Post by Admin on Sept 11, 2024 21:38:28 GMT
This is a simple process of finding truth brought to me by a SDA member of the Church regarding the process of finding truth. How do we find truth in a simple way, taking the Bible as it reads?
Suppose people do not read Greek or Hebrew.
Suppose people cannot read other languages.
Suppose people can't even read English all that well.
Suppose such people want an easy hassle free method of learning truth.
A simple way to investigate this question is to search for all Bible verses with "believe" in it, and look for a common thread in them all:-
131 Bible verses with "believe"
1 Ex 4:1 ¶ And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
Israel would not consider Moses as a "high authority".
2 Ex 4:5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
Israel consider Moses received a "high authority"
3 Ex 4:8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Israel learns to trust "the high authority" by signs and miracles
4 Ex 4:9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. {shall become: Heb. shall be and shall be}
Trust in a "high authority" develops with more miracles and signs.
5 Ex 19:9 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
The "high authority" wants to appear to Israel as a presentation.
6 Nu 14:11 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
Signs and miracles do not make Israel trust in the "high authority". And yet supporters of GOD get such private miracles of His grace from powers every day. In fact every time you pray for a precious promise to be appropriated to you as Jesus power, as your own, as Jesus working in you, it is supernatural all the time, a Divine power is doing what you asked for, going against natural forces, and therefore a private miracle of His grace in you because you asked for it.
7 De 1:32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,
James deals with those who doubt, are double minded, do not trust such power, etc.
8 2Ki 17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
Hard to imagine, many people do not hear GOD talking to them daily via the conscience, via the Holy Spirit. It is as if to them, faith is a silent thing, that serving God is done in absolute silence. God is not dead, says a song, He's alive. And He is really able to talk to you as a friend does to a friend. If you can't hear, trying getting rid of distractions in your ear, get rid of the air pods, the music, and the mobile TV in your hand. The voice is a still small voice, very tiny indeed and easily drowned out by noise.
9 2Ch 20:20 ¶ And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
We in the SDA movement have a prophet whose function is to translate the Hebrew Bible into English, so none of us simple people have no excuse for not understanding Scripture.
10 2Ch 32:15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
Some of us think GOD will provide for us in the end of time? Hezekiah did trust in faith in the Lord, yes, BUT He also did all things He could do as well, such as make fresh water enter the city via a tunnel and made double walls around certain parts of the city.
If God sends believers prophecy, we are supposed to read and do what that prophecy says.
11 Job 9:16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Notice Job considers "hearing" the Lord the same as "seeing" the Lord
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
So via our conscience we hear the voice of the Lord via the Holy Spirit, do we "believe" we have seen the Lord with our eyes?
13 Pr 26:25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. {speaketh...: Heb. maketh his voice gracious}
14 Isa 7:9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. {If...: or, Do ye not believe? it is because ye are not stable}
15 Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. {no...: or, nothing formed of God}
We become witnesses for this "high authority"
17 Hab 1:5 ¶ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
18 Mt 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Notice the man had to trust first in a "high authority" called Jesus.
19 Mt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
20 Mt 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
Trust in a "higher authority"
21 Mt 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Trust in a "higher authority"
22 Mt 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
23 Mt 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
24 Mt 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
26 Mr 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The gospel contains messages from a "higher authority".
28 Mr 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
29 Mr 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
If you lack trust in Jesus as a "higher authority" claim this promise
31 Mr 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
32 Mr 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
33 Mr 11:31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
34 Mr 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
35 Mr 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
36 Mr 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Understanding and speaking new languages would be a miracle in a "high authority"
38 Lu 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
You can stop trusting in a "high authority" during temptation times.
40 Lu 22:67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
41 Lu 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
42 Joh 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
43 Joh 1:12 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: {power: or, the right, or, privilege}
44 Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
45 Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
46 Joh 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
47 Joh 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Obviously one can trust a "high authority" without signs and miracles
49 Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
50 Joh 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Israel failed to trust Moses as a "high authority" so also Israel fails to trust Jesus as a "higher authority"
51 Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
52 Joh 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
53 Joh 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
54 Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
55 Joh 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
56 Joh 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
57 Joh 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
58 Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
59 Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
60 Joh 8:46 ¶ Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
61 Joh 9:18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
62 Joh 9:35 ¶ Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
63 Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Notice trusting a "higher authority"
64 Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Notice trusting a "higher authority" includes worshiping His authority.
65 Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
66 Joh 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
67 Joh 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
68 Joh 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
69 Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
70 Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
71 Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
72 Joh 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
73 Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
74 Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
75 Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
76 Joh 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. {Now: or, From henceforth}
77 Joh 14:1 ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Two authorities mentioned here "higher authority" and the "highest authority"
79 Joh 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
80 Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Sin opposes your trusting in a "higher authority"
82 Joh 16:31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
83 Joh 17:20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
84 Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
85 Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
86 Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
87 Jews require concrete believing, yet a greater trust to those who believe without seeing.
88 Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The "high authority" of Jesus promises life through His Name
90 Ac 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
91 Ac 13:41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
92 Ac 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
93 Ac 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
94 Ac 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
95 Ac 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
96 Ac 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
97 Ac 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
98 Ac 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
99 Ro 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
100 Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
101 Ro 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
102 Ro 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
103 Ro 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
104 Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
105 Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
106 Ro 15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; {do not...: or, are disobedient}
107 1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
108 1Co 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
109 1Co 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. {divisions: or, schisms}
Notice Paul hears of "high authorities" causing divisions in the Church - one of the rare uses of the term "believe" apart from divine authorities
111 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
112 2Co 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
113 Ga 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
114 Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, {his mighty power: Gr. the might of his power}
115 Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
116 1Th 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
117 1Th 2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
118 1Th 2:13 ¶ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
119 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
120 2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
121 2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
How is it possible to have trust in "fake higher authorities"
122 1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
123 1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
124 1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
125 2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
126 Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
127 Heb 11:6 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.
128 Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Notice the Devils also trust in a "higher authority" but must fail to comply in order to remain uncased? Hmm? What are these conditions?
129 1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
130 1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, {precious: or, an honour}
131 1Jo 3:23 ¶ And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
132 1Jo 4:1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
133 1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)
Can the reader see any common threads or common themes in all these verses?
Search again this time using the words "believe faith"
(1) Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(2) Ro 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
(3) 2Co 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
(4) Ga 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
(5) Heb 11:6 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.
(6)1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
So this simple technique is brilliant, "believe" is a "faith concept". Go over an check every verse (all 131 verses) does suggest the word "believe" is about "faith" in some "superior authority".
Sure there are a few references to secular "high authorities" even devils as a "high authority" but all the rest refer to Jesus as a "high authority" and "faith" is understood as "supporting" Jesus as your "high authority".
So this verse
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
So one has to have faith in Jesus, to receive this everlasting living, He is talking about.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever "has faith" in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
People need to realize faith is an important theme in Scripture.
Shalom