Yes that's interesting indeed, I am not disagreeing....
I have wondered about the "personal relationship" notion at times also. But People sometimes have said "Jesus is all you need" particularly at times when I have been seeking support. But what is discipleship does it not involve relationship, The Bible says Jesus is with his disciples till the end of the age. In what sense is he with them?
Where do you think the notion of 'personal relationship with Jesus' has come from?
I can't see how one could not have a relationship with Jesus, if one is a christian. Doesn't the Bible speak of Jesus calling his disciples friends?
Dsm1972, in the following scriptures Jesus is telling us how we can have a personal relationship with Him.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Jesus was saying in those scriptures that no one can come to Him unless God the Father draws that person to Him. Then He said that anyone who hears & learns the truth from God will come to Him. Finally, He says that anyone who comes to Him He will not turn away.
In other words, God the Holy Spirit uses the message of the Gospel to convince us that we need our sins to be forgiven & to convince us that Jesus's death on the cross and His shed blood there is God's Way to save us from being eternally separated from Him and spending eternity in hell. The Holy Spirit does the convincing; He shows us the truth from God's Word, the Bible, and draws us to Jesus. Those who come to Him to receive His gift of forgiveness & a new life in Him will have a personal relationship with Him. When we come to Jesus, He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness, and the Holy Spirit moves in and gives us the new life in Christ. He changes the way we think, the way we react to others, He changes our “want to,” He gives us the ability to turn from sin, He helps us to better understand scripture, He changes our confusion to faith, He gives us assurance of eternal life in heaven with God, He does many things for us, and one of the greatest things He gives us is peace. The peace of knowing that ones sins are forgiven and that their eternity is secure in the blood Jesus shed on the cross is a peace that is impossible to explain to anyone who has never experienced it for themselves.
Jesus will do that for you if you will come to Him, believing He will do what He said He will do. Read the Gospel of John and look to the Holy Spirit to show you whatever it is you need to be able to see the truth. The Holy Spirit can & will convince you of the truth if you will approach Him with the attitude that He is your only hope.
Don
