Whether believers can gain faith by reading the Bible is the topic, today. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Thomas” (Level 1 with 59 points, a member since January 19, 2014) posted the following:
Will I have more faith in God if I read the bible?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1: 1-5, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Point of Knowledge? (07/06/2014); Points on Bible Study (06/28/2014); What Faith Makes Possible (04/25/2014); Bible and Spirit (04/26/2014); Personality? (04/27/2014); The Nature of Scripture (03/27/2014); Divine Sleep (03/28/2014); The Limit to Believing? (09/16/2013); All Things Possible? (09/17/2013); Believing Everything? (11/23/2012); How To Have Conviction (11/24/2012); Reading Only The Red Part (11/19/2012); According to the Eternal Purpose (11/20/2012)
“Thomas”, here are a few points to consider for full Christian understanding:
(1.) GOD is a spirit who has put forth all created beings and living creatures as well as the spheres of life wherein they exist, and the conditions and terms for their duration. Faith is a spirit substance within the makeup of GOD that is distinct, yet, inseparable from other divine matter such as holiness, joy, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin. The living all contain some measure of divinity (we say, breath of life, imparted spirit, the Holy Spirit, utterance) through operations of GOD at Creation.
(2.) Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, believers receive a fresh endowment of spirit content through their active acceptance and acknowledgement of his function and identity as the Word. The Word is an aspect of full divine person (we say, the GODhead), and is an agency (some say, incarnation) whereby full divinity appears and is revealed.
(3.) When the disciples asked Jesus to give them more faith (he had chided them saying, O ye of little faith), Jesus challenged them to understand that the issue is not about measurable amount or quantity. Because faith is an aspect of all that GOD is, even where we have faith as little as a grain of mustard seed, believers may move mountains in agreement with divine order and eternal purpose. Faith must be directed and expressed through actions as well as words. Thus, hearers also are to be doers of the word.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) When Jesus appeared in the earth, many already had sacred knowledge from the holy writings, however, they were unable to correctly recognize prophecy, or to realize that the ministry of Jesus continued earlier workings of GOD through promise and proclamation. On more than one occasion Jesus reprimanded hearers (e.g., the chosen disciples; those attending the synagogue; the priests and Levites in the Temple at Jerusalem) for their lack of faith, yet, not for lack of knowledge from the scriptures, or concerning religious customs, rituals, and traditions.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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