1.What does having faith in Jesus mean?
That this was not just another human teacher, that what he said about himself in the gospels was true. He was the son of God, incarnate as a human. Read the gospels; faith in Jesus is faith that he was not lying in what he said and (to me at least) that they have been recorded and passed down accurately, at least accurately enough for me to know to seek Christ. Following Christ is the natural result of faith in Christ.
2.How can I be sure Jesus did die on the cross?
... Romans are
*pretty good* at their jobs. I mean, these guys pretty much had it down to a science... #1 pretty much takes care of #2, I would think. I'm sure there are some who might argue that maybe Jesus pulled a "magic trick" like Copperfield or David Blaine to fake his death? But I don't think that's a generally held idea. Even most secular scholars acknowledge him as a historical figure who died in the way recorded.
Plus... being beaten and then nailed to a cross... talk about suffering for your art!
And... why?
It's not like he was collecting money from stage tickets being sold. Even if he was it sounds like Judas already made off with the money purse lol.
What's Christ's motive if it's not what he said it was? Insanity is pretty much the only open option. I think you will find that the Truth makes more sense. Especially when you look at Human nature, and Christ's nature, and the difference between them.
3.How could Jesus alone pay for all the sins of believers?
Christ reconciles all who believe in Him to God the Father.
And all who believe in Him, follow Him.
So let me ask you this:
In following Him, how often do all believers sin?
The Father is pleased with those that follow the Son
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life," he said.
So, you may look at the sum of all non believers sins and say "how could one man reconcile and pay for all of this?", but the
real question is -
How many people can one man lead out of one place (sin) and into another? (the kingdom of God)
And the answer is:
As many as follow and believe in Him
(John 1)
12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
And while it is true that no believer is perfect, and no believer sinless... but at least they are FOLLOWING. And with that, imperfections may be and can be forgiven and even overcome.
With Christ you may still have some weeds in your wheat garden which will take some work... but that's a better state to be in than having some wheat in your weed garden that no amount of work will save
(I have no wheat at all in my garden but for Christ)
As C.S. Lewis once said:
“I know all about the despair of overcoming chronic temptations. It is not serious provided self-offended petulance, annoyance at breaking records, impatience et cetera doesn’t get the upper hand. No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes are in the airing cupboard. The only fatal thing is to lose one’s temper and give it up. It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present to us: it is the very sign of his presence.”
4.How can I pray for belief and a better understanding?
In Colossians 1 and Ephesians 3, Paul writes to the early Churches there, and he says "I am praying for you". And he says "I am praying these specific things for you". It might be good to pray those for yourself. If you were to look at those chapters, and what he is praying for them, and write them down for yourself to pray for yourself, they might look something like this:
Prayer of the Colossians, Chapter 1
Father,
Grant us to understand your grace in all its truth
Fill us with the knowledge of your will
Grant us spiritual wisdom and understanding
In order that we might live lives worthy of the Lord, your Son
And please him in every way
Bearing fruit in every good work
Growing in knowledge of You
Being strengthened with all power
According to your glorious might
So that we may have great endurance and patience
Joyfully giving thanks to you
By the Son you love
You have rescued us from the dominion of Darkness
And qualified us to share
in the inheritance of the saints -
His kingdom
Your kingdom
Which is
the Kingdom of Light
Prayer of the Ephesians Chapter 3
Out of his glorious riches
May the Father strengthen us with power through His Spirit
In our inner beings
So that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith
May we, being rooted and established in love
have power together with all the saints
To grasp how wide and long and high and deep
Is the love of Christ
And to know this love that surpasses knowledge
That we may be filled to the measure
Of all the fullness of God
To him who is able to do
Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine
According to his power that is at work within us
To him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations
For ever and ever
Amen
I happen to know they might look something like that because I wrote them down for myself for exactly the reason you are asking about
5.Does Christ know my struggle?(I constantly fear about reformed theology,and that I’m afraid that since I have OCD and autism I may not be one of the elect)
Yes. Intimately and perfectly. Just as He knows about mine, which are different, but nonetheless understood. We are both loved and forgiven and called to see what we can be in Christ.
6.What can I do to better understand faith?
"Ask, Seek and Knock" Faith is a great thing to do that for. I think it would be the Father's good pleasure to grant you a deep and personal understanding that will be yours and yours alone.
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