[Jim W N]

OK, well as I've said, after a fair amount of fear and confusion from all the different viewpoints, I wiped the blackboard of my heart and mind clean, came to the Lord (not man), and asked Him for the truth. Jesus told us the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth and show us things to come (John 16:13) and that the truth will set me free (from fear and confusion among other things) (John 8:32). I believe he's done just that with me.

Again, these are not dispositive issues and our hearts need to seek unity among us as brothers and sisters in the bond of peace. These are important things because I think God wants to comfort His people (plus I enjoy the subject if it can be amicably and intelligently discussed – no agreement necessary), but not as sources of division among us.

[aruanan]

OK, well as I've said, after a fair amount of fear and confusion from all the different viewpoints, I wiped the blackboard of my heart and mind clean, came to the Lord (not man), and asked Him for the truth. Jesus told us the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth and show us things to come (John 16:13) and that the truth will set me free (from fear and confusion among other things) (John 8:32). I believe he's done just that with me.

When someone says that God has guided him to an understanding (feeling) of something and that understanding is directly contradicted by unconvoluted scriptural texts, then one either must say that the texts don't mean what they say or that a subjective feeling of certainty is higher in truth value than something open to all for examination.