Title: Are We Truly Walking With God, or Are We Only Talking About Him?

[Bradcatania]

I would love to start a meaningful Bible study discussion with everyone here.


Sometimes, we become so occupied with attending church, quoting Scriptures, and talking about our faith that we forget to examine our actual relationship with God.


Jesus said in Matthew 7:21:


“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”


This raises an important question:


How do we know that we are truly growing spiritually and not simply becoming familiar with religious activities?


A few questions I’d love us to reflect on:

1. Can someone know the Bible very well but still be far from God?
2. How do we maintain our faith when prayers seem unanswered?
3. Is obedience to God more important than simply knowing Scripture?
4. What is one Bible verse that completely changed the way you live?

I believe Bible study should go beyond reading words. It should transform our hearts, our decisions, our character, and how we treat other people.


Let’s share our thoughts respectfully, learn from one another, and grow together in Christ.


May our lives reflect the Word we profess. God bless everyone.

 

[KingJ]

1. Can someone know the Bible very well but still be far from God?
2. How do we maintain our faith when prayers seem unanswered?
3. Is obedience to God more important than simply knowing Scripture?
4. What is one Bible verse that completely changed the way you live?

God thoughts to consider.

1. No.

To properly grasp scripture you have to know God / be close to Him and have the Holy Spirit leading you. In order to grasp many truths in Scripture, it requires a level of A. interest, B. honesty, and C. Spirit-led guidance that we, in our flesh, simply do not have.

When you 'fall in love' with your Creator because you read that He is good (Psalm 136:1), loving and righteous in all His ways (Psalm 145:17), you may develop a tremendous interest in studying the Bible. However, you will still need the Holy Spirit to help you grasp the context and the message behind the words you are reading.

Many think they know Scripture well, and we too may 'think' they do. There are very simple 'acid tests' that reveal they don't.

2. Two spaces for comment.

A. Non-Christians who think they are Christians.

They mostly see God at work from afar and assume Him answering another's prayer is their answer, when it is really only an overlap. Unless we are Christians or in the process of becoming one, God's hands are completely tied from helping us John 9:31. IE there is no God given Rom 12:3 faith to maintain as there was never any real James 4:8 (stop doing evil), Psalm 51:17 (true repentance), James 1:27 (true servitude) or Rev 2:10 (martyrdom) type pursuit toward God.

B. Christians who know they are Christians per 2 Cor 13:5 and Rom 10:9.

Saving faith to believe Jesus is Lord and was raised from the dead is only gifted to those who pass God's judgement of heart and mind. For this a person needs a 'real' encounter with God per 1 Cor 12:3 and Matt 16:16-17.

These 'real' Christians do not care if God does or does not answer prayers. They understand the wisdom from God in a statement like 'my grace is sufficient for you' 2 Cor 12:9.

Continuing to trust God when the answer is not what we hoped for, or when no answer comes, is a particularly clear demonstration of faith.

3. The two go hand in hand. If love God you will want to obey His commandments and read more and more about Him.

4. Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works

When I first properly grasped that God is truly righteous in all His ways, my love and respect for Him increased to the maximum. Even more so then grasping His love. As, what is love if it can be 'partial'. But when you grasp that He is righteous and therefore perfectly impartial, well now His love hits harder.

Most atheists (disgruntled ex Christians) and people in differing religions have this idea of a God that is evil or a mix of good and evil. This is why they feel justified in mocking Him and or not properly serving Him. But were they too properly grasp that He is only good. As good as He is great. Well, that is life changing.

Example:

Lie = My child dies. God took him before he had a chance to grow up. God is evil. Let me now spend 2 hours a day mocking God on atheist forums and telling everyone around me that God does not exist and, if He does, who should care about serving Him? Christians are all 'suck-ups'.

Truth = My child dies. God, who completely and utterly hates what is evil, allows space for it to take place in His universe because He wants us, His highly intelligent creations (Hebrews 2:7), to have true free will. Children go straight to heaven (2 Samuel 12:22-23), to be tested by the devil another day (Rev 20:3). God truly loves children and each one of us. Imagine a world with no true free will.