Re: The Rock or Sure Foundation [message #664 is a reply to message #390] |
Wed, 18 July 2012 13:57 |
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JulesGP
Messages: 357 Registered: May 2012 Location: Davis County, UT
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Senior Member |
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I really liked this chapter and the fact that it DID point out that even the words of the Savior MUST be ratified by the Holy Ghost. I feel this way for a couple of reasons.
First, unless we are being taught face-to-face by the Savior, we are reading or hearing his words second hand. We NEED the Spirit to discern the truthfulness of translations, and second hand accounts in order to weed out misunderstanding, mistranslations, misquotes, and to help us understand context and such. Also to tell us how the message should be applied in our own lives, etc. We can't just pick up any version of the Bible and read The Sermon On the Mount for example, and read the EXACT same thing. The words are of the Savior, but they will be written slightly differently in each version - and even so, it's someone else's account of what He said. We need the Spirit to give us the correct UNDERSTANDING of what is being said - even if it was said by the Savior. Also, to testify to us that HE actually taught those things, and someone didn't just claim he did.
Second, even if the Savior is teaching us face-to-face, we have to have the Spirit ratify that teaching and again, help us UNDERSTAND correctly. That can't happen simply with words or body language or human forms of communication. The Spirit HAS to be part of that "conversation". I "BELIEVE" that if my parents tell me something, then it is the truth. But I can't absolutely KNOW unequivocally without question for a FACT that what they are saying is true unless I either experience it myself, or the Spirit testifies of the truthfulness. This applies even if we are speaking with the Savior.
So since the Holy Ghost IS truth, it MUST be PRESENT - even when the Savior speaks. If we "BELIEVE" the words of the Savior, even though they came from the Savior, we are still just acting on faith unless the Holy Ghost ratifies it and makes it TRUTH, and gives us that sure knowledge.
I imagine that when Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac, the Spirit probably testified to him that it was NOT the right thing to do. He fought within himself between following God's COMMAND, and following the Spirit that testified of what was RIGHT. Abraham followed God's command and got the wrong answer. If he had followed the Spirit, he would have gotten the correct answer. That's a pretty clear demonstration to me of how the Spirit trumps ALL, even the Savior, even God.
~Jules
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