Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted October 9, 2006 Members Posted October 9, 2006 I hear and read a lot about the *truth* being gradually revealed by God to people throughout the ages of generations. I don't understand that. Was the message of salvation sorta lost in the beginning and is only now being understood? I would think that it would've been even more clear in the beginning what with people actually understanding the Greek and other original languages that the scriptures were written in.. I would like to know just what *are* some of the truths that we know now, that the early Christians did not understand? Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Parade Orange Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Paul didnt know Jesus would appear in an exhausting 2 thousand years or more ! From reading his letters to the churches he Knew that Jesus would surley come in his lifetime. He would have chocked at thinking it would be two thousand M O R E of this insane wicked world. Paul had no idea what was to come! He got a sniff but of course relates to his life as a barameter to the future life. I believe ALL the truth will never be totally reveiled! It would be endless learning and an eternal Father Never being totally Known! We will learn and Know HIM forever and we will never cease to be amazed at Him and fall to our feet forever! God turnes me on cause He is Selfless and not selfish. Thats complete love. not thinking of yourself first. The Awful Majesty with the UNIVERSE at the palm of His Hand was selfless instantly when He saw humans falling and gave Himself. What selfless complete PerFect LOVE. I cant comprehend that. Quote All progress in the Spiritual Life is knowing and Loving GOD"there is non upon earth that I desire besides YOU" PS 73:25That perspective changes EVERYTHING-suffering and adversity are the means that makes us hungry for GOD. Disapointments will wean us away wordly occupations. Even sin(when repented of) becomes a mechanism to push us closer to HIM as we experience His Love and Forgiveness.
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted October 9, 2006 Author Members Posted October 9, 2006 I was thinking that the *truth* referred to Christ coming to earth to save people. ::sigh:: ...maybe I'm too basic and simplistic. I know there's lots of things about God and the Bible that I don't understand at all. Isn't the Good News - isn't that the *truth* that sets people free?? geez...I'm totally confused now. (yeah...again) Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
David Koot Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Hi Pam, The early church had a pretty good handle on Bible truth. The church arose out of Judaism, and the Old Testament Scriptures were diligently taught. It was a bit later that the falling away occurred, which has been foretold by Paul the apostle. After the great compromise with the world in the 4th century, truth was obscured, to the point where, eventually, the established church forbade people to have Bibles, since they might find out what the truth really was! Since those dark ages, God has been restoring the knowledge of His Word, step by step over the centuries. Dave Quote
David Koot Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 I was thinking that the *truth* referred to Christ coming to earth to save people . . . Isn't the Good News - isn't that the *truth* that sets people free?? Indeed, it is. Sadly, that is the very truth that was obscured by the apostasy of the established church, which instituted a program of penance, purgatory and indulgences in place of the simplicity of the gospel. In addition, there were other truths about Christ's ministry that were lost sight of. Dave Quote
Moderators Gerr Posted October 9, 2006 Moderators Posted October 9, 2006 "This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean. They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ's suffering and His great glory afterward. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen. They were told that these things would not happen in their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen." 1 Pe 1:10-12 NLT. Gerry Quote
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted October 10, 2006 Author Members Posted October 10, 2006 hmm. okay, I'm gathering that the very early Christians understood the Truth, but God wished to let more generations have access to it? And then, because the Bible came to be unavailable to the general populace, the truth was nearly completely obscured? And the truth has only come back to humanity's grasp slowly? Am I getting close?? Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
David Koot Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 okay, I'm gathering that the very early Christians understood the Truth, but God wished to let more generations have access to it? And then, because the Bible came to be unavailable to the general populace, the truth was nearly completely obscured? And the truth has only come back to humanity's grasp slowly? Am I getting close?? Sounds like a good grasp of the issue, to me. Quote
Moderators Gerr Posted October 10, 2006 Moderators Posted October 10, 2006 Pam, I don't believe that's what the passage is saying. I believe what Peter is saying is that even the prophets did not all understand everything they were prophesying about. Daniel tells us he was perplexed by some of the things he saw in vision. Jesus said there were things He couldn't tell the disciples because they "couldn't bear them now." Jn 16:12. Gerry Quote
Parade Orange Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 I have to disagree with a comment on an earlier post. When I say TRUTH I mean the Truth of today was not reveiled to them. Jesus told them they are alot of things to say but He didnt want to tell them everything. His Children experiencing Global earthquakes and metorites falling into our world. They had no idea! Heck, We still have no idea!!!! Thats when the Real Shaking will happen. when all U HAVE.. is Faith! Quote All progress in the Spiritual Life is knowing and Loving GOD"there is non upon earth that I desire besides YOU" PS 73:25That perspective changes EVERYTHING-suffering and adversity are the means that makes us hungry for GOD. Disapointments will wean us away wordly occupations. Even sin(when repented of) becomes a mechanism to push us closer to HIM as we experience His Love and Forgiveness.
Parade Orange Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 RUDY! O yes! The truth that He came to save pople!!!! yes thats the 'even angels desire to look to'. Yes its all too incredible to Always wrap your mind around that.! Quote All progress in the Spiritual Life is knowing and Loving GOD"there is non upon earth that I desire besides YOU" PS 73:25That perspective changes EVERYTHING-suffering and adversity are the means that makes us hungry for GOD. Disapointments will wean us away wordly occupations. Even sin(when repented of) becomes a mechanism to push us closer to HIM as we experience His Love and Forgiveness.
cardw Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 I have come to believe that it is not a specific doctrinal truth that sets people free, but truth in general sets one free. A commitment to rigorous honesty is a path to truth. When I see a person trying to fit some interpretation of the Bible into current events and extrapolate truth that doesn't fit with what is observed in the world, I don't believe that is being intellectually honest. I find it highly unlikely that God would limit truth to the Bible, particularly if you study and understand how it was put together. And I find it highly improbable that the Bible is the standard of truth since most truth is very complex and language is not able to contain the truth, only a shadow of it or an image of truth. The Bible is in human language and was written over many years by many different culturally biased authors and read by culturally biased readers. It is most often read with the assumption that it makes sense with itself and we end up with some very absurd assumptions about God and the world around us. I wish more Christians would read their critics and understand what the critics are saying and that, many times, it is not based on trying to tear something down, but is based on a search for truth. Jesus gave a very simple method for observing what is true. It is by the fruit, not by the explanation. I see Christians, many times, claiming that the explanation is the truth, not the fruit. Real truth is living. A life lived honestly is living truth. Words are dead reflections of life. Unless you take what you learn and try it out, it never becomes truth. I meet people with all kinds of explanations, but the people I meet who really know how to love reveal to me a connection with something that does not dwell in words. Richard Quote Rich http://tiny.cc/CM2j8
Ron Lambert Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 If the Christians of the Apostolic age--indeed, if the Apostles themselves--had had a complete and perfect knowledge of all the truth (and fully embraced it), would they not have been translated to heaven without seeing death, like Enoch and Elijah? If that generation of the church had understood all that needed to be understood, why did Paul prophesy: "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed." (2 Thess. 2:3-6; NASB) Evidently there was something that God felt yet needed to be revealed, some additional demonstration essential to the Great Controversy. Quote
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