Quote:
Originally Posted by Awoken
I agree, but that's a pretty vague statement without any supporting context, and the medium we're using to communicate with each other doesn't help much with that. Could you clarify?
(I feel like I could be taking this in an over-defensive/passive-aggressive way when that was probably not how it was actually intended.)
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While I agree that the response might be more like what Pontius Pilate said "what is truth?" I do think that if you begin to look at the source of the statement — and not only the single verse, but its surroundings — you might begin to see what it could mean.
Jesus said "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." So we see that the truth will set you free. But first you have to come to know the truth. And the truth is not simply found in digging around in the Bible, or even in this forum. It comes as a result of holding to Jesus' teaching.
So where are Jesus' teachings and what are they? Love God. Love others (all others — even the unlovable and the willful sinners). Pursue righteousness (hunger and thirst for it). Seek first the kingdom of God.
Nowhere does it say to wait for enough dispensing. Even abiding has a predecessor (read the whole passages in John, not just the key verses or parts of verses).
This is far from a complete listing of what brings the truth. But as it comes, it will set you free. Free from condemnation by God or by man. Free from bondage to sin. Free from the bondage to wrong beliefs about God and the church. It will not be overnight. Even if you leave the Local Churches, whay they taught will not leave you as quickly. You will be finding its influences for a long time. I was there for 14.5 years and now almost twice that long later I still find little bits in my thinking.