Greetings again The Biblicist,
I appreciate your response. I would like to briefly respond to your last comment:
Of course I have dealt with you and some others on this forum that it really does not matter what kind of evidence is presented - "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."
I agree with the saying in general, but you are claiming that I do not heed or respond to a well-reasoned and true exposition. Yes, I am slow and stubborn to accept a change in perspective. Yes you have discussed various subjects with me, and yes I did not accept some of the things that you suggested.
The above reminds me of our discussion in the thread “The Promises to Abraham – The Promise of the Land”. Starting about Post #32, you insisted that heaven going is taught by stating that Abraham must now be living, based upon Jesus’ quotation of the declaration by God at the bush that He is the God of Abraham. Also you suggested Paul’s partial siding with the Pharisees regarding the resurrection proved that man has an immortal soul. For my part I stated my belief that Abraham is waiting for the resurrection of the dead. I still believe that Abraham is amongst those that sleep in the dust of the earth. He will be raised at the return of Jesus from heaven, when he comes to establish his kingdom on earth, to give Abraham the inheritance of the land that God promised Abraham and his seed in Genesis 13:14-15, Galatians 3:16,26-29.
In the last few days we have laid my mother in law to rest at the age of 100. She shared the same belief, and we claim on her behalf that God
is her God, and that she will be resurrected, together with her husband who died 38 years ago. They were baptised upon their belief of the gospel 79 years ago.
If this is an example of how you convince people, then I ask do you believe that you came to above conclusions because the indwelling Spirit inspired you?
Trevor, look at he context of each of these verses. The preaching of the gospel is not in view. Furthermore, the change of mode of thinking is the consequence not the cause of indwelling of the Spirit.
Before looking at the verses you quoted, could I ask if you could also respond to the following:
Psalm 1:1-2 (KJV): 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
In OT times did a believer have to have the Holy Spirit in the form of a separate indwelling of the Spirit in order to meditate on the law or the teaching of the LORD?
These scriptures do not say:
1 Jn. 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God's mode of thinking dwelleth in him, and his mode of thinking dwelleth in God.
Carry it through and you come to the rediculous conclusion that your mode of thinking "dwelleth in God."!!!! He is talking about SPIRITUAL UNION not mode of thinking.
Rom. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit's mode of thinking, if so be that the Spirit of God's mode of thinking dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ's mode of thinking, he is none of his thinking.
Again, the mindset is the consequence of the condition "in the flesh" or "in the Spirit" not the cause of that condition.
Of course I have dealt with you and some others on this forum that it really does not matter what kind of evidence is presented - "A man convinced agaist his will is of the same opinion still."
Could I simply summarise the difference by saying that I believe that we have the Spirit of Christ when we absorb the words of Christ.
John 6:63 (KJV): It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
You seem to suggest that the Spirit within us is separate from the Word of God within us. I believe they are one and the same. Therefore your supposed addition of “mode of thinking” on my behalf in 1 John 4:15, Romans 8:8-9 is wrong. I am very content with the word “spirit” or “Spirit”.
One of my favourite verses, pivotal to the context of both Romans 7 and 8 is:
Romans 8:2 (KJV): For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Kind regards
Trevor