Dearest Plum (yeah, it's me again, sorry!)... may you have peace... and may I respond? Thank you!
You ask:
Should there be (in anyone's opinion) any reason to think that the Bible (assuming it is indeed inspired by God) would be anything LESS then confusing or to difficult to understand without 'faith'?
We will deal with its inspiration in a bit, but to answer the question, understanding the BIBLE... is not the same a knowing the Truth. One must ask oneself, then, WHY... is one reading the Bible? Usually, it is to ascertain some measure of 'truth'... and/or to discern how to gain life, life forever, not die, where you go when you do, what happens, etc. Yes? In that light, then, may I refer you to the words of my Lord, the Son of God, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH? You can read them for yourself at
John 5:39, 40. They say:
"You are searching the SCRIPTURES...
because you THINK...
that by means of THEM...
you will have everlasting life.
And these (the "scriptures")...
are the VERY ones that bear witness...
ABOUT ME.
"And yet...
YOU DO NOT WANT TO COME...
TO ME...
that you may gain life."
That is a very compelling statement, Plum, especially in light of what is also recorded at Matthew 11:28, John 7:37, 38, and John 8:32, 14:6 and 8:36.
First two say that we are to "Come to [him". The second, last ones, however, help you understand what the Truth ...or rather WHO the Truth... really is. Which is why it says "and you will KNOW THE TRUTH and the Truth will set you free"... "I am the Truth"... and "therefore, if the SON (the TRUTH) sets you free, you will truly BE free!"
All you need do, dear Plum, is hear... and 'get the sense of it'. You want to KNOW God? You want to KNOW the Truth? You want to KNOW what the Bible teaches? Then you must KNOW the Christ... and be known BY him. For it is THIS, KNOWING GOD AND CHRIST, that "means everlasting life."
Now, regarding the Bible being "inspired":
You should know that while indeed all scripture IS inspired... the entire Bible is NOT "scripture". Scripture is that which God, through Christ, DIRECTS to be written, personally. Thus, it is ONLY "Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets"... and the Revelation... that is "scripture".
Luke 24: 27, 44, 45
Revelation 1:19
Revelation 21:5
The other writings are merely histories, chronologies, and records. The "Gospels", are simply accounts of "the good news" or the Christ (who IS the good news)... according to the writer. Luke himself helps us understand that his writing CERTAINLY were not inspired, as he TELLS us where he got his information: from those that WERE 'eyewitnesses', since he himself was not there. And he did not write at the behest of God OR Christ, but of Theophilus, a Roman (but NOT 'christian') ruler, who wanted to know what was going on between the Jews and the 'christians'. Remember, war and great persecution was brewing.
Luke 1:1-4
Acts 1:1
(And please note that Mark, was NOT an apostle, but the son of Peter.)
Why would something written, inspired by God to be based on the importance of 'Faith' be easy to understand if you had none?
If you think it should be easy, Why?
Please know and understand that it is NOT easy, for faith... "is not the possession of all men." Even the apostles had problems with faith, and they were RIGHT THERE! "Faith" is a "fruit" and GIFT of God's spirit, so that withOUT it, one cannot see "the things unseen"... or hear the "voice" of God, through Christ. Sorry, but it is true.
I understand that most people THINK they have faith, but they have faith in the manner that it has been TAUGHT them... by "religion"... and NOT as granted by God, through holy spirit. And yes, indeed, there is a BIG different. Big.
And please note that is DOES take faith to understand a good deal of the Bible, in that it takes FAITH... to hear the voice of God, through Christ, who is the One that can explain it. It takes faith... so that one can 'transcend' the flesh... and see and hear... with the SPIRIT! For God IS a Spirit and it is with the spirit that one must worship, hear... and see (what parts of Him He allows) Him. And that, only "through" Christ, by means of holy spirit.
All one need do, though... is ask. And KEEP asking, KEEP seeking, KEEP knocking... and "it" (the Way in - John 14:6)... SHALL be opened to you!
Luke 11:13
I hope I have helped, and I again bid you peace!
Your servant and a slave of Christ,
SJ
