Comments on: Two Mistakes in Bible Interpretation

By: Joshua Tilghman

Joshua Tilghman — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:05:54 +0000

But the bigger question is, how do we know that we are His? Just because we believe? Although in one sense I agree, I think we have to probe a lot deeper. Bible interpretation is so difficult because we are so removed from the time and true intent of the original author. Usually we miss the deeper esoteric understanding of the Bible in favor of a more literal interpretation, and this causes big problems because the spirit gives life but the letter kills.

By: Robert Hagedorn

Robert Hagedorn — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:54:29 +0000

But is Saint Augustine’s exegesis of the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Genesis correct? No one seems able to answer this question. Too difficult for modern minds I guess. Do a search: First Scandal.

By: James S

James S — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:39:17 +0000

Yeah, I completely agree with all you have put forth.
It follows along with my earlier replies where I say that the cross transcends time.
God could apply all the benefits of the finished work of Christ to the OT believer of the promise that Christ would come.
Mainly because if they truly believed the promise, that was enough since all of God’s promises always are fulfilled eventually. So their forward-looking belief in the future coming of Christ to completely, once and for all take away their sins and justify them, qualified them to be equal to those of us who are looking back-ward and believe that it all actually happened.

The only real difference betweeen NT believers & OT believers is that we understand more and see things more clearly.
At least some of us do

(Some of the OT believers may very well have understood things better than a lot of NT believers today, sad to say.)

By: David L

David L — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:24:38 +0000

Thanks again for the thought-provoking and helpful blogs.

I think you need to work on and clarify #1. You appear to be saying that if something is true of believers now then it must be just as 100% true in the past, even if the Bible does not say so explicitly. But then you quote commentators some of whom seem to see it differently. They say that what is true of believers now was also true of OT believers but not to the same degree: the Spirit’s work was not at the same level; the believers’ experience of Him was less.

On the basis of those commentators’ views, therefore, it seems to me at least possible that it’s inappropriate to speak of OT believers as “indwelt” because God has used that phrase to describe the Spirit’s work in believers since Pentecost.

By: Ron Krumpos

Ron Krumpos — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:16:41 +0000

In his new book “Love Wins” Rob Bell seems to say that loving and compassionate people, regardless of their faith, will not be condemned to eternal hell just because they do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Concepts of an afterlife vary between religions and among divisions of each faith. Here are three quotes from “the greatest achievement in life,” my free ebook on comparative mysticism:

(46) Few people have been so good that they have earned eternal paradise; fewer want to go to a place where they must receive punishments for their sins. Those who do believe in resurrection of their body hope that it will be not be in its final form. Few people really want to continue to be born again and live more human lives; fewer want to be reborn in a non-human form. If you are not quite certain you want to seek divine union, consider the alternatives.

(59) True mystics transcend apparent manifestations of the theatrical production called “this life.” Theirs is not simply a search for meaning, but discovery of what is, i.e. the Real underlying the seeming realities. Their objective is not heaven, gardens, paradise, or other celestial places. It is not being where the divine lives, but to be what the divine essence is here and now.

(80) [referring to many non-mystics] Depending on their religious convictions, or personal beliefs, they may be born again to seek elusive perfection, go to a purgatory to work out their sins or, perhaps, pass on into oblivion. Lives are different; why not afterlives? Beliefs might become true.

Rob Bell asks us to reexamine the Christian Gospel. People of all faiths should look beyond the letter of their sacred scriptures to their spiritual message. As one of my mentors wrote “In God we all meet.”

By: Jackson Baer

Jackson Baer — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:03:25 +0000

The Bible does not teach eternal punishment. God’s love & mercy endures forever. Does it really endure forever or only in this life? How can it be Good News if it doesn’t translate to the afterlife? God will still judge but He will not punish forever. He’s a better father than we are, right?

1 Tim 4:10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

That’s like saying track is for everyone, especially for those who like to run. Salvation is for everyone, especially those who believe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjRcO1Sm0HU