Who or what is Jesus, how do I find Him?

[Golden Maven]

I've been thinking about Christianity a lot this past year, but I'm not sure why I'm suddenly obsessed with it.

I've been reading Christian-related posts and articles online, and I've bought a Bible which I read regularly.

Still, after all these months of research, I still don't understand the concept of Jesus. Christians call him the Son of God, but I'm not sure what that means.

I don't understand God or Jesus. To me, they are just vague concepts. I don't even know for sure that God exists in the first place. My only reference is this book, i.e. the Bible.

My question is: How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the Bible? How can one be sure he is truly dealing with Jesus Christ, and that the events described in the Bible did happen.

I need some guidance please.

 

[green wolverine]

The first place I'd start is by reading the gospel of John.

Exactly what is your obsession with God and Jesus?? Do you know that they are real and that you need to be reconciled to them? Do you realize that you're a sinner?? If so, your obsession might be the result of being regenerated by the Holy Spirit where you've gone from 'being dead in sins and trespasses' as it says in Eph 2:1 to being born again. If that's the case, keep reading your Bible, start praying and God will make Himself known to you.

As far as a book you might find helpful, check out The Case for Christ by Lee Storbel. He was an atheist when his wife started attending church. In an effort to get her to stop, he started researching Christ since he was an investigative reporter. Instead of persuading her that her faith was in vain, he also came to faith in Christ.

Another wonderful resource I get a great deal out of is listening to Paul Washer on youtube. He's a Baptist pastor and missionary who tells it like it is. Anything by him is well worth your time to listen to. There are lots of his youtube clips in the Semper Reformanda forum, especially in the ye olde coffeeshop thread.

 

[Bible2]

Golden Maven posted in message #1 of this thread:
Who or what is Jesus

Greetings.

Jesus is a man who is God at the same time (John 1:1,14). He died
on the Cross for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He ascended into heaven and will return
from heaven (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) to reign on the
earth with the resurrected church (Revelation 20:4-6, 5:10, 2:26-29).

Golden Maven:
Christians call him the Son of God, but I'm not sure what that means.

Jesus is called the Son of God because has no human father; he
was born of a virgin (Luke 1:34-35). He is the only-begotten (only-
born) Son of God (John 3:16). He is also called God the Son
(Hebrews 1:8) because he is one God with God the Father (John
10:30); he is the Word of God the Father (John 1:1,14).

Golden Maven:
I don't even know for sure that God exists in the first place.

You can know for sure that God exists by simply looking at all the
things he has created (Romans 1:20, John 1:3, Psalms 100:3).

Golden Maven:
My only reference is this book, i.e. the Bible.

The Bible is all anyone needs to come into a saving faith in Jesus
Christ (2 Timothy 3:15, Romans 10:17), and then know how to obey
him perfectly (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 5:9).

Golden Maven:
How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the
Bible?

One comes into a personal relationship with Jesus and God the
Father by praying to them and obeying them (John 15:14, John
14:21-24, Matthew 7:21).

Golden Maven:
How can one be sure he is truly dealing with Jesus Christ, and that
the events described in the Bible did happen.

It is by faith that one can be sure (Hebrews 11:1, 2 Corinthians 5:7)
that one is truly dealing with Jesus Christ, and that the events
described in the Bible did happen. One can increase one's faith by
reading (or hearing) the Bible (Romans 10:17) with an open mind
and heart (Hebrews 3:15).

Golden Maven:
I need some guidance please.

The best place to get guidance would be from a pastor at a local
church which preaches the Bible. God has set pastors over the
church to guide his people (Ephesians 4:11). If you come to believe
in Jesus with all your heart (Acts 8:37), you will want to repent from
all of your sins and get water-immersion baptized as soon as possible
(Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-11). Then you can ask to have hands laid
on you for the baptism/receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15-17,
Acts 19:2,6, Mark 1:8). The Holy Spirit will give you a gift with which
you can spiritually strengthen yourself and others in the church
(1 Corinthians chapters 12-14). And Jesus will give you a spiritual
work which you can do for him every day (Mark 13:34, Luke 9:23).

 

[marktheblake]

I've been thinking about Christianity a lot this past year, but I'm not sure why I'm suddenly obsessed with it.

God is calling out to your spirit. He is waiting for you to answer back

My question is: How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the Bible? .

Before you read the Bible, pray to God - everytime.

It doesn't matter if you do not know who Jesus or God is, just call out to him, and ask that he reveal himself (and his word) to you.

I am not suggesting that he is going to appear in your room, but through the Holy Spirit you will receive revelations from reading the scripture.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

My question is: How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the Bible? How can one be sure he is truly dealing with Jesus Christ, and that the events described in the Bible did happen.

I need some guidance please.

I will let others deal with some parts of your question. What I want to address is the part where you say how can we know the events in the bible really happened. The answer is the same events still happen to christians today.

For examples of healing see John Mellor Ministries

I have also included a list of times where God has spoken to me or directed me when I have been confused about what direction to take in a matter. After reading if you are not convinced do an internet search of the word "testimonies", and read experiences that christians have had with God.


One morning I got up and walked into the hall and I heard a voice say "How would you like to be stabbed in the Valley". The Valley was the rough end of town, and the voice scared me a little, I wondered if I had done something to offend God. I had planned to go down to the Valley to ask people out to church as was my habit at the time. In the end I went anyway regardless of the fear. I walked up to the first person I met and asked him if he would like to go out to church. He said to me "I am an atheist, I don't believe in God". I just said "fine", but hoped to change his mind. He then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and showed me scar marks up and down his chest and stomach. He said to me, "I was attacked by a knife wielding man in the Valley some time ago and spent months recovering in hospital, How could God allow that to happen to me". Then I knew why God had said in the morning "How would I like to be stabbed?". God understood this man, but had a good plan for him. Some weeks latter this man came out to church and became a Christian.

Some time after the second Gulf War an Australian man Douglas Wood was captured by terrorists in Iraq, who made demands for a ransom or he would be executed. I set about fasting and praying for his release, I said to God "You know where he is....tell me". Three words entered my mind ABC, Bizaar and "A-meal". I thought "I am going crazy what has all that got to do with him. Bizaar I though "this is Bizarre". I thought maybe "A-meal" is a town so I searched a map of Iraq for a town of that name, but found nothing that really matched. Some time latter Douglas Wood was freed by US troops who came across his captors. It was not until latter that I actually discovered what the three words meant. I was on a forum libertyunites.us and came across a post by a user called ABC in the post she appealed to the captors to release Douglas Wood because he had gone to a/or the Bazaar and bought food for homeless people and had provided them with "A-meal". I believe God saw this action too and blessed Douglas Wood with an escape from his captors.

One time I thought about suing some one but felt bad about it because I did not want to give a bad impression about what a Christian is like. So I prayed and asked God to show me clearly what to do. Latter that day I opened my bible at random, selecting a random verse and it opened to 1Co 6:7 "Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?" So I knew what God was thinking, no lawsuit. From this I don not believe God was saying all law suits are wrong just this one was.

At one point in my life I was praying for scientific cures for illnesses like cancer. Because I was on a science kick I thought would it not be fun to create a real life dinosaur. I wanted Jesus just for fun to show me how to create a Real Live Dinosaur, he can show us anything you know if he wants, but when I asked him how to start recreating a Dinosaur. Jesus spoke into my head the sentence "bood, a term I had never heard before. I decided to look it up on the Internet and I found out the following: You see, the children of Semai are taught from an early age, the concept of "bood." If a parent asks a child to do something and the child replies " bood," it means in other words, "I don't feel like doing that," and the matter is closed. Bood means gently No.

One day I was witnessing to a Muslim and he asked me why we ate pork. I used the verse out of the bible which says "It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a man but what comes out of the mouth". After some general discussion I finished for the night. I asked God to give me a verse from the bible to encourage me. I opened the bible at random and selected a random verse. It opened to the exact same verse that I had used with the Muslim. The one about food not defiling. So I knew that God was approving of what I had been talking about.
"What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him "unclean.'"- Mat 15:11

 

[ebia]

I've been thinking about Christianity a lot this past year, but I'm not sure why I'm suddenly obsessed with it.

I've been reading Christian-related posts and articles online, and I've bought a Bible which I read regularly.

Still, after all these months of research, I still don't understand the concept of Jesus. Christians call him the Son of God, but I'm not sure what that means.

I don't understand God or Jesus. To me, they are just vague concepts. I don't even know for sure that God exists in the first place. My only reference is this book, i.e. the Bible.

My question is: How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the Bible?

In his followers.

Find a vibrant local community of Christians - ie a church. There, hopefully, you will find Jesus.

 

[salida]

Well, lets ask ourselves why do we need Jesus? Its obvious that the Holy Spirit is wooing your heart. Its a spiritual thirst. Mankind needs Christ because he has spiritually fallen. Do you think you are a good person? I don't mean a good natured person. Thus, can you keep all the 10 Commandments 100% of the time all the time? Only Jesus can. Visit: The Good Test Christ is the only spiritual medicine that mankind has to get redeemed. Sometimes people can't accept this - but no one would reject a doctor if he had only one cure for you to save you physically.

Prayer of Repentence:

Heavenly Father, I come to You through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I admit that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness.

I believe that Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins and I want to turn away from my sins and start following Him.

I now invite You, our Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life.

I want to trust You as my King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Saviour and the Master of my life and there is no other master in my life but YOU, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I acknowledge that our Lord Jesus Christ who is our Almighty God; was born of a virgin; came to earth in the flesh; died on the cross; arose from the grave three days later; and now sits at the right hand of His Father, our Heavenly Father.

I now confirm that You, our Lord Jesus Christ that You are my King, Lord, Saviour, Master and my Almighty God.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name. (AMEN)

Jesus is a spiritual being and wants your heart. Praying daily to him (like talking to a friend), reading the Bible daily (His Word) and surrounding yourself with inspirational friends to take their christian walk seriously. Don't hang out with people who are labeled christian - but those who live their lives by their actions.

 

[unkern]

I've been thinking about Christianity a lot this past year, but I'm not sure why I'm suddenly obsessed with it.

I've been reading Christian-related posts and articles online, and I've bought a Bible which I read regularly.

Still, after all these months of research, I still don't understand the concept of Jesus. Christians call him the Son of God, but I'm not sure what that means.

I don't understand God or Jesus. To me, they are just vague concepts. I don't even know for sure that God exists in the first place. My only reference is this book, i.e. the Bible.

My question is: How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the Bible? How can one be sure he is truly dealing with Jesus Christ, and that the events described in the Bible did happen.

I need some guidance please.

Here are some fun things you can do find an archeological bible at a library or even go online and look at the evidence, you can also watch on youtube the lee strobel videos. Here is the most important thing read the first five books of the bible FIRST, then read the prophets this way you can understand who Messiah is and how he is real, and that he does not go against scripture.

 

[sk8Joyful]

I've been thinking about Christianity a lot this past year, but I'm not sure why I'm suddenly obsessed with it.

I don't understand God or Jesus. To me, they are just vague concepts. I don't even know for sure that God exists in the first place. My only reference is this book, i.e. the Bible.

My question is: How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the Bible? How can one be sure he is truly dealing with Jesus Christ, and that the events described in the Bible did happen.
I need some guidance please.

Hi,
having not read previous replies, but I can give you my own experience,
different (from most other christians, who discovered GOD, as Jesus Christ, by
listening to others "preach", like parents, preachers, church relationships, Sunday bible-study), etc.

I was born, and raised in what was at one time a communist-country iow, I had no-one, meaning no mortal-person to influence... my path, my search, my explorations, & my outcomes.

One Christrmas-eve, at age 4, I observed this tiny wooden-scene carved-out, including a tiny baby on a manger. --
I asked "what is that baby doing on that straw?, & why are these people staring at him?, & what has any of this, to do with christmas?, & Who is that kid, anyway? and - and - and - - you know, the Insatiable-curiosity, with which GOD/Jesus us created.

The answer I got was "Never you mind, it's about a boy named JESUS, but it has no meaning in anyone's life, least of all your own. It's just old wife's tales. It means nothing!" -- Well, I have you know golden maven, the very moment, that the word "Jesus" fell from that person's lips, I (beyond any doubt) KNEW, that I knew this baby, just knew! -
so,
"How" you ask, could a 4-year. old child, in a communist-country no less, possibly KNOW who GOD/Jesus is?

Very simply this: GOD, as Jesus Christ, imprinted our Individual soul, prior to our mortal conception, such that when we are searching eanestly... we REcognize His Signature inside our soul, inside our Learning-mind, & verily inside each of our stemcells... - You see, GOD is always nearby, such that all you need do, is simply INVITE God to stay, Accept Him as your personal Creator~Father~Teacher~Savior~mentor~Best-friend~&~Resurrector; and following in GOD's footsteps, you are home Free...

In this eternally blissful journey, I do wish you golden maven Well

 

[98cwitr]

I've been thinking about Christianity a lot this past year, but I'm not sure why I'm suddenly obsessed with it.

I've been reading Christian-related posts and articles online, and I've bought a Bible which I read regularly.

Still, after all these months of research, I still don't understand the concept of Jesus. Christians call him the Son of God, but I'm not sure what that means.

I don't understand God or Jesus. To me, they are just vague concepts. I don't even know for sure that God exists in the first place. My only reference is this book, i.e. the Bible.

My question is: How does one find Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that is found in the Bible? How can one be sure he is truly dealing with Jesus Christ, and that the events described in the Bible did happen.

I need some guidance please.

The first step into my salvation was taking what I read in the Bible as the truth. If it didn't make sense I continued to search for the answers, it has taken many years to come to this point and I keep learning each day. Then I started to pray...feels very silly and awkward at first, it gets better. The rest comes through the proclaimation of your salvation that "Jesus is Lord." Start attending a church, even if you don't believe...it does help.

 

[marktheblake]

"How" you ask, could a 4-year. old child, in a communist-country no less, possibly KNOW who GOD/Jesus is?

That all sounds very much like the account Brother Yun gives in Heavenly Man. He desperately sought God, even though he really had no idea who he was. If I remember right all he wanted was a bible so he could find out more.