God Question

[MystyRock]

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One of God.
Jesus is the holy one of God, the Son of God, God the Son, God incarnate dwelling among us.
Jesus is the Word. He is the Word that spoke in the midst of the darkness so that through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Jesus is the Life. He is the life that give light to all mankind.
Jesus is the Light. He is the light that shines in the darkness, which the darkness cannot overcome, and gives light to everyone.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the uniquely generated Son of the Father in that he (along with the Spirit who proceeds from both the Father and the Son) is co-eternal with the Father.
Jesus is present today through the life and ministry of his Church which he indwells through the person of the Spirit. In the context of the Church, Jesus is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead.
Jesus is so uniquely God that all the fullness of God dwells in him and through him to reconcile all things to himself. Regardless of whether one is speaking of things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross, God has reconciled all these things (including humanity) by means of Jesus through whom all gain access to the Father (whether they avail themselves of that access being a question of their level of trust and submission, not God's power or grace).

Thanks, Grace. Gives me lots to think about. I'm working on understanding God - making it personal.

Trust - that's a big one!

 

[Gods4Life4Ever]

But Methodists believe in a more loving God? As a Methodist, how would you describe God?

Almighty loving God, Everlasting loving Father, loving Lord and Savior, the Prince of peace.

If I were to choose just two sets of Scripture to sum up my experience in the Methodist Church, it would be the below. If you give me a 3rd Scripture reference, I would add Paul's letter to the Christians in the region of Galatia, specifically chapter 5.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:16-17 ESV

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40 ESV

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 ESV

We Methodists are free to love God fully, free to love one another fully, free to rest in Jesus' loving arms fully. We do not submit to anyone's spiritual legalism and slavery to man-made doctrines.

 

[MystyRock]

Almighty loving God, Everlasting loving Father, loving Lord and Savior, the Prince of peace.

If I were to choose just two sets of Scripture to sum up my experience in the Methodist Church, it would be the below. If you give me a 3rd Scripture reference, I would add Paul's letter to the Christians in the region of Galatia, specifically chapter 5.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:16-17 ESV

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40 ESV

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 ESV

We Methodists are free to love God fully, free to love one another fully, free to rest in Jesus' loving arms fully. We do not submit to anyone's spiritual legalism and slavery to man-made doctrines.

Love God - does that mean we trust Him? Would lack of trust indicate we do not truly love Him?

 

[jacks]

Love God - does that mean we trust Him? Would lack of trust indicate we do not truly love Him?

Great question, I don't have the answer. I can say trusting seems harder than loving. Perhaps because saying you love is more vague, but when you but your trust in God, you should be able to let go of your usual forms of security. (Reliance on your own understanding, money, family, etc.) That's hard for me to do, others may find it easier.

 

[CallingInTheDesert]

Love God - does that mean we trust Him? Would lack of trust indicate we do not truly love Him?

John 14:15 -If you love me, you will obey what I command. NIV

1 John 5:2-5 - This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. NIV

What ever we love, will be the master of our lives. What ever we love, that is what we will trust in.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Love and trust are two different verbs. So, of course it is possible that one might do one and not the other. But though possible, I suspect improbable. There is a relationship between them, especially when it comes to God.

Now, with people they are not always the same. I loved my children the moment they were born, but trust them with nothing until they got older and developed some abilities. God however is fully capable.

There are also people that I trust, but have no relationship with other than a business one, and so I don't really love them. I trust the mailman, but I don't love him. But God seeks to be closer to me than my mailman.

So, I would guess that while it is possible to not trust God and still love him. But it would mean that one did not have a very close relationship with him, and can one really claim to love one that you are unable to commit to a close relationship with?

 

[Gods4Life4Ever]

Love God - does that mean we trust Him? Would lack of trust indicate we do not truly love Him?

MystyRock,
Some good answers on this question...........I like GraceSeeker's the best, and:

We have to first commit to knowing that God loves us more than we are capable of understanding. Once we internalize that God loves us BEST, we can accept that He loves us so much that He wants only the best for us.

I suggest reading Isaiah chapters 40, and 55. Ponder the meaning of what that Prophet of God had to say way back then,

Once we have internalized that God loves us best, we can also internalize that He wants what is best for us. Once we have internalized both, we then fully trust Him to do what is best for us, even if we do not understand the reasons and purposes.

We humans are hard of learning. We know that experience is one of the greatest teaching methods known to humanity. Unfortunately, the fees are sometimes very costly with experience as the teacher. It is much more efficient to learn from others' mistakes, and less costly to ourselves.

When we trust God to teach us, we learn in the most efficient and effective way available to all of humanity, even through the hard times of our educational experiences.

God has a purpose for teaching us.

Trust that He knows what He is doing.

Here is a resource that might be of service to you: Trusting God - Girlfriends in God

 

[MystyRock]

I'm working on that trust issue. Not an easy one for me.