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Originally Posted by Evangelical
This idea of reading the Bible to get the Spirit is false for a few more reasons.
1. The Pharisees were diligent and loved the Scriptures and knew them very well, yet Jesus said:
John 5:39 "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,".
Jesus stated right there that knowledge of the Scriptures does not give eternal life, and since the Spirit is the Spirit of (eternal) life, we can conclude that knowledge of the Scriptures does not give the Spirit.
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By this logic we shouldn't drive cars because many people have been killed in car accidents. We shouldn't go swimming because many people have drowned to death. etc. etc. Jesus did not rebuke them for studying the Bible, he rebuked them for not coming to Him because the scriptures they were studying testified of Him. What was your point, that reading the scriptures doesn't give you life, rather it gives you the testimony of Jesus? If that is your point it seems it should have been included in the title, otherwise the title will very likely be misunderstood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
2. The Bible itself says that scripture's purpose is to make us wise, not give us the Spirit:
2 Tim 3:15 "From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
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So then your point is that reading the Bible doesn't give us life, it gives us wisdom? If that is your point it seems it should have been included in the title, otherwise the title will very likely be misunderstood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
3. In the Bible, believers received the Spirit the moment they heard the gospel and believed, not read the Bible (Acts 10:44-47) and
Acts 19:2 "and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.""
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Right this portion shows the deficiency in the gospel they heard and in the salvation that they received. So if your point is that "reading the scripture doesn't give you life but it does result in a complete salvation" then why didn't you say that. Your title is very likely to be misunderstood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
4. When the apostle Paul had his conversion experience, he was blinded, obviously he was not reading the Scripture to get the Spirit.
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What? You are talking about a man who has spent years of his life studying the scriptures but because he probably wasn't reading at the moment he was riding on a horse you conclude we don't need to read scripture? This is absurd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
5. Jesus breathed His Spirit on the disciples and did not tell them to read the Scriptures to get the Spirit.
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So then what was the purpose for these same disciples writing the gospels and epistles or Revelation?
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Originally Posted by Evangelical
6. When the disciples were waiting for the outpouring of the Spirit, they were not reading their Bibles fervently to get filled with the Spirit, but waiting as the Lord told them to (Acts 2).
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Oh, so you aren't talking about fellowshipping over the word, you aren't talking about meditating on the word, or praying over the word. You assume that no one had yet to write down what had taken place over the last few years, and even if they had it wasn't part of the canon yet. What do you think they were praying, meditating on, and fellowshipping about?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
7. A large percentage of the world's Christians do not have or have access to the Bible in their own language. Does it mean they cannot be filled with the Spirit? Of course not. The Christians who arguably need the Spirit the most (in persecuted or underground churches) may not even have a bible! Does this mean they are helpless? Of course not.
8. We find no example in the New Testament of anyone reading their Scriptures to get the Holy Spirit or be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The only true and sure fire way to be filled with the Spirit is to ask!
Luke 11:13 "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!""
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That is terrible. A large percentage don't have the Bible in their own language? Can you be a little more specific. What percentage don't have access to a Bible? Thanks