What does it all really mean?

[Cieza]

I've often got the sense that when people say things like:
"I'm giving my life to Jesus"
"I'm turning my life over to Jesus"
"I believe that Jesus died for the sins of others"
or merely say they're a Christian - what they really mean is they are using a specific set of morals and values (likely the morals and values contained in the Bible) as a guide for how they are going to live their life. Am I correct?

 

[DCJazz]

I've often got the sense that when people say things like:
"I'm giving my life to Jesus"
"I'm turning my life over to Jesus"
"I believe that Jesus died for the sins of others"
or merely say they're a Christian - what they really mean is they are using a specific set of morals and values (likely the morals and values contained in the Bible) as a guide for how they are going to live their life. Am I correct?

Yes, and no. Yes, we want to adopt a morality and set of values contrary to our sinful natures, but no, that's not all it is.

As Christians, we believe Christ died for the sins of the world, and in three days rose again. So we believe He is alive now, no longer dead.

So when someone says they are 'giving their life' to Jesus, they mean that quite literally they want Christ running the show.

Someone else can probably describe this way better than I can, though.

 

[Zbigge1031]

I've often got the sense that when people say things like:
"I'm giving my life to Jesus"
"I'm turning my life over to Jesus"
"I believe that Jesus died for the sins of others"
or merely say they're a Christian - what they really mean is they are using a specific set of morals and values (likely the morals and values contained in the Bible) as a guide for how they are going to live their life. Am I correct?

Not quite. What it means is that I trust and love God so much that I will dedicate every fiber of my being to him. I acknowledge that I belong to Him, and I am His to do with as He pleases. My morals and values may be a reflection of how I serve God, but they are just a byproduct of worship and dedication to God.

 

[Cieza]

Yes, and no. Yes, we want to adopt a morality and set of values contrary to our sinful natures, but no, that's not all it is.

As Christians, we believe Christ died for the sins of the world, and in three days rose again. So we believe He is alive now, no longer dead.

So when someone says they are 'giving their life' to Jesus, they mean that quite literally they want Christ running the show.

Someone else can probably describe this way better than I can, though.

Give me an example or illustration of what it means to have "Christ running the show"

 

[Cieza]

Not quite. What it means is that I trust and love God so much that I will dedicate every fiber of my being to him. I acknowledge that I belong to Him, and I am His to do with as He pleases. My morals and values may be a reflection of how I serve God, but they are just a byproduct of worship and dedication to God.

When you trust and love God, what exactly is it that you are trusting and loving? Please provide your answer in words that people of the secular world can understand.

 

[Zbigge1031]

When you trust and love God, what exactly is it that you are trusting and loving? Please provide your answer in words that people of the secular world can understand.

I'm not entirely sure it's possible to explain this secularly. The best I can do is to say that I think of God like a person. I talk to Him, and I listen to Him. I do what He says. His presence is as real as any other person.

 

[Cieza]

I'm not entirely sure it's possible to explain this secularly. The best I can do is to say that I think of God like a person. I talk to Him, and I listen to Him. I do what He says. His presence is as real as any other person.

So you can see him and feel him. Since his presence is as real to you as the presence of any other person, can you please take a photo of him and post it here? When you are listening to him, how audible are the sounds he makes? If I stood by your side while you're listening to him, would I hear the same sounds he is making?

 

[elman]

I've often got the sense that when people say things like:
"I'm giving my life to Jesus"
"I'm turning my life over to Jesus"
"I believe that Jesus died for the sins of others"
or merely say they're a Christian - what they really mean is they are using a specific set of morals and values (likely the morals and values contained in the Bible) as a guide for how they are going to live their life. Am I correct?

I think that is partly correct. If one is to obey the commands of Jesus they are summed up in loving God and man and Jesus teaches us that we love God by loving others. Morals and values are all about our relatinships with others.

 

[Forge3]

So you can see him and feel him. Since his presence is as real to you as the presence of any other person, can you please take a photo of him and post it here? When you are listening to him, how audible are the sounds he makes? If I stood by your side while you're listening to him, would I hear the same sounds he is making?

You are changing this thread into a prove God exists to me thread rather than what does a Christian mean by giving their life to Jesus. Then we get into a discussion about 'faith'. Faith does play a role in our giving over. We believe without having coffee at the local donut shop with the lord or video camming Him for our own proof.

If you want to stick to your original question I am happy to answer.

 

[Cieza]

You are changing this thread into a prove God exists to me thread rather than what does a Christian mean by giving their life to Jesus. Then we get into a discussion about 'faith'. Faith does play a role in our giving over. We believe without having coffee at the local donut shop with the lord or video camming Him for our own proof.

If you want to stick to your original question I am happy to answer.

Zbigge1031 said

His presence is as real as any other person.

If I take a photo of a person, that person can be seen in the photo. If another person's presence is just as real as that first person, then it would stand to reason if a photo were taken of the second person, he/she would be seen in the photo.

I'm merely responding to Zbigge1031's claim.

 

[CGL1023]

So you can see him and feel him. Since his presence is as real to you as the presence of any other person, can you please take a photo of him and post it here? When you are listening to him, how audible are the sounds he makes? If I stood by your side while you're listening to him, would I hear the same sounds he is making?

I think to overcome some of your difficulties, it will help to remember the Bible as the Word of God and that God is the author. God reveals who He is and what His will is. So when you read the Bible you get an idea of what the author is like and what his attributes are and what His personality is like. ( Books are written on these and related subjects They may be easier to read when you are starting out).

God only responds to a person's faith in Him (Heb 11:6). Having to see God, photograph Him or chat casually with Him is not an exercise of faith so he will not reveal himself, under such conditions. God won't communicate with you on your terms. You have to communicate with God on His terms.

 

[Cieza]

I think to overcome some of your difficulties, it will help to remember the Bible as the Word of God and that God is the author.

I guess that means that God = the humans who wrote the Bible. Since the Bible was written several thousand years ago, the humans who wrote the Bible are now deceased. So you are saying that God is a bunch of deceased humans.

God reveals who He is and what His will is. So when you read the Bible you get an idea of what the author is like and what his attributes are and what His personality is like. ( Books are written on these and related subjects They may be easier to read when you are starting out).

I agree. By reading the Bible, I can learn a lot about the thoughts of the deceased people who wrote the Bible.

God only responds to a person's faith in Him (Heb 11:6). Having to see God, photograph Him or chat casually with Him is not an exercise of faith so he will not reveal himself, under such conditions. God won't communicate with you on your terms. You have to communicate with God on His terms.

Why won't God communicate with me on my terms? How would it hurt God for him to communicate with me on my terms?

 

[Hakan101]

I guess that means that God = the humans who wrote the Bible. Since the Bible was written several thousand years ago, the humans who wrote the Bible are now deceased. So you are saying that God is a bunch of deceased humans.

You know that's not what he was saying. He was referring to divine inspiration.

Why won't God communicate with me on my terms? How would it hurt God for him to communicate with me on my terms?

Well, from what I have seen your terms currently dismiss faith, which is a core of our relationship with God. It is more than just believing in facts without irrefutable proof, it's trusting God through out daily lives. The Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So you should consider this: do you have any interest in pleasing God, or just in God pleasing you?

 

[Cieza]

You know that's not what he was saying. He was referring to divine inspiration.

He said "God is the author." Divine inspiration or no divine inspiration, the Bible was authored by humans. If God is the author, then God = the now deceased humans who wrote the Bible.

Well, from what I have seen your terms currently dismiss faith, which is a core of our relationship with God. It is more than just believing in facts without irrefutable proof, it's trusting God through out daily lives. The Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So you should consider this: do you have any interest in pleasing God, or just in God pleasing you?

Neither until I'm shown undeniable evidence of God's existence. Since I'm giving Christians the benefit of the doubt, your God is more than welcome to show me that he exists. What I need to observe to be convinced God exists is something I'll subjectively define.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Cieza. To be a Christian. To have God as our Heavenly Father, to accept Christ as our Saviour, and to follow His 2 Commandments. 1) Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. 2) Love our neighbour ( all others, friends and not friends) as ourselves. Jesus pointed out, that on these 2 Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
What does it really mean? Everything we say, or do, or stand for, has to be from Love and Compassion. God is Love and He loves us, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. We are on Earth to slowly and surly, change from being selfish and unloving, to be reborn and become loving and caring men and women, to join our Heavenly Father and Christian brothers and sisters for eternity, as we are meant to.
Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love, also. Jesus told us to " ask and ye will receive," then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with all around us. God will see our sincere efforts, and God will approve and bless us. We may stumble and forget, but we get up, ask God to forgive us, and God will forgive us as we will forgive others, and carry on being the children, which God wants.
We will have life abundant, as Jesus promised us, and we will find, that people will join us and many might want to join us, and follow our Saviour. Love is a Christian`s great weapon, and love conquers all, and overcomes all: IF WE LET IT. I say this with love, Cieza. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[Cieza]

Dear Cieza. To be a Christian. To have God as our Heavenly Father, to accept Christ as our Saviour, and to follow His 2 Commandments. 1) Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. 2) Love our neighbour ( all others, friends and not friends) as ourselves. Jesus pointed out, that on these 2 Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
What does it really mean? Everything we say, or do, or stand for, has to be from Love and Compassion. God is Love and He loves us, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. We are on Earth to slowly and surly, change from being selfish and unloving, to be reborn and become loving and caring men and women, to join our Heavenly Father and Christian brothers and sisters for eternity, as we are meant to.
Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love, also. Jesus told us to " ask and ye will receive," then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with all around us. God will see our sincere efforts, and God will approve and bless us. We may stumble and forget, but we get up, ask God to forgive us, and God will forgive us as we will forgive others, and carry on being the children, which God wants.
We will have life abundant, as Jesus promised us, and we will find, that people will join us and many might want to join us, and follow our Saviour. Love is a Christian`s great weapon, and love conquers all, and overcomes all: IF WE LET IT. I say this with love, Cieza. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

I notice that you said nothing about:
1) believing that Jesus was resurrected
2) that Jesus is God
3) that one must believe that there is a fully omniscient and omnipotent being in existence.

Must one believe those three things to be a Christian?