The error is that we Calvinists take all things literally as some kind of rule. We do not. By today's standards, many plain meaning interpretations of scripture appear to conflict. But this is not the end of the world or any reflection on the truth of all scripture. We say that scripture interprets itself, and it surely does. So, since we see all scripture as equally true, we look to the weight of all other scriptural evidence to make decisions about individual passages. This actually works exceedingly well. :)
What is the FACE of God FK? What does that verse mean? Can we see God and not die? Or does it have to be God "as He is" in which case Jesus was not God as He is!
The verse means "as a man speaks with his friend". That's it. The idea of God's literal "face" is obviously metaphorical, since God is a spiritual being. It is an expression used so that we can understand the point. This is not a big deal, and this certainly has nothing to do with the Incarnation, so I don't know why you even bring it up.
If we can see God and not die then the Bible is incomplete when it says we can't. If God has no face and the bible speaks of God's face then the Bible is not fully revealing God.
What? The Bible is indeed complete. I don't mean to insult you but isn't this exactly what a Pharisee would say? They were hyper-legalistic with their interpretation of the OT, and Jesus told them (in part) to relax and have some common sense. The OT was clear that God is a spiritual being, not comprehensible to the eyes of physical man in a physical sense. What else do we need to say? :)
The faces and eyes and hands of God are symbolic representations of invisible and ineffable God. These words cannot be taken, like most of the Bible, literally or read like a fairy tale (Reformed approach).
I agree with your fist sentence. So, you are incorrect about the Reformed approach. We do NOT see God as a man with super powers. He is above us all, and no one can comprehend Him close to fully. He reveals to us as only we need.
We can take literally the Gospels because God walked on earth with His disciples, as opposed to appearing to them in their dreams and visions and what not. It was witnessed for three years.
But God spoke openly in parables in the Gospels. How can you say that we must take everything literally in the Gospels? Jesus was plain that He was speaking to those to whom God gave ears to hear and eyes to see.
All scripture is equally true—I would add in its message—as much as was revealed at the time. The full revelation was gradual, and Gospels shed the light that made full understanding possible.
[face to face] means "as a man speaks with his friend
No, friendship is not in this. We are not friends with God. We are His slaves, remember? His tools. Is your hammer or cordless drill your friend? Do you talk to them "face to face?"
Face-to-face means directly, looking at the other's eyes. It's a direct, even confrontational. But the one thing that is always present in this phrase is that we see the other's face.
The issue was also of seeing God and not living or living. When God appeared as a burning bush did Moses stare at it? It was still God. Did people die when they looked at Jesus' face? Did they not look at the face of God?
There is an awful lot of rationalization involved to make the biblical verses explain themselves, to make them "fit." But, then tha's what the lawyer's are for, right? :)
They were hyper-legalistic with their interpretation of the OT, and Jesus told them (in part) to relax and have some common sense
That's what the Orthodox are telling their Reformed friends too. :)
He is above us all, and no one can comprehend Him close to fully
I have been told by many on this Forum that have the mind of Christ. I owuld imagine that comprehension comes with it. So, then what you are saying is tha we have the mind of nChrist, but not fully. Partially. Ten percent? Thirty? Eight nine?
Did the Jews have the mind of Christ? Did they have 10% of it? Do they now have more? ow much (percet-wise) does one have to have the mind of Christ to comprehend God (and believe correctly, and interpret the scripture correctly) to be saved?
How can you say that we must take everything literally in the Gospels?
I wasn't speaking of parables, FK. There is a lot more to the Gospels than the parables. When He said (paraphrasing) "Don't go to the Gentiles but preach only to the twelve tribes of Israel" that is taken literally. When He said "this is My Body" or when He said "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" all of this is literal.