Posted on 12/21/2002 7:10:11 AM PST by drstevej
This thread is for COMMENTS on the "Cordial Discussion between P-Marlowe and Pseudogratix."
Please do not clutter the original discussion thread.
One is so thankful of what the Lord bestow upon us, in the ways of understanding!
It is sad all one's conversation is "us vs them"!
I have no idea what this term means to you. How can I therefore answer your question.
I suspect that you will have a problem with my answer, but here I go anyway.
The word "testify" as I am using it comes from John 15:26 (as I stated in an earlier post), and is followed by its own definition in verse 27: "And ye also shall bear witness [of Christ]."
I'll stick with that as the definition. A testifying moment is an event where someone bears a witness of Christ and/or of His mission.
BTW, I'm likely done for the night. Thanks for the chat. Have a happy new year.
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
To continue click!-
I would say this was Saul/Pual testifying moment:) click!)
I post more stuff about fire, and you ignore it.
I've had my nap, I'm ready to go!
Consider, first, the Bible: 66 books, Old and New Testaments, written in Hebrew and Greek, respectively.
People who consider themselves Christians look to the Bible, as the basis of their religion. But, you may say, why are there so many differences among those who consider themselves Christian?
The sad reality is that we (all of us) have a tendency to modify the Bible, according to our worldview, denominational affiliation, will to sin without guilt, and traditions. This happens to everybody, not just LDS. Many are happy to continue to follow their own modification of the Bible, and have no real desire to know God, or know about God, much less follow Him, and do what He wants.
If that describes you, then nothing I or anyone else can say will ever reach you: this post is not for you.
If, however, we want to know God, how should we do so? There are two sources of information: the Bible, and anything else. If any source of information (about God) conflicts with the Bible, which should we choose?
I will state categorically, that if we choose to follow anything (which claims to tell us about God, or how to follow Him) which conflicts with the Bible, we are choosing error.
Mark 12
24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
The scriptures testify of Jesus:
John 5
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
The scriptures preach Jesus:
Acts 8:35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 17
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
The scriptures can make you wise:
2 Timothy 3
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God:
2 Peter 3
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
How was this accomplished?
Acts 1:16
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
2 Peter 1
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Prophecy (the Bible) is explicitly a work of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost, in the KJV).
Does that mean that everyone who calls himself prophet, or teacher, is also inspired by the Holy Spirit?
2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Clearly, NO!
How should we attempt to discern which is of God, and which is not? Search the scriptures, daily, and receive the word with readiness.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Please note that it says "the scriptures." It does not say "the scriptures" AND whatever else we think is good.
I am aware that LDS holds that the writings of Joseph Smith ALSO constitute "scripture." I am also aware that some LDS claim that LDS doctrines are to be found in the Bible. Certainly, some LDS doctrines are similar, or at "least sound like," orthodox Christian doctrines. Unfortunately, those doctrines which are distinctive to the LDS are not to be found in the Bible. The best that can be said is that, if one begins with LDS doctrines, one can read into, or distort, the plain meaning of the Bible, to sort of accommodate those docrtrines. They could never be found in the Bible, absent the LDS distinctive writings.
Thus, we have a case wherein the Bible and "something else" contradict each other. One must choose either the one, or the other. If the LDS distinctive writings are "the word of God," then the Bible isn't. If the Bible is the word of God, then the LDS writings are not.
Now, it will be said that the Holy Spirit has confirmed, to all LDS, that the LDS writings ARE, in fact, inspired of God.
This concept constitutes a very serious error. Recall that, above, we have seen that the Bible is a work of the Holy Spirit. There is a certain singularity ascribed to the work of the Holy Spirit:
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mark 3:29
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
Luke 12:10
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
" blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven." This is the only sin (of which I am aware) which "shall not be forgiven." But, what, one will say, constitutes this sin. Many and varied answers have been given to this question, but this is what the Bible says:
Matthew 12
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
The Pharisees said that Jesus had cast out demons, by "the prince of devils." Jesus said He had done it " by the Spirit of God."
Mark 3
22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Luke 11
15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Although these last two instances are not as explicit, there are clear parallels. Whatever else may be encompassed by the phrase "Blasphemy against the holy Spirit," there is no question that (at the very least) it means: saying that the work of the Holy Spirit is actually the work of the devil.
Now, I state that the Bible is true, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit; and anything which is in opposition to the clear meaning of the Bible is not true, and not the work of the Holy Spirit.
Are you willing to state that the LDS writings are true, and the work of the Holy Spirit; and that anything which is in opposition to the LDS writings is not true, and not the work of the holy Spirit?
Would that not constitute "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?" If one starts with the position that anything can supercede the Holy Bible, (which constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) then how could such a person, when asking "the Holy Spirit" to give them a sign that their concept was true, should they presume that their answer came from the Holy Spirit?
Put another way, If one receives a "spiritual" confirmation to a question which constitutes blasphemy in itself, is it reasonable to assume that that "spiritual " confirmation is from He against whom he/she has just committed the unforgivable sin? The Holy Spirit will never "confirm" lies or blasphemy, or rebellion. The devil loves all of these, and is the father of lies.
To the challenge that God would never send another spirit, if we ask for the Holy Spirit, please consider posts 396, and 481, of this thread.
DG
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