Well I can go back and forth with scripture with you if you want but frankly I’m growing tired of this conversation.
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Well I can go back and forth with scripture with you if you want but frankly I’m growing tired of this conversation.
That went right over my head.It's better than taking sleeping pills! Lol
(Cheerfully withdrawn)Did you duck?
Well, Paul didn't believe in Jesus until he met Him on the road to Damascus.But don't non-believers have to read the Bible first to become believer's, and only then they can accept the spirit of God?
Yeah, think about that pickle of a question.
Paul did read the Bible, the only one that was available for everyone at the time. Paul did know about Jesus and Christianity, since he was persecuting the early Church before his conversion. So he just swapped out his old belief for the new Christian one. You can do that you know (For those who wish to escape an old belief that the human themself can not endure)Well, Paul didn't believe in Jesus until he met Him on the road to Damascus.
Even though Paul was very learned in the Torah studying under the greatest thinkers..
he still didn't know him until Jesus made himself known to him.
You don't have to read the Bible to be met by the Lord on the road of life.
Sometimes reading comes after in order to gain a better understanding.
In Paul's case, he wrote the New Testament.
Why would he do that and make himself a target?Paul did read the Bible, the only one that was available for everyone at the time. Paul did know about Jesus and Christianity, since he was persecuting the early Church before his conversion. So he just swapped out his old belief for the new Christian one. You can do that you know (For those who wish to escape an old belief that the human themself can not endure)
How did Saul become Paul except it for the finger of God. Not the finger of God, just the effect of a belief. Once a belief takes control of certain sensory operations in the brain, it then has the power to manufacture false sensory information (Internally or externally)Why would he do that and make himself a target?
Saul was pretty well known and must have been up in the ranks.
Not only did he go about imprisoning and killing the opposition, he was on his way to Damascus to lobby the authorities to take out even more.
And somewhere what, he had an epiphany that if he became the enemy which was growing daily, he could win them over?
He ended up most of his life in prison. He could of roamed rome and had everything. Wealth, fame, he could have been another Governor like Herod.
If Saul truly believed he was doing God's service by destroying those that "appeared" to be blaspheming by following "another god" Jesus,
What would cause him to change sides?
What profit is there if a man shall gain the whole world and lose his soul?
3 times this question is asked..
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
I went down this road with Paul a good many times. If he wasn't the anti-christ, I didn't know who was.
I had a thread going at one time to air my grievences about Paul.
And the only way to get to know someone is to put yourself in their shoes.
What would it profit him?
So word gets around town that there is this guy who claims he is the son of God and he is performing miracles.
And you have other nations like roman's asking Jesus to heal their son or daughter, even by distance.
You don't have to come to my house, just say the word and I believe my child will be healed.
Did Roman's follow the Jewish faith? Did they study the Torah?
Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Centurion: an officer in the Roman army
I know the question is, can one be filled with the spirit of God having not read the Bible?
And I use Paul as an example who didn't have a bible to go by only the Torah in which he was zealous to defend.
I think something happened to him the day they stoned Stephen. Maybe a conscience or perhaps a stirring of mercy.
Jesus said Paul was a chosen vessel. Another brand plucked out of the fire.
And at what time was Paul filled with the spirit of God?
While he was yet blind for 3 days, or after the scales fell from his eyes?
In that while we were yet sinners...
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Paul didn't read this, he wrote this.
And I believe everyone has their own books to write. Their own testimony about how they came to believe in Jesus Christ.
And the NT is mainly Paul's testimony, of how he went from anti-christ to born again.
And everythng he learned along the way.
Christianity isn't something you read in a book. It's a way of life.
Just some people rather stay in school and get scholarships than to get a job in the real world.
You got book knowledge and you got street knowledge. And sometimes they align.
But unless you put that book knowledge to the test, and walk the walk, ...
But can you walk the walk before you read the book?
I believe people do it everyday.
just thinking...
Hugs
(having trouble typing, sorry it took so long for a response)
So his belief caused him to go blind for 3 days and only have sight once instructed to see Ananias who made the scales fall from his eyes.How did Saul become Paul except it for the finger of God. Not the finger of God, just the effect of a belief. Once a belief takes control of certain sensory operations in the brain, it then has the power to manufacture false sensory information (Internally or externally)
What we hear about those spiritual experiences from whatever source are exactly the evidence of a human brain under the influence of a belief. Since our brain operates by chemical and electrical impulses, I couldn't see why that environment would not have it's own viral invaders.
Stop hoping and do something constructive, like get involved. Is your hope going to help me find some place to live, or keep me safe when I am asleep in the middle of the night, will your hope buy me some nicotine replacement when I have no money available.So his belief caused him to go blind for 3 days and only have sight once instructed to see Ananias who made the scales fall from his eyes.
I can understand the sensory operation, but there are other factors.
Like who told Paul where to go, or how to find him?
And what are the scales.. imaginary?
I think it was more than just a belief. There was physical evidence.
You have to lose your mind in order to find it.
I don't believe that belief is false sensory information.
It can be negative or positive...
I take that back.. my mother-in-law is in the early stages of dementia, and she is claiming she sees people on the walls.
She believes she sees them, but the image is false...
maybe...
Anywhooo...
How are you today?
I hope you are doing well.
Maybe you would like to stop by the fellowship lounge and hangout a bit?
We have a game going called I don't know about you.. and you need to finish it.
Or I just opened a coffee Burrista and you can order anything you like and I will do my best to make it for you.
SMILE
HUGS
I have so many replies, I can't decide which to answer first.Stop hoping and do something constructive, like get involved. Is your hope going to help me find some place to live, or keep me safe when I am asleep in the middle of the night, will your hope buy me some nicotine replacement when I have no money available.
I wish you'd tell something about yourself so I would know what to hope for, eh?I hope and I'll be praying for you are the two "get out of jail free cards"