Again my humble and many thanks to the Author and Publisher. John B.
1) In what tragic state of ignorance did Paul find the people of Athens?
Acts 17:22-23 "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."
NOTE: Ever since Charles Darwin's book in 1948, "Origin of species" it's been very "Fashionable" among the "Educated Elites", to dismiss the Bible and its meanings, but I ask "What other source does mankind have to show all of humanity, the pathway to salvation"? There is none other, Just as with God, "There is none other"! The evolutionists have no hope, of life beyond the grave, so I ask, "Why do we witness so many suicides, in our nation, is because they are filled with hope? Especially among our teens? " Think SELAH!
Acts 17:24-28 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
NOTE (JB) Italic emphasis are mine, make a note of them please!
2) In contrast to their uncertainty what striking affirmation did Paul make at the time?
2 Timothy 1:12 " For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
William Temple, "Nature,Man, and God" p.54. "The heart of religion is not an opinion about God, such as philosophy might reach as the conclusion of its argument; it is a personal relationship with God. { and YOU, and ME!}
E.G.White: "Our condition through sin is unnatural and the power that restores us must be Supernatural, else it has no value. There is but power that can break the hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God in Jesus Christ. Only through the blood of the Crucified One is there cleansing from sin. His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of aour fallen nature." "THE MINISTRY OF HEALING" P.428.
Note(jb) Those who have read many of my blogs know that God removed via Christ Jesus, my addiction of 40+ years to Tobacco, after I threw it all away, right then and there, I have not ever absentmindedly reached for another fix ever since, Thanks and glory be to The Father through Christ! Thus how can anyone convince me that God is none existing?
3) How did Paul express his desire for others?
Ephesians 5:14-17 "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, [the spiritually dead]and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
Troy Organ- "The Fascination of the terrible," Religion in Life, Vol. 10, No.3, p. 372. " A philosophy of religion must include and conform to all the facts of life. It cannot look at the world through rose-colored glasses, nor can it be blind to any fact of the human experience. It cannot limit itself, for example to the intellect and exclude the feelings, Religion is life. To be adequate as an interpretation of life a philosophy of religion must have something to say about every serious element of man's experience. It must take into account all the possible experiences that man can meet between birth and the grace.."
NOTE (JB) the Bible and the Bible only will, and can, do this!
4) Can the unaided human mind, and reasoning, attain to a knowledge of God?
Job 36:26-27 "Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof:"
NOTE (JB) When did human science finally "Discover" the cycle of rain? In the 17th Century! But here Job explains it, can YOU, dear reader, explain this fact? Job, the name means Persecuted, has a few more such scientific gems in his book, can you find them? Yes, because ALL wisdom comes from above.....
1 Kings 3:28 "And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment." [ Solomon]
5) Why cannot we search out God in the same way that we study natural phenomena?
A) God cannot be apprehend by by the physical faculties. John 5:37 "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. "
B) The finite mind cannot comprehend the Infinite God. Ecclesiastes 7:24 "That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?"
C) Sinful man cannot approach God: Exodus 33:20-23 "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. "
NOTE(JB) Even heard the hymnal "He Hideth Me in the Cleft of the Rock"? This song is founded upon this passage, but know that Christ Jesus IS OUR ROCK upon Whom ALL true churches must be founded!
6) Though man cannot find out God, what does God offer to do for man?
Proverbs 1:23 "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." Job 33:16 "Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,"
NOTE(JB) "Turn you at my reproof".... This is a Conditional Promise, it is depending upon your fee-will to obey Him! As your relationship deepens you'll find that you begin to Love Your Father in heaven, and love make us all want to obey Him! As He is, and uses only, but Love and Truth!
7). Through what channels does God make Himself known to man?
A) Trough His Works: Romans 1:20 "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ... Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy-work."
B) Through inspired people: Hebrews 1:1-2 "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"
NOTE(JB) Thus Christ CREATED ADAM and Eve, and all things in the Universe! [John 1:1-3,14. ]
C)Through Jesus! 1 John 5:20-21 " And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."
NOTE(JB) What is an idol? ANYTHING one puts between God and self! Even self can be an idol! If one insist on living life, "Doing it MY WAY"
D) Through the Holy Spirit----1 John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.------John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
NOTE(JB): The Holy Spirit, The Holy Ghost, The Spirit of Truth, The Comforter, are all one of the same deity the Bible calls HE! Therefore HE the Holy Spirit can not be though of, as some do, a Force!
8) Why do so many fail to apprehend God?----- 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 " But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
NOTE(JB): Sorry, there are many who claim to be "Christian" but are so in name, only but not in deed nor speech! If they were true Christ men and woman, they'd study the Bible and not be followers of Rome------
Romans 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?NOTE(JB) The Bible says the Sabbath, is the Seventh day, yet most obey Rome holding Sunday, the FIRST DAY as sacred! To who ye obey, ye serve! We cannot serve both God and man! THINK Genesis 2:1-3: Exodus 20:7-11.
Mark 2:28 "Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath."
Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:
NOTE(JB) Do you dear reader see the word "JEW" in Mark 2:27 th verse? For ALL MEN! The Sabbath is not for the Jews, yet they are with the few that DO KEEP to His Law, and not the law of men!
9) On what conditions is the Spiritual discernment given?---
A) 1 Corinthians 2:14 " But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned"
B) Faith. " But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.:
NOTE: F.S. Webster, "Christ and the Comforter." p. 31. "Those who refuse to believe without scientific demonstration show they misunderstand the nature and purpose of faith. A forced belief will not bring mankind nearer to God. But we do not in the least degree escape from these difficulties, but rather multiply them, when we abandon faith. The difficulties of infidelity are greater that the difficulties of faith. It is never more reasonable to believe, than to ,doubt; but reason will never compel faith."
E.Y. Mullins, "Why Faith is Christianity True? p. 273 "Faith is not the antithesis of thought, but only of sight. Faith is an act of the will relating you to new realities, new objects. Act as if the invisible Christ were present and accessible, and you will not be met by vacancy. He will respond and make manifest His response to you."
Romans 10:17 " So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
C) Readiness to obey. Proverbs 3:32 "For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous."
10) What are some of the blessings which a knowledge of God brings to us?
A) Peace. Job 22:21 "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. "
B). JOY: Psalms 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
Note: Yes the world is full of pleasures, but how little is the joy? The appearance of happiness is but a cloak to conceal an aching heart, a feeble attempt to escape from sorrow, {JB via drugs, booze, or tobacco or sex} all of which are sapping the life of mankind. How different is the joy of knowing God! It is not superficial and transient, but deep and enduring!"
C). Understanding: Hosea 6:3 "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."
NOTE(JB) Rains former and Latter, are as the rains for the garden after seeding, and again just before harvest to fully ripen the crops, that are US! Rains come from the Holy Spirit to teach us in all Truth IF WE ALLOW!
Philippians 1:6 " Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" NOTE(JB) a promise all can claim!
D). COMFORT: 2 Corinthians 1:4 " Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
E) COMFORT & HOPE: 2 Timothy 1:12 " For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
11) What supreme blessing does the knowledge of God bring to the believers?----John 17:1-4 "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."
12) What urgent call therefore comes to us all?-----Isaiah 55:6 "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"
NOTE(JB) God loves each one of us, enough so that if we reject Him, He will not bother that one.
Note: God is infinitely willing and desirous of bestowing His companionship upon us. Tenderly He pleads for us to come to Him. He will not force an entrance into the sanctum of the soul if we do not wish to know Him, but he knocks at our heart's door, and if we will but open our heart's door, and if we will open to Him, He will come in and abide with us."
13. How should we respond to the call of God? Psalms 27:8 "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."
Note: To know Him, is to love, to talk to and with Him, to tell Him He is our joy, and to speak too Him of all our joys as well as sorrows, hurts and pains, Yet He knows all our needs before we ask. We can feel the power of His arm to support and uphold us in times of trail. How can we reject such a grand invitation of support and so deep a love?
14) What benediction does Peter pronounce upon believers? 2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen"
. 2 Peter 1:2-3 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"
Thanking YOU for your time.
NEXT: "DOES GOD CARE"? 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Comments? Questions? at servant@frontier.com John B.
Need MORE? Visit your seventh-day Adventist church any Saturday/Sabbath @ 9-10 A M. Learn just much Jesus cares and loves you!
Other sites: amazingdiscoveries.org: aftv.org: blbn.org all have streaming video.
jb..
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