"the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" part of 1 Peter 5:8 KJV

[blackbird]

We see this a lot in comments under this thread.  Then there is the one who constantly attacks God with outlandish, false names and comments.  I'm sure God certainly doesn't need me to defend him, but some truths about God should be said to clarify what the truth is in the midst of the mud being thrown out.

I will state a bit from the famous book by John Calvin, one of the great Reformation leaders headquartered in 16th century Geneva.  The book is called Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I - IV.

"In particular, the miserable ruin into which the revolt of the first man has plunged us, compels us to turn our eyes upwards; not only that while hungry and famishing we may thence ask what we want, but being aroused by fear may learn humility. For as there exists in man something like a world of misery, and ever since we were stript of the divine attire our naked shame discloses an immense series of disgraceful properties every man, being stung by the consciousness of his own unhappiness, in this way necessarily obtains at least some knowledge of God.

Thus, our feeling of ignorance, vanity, want, weakness, in short, depravity and corruption, reminds us (see Calvin on John 4:10), that in the Lord, and none but He, dwell the true light of wisdom, solid virtue, exuberant goodness.

We are accordingly urged by our own evil things to consider the good things of God; and, indeed, we cannot aspire to Him in earnest until we have begun to be displeased with ourselves. For what man is not disposed to rest in himself? Who, in fact, does not thus rest, so long as he is unknown to himself; that is, so long as he is contented with his own endowments, and unconscious or unmindful of his misery? Every person, therefore, on coming to the knowledge of himself, is not only urged to seek God, but is also led as by the hand to find him. 

On the other hand, it is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself. For (such is our innate pride) we always seem to ourselves just, and upright, and wise, and holy, until we are convinced, by clear evidence, of our injustice.… vileness, folly, and impurity. Convinced, however, we are not, if we look to ourselves only, and not to the Lord also —He being the only standard by the application of which this conviction can be produced. For, since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, any empty semblance of righteousness is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself. And since nothing appears within us or around us that is not tainted with very great impurity, so long as we keep our mind within the confines of human pollution, anything which is in some small degree less defiled delights us as if it were most pure just as an eye, to which nothing but black had been previously presented, deems an object of a whitish, or even of a brownish hue, to be perfectly white.

Nay, the bodily sense may furnish a still stronger illustration of the extent to which we are deluded in estimating the powers of the mind. If, at mid-day, we either look down to the ground, or on the surrounding objects which lie open to our view, we think ourselves endued with a very strong and piercing eyesight; but when we look up to the sun, and gaze at it unveiled, the sight which did excellently well for the earth is instantly so dazzled and confounded by the refulgence, as to oblige us to confess that our acuteness in discerning terrestrial objects is mere dimness when applied to the sun.

Thus too, it happens in estimating our spiritual qualities. So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than demigods. But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity; what strangely imposed upon us under the name of wisdom will disgust by its extreme folly; and what presented the appearance of virtuous energy will be condemned as the most miserable impotence. So far are those qualities in us, which seem most perfect, from corresponding to the divine purity."

------

Another part:

"Here, again, the infinitude of good which resides in God becomes more apparent from our poverty. In particular, the miserable ruin into which the revolt of the first man has plunged us, compels us to turn our eyes upwards; not only that while hungry and famishing we may thence ask what we want, but being aroused by fear may learn humility. For as there exists in man something like a world of misery, and ever since we were stript of the divine attire our naked shame discloses an immense series of disgraceful properties every man, being stung by the consciousness of his own unhappiness, in this way necessarily obtains at least some knowledge of God.

Thus, our feeling of ignorance, vanity, want, weakness, in short, depravity and corruption, reminds us (see Calvin on John 4:10), that in the Lord, and none but He, dwell the true light of wisdom, solid virtue, exuberant goodness. We are accordingly urged by our own evil things to consider the good things of God; and, indeed, we cannot aspire to Him in earnest until we have begun to be displeased with ourselves. For what man is not disposed to rest in himself? Who, in fact, does not thus rest, so long as he is unknown to himself; that is, so long as he is contented with his own endowments, and unconscious or unmindful of his misery?

Every person, therefore, on coming to the knowledge of himself, is not only urged to seek God, but is also led as by the hand to find him."

-from CHAPTER 1. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF OURSELVES MUTUALLY CONNECTED. —NATURE OF THE CONNECTION.

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin   

For the complete section, in fact, for the complete book free online:

The Institutes of the Christian Religion (ccel.org)

This exposition of Biblical truth concerning God shows the depravity and foolishness of some of the nonsense we see on the forum attempting to defame God.  I would urge such posters to repent and seek forgiveness in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior while there is still time.  Turn to His written revelation, the King James Bible (in English) and read and believe the gospels and rest of the Bible.

 

Edited September 22, 2024 by blackbird

[French Patriot]

4 hours ago, blackbird said:

but some truths about God

The Bible is full of references showing how Yahweh is un-knowable, unfathomable and is a mystery way above a human pay scale.

You knowing your Bible and likely having a better search engine, I am sure I do not need to fetch them from both the Old and New Testaments.

Tell us please, how does one recognize a truth from a book that says that the truths of Yahweh cannot be known?

[NAME REMOVED]

 

"You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your Psalms, talk about John 3:16... Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!"

[blackbird]

On 9/21/2024 at 2:30 PM, French Patriot said:

Tell us please, how does one recognize a truth from a book that says that the truths of Yahweh cannot be known?

God is absolutely knowable.  This article explains it.

"Within all of us there exists a strong desire to be known and to know others. The most important Person to know is our Creator. In fact, Jesus taught that eternal life is not just a span of time; it is a relationship: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

The key to truly knowing God is found in what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible. He wants to be known (see Acts 17:27). The problem is our sinfulness. We are all sinful (Romans 3), and we fall short of the standard of holiness required to commune with God. We have “changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." Romans 1:23 KJV   So, in order to truly know God, we must first acknowledge our sin and repent of it (see Acts 3:19).

In turning from sin, we must turn to Jesus Christ, the only Savior from sin. In Jesus alone is salvation (Acts 4:12). We receive Jesus by faith: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12 KJV  Jesus’ death and resurrection provided for the forgiveness of our sin, and He alone is the way to a personal knowledge of God: “6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  John 14:6 KJV

Jesus revealed to us who God is, so in knowing God we must look to Jesus: “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?” (John 14:9–10; cf. John 17:6). Every work that Jesus did was in obedience to the Father in heaven (John 5:19). Every word Jesus spoke was straight from the Father (John 12:49). To know God, we must know Jesus.

Another key ingredient in truly knowing God is reading the Bible, God’s Word. In the Bible we have God’s revelation of His character, His promises, and His will. It is through the Bible that we know that God is "a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" Psalm 86:15 KJV   It is through the Bible that we know that God is a "God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:" Deuteronomy 10:17 KJV   It is through the Bible that we know that God is "17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. "  1 Timothy 1:17 KJV

Truly knowing God also comes through our commitment to obey what we read in the Scriptures. We were saved unto good works (Ephesians 2:10), and, as we obey the Lord, we become part of God’s plan of continuing to reveal Himself to the world. We are salt and light on this earth (Matthew 5:13–14), designed to bring God’s flavor to the world and to serve as a shining light in the midst of darkness. Jesus Himself placed the greatest importance on loving God with all we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–40).

These are the keys to truly knowing God. Of course, those who know God will also be committed to prayer, fellowship with other believers, sincere worship, and walking in the Spirit. Jesus taught His disciples about the Holy Spirit, contrasting the world’s ignorance of Him with the disciples’ knowledge: “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." 
John 14:17  KJV. It is through the Spirit of God: “15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: " Romans 8:15, 16  KJV Through Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, our lives can be filled with God, and we can experience the joy of truly knowing Him."

What is the key to truly knowing God? | GotQuestions.org

Edited September 23, 2024 by blackbird

[French Patriot]

On 9/21/2024 at 11:22 PM, blackbird said:

These are the keys to truly knowing God.

First. One must recognize that Yahweh is a genocidal prock of a God and quite evil.

I do not blame you for ignoring the bible that says we cannot fathom that priock because he is just too evil.

P.S. Substitutional punishment is quite immoral, so you may not want to apply that vile notion to Jesus' thinking.

[oops]

On 9/24/2024 at 6:55 AM, French Patriot said:

First. One must recognize that Yahweh is a genocidal prock of a God and quite evil.

 

 

If God was who you think he is, you would have suffered an unpleasant death some time ago.

[French Patriot]

2 hours ago, oops said:

If God was who you think he is, you would have suffered an unpleasant death some time ago.

I see that you do not deny my naming God as evil. You cannot without breaking the first commandment.

Good for you to recognize you cannot do apologetics for him, Hitler or Stalin.

Who do you think I think God is?

You seem to think God male while he was androgynous, just like Adam.

If you know scriptures, tell us who represents Yahweh's feminine side and what she thought of Yahweh having Jesus sacrificed for his own incompetent creating methods?

[oops]

6 hours ago, French Patriot said:

Who do you think I think God is?

You seem to think God male while he was androgynous, just like Adam.

I am not trying to tell you who God is, that is your folly. I am just saying that you are obviously wrong. You would be wise to heed these words attributed to Mark Twain, “It is better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Your verbal diarrhea makes it obvious whether you are a fool or not.

[French Patriot]

11 hours ago, oops said:

I am not trying to tell you who God is, that is your folly. I am just saying that you are obviously wrong. You would be wise to heed these words attributed to Mark Twain, “It is better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Your verbal diarrhea makes it obvious whether you are a fool or not.

Sshhh, fool.

A fool says in his heart, there is no God. A wise man says it out loud. 

I like Twain. He too saw the stupidity of supernatural belief. 

[User]

50 minutes ago, French Patriot said:

Sshhh, fool.

A fool says in his heart, there is no God. A wise man says it out loud. 

I like Twain. He too saw the stupidity of supernatural belief. 

Tell us again what it is you think calling yourself a Gnostic Christian means?

 

[oops]

On 9/24/2024 at 6:55 AM, French Patriot said:

First. One must recognize that Yahweh is a genocidal prock of a God and quite evil.

I do not blame you for ignoring the bible that says we cannot fathom that priock because he is just too evil.

P.S. Substitutional punishment is quite immoral, so you may not want to apply that vile notion to Jesus' thinking.

 

1 hour ago, French Patriot said:

A fool says in his heart, there is no God. A wise man says it out loud. 

I like Twain. He too saw the stupidity of supernatural belief. 

 Seems like you don't know what you believe.

[French Patriot]

21 hours ago, User said:

Tell us again what it is you think calling yourself a Gnostic Christian means?

 

 

[French Patriot]

21 hours ago, oops said:

 Seems like you don't know what you believe.

I know morals and see Christians following immoral tenets, like taking advantage of the punishing of the innocent instead of the guilty.

Do you see Christianity s a moral religion, given that it grew by inquisitions and murder instead of decent arguments?

 

[oops]

A person who hates God, wants to become God, but who doesn't believe in the supernatural. Not a poster child for mental stability. 

[User]

5 hours ago, French Patriot said:

 

This did not answer the question... but hey, you have avoided doing so every time I ask so far... no surprise.