(01/09/2017) The Two-edged Sword

Today, reply is made to a question on conversion and the power of the Bible.  The Bible is a library and collection of holy writings that have been carefully examined and preserved on the basis of their oneness without sameness of spirit content and sacred origin.  In addition to divine law, legal covenants, sacred history, and tested counsel, the Scriptures share sacred knowledge of the operations and processes of GOD along with promises, prophecies, and eternal purpose.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “daniel” (Level 2 with 338 points, a member since February 13, 2007) posted the following:

What is the power of the Bible?

Communist Encounters Christ
Zhao is one of China's foremost experts on Christianity. A former Communist Party member and atheist, Zhao converted after reading the Bible.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.  And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;  Whom Jason hath received:  and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.  And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.  And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:  who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.  But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.  (Acts 17:  5-13, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Conversion is by GOD? (08/23/2016); A Christian Dictatorship? (03/05/2015); The Scriptures and Perfection? (10/27/2014); All Who Read Convert? (10/10/2014); Not Told in Advance? (10/11/2014); The Nature of Scripture (03/27/2014); Divine Sleep (03/28/2014); About Conversion (09/03/2012); By Grace (09/04/2012)

“daniel”, many mature Christian believers rely upon the Bible as the most legitimate record of utterances (e.g., admonitions, commands, proclamations, promises) provided from GOD using patriarchs, judges, prophets, and kings as well as apostles, trusted spokespersons, and anointed witnesses.  So to speak, the Scriptures make GOD who is spirit, knowable, known, and “visible” to created beings and living creatures by sharing a divine perspective and view of sacred operations, eternal purpose, and sovereign will using thousands of events, within thousands of lives, over the course of thousands of years.  More than merely authority, sound counsel, sacred law, testimony (i.e., evidence of things unseen), and a standard for weighing truth, the Bible itself should be regarded as an appearance of holy substance that overcomes, replaces, and surpasses the flaws and limits of the flesh seen through academic and secular knowledge, dependence upon military force, politics, traditions, and the influence and operations of sin in the lives of mankind.  Through the Scriptures, born-again believers receive deposits of spirit matter from the makeup of GOD that nourish their “growing up again” to maturity.  Included are certainty, faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, hope, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Consider the following:

(1.)  Deuteronomy 4:  2, King James Version (KJV):  2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(2.)  Deuteronomy 9:  9-11, KJV:  9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:  10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.  11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  Luke 24:  15-27, KJV:  15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.  16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.  17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?  18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?  19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:  20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.  21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel:  and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.  22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;  23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.  24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said:  but him they saw not.  25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC