If you really want to understand the truth, you at least need to PROVE WHETHER WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS REAL OR NOT! If you don't have that inner drive to find truth, then you won't find what you're looking for. The Bible is like a giant jigsaw puzzle that you have to begin piecing together. Whether you like it or not, truth isn't something just laying around for anyone to see and stumble over. You have to DIG for it, like gold in the earth. This website isn't a complete picture by any means. It is simply a basic foundation from which to begin your search. If you don't have these basic truths or understanding of God's word, then you won't get the deeper truth that comes as a result of THIS foundation. Keep this simple approach in mind: Each subject has many pieces throughout the Bible. In order to understand what the true picture on any given subject is, you have to get ALL of the pieces before you make any conclusions. TOO many people take a single scripture and make it a complete picture/belief and ignore the other scriptures that add to the greater picture. You will need your own copy of the Bible, preferably the King James Version or New King James Version to begin with because this is the closest to accurate, overall, as there is. However, remember that even in this translation there are blatant errors that were introduced by the doctrinal bias of the copiers. If it helps you to obtain a Bible in more modern language, obtain the Life Application Bible, as this is written in a more modern English. Also, having a Strong's Concordance for looking up meanings of words in the Bible in their original Hebrew and Greek is quite valuable for understanding. (This concordance is only good with the King James version) Keep in mind that Strong's Concordance, like all other Bible helps, was written by people who had certain doctrinal beliefs and these beliefs come out in the dialog that comes with the actual Hebrew or Greek words. Let the actual language be your guide and NOT the bias seen quite often in the explanations following the basic definition. Another excellent help is the "Interlinear Bible." This gives you the actual words in the way they were penned and from what the English translations was made. This will be a very good help in cutting through the bias and misinformation elsewhere. A computer Bible program can make analysis of the Bible quite fun and much quicker. With that, you could do large word studies and topic studies to get the whole picture. Simply read for yourself what is stated, and DON'T think that the Bible is something that is written in confusing, hard to figure out language. It plainly states what it means in most cases, so you don't have to be a biblical scholar to understand it. A major problem is that most people have not EXAMINED THE FACTS FOR THEMSELVES. They have simply taken what they have been told by priests and ministers all their lives, and accepted it as true. This is a dangerous habit. So few people seem to be in agreement about any particular Christian denominational belief. In order to really understand the whole story, we need to lay some foundation, and dispel some myths that are accepted as true by most in the religious world. We will be covering these topics directly below. After that, when you really see the incredible truth right before your eyes, you will be much more receptive, and we can begin to place the pieces together so you can see the whole marvelous plan. WARNING: DON'T ALLOW YOUR PRECONCEIVED IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES REGARDING RELIGIOUS WORDS TO MAKE YOU THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT IS DISCUSSED BELOW. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU HAVE NOT HEARD MOST OF WHAT YOU WILL READ. (If you have heard some of it, have you proven it?) IF YOU JUST TAKE THE TIME TO READ ALL THE MATERIAL, NOT SKIPPING ANY OF IT, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVE FOR YOURSELF THE TRUTH SO FEW UNDERSTAND! If we are going to accept ANY of the Bible as actual revelation from God, then we have to assume ALL of the Bible is valid and should be taken seriously. Obviously, if God wanted us to have accurate information, do you really think He couldn't see to it that His communication with mankind wasn't perverted beyond reach over the years? Remember these vital points that are described, points that most people overlook when casually reading the Bible. First, don't think with a "religious" mind. That is, don't read into this information your preconceived ideas and views about "God." Religion is man-made. The view the world has of the being called God has been deceptively manipulated in mankind's collective mind through false religion and FAILED religion. We often view the real truth through the man-made/satan inspired religious "filter" unknowingly created by false religion to pervert the truth and cloud the issues. This filter is the mindset humanity has, and takes the form of countless ideas and theories that hide the true reality. Reality, TRUE reality, begins with the being called God, and involves His plan for mankind and the eternity of the universe. Every science fiction story contains threads of our future and potential, as well as the threats that we face on the path toward this goal. You can allow yourself to be manipulated and deceived, or choose to apply your mind in the right direction to learn the truth. Second, you have to agree on the source for our knowledge of truth and the plan of God. Many people view the Bible as a collection of fables that have no real history behind them. Others view it as a collection of words that have lost truth through translations over the ages. Still others view it as a complete mystery and don't even bother to try to read and understand the whole book. As was mentioned earlier, can we believe that there is a God, and accept the fact that He has completely abandoned us without any communication as to what He wants from us? Third, remember, it takes TIME to learn, and to develop a "sense," or awareness of these "non-physical" truths. The Bible is quite plain regarding what God reveals about HOW to relate to the Bible. A few of these verses are mentioned below; 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration (spiritual communication) of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: In other words, the words of the Bible are literally a reflection of the mind and will of God, in written form; 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy (inspired writing) of the scripture is of any private interpretation. . . Scripture isn't something one can personally pick and choose to make it say what we want it to say. It also means no scripture is complete of and by itself. No single scripture can be used alone - privately, of itself - to be the entire meaning of any subject; Isaiah 28:10 + 13 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: Scriptures need to be used together when looking at any given subject. It is like a puzzle that has to be put together, piece by piece, to get the entire meaning of any subject. God specifically designed the Bible this way to require us to study and read it ALL. He also wrote the Bible this way to require His Holy Spirit to be able to discern and understand the truth contained in it. without the Holy Spirit, no one can read the Bible and get the spiritual meat out of it or grow spiritually as God requires. Now, PROVE or DISPROVE your Beliefs about God! Want To see how Close Science "Fiction" is to Reality? Church of God Pagosa, thegodkind.org Web pages created and material written by Jeffrey T. Maehr. Copyright © 2015 All rights reserved. Reproduction allowed if credit to this website is listed with material. Other copyrights listed accordingly.