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Ned,
You said, wisdom is revealed by following Christ. And by following the Christ, one can be like him, can be Christ too. Can we be equal with the Christ? Because you already know that the secret wisdom has already been revealed as Christ, have you attained wisdomhood?
There was a traitor among his disciples. Don’t you remember Judas? That is why some mysteries will remain mysteries to us ordinary folks, because of this Judas.
You may be right that by following Christ, we can learn the secret wisdom. You will also need years and lots of study and preparation and experimentation, and mastery of the subject matter, etc. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”. My question therefore is: having discovered that the secret wisdom is Christ, how do you inspire others to follow the true path and accept Jesus the Christ as the way to the truth and eternal life?
No I didn’t. I said that the wisdom IS Christ.
We can definitely learn to be more like Christ in this life. But by doing so we experience only a small taste of Christ-likeness. We will never be equal with Christ. If that is your goal then you may as well stop now. He is the only holy begotten Son of God. Christians are simply undeserving adopted sons. No equality.
In the sense that Christains understand the revealed nature of God’s mystery (Christ), every Christian has attained this “wisdom” since they are connected to Christ through faith. And such “wisdom” is found only in correct relationship with Christ, not some kind of schooling or head knowledge.
Yes.
I have no idea what you are talking about. Many “ordinary folks” are connected to Christ. It has nothing to do with superior intelligence or learning, in fact I believe brain power to be an impediment to knowing Christ.
Rubbish. Such nonsense is not taught in the bible. “Learning” this “secret wisdom” is not some intellectual or ascetic journey. The wisdom is Christ. Those who have found Christ have found wisdom. Whether they found him 80 years ago or this morning at breakfast, they have acquired exactly the same “wisdom”.
Part of the Christian calling is to preach the gospel. In our modern society that works best by example and using words when necessary. I doubt I personally am very “inspirational”, but that would certainly be part of the goal.
I think the crux of what Ned is posting is to say that wisdom is hidden by pride, or leaning on or own understanding. This was one of the messages that Jesus was here to reveal, to show us to be humble and this is the key to receiving this secret wisdom. If you are so sure of your own understanding and self you cannot see the real Truth, as you are self absorbed and make your own truth to suit your desires, this is the trap that keeps the Truth a secret. Jesus was literally the Truth incarnate in mans flesh as God could not get through to the hearts of men who had shut the door, a living reference was needed for this and to take on the sin of the world.
Good post Ned.
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I’ll pray to God, then, for the revelation and true knowledge of His son, Jesus Christ.
Reveal to this sinner the correct relationship with Christ, how do I know I have found Christ.
If there is a subject that interest me, it is about Jesus Christ.
So tell me about this God/man.
Praying wont do you any good.
Good stuff, Ned.
– Justly
Justly, How do you know you have found Christ? Ask Him into your heart (into yourself). Have a one-on-one with Him about why you need Him. That’s it. Read these verses: John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9, 2 Corinthians 5:17 to get acquainted with Him.
A few good ideas – learn as much as you can about Him. Pray constantly (always have Him on your mind so that everything you do is with Him in mind), get into a good church (I recommend your nearest Calvary Chapel – you can Google one), and get into daily Bible study (I think every Calvary Chapel has a little hand-out which takes you through the Bible in a year – also, your best bet is a good study Bible… and a concordance will supply you with a long list of verses on whatever topic interests you).
Keep Ned and me posted 
Keep Ned and me posted
Icthus/Ned/kingdaddy;
Thanks for your suggestions.
This is what I know:
that in each man or woman, God planted the Christ consciousness.
God provided earthly food and everything else for the lower animals but for man, his spiritual food is more costly because of his fall from the garden of Eden. But God wants us to go back to this paradise.
So for our souls’ sake, God became man that we may become Godlike through Jesus Christ.
Surely, there is a way to go back to God’s paradise, or Kingdom of heaven here on earth or above, or back to the garden of Eden.
Going to church or praying constantly or asking Him into my heart, one-on-one with Him will not bring me to the Christ.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”.
Buddha said, “Life is suffering.”
I think those two are to me the right way to the Christ.
One must bear the cross. The physical body must experience death and rebirth.
It sounds like you’re mixing Buddhism (and who knows what else) with Christianity. Mixing won’t work, due to the contradictions you can’t just ignore.
Trim off the fat.
Are you a philosopher taking a position just to see how it pans out? 'Cause that’s not what I am here for.
Keep it real or I’m out, as they say down on the farm.
Take care.
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Ichtus,
I fail to see the contradiction between the Buddha’s path and Jesus way.
Didn’t Jesus suffer on the cross? That the cross he carried was our sins? The difference was that Jesus was divinely born. Buddha was born royal, as a man he was born, as a man he lived and as a man he died. He wasn’t an incarnation of a god, or a saviour who wants to save others by his personal salvation. Did he say he was divine? He as a finite human being, reached the highest possible state of perfection any person could aspire to. He only revealed the only staright path that leads to it. Jesus pointed out the path also to the Christ consciousness.
Do we follow only one teaching to arrive at truth?
Read “Eternity in their Hearts” by Don Richardson. I’ll order and send it to you if you give me a p.o. box.
Buddha himself (guatama? … been a while…) said a lot of good stuff… but Buddhism is a blend of a lot of crap that has nothing to do with Buddha.
There is of course only one Truth, and many teachings which conflict with it. Read the book (hopefully you read this whole post and know what I’m referring to – a lot of people on this site seem to be skimmers…). It is not an area I am very knowledgeable (sp?) in.
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which is…?
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yes, many paths that point to the truth. What path do you take?
God and everything He is about.
If you mean they point to the truth by showing what it is not (some of them only a little, some alot) – I agree. The path I take is lit by the Word of God – the Bible, and Jesus.
Enough. You know this already.
To all of that I wanted to add something I read in “Chosen But Free” by Geisler…
1 Corinthians 2:14 is apparently ued to support the idea that unregenerate persons cannot even understand the Gospel or any spiritual truths of Scripture. Geisler responds:
(pp. 61-62)
This is a correction of my earlier agreement with Ned Flanders position. And, Ned, if you’re reading this, I’d like your take on my “predestination and free will” thread, if you have some time.