Yes, I am familiar with the Bible. I have pretty much read it cover to cover- I went to church services with my parents 3 days a week for over 10 years.
No, I'm not really that interested, but I appreciated your friendly appoach. If you like to explain your take on it, fine, but I only want to hear what YOU think it is and not have the Bible quoted at me.
Having a "Personal relationship" with someone -- this is not something generally dependent upon what a book says and different peoples' interpretations of it.
Yes, I can see that.
Hi Durga!
Thanks for writing.
It's near impossible for me to speak about Jesus without what I know from the bible, as is where Jesus is revealed as well as many truths as pertains to Jesus and many other things.
So, is in my words, but what I know is from the word of God, or the bible.
Before we are believers in Christ, born again, a new creation, having a relationship with God (my term as is subject of this and your post), we are considered dead, the bible says.
Physically alive but dead. Spritually dead. Not that one can't and doesn't have spirituality if not a Christian, but they are spiritually dead to God or the things of God.
God says we are dead in our transgressions. This is prior to Christ, and transgressions means our sins.
back to relationship with God, prior to coming to Christ, or having faith in Jesus for our lives, committing our lives to Christ, believing in Christ, etc.. using bunch of different terms, in case one strikes you more than another, but before coming to Christ, we do not have a relationship with God.
Adam and Eve had a relationship with God. They knew Him, talked with Him, and He was with them.
Then you know of the fall of humans, now people hide from God, and death now reigned, rather than life, and our relationship with God is gone.
We rebelled, we do rebel, (unawares to almost all) who are not Christians. That they are actually rebelling against God in living in the way of the world. And this is due to sin. All wrongdoing is sin.
Also there is a lot more going on to those who are not in Christ. (As well as to Christians, but different to each in some things.)
For non Christians they have no idea of course that satan is doing the best he can to keep people from Jesus. He blinds people to God, he lies to people about God, about truth, which God is.
Lies can come thru anybody at all. We may hear them in our heads, as well, as we also say to ourselves lies which aren't truth as well.
Anyone who struggles with low self esteem will learn later possibly, that it's basically that they are believing the lies said by others, or themselves etc, which keeps them so bound.
In the same manner, lies can comes from anywhere is what I mean.
But that is going on and the non believer is fairly much unaware of all that is occuring ,which may be keeping them from Jesus. From having a relationship from Jesus, much in the same way, one might have with a Father or mother, such is what I mean as pertains to a relationship with Jesus.
But Jesus is God and our mother's and fathers are sinners, they are not perfect, many also have done terrible things in our lives, many have not, but, just want to add that in.
The word relationship is not in the bible to my knoweldge, it is Christian jargon, but is actually what it is we do not have before we know Christ,and is what we have after we come to know God.
When one has Jesus in their lives, He lives with us, He lives in us, and we strive and work all our lives on trusting Him with our lives. It's up and down, as we go through various things, sometimes level, sometimes not so level. Jesus never ever leaves us, never would..no matter what we do. But a human person might. God never does.. We speak to God, talk to Him, tell him anything on our hearts, anything.
Once in Christ, once we commit our lives to Him/have faith in Him/trust Him no matter what is said to come to Him, such doesn't matter, but once we are in Christ, we are forgiven all our sins, past present and future. The relationship is reconciled, as prior to being in Jesus, we had no relationship with Him at all.
Even if we think we did, we did not, as until we are a new creation in Christ, born again (biblical terms), and truths, we do not know God, and actually the bible says, God now knows us.
It is not as if He does not know people before they come to Christ, of course He knows of every human on the earth, and loves each very much, more than my words could ever convey. But when we come to Christ, or are in Christ, we are known by Him.
It is once this occurs, that if we read the bible that the things contained there renew our minds, change our minds. We grow and very much so in a way wholly different than the world teaches.
it's not about topics of the world, it's about God, and about truths given for us, who once we are believers are now said we are in the church. The chuch, meaning the body of believers, not the physcial church.
God has given many things to the church, which are the many things we know and use to help us through every thing we go through. He is now with us, we know He is with us, depending upon our understanding now that we are in Christ. Each person is in a different place in their understanding of God, and of things in the bible..
One may be a Christian a long time, and yet not know as much as one in Christ 6 months.. So, the time one is in Christ doesn't really mean much, it's our individual make up, where we are, our understandings, what we go through, how we deal with those things etc.
It's all okay no matter where one is in Christ; I mean as pertains to God. We may not be in the best place, but God will never leave us or forsake us. We may pull away from God, but He will never pull away from us.
He never condems us, He works all things to our good, and much more, and we have much again, to help us through many things.
In Christ, we have been forgiven all our sin, and depending on each person's walk with God as a new Christian many turn from their old lives, many in a complete way, or some not in such a huge way.
Nonetheless we will struggle with sin all our lives. Not to mention sin which commonly comes to one mind, but the sin in our hearts, pride, self righteousness, envy, and the like.
Every day we may be faced with the choice to do wrong or to do right. We are commanded to do and not to do things in the bible. As we have a choice, we choose either to obey or not to. Such is what occurs with Christians. We are blessed as we do right, as we feel good when we do right and good. And we don't feel so good when we do wrong, nonetheless we do so.
I am not sure what I wrote in earlier posts, but I came to Christ at 33 years old. I hadn't heard anything about God till then, nor learned of Him nor was taught of Him etc.
My whole life changed, and I can tell you there is nothing compares, nothing in this world or any other thing that may be had or obtained that I would trade for knowing Jesus, being born again, a new creation in Christ, and being known by God.. And many Christians will say the same thing.
My life changed by the Holy Spirit now indwelling me, as once one comes to Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us, and reading the bible renews and changes our minds about things. We now are alive the first time ever in our lives (as recall we were dead before), and God is with us, (who we were not with before, as had no relationship with Him, or as well, not reconciled to him), but now we are and God is with us and guiding us and helping us, and is for us.
I'll stop writing on the above and since it's probably been awhile since you've read such, I'll post a few things about Jesus.
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[
a]"
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[
f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
As I wasn't real clearly understanding what to share with you on, I hope what I did share was okay, and sorry if is not what you were seeking on.
Let me know whatever it is you would like to discuss or explain as well what you mean as well..so in case such as I wrote above if is not what you meant that you desired to hear about, just let me know as best you can what you mean.
You can also send me a private message or write it here as well.
On your reference to the site, yes it's changing and since July has been through major changes. I can explain that if you like. But went from sort of restrictive in a since, to not restrictive, and now appears may be going in a more restrictive way again.
So, things are always changing here, and I've been here 3 years I think, or more..almost 4.
There is always somethng to do, someone who needs someone to talk to them, whether one is a Christian or not, there is plenty to do here.
Recovery forums, which currently show under Recovery Team, has people in there, who if just hear the words, I'm sorry for what your going through, or I care ..etc..
There are other forums, where people will not be kind perhaps, there are all kinds of forums on the site.
Lots of topics and while it is a Christian forum, there are from all faiths and non faiths here, and please please never forget that each one of us here, are different and unique individuals, and while 10 may say someting awful, that one or 20 who are kind..well.. it's here..
take care,
looking forward to your reply.
tapero
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