the revelation in Scripture known to David was incomplete even as he was adding to it. When Christ was enfleshed, the disciples saw and heard the revelation of Jesus Christ – but the revelation in Scripture was still incomplete. And it remained incomplete as the revelations of Jesus Christ were accumulated. Indeed, to this day written words of God exist which have not yet been revealed to us (Daniel, Revelation).

To whom much is given, much is expected!

If a person has heard the revelation of Jesus Christ and rejected it, the word itself will his judge.

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. – John 12:48

Likewise those who have heard the law will be judged by the law - and those who never heard the law will be judged by their conscience.

For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. – Romans 2:11-16

Likewise those who have received the full revelation of God the Father – in Jesus Christ, in the indwelling Spirit and in Scripture - are free:

[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. – Romans 8:1-9

The words of God are spirit and are life. They are holy.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. - John 6:63

The more a person feeds on the Word of God, the more will be expected of him and the more he will want.

...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. - Luke 18:48

So, truly, the more a person hears the words of God the better. But if he never heard at all, he is not without hope:

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. - Romans 9:15

To God be the glory!