Closer to God?

[leftrightleftrightleft]

What's the purpose in getting closer to God? Christians are constantly trying to do things like read the Bible and go to church and do good works and pray and meditate and go on retreats and learn about God.

Why? If Jesus is the path to eternal life and you truly believe that you have accepted Jesus and love Jesus, what's the point in trying to get closer to God?

What's the point in self-improvement?

 

[steve_bakr]

Greetings,

In Catholic terms, Salvation is the work of a lifetime and we're just never finished with it as long as we're alive.

In Protestant terms, it would mean that we continue with the process of sanctification.

Either way, the goal is to become like Christ as much as we can, to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love others as ourselves. As you can observe, there is much work to be done.

Peace of the Lord be with you.
"The heavens declare the glory of the Lord" (Psalms 19:2a)

 

[drich0150]

What's the purpose in getting closer to God? Christians are constantly trying to do things like read the Bible and go to church and do good works and pray and meditate and go on retreats and learn about God.

ever wonder why you have so many questions and "we" have so many answers? Not to mention there is a peace and contentment that nothing in this world can offer. In short we "get" the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. These fruit and gifts fill the hole we all were born with in our hearts.

Why? If Jesus is the path to eternal life and you truly believe that you have accepted Jesus and love Jesus, what's the point in trying to get closer to God?

Maybe i should ask why you would want eternal life without knowing the God you claim to want to spend it with..

What's the point in self-improvement?

What is the point of entering Heaven with nothing to look forward to?

 

[ephraimanesti]

What's the purpose in getting closer to God? Christians are constantly trying to do things like read the Bible and go to church and do good works and pray and meditate and go on retreats and learn about God.

Why? If Jesus is the path to eternal life and you truly believe that you have accepted Jesus and love Jesus, what's the point in trying to get closer to God?

What's the point in self-improvement?

MY DEAR FRIEND,

As Scripture tells us, our relationship with God through Jesus Christ by means of the Holy Spirit can be likened to a marriage. In my earthly marriage, my wife and i have accepted each other as our life-long spouses but, at the same time, we are spending that lifetime trying by all possible means to get to know each other on deeper and ever deeper terms.

Same with God--and our lifetime here on earth will just be the temporal phase of an eternal process. (Hopefully you didn't REALLY think Christians were looking forward to sitting on clouds and playing harps for all eternity.)

ABBA'S SLAVE,
ephraim

 

[ebia]

What's the purpose in getting closer to God? Christians are constantly trying to do things like read the Bible and go to church and do good works and pray and meditate and go on retreats and learn about God.

Why? If Jesus is the path to eternal life and you truly believe that you have accepted Jesus and love Jesus, what's the point in trying to get closer to God?

What's the point in self-improvement?

Your question seems to assume that the point of the exercise is to get a ticket to heaven.

Salvation is being restored as God's image in and for the world as part of God's restoration of the whole world.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

Greetings,

In Catholic terms, Salvation is the work of a lifetime and we're just never finished with it as long as we're alive.

Do you go to heaven if you have faith in Jesus? Are you saved by grace?

In Protestant terms, it would mean that we continue with the process of sanctification.

Can you elaborate on what "sanctification" means?

Either way, the goal is to become like Christ as much as we can, to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love others as ourselves.

Why is this the goal? If you are saved by grace, then the small number of Christ-like actions you perform while on Earth will be a tiny blink of an eye in the face of eternal bliss in heaven. If you are saved by grace, your good actions are of no consequence so why are they a goal to be achieved?

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

ever wonder why you have so many questions and "we" have so many answers? Not to mention there is a peace and contentment that nothing in this world can offer. In short we "get" the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. These fruit and gifts fill the hole we all were born with in our hearts.

I'm actually more content than I think I've ever been in my life right now.

I think questions are the best thing in the world. Without questions, you have no knowledge. In this sense, I am fantastically happy that I am asking you so many questions, the more questions I ask, the better.

The only satisfactory answer I've received from anyone in my recent burst of threads has been from Sophrosyne in the thread titled "Actions". And even then, it wasn't that I got an "answer" but rather I increased my "understanding" of the situation. I don't really think anyone has answers; the best you can hope for is greater knowledge and greater understanding. The only way you achieve either is by asking questions.

I do not believe that because you have faith in the Holy Spirit, that all the "holes you were born with in your heart" disappear. I know far too many happy non-Christians and far too many miserable Christians to believe that faith in the Holy Spirit has any bearing on how many "holes" you have in your heart. There's no correlation. The world is a big place. Start asking questions.

Maybe i should ask why you would want eternal life without knowing the God you claim to want to spend it with..

I'm not sure that I even believe in an afterlife. I'm intrigued by the idea and I'll admit that I have some sort of "gut" feeling that something happens after death, but I am wary to define exactly what it is. Just as I am wary to define God. I think the afterlife and God are big concepts and we are feeble, subjective minds. Trying to define either tends to just put boxes on what they are.

What is the point of entering Heaven with nothing to look forward to?

Because then you won't be disappointed

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

Your question seems to assume that the point of the exercise is to get a ticket to heaven.

Salvation is being restored as God's image in and for the world as part of God's restoration of the whole world.

Brilliant. My whole premise is focused on the self. Its a way of thinking that I see all too often in Christianity and I'm glad you pointed out that I've fallen into that trap. More thinking is required here on my part.

/thread

 

[steve_bakr]

Do you go to heaven if you have faith in Jesus? Are you saved by grace?

Can you elaborate on what "sanctification" means?

Why is this the goal? If you are saved by grace, then the small number of Christ-like actions you perform while on Earth will be a tiny blink of an eye in the face of eternal bliss in heaven. If you are saved by grace, your good actions are of no consequence so why are they a goal to be achieved?

In Catholicism, we are saved by grace, but there is also some cooperation involved in doing God's will and working towards Christian perfection. The best reason is out of love for our Lord.

Peace of the Lord be with you.
"The heavens declare the glory of the Lord" (Psalms 19:2a)

 

[peter222999]

As mentioned, we are saved by Grace,not by works, such as functions etc.
However in my life, at least reading the bible, and making a deeper study each time seems to reveal new meanings to me, and remind me of others.

I can never be as Christ was, but I can do my best to learn how to live
as he taught.

Lastly , there truly is a personal connection between a christian and the Holy spirit which Christ promised us before he left. It is hard to explain how much guilt comes when I realize I have sinned, and am truly sorry for it.

I know I can place it at the feet of the Lord and he will forgive

 

[steve_bakr]

As mentioned, we are saved by Grace,not by works, such as functions etc.
However in my life, at least reading the bible, and making a deeper study each time seems to reveal new meanings to me, and remind me of others.

I can never be as Christ was, but I can do my best to learn how to live
as he taught.

Lastly , there truly is a personal connection between a christian and the Holy spirit which Christ promised us before he left. It is hard to explain how much guilt comes when I realize I have sinned, and am truly sorry for it.

I know I can place it at the feet of the Lord and he will forgive

If that guilt leads to repentance, it is a perfect contrition.

Peace of the Lord be with you.
"The heavens declare the glory of the Lord" (Psalms 19:2a)

 

[ephraimanesti]

Why is this the goal? If you are saved by grace, then the small number of Christ-like actions you perform while on Earth will be a tiny blink of an eye in the face of eternal bliss in heaven. If you are saved by grace, your good actions are of no consequence so why are they a goal to be achieved?

MY FRIEND,

Performing loving acts according to God's will is the goal because, although there is not way to "earn" or "be worthy" of the Grace Abba lavishes on those who will receive it, there IS a need on my part to say "Thank You" to Him for His bounteous Love and Grace. Doing His will is part of that process. The happiest i can be in this life is when i know that i have made Abba happy by my desire to please Him.

If, as you say,

I'm actually more content than I think I've ever been in my life right now.

i really honestly feel extremely sad for you. Obviously you have nothing to measure true happiness by. May Abba have mercy on you!

ABBA'S SLAVE,
ephraim