Foxpaw you should start a vlog of parables.

The internet is such a hard place to have a meaningful and productive conversation! Seems like we just go around and around in the same circles and never get anywhere on anything. I hope that all of the believers here are having these conversations in churches and Bible studies with actual people who are committed to following Jesus and encouraging each other where they actually live.

Here's a question to ponder. I'm not really asking for anyone to answer me; I just think it's worth considering. How can we be sure that we're reading the Bible in order to let it determine our views and our understanding of the world rather than using our views and understanding of the world to determine our reading of the Bible? In other words, how can we make sure we aren't using the Bible as an echo chamber in which we put our own ideas into it, and it magically spits them back out at us, then we can use the Bible to tell the world exactly what we think is right?

JHT, thats the western world 21st century bias that we all seem to experience. The only way I know to combat it is to try to understand the complexity and context that the target audience would have had. As I have done that its been pretty eye opening versus the things I have always just accepted as fact previously.

Thanks sportsman, that’s the journey I’ve been on for several years now. I’ve found studying the Hebrew language to a helpful part of understanding the context too. It certainly has been eye opening for me as well. Actually trying to read and understand the Bible as it was written has made it so much more profound and meaningful than it was when I was merely reading it to see what I had already been told. Thanks for the response.

Discernment of the Holy Spirit.
Compare scripture to scripture,
I personally stay away from comintaries. Test the spirits .when you receive an unction test it with scripture.
Also study sound hystory. If you're belief dous not alien with sound doctrine and historical facts maybee your headed in the wrong direction. To turn to the right direction is repentance. To turn.
Rich

Folks just can't seem to be able to wrap their heads around the concept of God. Whether out of incapacity to conceive the whole of the idea or the obstinate refusal to when faced with the reality of Him, we are talking of an entity of absolute and infinite power who literally created all that our finite minds can perceive.

In that light, it matters not if He is a God of love or hate, HE IS GOD.

The great I AM. Past, present and future for all of eternity.

A God of hate ? Enlighten us.
Chapter and verse please?

Here is a tip of the ice burg. Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

When did God change?

Maybe God is a God of love too after all He will remarry Israel, Right?

Do you also believe Jesus said to literally hate you family?
It means prefer to the other.

All believers are Israel.

I agree with you on a lot, but the replacement people have kidnapped you on this one.

Probably the most well known verse about God hating.
God hates sin and prefers righteousness. He would that all would be saved.

So God does hate, did you just answer you own question?

I think you are correct that God hates sin. But to claim God hates certain people seems to contradict him dying for all humanity. I also think replacement theology is a misleading term. It's actually the belief that Christ fulfilled every requirement of the law. Ethnicity is irrelevant.

I guess hate does seem a little harsh when applying it to people. Maybe, deny, decline, disapprove, withhold, disallow, negative, forbid, reject seems nicer!

What I've seen about the replacement thing is some certain groups think that since they are spiritual Israel they will replace natural Israel and that there will only be one wedding and I guess with no guests nor witnesses.

I agreed that there are verses about God hating.
That's why I asked the ?.
To understand others beliefs. On the verses.

Yes

I only gave Roman 9 because it is the tip above the water that everyone sees. There is a lot more underneath. Why would God allow that word (hate) to even be used in the bible, maybe the devil put it in there?

It is a translation.