I think you are close to the Truth .Faith amongst most  Evangelicals is belief in certain theological propositions, when in fact it is something quite different. Faith is a commitment of one's being to God, which shows itself in obedience. Hence, a Christian is a disciple,a person who seeks to follow the example of Jesus's life & teachings.

The reason that so many people have no time for Christianity is that they have been turned off by the behaviour of 'believers' who are not 'followers' of Christ.

Peace

Jeffrey

Jul 9, 2009 -- 12:37AM, sincerly wrote:

Jeff, I may not have expressed my thoughts in a comprehensive way, but from what I am reading Birwin, yourself and I are in agreement. James and Paul express the same fact---the true Believers will have faith in the Truth of the Everlasting Gospel and "doers" of that which is revealed in the WORD which is the acceptable path as GOD HAS REVEALED.

The "application of the Word" reveals who is Lord of one's life.

 

If by 'Word' you mean Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1) I agree. If by 'Word' you mean the Bible, I beg to differ.IMHO, I believe it to be a mistake to call the Bible the 'Word of God'. That title belongs to only One.

I believe the Christian's primary authority is neither Pope or Bible but the  Inward Christ.As we bring our lives into the Light of the Indwelling Teacher, He guides into obedience.

Peace

Jeffrey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jul 9, 2009 -- 12:37AM, sincerlywrote: The "application of the Word" reveals who is Lord of one's life.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 Jeff Replied: If by 'Word' you mean Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1) I agree. If by 'Word' you mean the Bible, I beg to differ.IMHO, I believe it to be a mistake to call the Bible the 'Word of God'. That title belongs to only One.

 I believe the Christian's primary authority is neither Pope or Bible but the  Inward Christ.As we bring our lives into the Light of the Indwelling Teacher, He guides into obedience.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Then Anesis added: Evangelical Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. We believe in a literal understanding and we believe that it is the final authority in a Christian's life.

Imho, John 1:1 is reference to the Father who spoke the word and Jesus who "did" or "does" the word of the Father. It is the Word come alive....God spoke it, Jesus obeyed it. In that sense, Jesus is the Word - again, imo.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Bible being the "Inspired Word of GOD" has the same authority as if GOD was standing in one's presence and verbally speaking. It was GOD who delivered the "Words of Life"(Obey and live) from Sinai. This may come as a surprise: notice Paul's testimony in Gal. 1:11-12, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."   Now let's go to 1Cor.10:1-4, "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

Yes, Christ Jesus is the "WORD", The "inspired Prophecies" reflect the mission of Salvation in all its phrases and is, also, "The WORD OF GOD" ; "Search the scriptures......for they testify of ME." There is no dishonor in referring to the holy scriptures as the "Word of God", because those scriptures "Glorify God and Jesus as the Redeemer of sinful mankind.

Didn't Jesus say HE was sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within us? And that it would HE, the Holy Spirit, which would bring to our remembrance the Truths given by Jesus----from the Father? Yes, we are admonished to have in us the Mind which was in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, as Jesus stated,"If you LOVE ME, Keep my Commandments."  Be doers of the "Words" which by "faith" will obtain the Father's GRACE.

I realize that there are Christians who do not affirm the literal translation. However, as this is the Evangelical Christianity board, and Evangelical Christians do believe in the literal translation, I found it befitting to assert. This is discussed in the Forum Guidelines post at the top of the thread list. When you post on a forum that is unfamiliar to you, you might want to check out the forum guidelines for that forum...usually it is the top post in the thread list. Thanks.

You might want to read this manifesto:

www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com/

I appreciate your mindfulness, but I also have to be mindful that this is an EC board with specific ways of thinking, and when someone posts against that way of thinking, it must be brought to attention so that others do not think this is a debate board or a board for other faiths than EC.

Of course Evangelicals take context into consideration when they read the Bible - it would be foolish to do otherwise. Genre is made perfectly clear in the Bible. For example, Jesus makes it perfectly clear when he is using parables to teach a truth. And in Revelation, John is clear about what is "vision."

As for fundamental beliefs, if you read the manifesto, it clearly states that Evangelicals do have the same beliefs as fundamentalists, but we live it out differently than fundamentalists do. Fwiw, I have never heard of the authors you mention, but I do know that the Bible, being authored and dictated by an inerrant God, is indeed inerrant. There is not one error.