Does not faith come by hearing and understanding the Word?
Jesus Christ , the word come in the flesh.
Joh_6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
My Sheep hear my voice..
2Co_3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Who did the disciples learn from, " Jesus. the Word of God".
You can spend your whole life reading books, and filling yourself with the knowledge, " about", God, but untill you empty yourself and go to Christ you will never know God.
In His LOve
I am not nor have spoken about 'books' But rather THE book commonly known as the Bible which also is called the Scriptures and also The Word of God.
I dont quote Calvin or any other book but the "Scriptures"
True is it written "that the letter killeth" But the Spirit giveth life"
But the idea that you then discard the letter and only have the Spirit is like saying that seed that falls into the ground and dies, viz the BODY is discarded and it is only the Spirit that lives.
You say Jesus is the Word of God. TRue that is and the WORD was made flesh.
There is a man of "FLESH AND BONE" that sits on the right hand of the majesty on high"
Not flesh and blood fro the blood was shed for the sins of the world.
The"...... life is in the blood" This flesh and bone then "has life initself" But that life is now by the Spirit.
If then Jesus was raised from the dead.It was not the Spirit that waas raised from the dead but the body.and that body was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God.
If then the body needs the Spirit so then the Word needs the Spirit also.
Jesus said the "Spirit will speak of me..................." Therefore the Holy Spirit will not contradict the BODY or the Word.
Thus you have the BODY of truth.
and you have the Spirit of truth.
The one conforms to the other.
To empty ones self needs to be qualified.
For then what will you be filled with?
You say the Spirit of God.
But without the Word of God?
I think not.
"If any man has this seed in him I will raise him up ..........." thus in an other place it is also written "The seed is the Word"
You catt have one without the other.
Though you can have the Word alone and not know the other.
"For ye boast in the scriptures but know not him of whom the scriptures speak"
But you cannnot know HIm and not know the scripture.
in Christ
Gerald