How does a non-believer make sense of the Bible?

[MB]

The best a non-believer may do is read the Bible as one reads any good literature.

They may find certain passages that they would like to emulate, incorporate, quote, and even some principles to live by, but ultimately it is nothing more than a book of stories and promises made to others.

The unsaved derive no eternal value from the Bible any more than some believers who leave it unread.

This is your worse post yet. Men have been saved by reading the Bible. I didn't really expect such an ignorant reply from a Calvinist but given what you believe I should not have expected and evangelistic approached. Now you know why I hate Calvinism you don't want anyone to be saved. After all you don't want heaven to be over crowded. Don't Bragg about you evangelist efforts to me anymore.
MB

 

[MB]

Hello everyone,,
I have a hard enough time as a believer making sense of The Word.

I was reading Psalm 91 tonight and wondered what someone (who had never read the Bible) would think when they read verses 9-10 which says, "Because you have made the LORD - my refuge, the Most High - your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent".

We all know and so does the non-believer that harm does come to our "tent" sometimes. How does someone make sense of this and perceive it as truth?

I would love to hear your thoughts and personal commentaries on this.

Pray for me:BangHead:Tim.

The more a nonbeliever reads the Bible the more likely he will believe it. People have been saved by reading the Bible.
MB

 

[agedman]

This is your worse post yet. Men have been saved by reading the Bible. I didn't really expect such an ignorant reply from a Calvinist but given what you believe I should not have expected and evangelistic approached. Now you know why I hate Calvinism you don't want anyone to be saved. After all you don't want heaven to be over crowded. Don't Bragg about you evangelist efforts to me anymore.
MB

The OP asked, "How does a NON-BELIEVER make sense of the Bible?"

I presented the plain facts, that the NON-BELIEVER may:

1) the only sense the non-believer may make is that which is like any other great piece of literature.
2) the non-believer may certainly find passages they may quote, like, emulate... even that which they may incorporate into their lives as principles. However, the NON-BELIEVER may only view the book as of no particular value.​

Perhaps in your zeal to demean and dismiss, you set aside your ability to rationally comprehend and come to terms with an OP title question?

Why you "hate Calvinism?"
Do you "hate Calvinism" because, as is typical of most about many unrelated and related things, you hate what you do not understand?
Perhaps, you, like most folks, don't like to be confronted with the truth and when not able to defend themselves will turn upon the messengers?

Perhaps you can go to the Calvinist - Armininist Forum and find a thread titled, "Who Can Argue Against" and present some semblance of Scripture authority on the first question in what I expect to be a series of thoughtful and Scriptural presentations.

It would be good to see if you can present without such ignorance to what is actually posted as was shown above.

I don't brag about my evangelism efforts, at least I hope not. It would be most foolish to do so. Occasionally, I share a short anecdote from the past to aid others in understanding or in presenting a principle. These are never to puff up my own ability. May it never be!

I present the gospel of my Redeemer both in and out of season.

If He allows the Holy Spirit to take the Scriptures, that He has placed upon my lips to deliver, and does work in the life of another, that is to His glory, not my own.

 

[BenWest]

To repeat your o/p question
How does a non-believer make sense of the Bible?

The first thing to understand is that ONLY the people of the last days can understand the Bible. God hid His Truth in Genesis and His Truth will be confirmed by the discoveries of the people of the last days before Jesus returns. Daniel 12:4 This is because ONLY Christians of the last days can understand HOW God's Truth agrees in every way with the factual discoveries of Science, History, Genetics and Math. Truth is Truth and it MUST agree with every other Truth or it is NOT the correct interpretation of Genesis.

 

[HankD]

The first thing to understand is that ONLY the people of the last days can understand the Bible. God hid His Truth in Genesis and His Truth will be confirmed by the discoveries of the people of the last days before Jesus returns. Daniel 12:4 This is because ONLY Christians of the last days can understand HOW God's Truth agrees in every way with the factual discoveries of Science, History, Genetics and Math. Truth is Truth and it MUST agree with every other Truth or it is NOT the correct interpretation of Genesis.

of course yet in each age or period of time God holds us responsible to that which has been revealed and the appropriate respons(es).

 

[kyredneck]

what about Cain, was he a believer?

or an enigma?

12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother`s righteous. 1 Jn 3

 

[HankD]

12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother`s righteous. 1 Jn 3

you answered a question but not the one i asked

 

[S0l0m0n]

"How does a non-believer make sense of the Bible?"

They can't.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.​

They invent lies to go with it.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.​

Or the most popular and money-making form today:
They simply go on to involve themselves with a form of Textual Criticism and meddling with the Bible Text.

1 Timothy 1:6-7 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.​

 

[kyredneck]

what about Cain, was he a believer?
or an enigma?

12 not as Cain was of the evil one , and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother`s righteous. 1 Jn 3

you answered a question but not the one i asked

19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. Ja 2

 

[HankD]

​

19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. Ja 2

yes it has to do with the nature and quality of the belief.

 

[MB]

The OP asked, "How does a NON-BELIEVER make sense of the Bible?"

I presented the plain facts, that the NON-BELIEVER may:

1) the only sense the non-believer may make is that which is like any other great piece of literature.
2) the non-believer may certainly find passages they may quote, like, emulate... even that which they may incorporate into their lives as principles. However, the NON-BELIEVER may only view the book as of no particular value.​

Perhaps in your zeal to demean and dismiss, you set aside your ability to rationally comprehend and come to terms with an OP title question?

You don't like the idea a man can be saved by reading God's Word. His Word is the gospel of our Salvation with out which no one would be saved.

Why you "hate Calvinism?"
Do you "hate Calvinism" because, as is typical of most about many unrelated and related things, you hate what you do not understand?
Perhaps, you, like most folks, don't like to be confronted with the truth and when not able to defend themselves will turn upon the messengers?

Perhaps you can go to the Calvinist - Armininist Forum and find a thread titled, "Who Can Argue Against" and present some semblance of Scripture authority on the first question in what I expect to be a series of thoughtful and Scriptural presentations.

It would be good to see if you can present without such ignorance to what is actually posted as was shown above.

I don't brag about my evangelism efforts, at least I hope not. It would be most foolish to do so. Occasionally, I share a short anecdote from the past to aid others in understanding or in presenting a principle. These are never to puff up my own ability. May it never be!

I present the gospel of my Redeemer both in and out of season.

If He allows the Holy Spirit to take the Scriptures, that He has placed upon my lips to deliver, and does work in the life of another, that is to His glory, not my own.

Calvinism is not true not any of it is true. It's the natural man's attempt to work his way in to heaven. They believe if you don't have any works you don't have any faith. Not even one pedal of the tulip can be found in scripture It's all false. They call them selves evangelist and do not evangelize or even care about bringing in the sheaves. They do not preach the true gospel. They preach Calvinism.
Actually it is you that does not understand what Calvinism is. Like many you think it is the gospel. You only think you understand. When others try to tell you the truth of the gospel it's always they just don't understand. No one is as intelligent as a Calvinist according to them. I can only tell you the truth I can't make you accept it. You hate Freewill because it places the blame on you and not God.
MB

 

[Yeshua1]

Hello everyone,,
I have a hard enough time as a believer making sense of The Word.

I was reading Psalm 91 tonight and wondered what someone (who had never read the Bible) would think when they read verses 9-10 which says, "Because you have made the LORD - my refuge, the Most High - your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent".

We all know and so does the non-believer that harm does come to our "tent" sometimes. How does someone make sense of this and perceive it as truth?

I would love to hear your thoughts and personal commentaries on this.

Pray for me:BangHead:Tim.

They cannot amke sense of what it really means apart from the work of the Holy Spirit!

 

[MB]

They cannot amke sense of what it really means apart from the work of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. He is everywhere at the same time.
MB

 

[Yeshua1]

The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. He is everywhere at the same time.
MB

But He does not make all to understand the Bible though!

 

[MB]

But He does not make all to understand the Bible though!

Maybe for you but not every one.
MB

 

[Iconoclast]

BenWest,

The first thing to understand is that ONLY the people of the last days can understand the Bible.

This is a falsehood.

God hid His Truth in Genesis and His Truth will be confirmed by the discoveries of the people of the last days before Jesus returns. Daniel 12:4

No...there is no basis for this anywhere.

This is because ONLY Christians of the last days can understand HOW God's Truth agrees in every way with the factual discoveries of Science, History, Genetics and Math. Truth is Truth and it MUST agree with every other Truth or it is NOT the correct interpretation of Genesis.[/QUOTE]

Nothing in scripture says anything like this...this must be rejected.

 

[agedman]

You don't like the idea a man can be saved by reading God's Word. His Word is the gospel of our Salvation with out which no one would be saved.

Prove that I even implied that is true.

If you can’t then that is a false testimony.

Calvinism is not true not any of it is true. It's the natural man's attempt to work his way in to heaven. They believe if you don't have any works you don't have any faith. Not even one pedal of the tulip can be found in scripture It's all false. They call them selves evangelist and do not evangelize or even care about bringing in the sheaves. They do not preach the true gospel. They preach Calvinism.
Actually it is you that does not understand what Calvinism is. Like many you think it is the gospel. You only think you understand. When others try to tell you the truth of the gospel it's always they just don't understand. No one is as intelligent as a Calvinist according to them. I can only tell you the truth I can't make you accept it. You hate Freewill because it places the blame on you and not God.
MB

I’m sadden that you do not take the Scriptures as factual.

It isn’t a matter of Calvinism.

Here are just a few Scriptures you violated by your post, and apparently do not regard as having veracity.

“All have sinned” - that is not a single person is outside the bonds of depravity. “None righteous”

“By Grace you are saved” - that is nothing pertaining to salvation occurs without the direct intervention of God.

“My sheep shall hear my voice” - that is only those who are and will be Redeemed hear the voice of God upon their life.

“No condemnation to those in Christ” - that is God causes all redeemed to both persevere and to be preserved.

These are just four Scriptures you dismiss in which BOTH non-Calvinist and Calvinist hold in common.

That you do not know these basic things suggests your own lack, not mine.

Please, take time to present a more factual presentation.

I don’t “hate” what does not exist. “Free will” does not exist.

If you think it does, then you can pretend it does, but that doesn’t demonstrate that in the flesh all choices at best are good, but none attain righteousness.

For unrighteousness cannot attain that righteousness of God, but comes short.

 

[agedman]

The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. He is everywhere at the same time.
MB

Can you show Scripture to support this claim?

Paul stated that believers should be filled with the Spirit. Therefore, is it true that the Holy Spirit is everywhere?

 

[agedman]

Maybe for you but not every one.
MB

Didn’t you just agree with yeshua1?

 

[BenWest]

of course yet in each age or period of time God holds us responsible to that which has been revealed and the appropriate respons(es).

Amen, and we live today at Genesis 1:27 because God continues to create Adam (Heb-mankind) in His Image, which is Spiritually in Christ. Genesis 1:28-31 is prophecy of events which take place AFTER Jesus returns at the end of the present 6th Day, the Day of Salvation. 2Co 6:2