Firstly, let me say I do not agree that rightousness changes from person to person when it comes to Christ and the righteousness God requires from a person.
Neither does the understanding of scripture evolve or change according to times.
Let me explain those reasons according to the teachings of Scripture and Christ.
John 4: Lady at well makes it clear that the Messiah would lead all to the final truth of Gods teachings which gave rise to the different teachings of pharisee and Sadducees being conflicting but acceptable. Christ/Messiah giving the truth.
Christ taught that the righteousness of anyone expecting to enter the Kingdom of heaven had to exceed that of the Pharisee who upheld all laws most strictly.
The NT teaches that it is not the persons own righteousness they must have but that we are only the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus.
The only way to be made clean and be righteous before God is through Christ.
Which means being born of spirit and truth as taught by Christ in John 4 to woman by well.
Galatians 5 explains the difference between the righteousness of God and the leading of the Spirit and not the flesh. It does not change from time to time or person to person who is born of Spirit and Truth.
Confused wrote:In another
thread, brotherhoodofmen was quoted as saying the following:
brotherhoodofmen wrote:Confused wrote:
……….Being righteous changes from person to person, culture to culture, and generation to generation. The concept evolves just as our understanding of scripture evolves with time as well. So what is righteous today may not be so tomorrow…….
Hi Confused,
I agree. Our concept of goodness or righteousness evolves and it gets better and nearer to the truth as is our concept of God. Everything is evolving in this evolutionary universe we live in. Truth is always relative here in this universe of space and time. Only the infinite eternal God is absolute truth. Only when we attain God will we attain absolute truth.
FOGBOM
Questions for debate are as follows:
1) What is an infinite eternal God? Can we validate His existence?
I think an 'Immortal God' would be a better way to express this.
What is existence? Outside there being more than one human being could you prove a human existed? To exist is not limited to the senses or knowledge of what is acceptable to man and his senses. We have a crop every year thanks to farmers. But do you see the seed actually growing beneath the earth?
You do not know it exists to you see the fruit of the seed growing above ground.
Christs power was only witnessed by those who saw it.
The truth of the Spirit and God are only witnessed by those who know God and are indwelt by the Spirit. According to the bible the things they did show something greater than mans will was with them.
Validating Gods existence can be done by the witness of those men if we so choose. How and by what means can you validate God...other than what we have already seen others profess happened and doing today?
2) What is absolute truth? Can we attain it from this infinite eternal God? If so, how?
As Christ said:
"If you obey my words you will know if they come from myself" He also said:
" if you believe in him you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
Christ is the way.... but how you going to find out for sure?
3) If the Christian God is to be considered the infinite eternal God, what is His absolute truth and where can we find validation for this truth?
It is written through the bible and yet you still ask?
A little like the watch question. If God gave you a watch would you honour him most by using it or asking him the time?
The answers have already been given.
You need to decide why you want to know and ask yourself what you will do with the information now you have it. Then the answer is clear. You alone can decide and find the answers if you choose for the right reason.
The sower and the seed.
Faith.