There really is very little point in arguing the obscurities and inconsistencies and sheer volume of dumb stuff in the bible with believers, you know, you're wasting your time. There's more than one believer here who can demonstrate just how contorted they can be in order to believe it's all actually true. My point is believers don't believe, in general, based on the bible, just as atheists don't disbelieve based on the bible.
Not really. The Scriptures verify themselves to a great extent.
John 7:38 King James Version has Jesus saying:
38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
" as the scripture has said"
Where do the scripture actually say " out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."?
What scripture says this? Is it from the Old Testament scripture or from earlier in the New Testament by another one of the gospel writers?
This is a metaphorical language. We are not going to have literal streams or rivers of water coming out of our bellies or inner being.
Jesus likens Himself as the water of life, that those who drink from Him will never thirst.
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Water meant life and Jesus was saying that those who believe in Him would have an abundance of water, so much water that out of his/her inner being or belly there would be an abundance of life.
Next, the argument could be made for the wrong emphasis placed on the John 7:39 passage above. There are two nuances that can be derived from this passage. The emphasis may not so much be on the water but on Jesus and the Spirit. He is the source and is likened to water. The emphasis can also be placed on "he who believes in Me" [Jesus] as the teaching that Jesus wants the reader to understand. The Scriptures speak of Jesus in many places as the only means God has given of eternal life. It also speaks of the Spirit of life. The Spirit gives life.
“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
His word is the truth and believing in it gives life. Out of believing in Him and what He has said (His word) pours forth rivers of living water that fills the belly or the innermost being of the believer.
Now for the passage and its greater context:
33 Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? 36 What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Jesus tells His disciples and the Jews He is only with them for a little longer. He tells the crowd that if anyone is thirsty come to Him and drink. He and the Spirit are the subject and object of quenching their thirst. Jesus says those that believe in Him that He is the source of life, to come to Him to drink and He will satisfy them. The living waters reference the Spirit who elsewhere is said to be the Spirit of life. He gives life to many, thus the source is like a river of life that fills our innermost being and extends to many. The Spirit was to be poured out on many. Jesus is also likened to be poured out like water.
I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Jesus poured out His life that others may have life.
Now for the Spirit references:
Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fertile field, And the fertile field is considered as a forest.
I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.
All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Titus 3:5-7
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The new birth also has references to water.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Thus you get rivers of living waters poured out by God through the Spirit on those who believe in Jesus who fills the innermost being.
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
John the Baptist said,
“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
***
Finally,
[ The River and the Tree of Life ] Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.