Dream
Well-Known Member
I cannot believe I just started a new thread. Again.
In the Bible we know that God is likened to light and that in Him is no darkness at all. If we claim fellowship with God but walk like we are in darkness, then our claim is a lie as we are not living truthfully -- but at the same time, if we claim we are perfected in some way, then we are self deceived and without truth. If we claim that we must be correct on some item, then we claim we are more honest than God, so clearly his truth is not in us.
I do not know if you agree with my paraphrase above of I John 1:5-10, but that is what that was, to point out that all Christians will have mistakes in their teachings. That is fundamental A1 Christianity. Christians must make that plain whenever making a point that they cannot really make a point, so as not to make God's purity less than their own.
This idea is repeated many ways, and what it means is that Christians cannot go by a list of correct statements. This is probably why early Christianity struggled with gnosticism (because of some similarities), and it is also probably why it has been so flexible. There is evidence of a huge emphasis upon Christians admitting at all times to be at least partly wrong about truth. Most especially, let each Christian bear their thorn with pride, because they know not what it is. It is theirs to keep them from being "too elated by the abundance of revelations." Let them hope it is so "that the power of Christ may rest upon them."
"And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb."
I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
In the Bible we know that God is likened to light and that in Him is no darkness at all. If we claim fellowship with God but walk like we are in darkness, then our claim is a lie as we are not living truthfully -- but at the same time, if we claim we are perfected in some way, then we are self deceived and without truth. If we claim that we must be correct on some item, then we claim we are more honest than God, so clearly his truth is not in us.
I do not know if you agree with my paraphrase above of I John 1:5-10, but that is what that was, to point out that all Christians will have mistakes in their teachings. That is fundamental A1 Christianity. Christians must make that plain whenever making a point that they cannot really make a point, so as not to make God's purity less than their own.
This idea is repeated many ways, and what it means is that Christians cannot go by a list of correct statements. This is probably why early Christianity struggled with gnosticism (because of some similarities), and it is also probably why it has been so flexible. There is evidence of a huge emphasis upon Christians admitting at all times to be at least partly wrong about truth. Most especially, let each Christian bear their thorn with pride, because they know not what it is. It is theirs to keep them from being "too elated by the abundance of revelations." Let them hope it is so "that the power of Christ may rest upon them."
"And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb."
I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- I Corinthians 8:2 If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
- II Corinthians 12:7-9 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- James 1:17-18 Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
- Jude 1:16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, loud-mouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage.
- Ephesians 2:9-10 not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Revelation 21:23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
- Revelation 22:5 And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- II Peter 2:15-16 Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
