Good comments and reminder to all of us who call ourselves Christians.

Vicki

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2004 4:23 PM
Subject: The Bible Is The Word Of God


> The United States has survived for over 200 years because of its
> constitution.  To be more precise, this country has survived based
> upon the words of the constitution.  No one today, unless they
> proclaim to be an atheist, lives without believing in some word of
> somebody's.  you may not believe in the Word of the Bible, or what
> is referred to as the Word Of God, but you believe in somebody's
> word.  In other words, you haven't just made up your own idea but
> what you believe and live by came from someone else and what they
> believe.  In the case of the United States citizen, he believes in
> the basic wording of the constitution.  Yes, he can choose not to
> believe in everything the constitution says but he cannot, if he
> plans to live in this country, choose to break its laws without
> suffering the results.  Interestingly enough, the U S constitution
> protects your rights to believe any way you wish but again, if you
> break its laws, the government upon which the constitution is
> based, will punish you.  In short, the constitution of the United
> States is the final word.  Of course, we have a supreme court who
> decides on matters of application of the interpretation of the
> constitution but again, the constitution is the final word upon
> what is right and wrong for U S citizens.  the Bible works in the
> same way.  it is God's final Word on all that governs a Christians
> life.  It is not a matter of personal interpretation but it may be
> a matter of personal application based upon your interpretive
> methods.  Many people today think you can interpret the Bible any
> way you wish.  This is untrue.  The Bible interprets itself, if
> studied systematically, and thus the personal application can
> become standardized.  For example, the Bible clearly states how
> one becomes a Christian, that is, the doctrine of eternal
> salvation is easily discerned from Scriptural evidence.  Those who
> have chosen to tamper with Biblical interpretive methods sometimes
> think that the only way you can become a Christian and enjoy a
> relationship with God is to join their church.  Of course, The
> bible does not say what church is the right church but it does say
> who is the right and only way to salvation and how you experience
> that salvation.  Then, too, the Bible clearly states the existence
> of Heaven and Hell.  Some may choose to believe there is no Heaven
> or Hell but this does not negate the validity of the Biblical
> record and God's feelings on the matter.  It is also true that
> some pick and choose what they wish to believe from the Bible but
> those that do so are simply stating they do not wish to live by
> everything they find in the Bible.  This is, of course, their
> right.  Those who choose to believe only certain parts of the
> bible likewise refuse to except the biblical evidence that the
> Word of God is inspired by the writers whom God chose to express
> his Word.  If one, however, does not accept the Bible as the Word
> of God, then license is given to pick and choose as one wills.
> If, on the other hand, one comes to the realization that the Bible
> is truly the Word of God, his view of the Bible will be far
> different in all matters of daily life.  One may ask, then why are
> there so many different interpretations and so many different
> religions.  The answer is obvious.  Is the bible the Word of God?
> Those who believe the Bible was just written by men who didn't
> have anything better to do with their time will likely just think
> its a nice book but nothing to take seriously.  Those who pick and
> choose what they like, and don't like, will be confused in
> personal application of Biblical principals and doctrine.  Those
> who claim biblical authority, that is, those who except by faith
> the bible is the Word of God, will begin to attempt to understand
> Scriptural considerations as it applies to their daily life.  In
> other words, they will take the bible and then apply it personally
> to their life.  Another way of saying this is considering the
> Bible as a measuring device.  The Bible believing Christian
> measures his life based upon what the Bible says.  If the bible,
> therefore, says thou shalt not steal, he will believe stealing is
> wrong.  If it says, thou shalt not commit adultery, he will
> likewise believe it is wrong to commit adultery.  Of course, I
> could continue by offering dozens of other such ideas but by now
> you get my meaning.  The real issue is this.  Do you believe the
> Bible to be the infallible inerrant Word of God.  If not, we have
> no bases for personal application.  If, on the other hand, you say
> that you do believe the Bible is God's eternal Word, then we can
> get down to exactly how the bible is interpreted.  There are valid
> methods of interpretation of the Scriptures just as there are
> scientific methods used to determine fact from theory.  This is
> true when interpreting any language or document.  But who has the
> last word, you say?  God, of course.
>
> Phil.
>
>
> I Flew Kites With Jesus
> www.SafePlaceFellowship.com