I am lost

[DreamerOfTheHeart]

What is the holy spirit? Can one be saved by faith or the heart or moral conscience?

We are saved by faith and grace, but the Spirit is the Spirit of faith and grace.

Moral conscience no, because human hearts are so deceptive, their conscience does not work as it should under the Spirit.

 

[David7818]

The human heart may or may not be. time will tell.

 

[akaDaScribe]

I've heard and read so much about "having a relationship with Jesus and God", but I just don't get it.

To me the Bible is a gigantic rule book telling you that if you don't follow every single detail of it, God will make you suffer for eternity.

How am I supposed to feel any love for that??

How am I supposed to just be like "Ok. My life means nothing. I'm just a puppet of God following all of His rules. I'm just a robot. I'm ok with all of this."

They say, "Call upon the name of the Lord while He may be found".
I try my best. I call out to both Jesus and God. Nothing. No feelings, no peace, no joy. Nothing.
I scream to both of them. I ask for understanding. I ask for wisdom.

Nothing.

How am I supposed to have a relationship with them if they won't even talk to me?

What am I doing wrong!?!
Am I asking for help in the wrong way???

1 John 2:6
"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did".

That scripture infuriates me because its telling me to give up everything I love to do and just be as Jesus was. I want to follow this rule, but it makes me angry because I love to do so many things that I can't see Jesus doing.

I'm a college student studying computer science. I have an obsessive nature. I love to obsess over things that I enjoy and block out the rest of the world.

I don't see Jesus as the type who would be a computer scientist or obsess over studies.
So, I guess I should just abandon my love for computers and change to something else or drop out of college all together because Jesus would not obsess over anything, but I obsess over all of my studies.

I guess being a christian means that I have to walk along the sides of the street every day calling out for people to repent and turn to God, because that's exactly what I think Jesus would be doing right now.

I've also been reading about how people don't think playing video games is a christian thing to do, even is there is not violence in them.
I've been playing video games ever since I can remember.
I've successfully stopped playing violent games, but that's not good enough??

Also, Idols.
As I said before, I obsess over anything and everything I love to do.

For example, I love to paint Bob Ross paintings.
The other day I watched Bob Ross videos for the entire day without having the desire to pick my Bible once.
So, I guess that's an idol and I need to cut it out of my life.

I guess I need to cut everything I love out of my life that I love to obsess over completely and
just twiddle my thumbs and sleep when I have nothing to do.

How am I supposed to do all of this!?!

All I know is that I've been hearing "You're going to Hell if you're not a Christian" ever since I can remember.

If there was a switch that I could turn on that would make me ok with all of this, I would flip it immediately.
But of course there is not!
How am I supposed to change my view of everything I have ever known!?!

Hi Heath18,


I was looking at an old site I made and happened to click on a link to this forum. When I saw your question, I decided to re-signup for the forum to respond. First I want to say that I greatly appreciate your question and the way you worded it. You are being completely honest with yourself and that is a wonderful way to be. There is no point in pretending or lieing to yourself because God already knows how you feel. The other thing I appreciate is the sincerity of your concerns. Jesus said to count the cost before you build a house and he said it in relation to following him.


I have not read any of the other responses yet or the rest of the posts so please forgive with me if I repeat anything.


It sounds to me like you have the same concern I had when I was younger. There was enough credibility in Christianity to be concerned about it, but I could not make myself believe what I did not believe and I could not make myself love someone I didn’t love.


As an adult I did not confirm or deny Christianity, but I did reach a point where I wanted to know the truth. I determined that I needed to know whether or not there is a God. I decided to start with Christianity since I was familiar with it. I took everything I was taught and put it to the side. I began to read the Bible from the beginning without regard for anything but what it said. By the time I reached Solomon, it became very apparent to me that these people were chronicling their interaction with a deity. Not sure how to explain it, but I was struck with the reality that God is real. Some of the things that happened after that we’ll discuss another day. But experience significantly increased my faith and amazing things began to happen.


I’m trying to keep this brief so I’m not going into extensive details, but everything changed. Actually, everything didn’t change… I did. At that time I felt very close to God, but I was still hesitant about Jesus. But my eyes were so open that I began understanding things I never understood and this made me more comfortable about him. However, it was not until I went through the gospels with the same clear mind, that I began to embrace Jesus. It was like the more I thought about what he said and did, the more I liked him, admired him, appreciated his views, and became a bigger fan.


I guess what I’m saying is instead of worrying about what you’ve been told, go and see it for yourself.

 

[DreamerOfTheHeart]

The human heart may or may not be. time will tell.

Heart is deceptive above all else. Pray and fast instead. Implore the Lord

 

[DanFireLight]

Seek God in a spirit of selfless love. God did not respond to my cries for me to be happy and for me to live. The Holy Spirit will not enter those that put faith in their own lives or well being. God is love and will respond to any person motivated in love who asks Jesus Christ to save and forgive them for their sins. God does not respond to us so we can get cool stuff like happiness or prosperity or eternal life in heaven. God responds to people that are genuinely regretful of their sins and wish forgiveness to serve and love him and one another. As individuals our only real commandment is to love God and love another. This spirit of love IS the law. The bible is less a "rule book" for Christians and more a "guide book" It demonstrates the principles, as well as many of the pitfalls, of godly life. The letter of the law, the traditions of men, the doctrines of the church are only useful the extent they further God's mission of love and justice. If you re-read the gospels you should take note that Jesus rather harshly chastises those that employ law, tradition and doctrine in an unloving and unjust way. This is a bane of religion as a social institution in a fallen world and remains a problem to this day. The last thing is that you can't force yourself into believing and the blessing of the spirit is not something you can trick your brain into feeling. Seek God, seek Jesus's salvation, seek love and seek justice and when your heart is ready the holy spirit will come to you, maybe when you least expect it.

 

[akaDaScribe]

Seek God in a spirit of selfless love. God did not respond to my cries for me to be happy and for me to live. The Holy Spirit will not enter those that put faith in their own lives or well being. God is love and will respond to any person motivated in love who asks Jesus Christ to save and forgive them for their sins. God does not respond to us so we can get cool stuff like happiness or prosperity or eternal life in heaven. God responds to people that are genuinely regretful of their sins and wish forgiveness to serve and love him and one another. As individuals our only real commandment is to love God and love another. This spirit of love IS the law. The bible is less a "rule book" for Christians and more a "guide book" It demonstrates the principles, as well as many of the pitfalls, of godly life. The letter of the law, the traditions of men, the doctrines of the church are only useful the extent they further God's mission of love and justice. If you re-read the gospels you should take note that Jesus rather harshly chastises those that employ law, tradition and doctrine in an unloving and unjust way. This is a bane of religion as a social institution in a fallen world and remains a problem to this day. The last thing is that you can't force yourself into believing and the blessing of the spirit is not something you can trick your brain into feeling. Seek God, seek Jesus's salvation, seek love and seek justice and when your heart is ready the holy spirit will come to you, maybe when you least expect it.

God does want us to be happy. He wants us to be happy with a sustainable happiness. Genuine love is bliss.

People think of Christianity as giving things up. We are not giving up anything. We are exchanging our ways for the way.

The Parables of the Treasure and Pearl

(Matthew 6:19-21)

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

 

[Jesus' Girl]

That is EXACTLY to every point I’ve been going through since 2014! Plus the fact we have to be hot for God every second otherwise He will spit me out or seperate me as a goat into hell. Not just that...if I do Christian things without the spirit guiding..its dead works...but faith without works is dead...visa versa.

One guy said he went to hell for not dying to self daily..he is a Christian and God gave him another chance. I used to also watch “Christians who went to hell” for one sin.

So I Christianised myself by dumping all my dvds, music and stopped video games..had no non Christian Facebook pics or cover photos.... I stopped all hobbies because I felt God told me not to. I did so because I realise now it becomes idolatry that is why God lead me away from hobbies. I never felt hot so I felt I was going to hell for that. I never prayed enough but tried to obey and pray as much as I can...

I was in turmoil every day. Feeling I had to conform to Christian rules every second of my life.

Every thing I was failing and felt God tell me off for it. Like if I didn’t obey him physcial pain went into my body. Or some scary picture of hell or something

I no longer feel this way anymore. Stopped last year some time...

Now I’m fallen

 

[Jesus' Girl]

I sought wisdom continually..help for demonic attacks...help for mental wars the devil would give me..help this..help that. I never felt anything come to help. I came here for helpand got attacked instead. I tried bible study but health attacks stopped me and my desire wasn’t strong enough. I never could feel love for God strong enough to continue praying or obeying. I did finish one bible study and got the certificate but my heart wasn’t all in it.
It was so meaningless I felt. If my faith slipped..as it always did I felt like I was doomed for hell....I had a dream once and it seemed to indicate I was left behind at rapture..

I don’t know where to find this strength to read the bible, pray and keep on trying

I relate to every single point the OP posted...

 

[NeedyFollower]

I've heard and read so much about "having a relationship with Jesus and God", but I just don't get it.

To me the Bible is a gigantic rule book telling you that if you don't follow every single detail of it, God will make you suffer for eternity.

How am I supposed to feel any love for that??

How am I supposed to just be like "Ok. My life means nothing. I'm just a puppet of God following all of His rules. I'm just a robot. I'm ok with all of this."

They say, "Call upon the name of the Lord while He may be found".
I try my best. I call out to both Jesus and God. Nothing. No feelings, no peace, no joy. Nothing.
I scream to both of them. I ask for understanding. I ask for wisdom.

Nothing.

How am I supposed to have a relationship with them if they won't even talk to me?

What am I doing wrong!?!
Am I asking for help in the wrong way???

1 John 2:6
"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did".

That scripture infuriates me because its telling me to give up everything I love to do and just be as Jesus was. I want to follow this rule, but it makes me angry because I love to do so many things that I can't see Jesus doing.

I'm a college student studying computer science. I have an obsessive nature. I love to obsess over things that I enjoy and block out the rest of the world.

I don't see Jesus as the type who would be a computer scientist or obsess over studies.
So, I guess I should just abandon my love for computers and change to something else or drop out of college all together because Jesus would not obsess over anything, but I obsess over all of my studies.

I guess being a christian means that I have to walk along the sides of the street every day calling out for people to repent and turn to God, because that's exactly what I think Jesus would be doing right now.

I've also been reading about how people don't think playing video games is a christian thing to do, even is there is not violence in them.
I've been playing video games ever since I can remember.
I've successfully stopped playing violent games, but that's not good enough??

Also, Idols.
As I said before, I obsess over anything and everything I love to do.

For example, I love to paint Bob Ross paintings.
The other day I watched Bob Ross videos for the entire day without having the desire to pick my Bible once.
So, I guess that's an idol and I need to cut it out of my life.

I guess I need to cut everything I love out of my life that I love to obsess over completely and
just twiddle my thumbs and sleep when I have nothing to do.

How am I supposed to do all of this!?!

All I know is that I've been hearing "You're going to Hell if you're not a Christian" ever since I can remember.

If there was a switch that I could turn on that would make me ok with all of this, I would flip it immediately.
But of course there is not!
How am I supposed to change my view of everything I have ever known!?!

I am lost ...I wish more christians could say that for now you can be found. It is ONLY the lost that need a Shepard . I suspect there are many " saved " people who are lost . I do not wish to get into theology for I believe that has led many people astray but I believe only God can awaken someone to their true condition and cause them to desire Him . I believe a person is born again but will die if not cared for ..if not fed proper diet , etc. Because of the seriousness of "getting it wrong " , I do not run after mindless entertainments for how should one expect them to make them anything but mindless ? I spend my time in scripture , in prayer and work . I also was lost but in looking back over the circumstances of my life, I can see God's hand although I still do not know why He "put up " with me . Many christians are pursuing careers and other "attainments" but they will have no value when we meet Christ ...Brother , remember ..you do not have to " be" anything because anything we can be , will not be good enough ...but in Him , we are children of God . Without faith it is impossible to please God for you must believe that He is ( which you do ) AND He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him . Never stop seeking Him but do not be haphazard about it . May God draw you to Him though His Son . Changing your views is what we are ALL required to do ....It is a bit like the Israelite going through the desert . But remember , you were not born running ...do not expect to "run " but you still must walk ....and avoid " spiritual junk food " . Grace and Peace in the name of Jesus of Nazareth .

 

[EmSw]

I've heard and read so much about "having a relationship with Jesus and God", but I just don't get it.

To me the Bible is a gigantic rule book telling you that if you don't follow every single detail of it, God will make you suffer for eternity.

How am I supposed to feel any love for that??

How am I supposed to just be like "Ok. My life means nothing. I'm just a puppet of God following all of His rules. I'm just a robot. I'm ok with all of this."

They say, "Call upon the name of the Lord while He may be found".
I try my best. I call out to both Jesus and God. Nothing. No feelings, no peace, no joy. Nothing.
I scream to both of them. I ask for understanding. I ask for wisdom.

Nothing.

How am I supposed to have a relationship with them if they won't even talk to me?

What am I doing wrong!?!
Am I asking for help in the wrong way???

1 John 2:6
"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did".

That scripture infuriates me because its telling me to give up everything I love to do and just be as Jesus was. I want to follow this rule, but it makes me angry because I love to do so many things that I can't see Jesus doing.

I'm a college student studying computer science. I have an obsessive nature. I love to obsess over things that I enjoy and block out the rest of the world.

I don't see Jesus as the type who would be a computer scientist or obsess over studies.
So, I guess I should just abandon my love for computers and change to something else or drop out of college all together because Jesus would not obsess over anything, but I obsess over all of my studies.

I guess being a christian means that I have to walk along the sides of the street every day calling out for people to repent and turn to God, because that's exactly what I think Jesus would be doing right now.

I've also been reading about how people don't think playing video games is a christian thing to do, even is there is not violence in them.
I've been playing video games ever since I can remember.
I've successfully stopped playing violent games, but that's not good enough??

Also, Idols.
As I said before, I obsess over anything and everything I love to do.

For example, I love to paint Bob Ross paintings.
The other day I watched Bob Ross videos for the entire day without having the desire to pick my Bible once.
So, I guess that's an idol and I need to cut it out of my life.

I guess I need to cut everything I love out of my life that I love to obsess over completely and
just twiddle my thumbs and sleep when I have nothing to do.

How am I supposed to do all of this!?!

All I know is that I've been hearing "You're going to Hell if you're not a Christian" ever since I can remember.

If there was a switch that I could turn on that would make me ok with all of this, I would flip it immediately.
But of course there is not!
How am I supposed to change my view of everything I have ever known!?!

Hello. This may help you.

Sermons Illustrating the Doctrine of the Lord p. 1

 

[ToBeLoved]

That is EXACTLY to every point I’ve been going through since 2014! Plus the fact we have to be hot for God every second otherwise He will spit me out or seperate me as a goat into hell. Not just that...if I do Christian things without the spirit guiding..its dead works...but faith without works is dead...visa versa.

One guy said he went to hell for not dying to self daily..he is a Christian and God gave him another chance. I used to also watch “Christians who went to hell” for one sin.

So I Christianised myself by dumping all my dvds, music and stopped video games..had no non Christian Facebook pics or cover photos.... I stopped all hobbies because I felt God told me not to. I did so because I realise now it becomes idolatry that is why God lead me away from hobbies. I never felt hot so I felt I was going to hell for that. I never prayed enough but tried to obey and pray as much as I can...

I was in turmoil every day. Feeling I had to conform to Christian rules every second of my life.

Every thing I was failing and felt God tell me off for it. Like if I didn’t obey him physcial pain went into my body. Or some scary picture of hell or something

I no longer feel this way anymore. Stopped last year some time...

Now I’m fallen

That’s what happens when you start watching ‘God sent me to hell for one sin’ or whatever it is.

Who that God sent to hell is still on this earth instead of being in hell (where you say God put them)?

How can someone be alive on earth
And have been dead, judged by God and sent to hell, yet writing or making videos about it?

That makes no sense.

Seems to me your looking at a bunch of people, you have no idea who they are, waiting fir them to tell you about God.

That is why people tell you read the Bible for yourself.

Judgement does not come before death one does NOT come back from. If someone comes back (like a near-death experience) they were not judged and sentenced for eternity.

God’s Word says a man dies OnCe and then judgement.

If they come back, they aren’t dead. Obviously.

If God wanted to send you to hell for one sin (or any of us) we are already guilty and He could have done that. So then the question is ‘Why send His Son as a Savior’ if God wants to send us to hell for one sin?

It makes no sense.

 

[ToBeLoved]

So I Christianised myself by dumping all my dvds, music and stopped video games..had no non Christian Facebook pics or cover photos.... I stopped all hobbies because I felt God told me not to. I did so because I realise now it becomes idolatry that is why God lead me away from hobbies. I never felt hot so I felt I was going to hell for that. I never prayed enough but tried to obey and pray as much as I can...

I was in turmoil every day. Feeling I had to conform to Christian rules every second of my life.

If you would have worked on your relationship with God you would not have fell into the trap of ‘trying to be a Christian’ and you would have realized ‘your relationship with God’ makes you a Christian and you would not have tried to live up to people’s expectations, but you would have let the OnLY JUDGE guide your path.

Now your salty because you did everything you HeARD FROM OTHERS God wanted you to do, instead of walking with God, and now you are disappointed.

Walk with God. Love Him and let Him guide you.

Not every person with an opinion telling you what God wants. Ask God what HE wants.

 

[ToBeLoved]

One guy said he went to hell for not dying to self daily..he is a Christian and God gave him another chance. I used to also watch “Christians who went to hell” for one sin.

It must be true if one guy said it happened ..... huh?

 

[aiki]

That is EXACTLY to every point I’ve been going through since 2014! Plus the fact we have to be hot for God every second otherwise He will spit me out or seperate me as a goat into hell. Not just that...if I do Christian things without the spirit guiding..its dead works...but faith without works is dead...visa versa.

No, we don't have to be "hot for God every second" in order to remain saved. This is an impossible standard to meet. I don't even know, really, what "hot for God" means! Paul struggled with sin (Romans 7:18-24); he wrote to the Galatian believers that "the flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you do not do the things you want to do," (Galatians 5:17); he exacted criticism, and judgment, and discipline upon Christians (not unbelievers) for their sometimes very gross sin (1 Corinthians 5; 6:1-8), their spiritual immaturity and ignorance (Hebrews 5:12), their petty divisions (1 Corinthians 1:10-13), and so on. If there is one thing the New Testament makes very clear it is that the Early Christians were not all-perfected saints. And neither are modern believers.

One guy said he went to hell for not dying to self daily..he is a Christian and God gave him another chance. I used to also watch “Christians who went to hell” for one sin.

This is just so...sad. The First and Great Commandment isn't to "die daily to yourself." It is to love God with all of your being. (Matthew 22:36-38) No amount of dying to yourself will bring you into God's good graces if love for God isn't the fundamental motive for dying. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) There are people who will try to die to themselves all their lives but never really love God and so will one day stand before Him and hear Him say, "Depart from me. I never knew you." Before anything else, God wants us to love Him. And when we do, dying to ourselves will be an easy, and even joyful, thing.

So I Christianised myself by dumping all my dvds, music and stopped video games..had no non Christian Facebook pics or cover photos.... I stopped all hobbies because I felt God told me not to. I did so because I realise now it becomes idolatry that is why God lead me away from hobbies. I never felt hot so I felt I was going to hell for that. I never prayed enough but tried to obey and pray as much as I can...

This is exactly what happens when you try to obey God out of fear and duty rather than love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

 

[Heath18]

Just wondering if "Heath18" has been back to read any of these great posts.

Lots of Christian brothers and sisters with heart felt concern but no return of the OP...

You still here Heath18?

I have been reading all of this, and I have been here every day reading and trying to understand what all of this means.

Thank you all for responding, I can't thank you all enough for trying to help me.

I'm trying my best to take all of these responses to heart, but my heart is still confused...

You're not, because you cannot. You're living out a performance mentality, based on works-salvation. If man could save himself, Jesus went through an awful lot for nothing.

Read Romans 7. Paul details how he struggled with performance issues. No matter what he did, he could get nowhere.

That is exactly how it's designed to work. In Galatians 2 Paul explains that the law is the tutor that leads men to Christ. Through the law, he says, he died to the law, that he might live to Christ.

By trying to keep the law, you learn you cannot. You learn you need a Savior. That's the way it's designed to work.

The problem is you were raised with the Bible as a rule book, and God as a harsh taskmaster. This is not the picture Jesus paints. The Bible is a love letter, and God, a loving Father - so loving, He sacrificed Jesus in order to bring you to Him.

Pray that your carnal mental filters would be removed, and that the pure Gospel would be implanted in your heart (see the prayers in Eph 1 and 3). Confess that you cannot effect your own salvation, and begin to trust in the salvation Christ freely offers you. It is the prayer of faith that saves.

Paull1149, what do you mean that I cannot live up to these expectations?If you mean that I will never be perfect, I do understand that. I understand that no matter how hard I try, I will always stumble, but that will not keep me from trying my best to cut all sin out of my life. I have always thought that is what a christian is supposed to do, try their best every day to keep all of God's commandments. I have learned from my post called "Good Works", that James and Paul are saying that a natural faith result in good works. Good works are following God's commandments, right? I want to please God/Jesus and do everything in my power to keep all of His commandments.

Stop stressing.

If your name is in the book of life of the lamb slain, then you'll know it.

God will come at the appointed TIME and INVADE your life like it's never been invaded before.

IF your name is in the book of life, that is.

Go about your business and if He calls, YOU WILL COME.

Without fail.

Andrew Jeremiah, I think that God is invading my life right now, because I thought that I was a believer a long time ago, but this never happened to me. Right now I am questioning if I am going to Heaven and if I am a true believer. This is torture, so I think He is invading it. Also, your comment has caused me great worry and stress because of How you say "if my name is in the Book of Life". I am seeking understanding and the Lord, and I will not stop until I find Him and understand how I am supposed to live my life. Doesn't the scriptures "Seek and ye shall find" and "Knock and the door will be opened" mean that eventually Christ will welcome me into understanding and my name is already written in the Book of Life since I am seeking Him?

Actually, your description of the Bible is a caricature, a cartoon version, of what the Bible actually is. It's no wonder, then, that you are thinking and feeling as you are. Have you read the Bible for yourself?

The Bible doesn't call you merely to obedience to God's commands. It reveals who God is and what His purposes are in making you (and all of the universe); it describes God's loving and gracious redemption of humanity from the consequences of sin; it provides wisdom, and principles, and guidelines for meaningful, fulfilling and God-centered living.

Apart from God, your life really does mean nothing. If God does not exist, you are an accident of nature, existing without purpose or meaning, insignificant, short-lived and soon forgotten. Without God, you are just a DNA replicating meat-bag. So, live as you like, live to maximize your pleasure, because when your life ends, that's it, you disappear forever, a submicroscopic blip in the life of the universe that is expanding toward the empty, cold blackness of heat-death. Does this sound preferable to a life given meaning by its Creator? Not to me.

Does God expect you to be a puppet or robot? Of course not. But He does expect you to live as He commands in His universe. You can, though, choose not to do so. But, remember, you're in God's universe, existing only because He makes it possible for you to do so. Why, then, should you be able to do just as you please, ignoring God when it suits you and choosing your will over His with impunity? Why shouldn't God insist you live His way in His universe?



If you want to hear from God, if you truly want wisdom and understanding, study the Bible. In it, God tells all of us what He wants from us, who He is, who we are, and how to relate with Him.
Screaming at God, then, to give you what can be readily found in the Bible is a bit silly, don't you think?



You aren't going to be a prophesied Messiah; you aren't going to atone for the sins of the world by dying on a cross and then rising from the dead after three days; you aren't going to found a new religion that will change the course of human history. But this is what Jesus did, right? And you're supposed to live just like he did, right? Can you see the problem in taking too literally the verse you cited? Be like Jesus, yes, in character and fundamental life-purposes, but do so in the particular ground in which you've been planted. Be like Jesus where you are and in the things you do.

God does not ask you to give up your life because you ought to, or because you fear the consequences of not doing so. In fact, if love does not motivate your obedience to His commands, God will not accept your obedience. He wants you to live according to His will and way because you love Him more than anything else (Matt. 22:36-38). And until you do, the thought of giving up your current self-centered life will only ever make you angry, and resentful, and unwilling.



One step at a time. One divine truth at a time. By God's enabling power. In loving submission to Him.

Aiki, Your response has me deeply confused, and I thank you for being so honest with me. "if love does not motivate your obedience to His commands, God will not accept your obedience." What? But... I have always believed "fear of the Lord is the foundation for wisdom and understanding". I obey Him for two reasons: I want to know and have fellowship with the creator of the universe and have peace in Him, and the thought of spending an eternity in fire makes me filled with complete fear. I can't help my emotions. This is the way I have always felt. Also, "Seek and ye shall find" and "Knock and the door will be opened". I have always understood that to mean that anyone who seeks understanding about the Lord will find it, and if they seek peace with Him, they will find it, regardless if they are doing it only out of fear, or only out of love.

 

[Jesus' Girl]

If you would have worked on your relationship with God you would not have fell into the trap of ‘trying to be a Christian’ and you would have realized ‘your relationship with God’ makes you a Christian and you would not have tried to live up to people’s expectations, but you would have let the OnLY JUDGE guide your path.

Now your salty because you did everything you HeARD FROM OTHERS God wanted you to do, instead of walking with God, and now you are disappointed.

Walk with God. Love Him and let Him guide you.

Not every person with an opinion telling you what God wants. Ask God what HE wants.

I did work on my relationship with God! I’m sick of people twisting my words! I prayed daily and listened to worship music and tried this. I did this in obedience to God! People here are rude and not understanding!

 

[Jesus' Girl]

I can’t believe God could love me. I’m worthless and ugly and pathetic. I’m not one of His children. I’m nothing.

 

[Jesus' Girl]

I did work on my relationship with God. I wish people wouldn’t twist and make me out as a monster. I prayed deeply from the heart and listened to worship music..I tried to get close to God. I just felt endlessly empty and miserable. I guess I’m more to blame now? Is that all people do is blame me?

It must be true if one guy said it happened ..... huh?

That is rude. I don’t want to talk to people who are going to be as uncompassionate and callous as this.

 

[aiki]

Aiki, Your response has me deeply confused, and I thank you for being so honest with me. "if love does not motivate your obedience to His commands, God will not accept your obedience." What? But... I have always believed "fear of the Lord is the foundation for wisdom and understanding". I obey Him for two reasons: I want to know and have fellowship with the creator of the universe and have peace in Him, and the thought of spending an eternity in fire makes me filled with complete fear. I can't help my emotions. This is the way I have always felt.

I'm not surprised that my comments confuse you. I get this a lot from new believers in particular when I teach them "Christianity 101" at my church.

First of all, the "fear of the Lord" is not a craven fear; it is not the fear a slave has toward a hard and cruel master; it is reverential awe, a sort of awe-struck recognition of the incredible majesty, and power, and glory of God.

If you obey God, then your obedience must begin with the First and Great Commandment which is to love God with all of your being. (Matthew 22:36-38) It's the FIRST and GREAT commandment, right? Stands to reason, then, that it is the beginning place of your obedience to God.

There is a story Jesus tells of men who stand before God at the Great Judgment and hear Him say, "Depart from me. I never knew you." The men protest, describing their deeds done in Christ's name: exorcism, prophesying, and miracles. How could they be going to Hell when they had done all these good things in Jesus' name? (Matthew 7:21-23) The answer is in what they didn't say. They make no claims to loving Christ or God. They never claim to have obeyed the First and Great Commandment. No, they skipped that one and hoped no one would notice. But God is serious when He says that love for Him is the ground out of which all of our other obedience is to arise (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). If we get busy going to church, and praying, and reading the Bible but never actually obeying the First and Great Commandment, we will stand before God one day and hear Him say, "Depart from me. I never knew you."

So, don't fear Hell. Don't fear God. Fear a heart that is cold and cowering toward God, a heart that never fills with love for Him.

One other thing: The only place you can get a proper love for God is from God. He doesn't want from you your corrupted human love, but His own perfect, holy, self-sacrificing love. If you find your heart cold and flat toward God, ask Him to fill you with His love by His Spirit. But remember: God only pours Himself - His love, peace and joy - into a life surrendered to Him.

 

[Heath18]

I'm not surprised that my comments confuse you. I get this a lot from new believers in particular when I teach them "Christianity 101" at my church.

First of all, the "fear of the Lord" is not a craven fear; it is not the fear a slave has toward a hard and cruel master; it is reverential awe, a sort of awe-struck recognition of the incredible majesty, and power, and glory of God.

If you obey God, then your obedience must begin with the First and Great Commandment which is to love God with all of your being. (Matthew 22:36-38) It's the FIRST and GREAT commandment, right? Stands to reason, then, that it is the beginning place of your obedience to God.

There is a story Jesus tells of men who stand before God at the Great Judgment and hear Him say, "Depart from me. I never knew you." The men protest, describing their deeds done in Christ's name: exorcism, prophesying, and miracles. How could they be going to Hell when they had done all these good things in Jesus' name? (Matthew 7:21-23) The answer is in what they didn't say. They make no claims to loving Christ or God. They never claim to have obeyed the First and Great Commandment. No, they skipped that one and hoped no one would notice. But God is serious when He says that love for Him is the ground out of which all of our other obedience is to arise (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). If we get busy going to church, and praying, and reading the Bible but never actually obeying the First and Great Commandment, we will stand before God one day and hear Him say, "Depart from me. I never knew you."

So, don't fear Hell. Don't fear God. Fear a heart that is cold and cowering toward God, a heart that never fills with love for Him.

One other thing: The only place you can get a proper love for God is from God. He doesn't want from you your own corrupted human love, but His own perfect, holy, self-sacrificing love. If you find your heart cold and flat toward God, ask Him to fill you with His love by His Spirit. But remember: God only pours Himself - His love, peace and joy - into a life surrendered to Him.

Now I understand...
I have never truly loved Him.

... It all really does flow from Him...

... I will pray that He will give me His love and start a work in me, and I will hope He hears me and answers my prayer.
If He does not then I will perish...

Thank you...