Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Rom. 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn't follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness.

How hard it is for the fleshly mind to understand faith, it will legal logic it too death, where the definition of faith is more important than what it produces in a Christian's. So many of us have been taught this mysterious faith we muster up from ourselves in grunting and groaning until something magical happens and we move a mountain, but few ever do!

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Most certainly I tell you, I haven't found so great a faith, not even in Israel.

Faith is not a tangible law, or a definition written a stone or some dictionary, it is according to our bibles a gift of God's Holy Spirit. But why do people need such a rock solid definition of faith? It is because God is not real too them personally, neither is the faith that pleases the same invisible God. In other words, if we have to come up with some legal definition of faith to understand faith we don't have faith. It much the same as outlining love, in a million do's and don't, its no longer love, it is rules and laws obligating us to love, which makes it no love at all but a commandment(s) to do something against our will.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

The written word is not the thing it is a definition of the thing, the thing only become real when we posses in ourselves as part of our very personality.

This was Israel problems they were legalistic their faith was in tangible written laws, not in the invisible God whom has given them the His laws, YHWH. Laws and rules don't give us faith in God, but love does. If one does not love someone, than they obligated the person to do something they really don't believe they will do in the first place that's reason for the rule. Now humans do that to other human all the time, but when we act that way towards God, it does not please him at all!

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
1:7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways

The nation of Israel could lecture you on how God acts according to written word, but they did not know God as love. So many Christian's act the same, lecturing others about God's judgment, but they do not know God personally through intercourse of God's Holy Spirit with their own spirit. They will condemn others foolishly, hating and fighting with words, about God. However, one cannot fight with others in the fruit of Holy Spirit. So too the Jews were so certain of their understanding of God they just could not imagine they were wrong, but in each ones heart they had a testimony we all have if we do not lie. Fear of judgment, yes, fear that we know we don't measure up ourselves, so we must face a truth, if God is not love, which cast fear of judgment outside, than who are we in judging others, or are we judging from fear?

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

1John.3:20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

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