Why do you believe in Jesus if you cannot see him?

[JESUS=G.O.A.T]

Many times we do not see God personally. However we see that others try to be kind and loving like him. Those are the people who shows that God has been kind and loving to them. When others are not kind and loving to you that is because they are not serving God. They are serving themselves. I am guilty of trying to please people when when I have very little to give. I am retarded and my mother is the one who works all her life to support me! I know I am retarded because when I listen to my voice recording I can tell. But I am happy because of the little things in life that God has allowed me to have through my hard working parents and two sisters and those who are kind to me.

When I truly had no doubt at all is when I got the holy ghost speaking in tounques tbh, and when I saw miracles in church that I couldn't explain. I mean when you can't control your tounque when you first get the holy ghost it's like man wth.

Then as you read the bible even more you doubt less as well becuase it makes more sense and even some scientific observations like the gap theory can lowkey fit in.

 

[thesunisout]

I am who some may call a 'seeker' but have grown discouraged. Grew up in a religious household and now am in my late 20s.

Its easy to see the God exists. Creation makes that evident.

I feel like I know God. I've felt His presence. I don't know doctrinally who He is... the God of Abraham; Mohammed; or the Trinity.

I'm sure he is not 100% pleased with me and the way I live but I can only do so much in this skin. I have many ingrained desires and wants which, without supernatural help, I cannot overcome.

But I just cannot come to believe in Jesus (and I have tried for over 20 years). I cannot see him. And there is no evidence of him from what I can see except from history and what people call the New Testament which I have read over many times and yes it is very beautiful and thoughtfully written albeit by men. The message is very compelling but it stops there - at 'believe in me'.

So I raise this question, to help me understand, to those on this forum who say they know Jesus on a personal level - how do you believe in someone you cannot see?

How do you know that you know Jesus on a personal level and not the God of Abraham or some other?

Remember nature tells us there is a God, however I know of nothing that tells me there is a Jesus and He is alive today.... nothing. How do you know who you are talking to when you pray is not the God of Abraham or Mohammed? What am I missing/not doing?

John 14:21

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him

Jesus has to reveal Himself to you. What you need to do is realize that you're a sinner in need of a Savior.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

You have admitted that you are not all God wants you to be. Can you acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of Gods forgiveness?

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

What you need to be convinced about what is going to happen to you without Jesus. According to the bible you are a drowning man without a life preserver, a sinner who does not have forgiveness for his sins. You said it yourself; you don't know who God is. That's why God has provided a Savior for you so that you can be forgiven for your sins and have a relationship with Him. God wants you to know Him personally but your sins are separating you from Him. If you die without forgiveness you will end up in a place called hell.

Romans 10:9-10

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation

To be saved we simply need to trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, to believe God raised Him from the dead. If you've tried for 20 years that seems to indicate that you would give your life to Jesus Christ. Are you willing to do it on His terms and not yours? Are you willing to believe even though you can't see Him?

John 20:29

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

While you cannot see Jesus, you can easily see that you've sinned against an all powerful God and you will have to give account to Him when you die.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding

I recommend praying something like this to God:

God, I have not been able to believe in Jesus Christ. Please increase my faith. Please awaken my conscience to understand my great need for Jesus Christ on judgment day. Please show me that I really am a sinner in need of your forgiveness that you offered through your Son.

The choice that you face is this: either you can pay for your sins on your own, or you can let Jesus Christ pay for them. Jesus died for our sins on the cross and bore the punishment for them. Because of that, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God accounts our faith in Him as righteousness. Our sins will be forgiven and His righteousness will be imputed to us so that we can stand before a Holy God. What you need to be convinced of is your need for Jesus Christ so pray along those lines and be ready to give your life to Jesus Christ when He opens your eyes. Don't put it off for another day, because today is the day of salvation. God bless

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I am who some may call a 'seeker' but have grown discouraged. Grew up in a religious household and now am in my late 20s.

Its easy to see the God exists. Creation makes that evident.

I feel like I know God. I've felt His presence. I don't know doctrinally who He is... the God of Abraham; Mohammed; or the Trinity.

I'm sure he is not 100% pleased with me and the way I live but I can only do so much in this skin. I have many ingrained desires and wants which, without supernatural help, I cannot overcome.

But I just cannot come to believe in Jesus (and I have tried for over 20 years). I cannot see him. And there is no evidence of him from what I can see except from history and what people call the New Testament which I have read over many times and yes it is very beautiful and thoughtfully written albeit by men. The message is very compelling but it stops there - at 'believe in me'.

So I raise this question, to help me understand, to those on this forum who say they know Jesus on a personal level - how do you believe in someone you cannot see?

How do you know that you know Jesus on a personal level and not the God of Abraham or some other?

Remember nature tells us there is a God, however I know of nothing that tells me there is a Jesus and He is alive today.... nothing. How do you know who you are talking to when you pray is not the God of Abraham or Mohammed? What am I missing/not doing?

Dear Dc87:

First, you have to have faith in Jesus Christ in that He died for your sins and that He was risen 3 days later so as to give you a new life in Him. Second, you need to admit your a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to make you into a new person.

If you are not sure in what to say to God (so as to get your heart right with Him), or you need a little help in understanding God's plan of salvation for your life a little more, then I encourage you to check out this Comic Book Tract here:



This Was Your Life.

Second, "faith" in GOD and His Word is unlike any other religion for several reasons.

#1. "The Creation."
The creation declares God's glory. Surely the beauty and detail of the universe is enough to make a person fall down before God in awe.

#2. "Love"
If you know that love exists, then God exists because God is love. For the Living Word (i.e. Christ) loved you so much that He was willing to come down from Heaven and die on a wooden cross to pay the penalty for sins done against Him. Sort of like how a father might sacrifice his own life to save the life of his son.

#3. "Jesus Living in His People."
There are Christians who have been completely transformed by the life of Jesus Christ. They are no longer hooked on booze, drugs, gambling, riches, sexual immorality, etc. We can see that no other person in human history has had more of an effect on people than Jesus Christ. No other prophet or religious leader had died for your sins and no other prophet or religious leader has touched more lives for the better than Jesus. For Jesus is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

#4. God's Word.
There are tons of evidences that back up God's Word that show it is clearly a divine book (unlike any other book in human history). Evidences for God's Word in it being Divine have been found in the categories of Science, History, Ethics, and the very Text of the Bible itself.

If you are interested, click on the spoiler button to check out some of these evidences.

Spoiler

As a matter of fact, it is not just one evidence alone that one has to look at (that backs up God's Word). One has to look at all the evidence to make a well informed decision about the Bible.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

The Discovery of Mount Sinai, the Cleft Rock, and the Crossing Path of the Red Sea:

In the Scriptures we learn that the Lord literally burned the top of Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19) (Deuteronomy 5). In fact, today, people have witnessed the burned top of Mt. Sinai. A Mountain that is now called "Jabal al Lawz" in Saudi Arabia. A mountain that you can see that is burned at the top.

Exodus 19:18
"And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."​

There is even evidence that confirms the Red Sea crossing, too. A great video to check out these evidences (That is also available on DVD if you do not like the video quality) can be watched here:



Just Click on Play Button at the following YouTube Video.

In addition, I would also recommend watching the following video here, as well. This video reveals more of the discoveries made at Mt. Sinai. Such as Elijah's cave, certain artifacts, and the split rock.

Psalms 105:41
"He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river."​

Again, if you don't like the resolution of the video at YouTube, I do believe the DVD is still available on Amazon or other select sites.

We All Come From Adam and Eve:

There are also Biblical Evidences in Genetics, too. For...



In fact, to prove genetically outwardly that all races come from Adam and Eve, here are two photos that show black couples giving birth to black and white twins.




Anyways, a good (but lengthy) Christian article to read on this topic would be here:

Table of Nations by Tim Osterholm.


The Perfect Life Condtions of the Earth:
(That is fine tuned for life):


Today there are more than two hundred known parameters required for a planet to support life; For every one of these parameters must be met exactly, or there would be no life on Earth

Here are just 20 of them.

1. Earth is at the perfect distance from the sun.
(Too close and we burn up; Too far away and we would freeze).

2. Earth is in a habitable zone of galaxy where there is no radiation and wandering planetoids.

3. Earth's orbit of the sun does not take us too close to the sun.

4. Earth has the right amount of magnetic fields generated from it's core to protect us from harmful rays of the sun.

5. Earth has the right kind of star (i.e. the sun) which gives off the right amount of output that is not too strong (that would burn us up).

6. Earth is spinning at a rate that makes life possible.

7. Earth is tilted at the right axis for life.

8. Earth's moon as at the right size and distance so as to provide the perfect kind of tides for life.

9. Earth's two gas giants (i.e. Jupiter and Saturn) prevent wandering astroids from hitting the Earth.

10. Earth has the right amount of oxygen or air for life to thrive.

11. Earth has the right kind of gravity for life to thrive.

12. Earth has enough useable water so as to sustain life.

13. Earth has enough minerals, plant, and animal life so as to provide for humans.

14. Earth's atmosphere is at just the right level to protect life.

15. Earth's tectonic processes which recycle the crust are just right so as to maintain life on our planet by recycling minerals and nutrients that we need.

16. Earth's right amount of gases in the atmosphere making life suitable.

17. Earth has the right amount of carbon dioxide.

18. Earth is just the right size.

19. Earth has right amount of Nitogen that makes life possible.

20. Earth is at the right age to support life.​

Taking all these factors into account, it seem like a miracle that we are even here at all. For if even one of the above variables did not exist, then we would not exist.

The Beauty of Creation:
(That leaves us in awe and wonder):


In addition, besides the Earth's existence being miracle in and of itself, then there is the beauty that we can observe with things here on this planet Earth with our five senses, too.

• For the beauty of a sunset or a mountain side or the ocean can leave you in awe just by gazing upon them with your own two eyes.
• Then there is the beauty of taking in the fragrance of a rose that makes you think romantically to taking in the fragance of a handful of coffee beans that refreshes you.
• There is the beauty in listening to a song with your ears and how it can move your soul and emotions to great lengths.
• There is the beauty of feeling warm clean water cleanse you of dirt to the beauty of feeling the touch of the one you love.
• There is the beauty in the taste of a bunch of sweet strawberries to the taste of freshly salted cooked potatoes.

Why are there so many beautiful things within the universe?

There are many beautiful animals, trees, flowers, rivers, mountains, clouds, and stars in the heavens. Many pleasureable foods, smells, tastes, emotions, sounds, and things to touch. It seems that things are not just a random accident. It appears that there are many good and wonderful things that an Intelligent Creator has designed specifically for us so as to make us happy and to take joy in.

The Sea Worthiness of the Ark:



Another good piece of evidence that backs up God's Word is the Sea Worthiness of the Ark.

Here is a quote from a good article that talks about that.

"Noah’s Ark was the focus of a major 1993 scientific study headed by Dr. Seon Hong at the world-class ship research center KRISO, based in Daejeon, South Korea. Dr. Hong’s team compared twelve hulls of different proportions to discover which design was most practical. No hull shape was found to significantly outperform the 4,300-year-old biblical design. In fact, the Ark’s careful balance is easily lost if the proportions are modified, rendering the vessel either unstable, prone to fracture, or dangerously uncomfortable.

The research team found that the proportions of Noah’s Ark carefully balanced the conflicting demands of stability (resistance to capsizing), comfort (“seakeeping”), and strength. In fact, the Ark has the same proportions as a modern cargo ship.

The study also confirmed that the Ark could handle waves as high as 100 ft (30 m). Dr. Hong is now director general of the facility and claims “life came from the sea,” obviously not the words of a creationist on a mission to promote the worldwide Flood. Endorsing the seaworthiness of Noah’s Ark obviously did not damage Dr. Hong’s credibility.



Dr. Seon Won Hong was principal research scientist when he headed up the Noah’s Ark investigation. In May 2005 Dr. Hong was appointed director general of MOERI (formerly KRISO). Dr. Hong earned a B.S. degree in naval architecture from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. degree in applied mechanics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor."​

Noah's Ark is at the maximum size that is currently within man's knowledge to be possible for a wooden sea vessel.




Article Source:
Thinking Outside the Box: Size and Shape of the Ark
(Please take note that I do not believe everything AIG teaches or does, I am merely in agreement with this particular article here).

Man Was Formed Out of the Dust of the Ground:

In 1982, NASA ames research had made a discovery that the same elements that are within our body are found within the soil.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
~ (Genesis 2:7)​

Now, the chances of Moses (The author of Genesis) making such a lucky guess about a modern day scientific truth is pretty darn amazing to say the least. Granted, Moses might have been able to make one or maybe two lucky guesses or truths as we know them today, but he would not have been able to account for all of the time tested truths in all of the five books he had written in the Bible. For we could have been formed out of gold, silver, rubber trees, castor beans, actinides, or lanthanides, (all of which have different properties than clay (soil). It is also interesting to point out that Christians were criticized for believing in Genesis 2:7 before this discovery was made, too.

...

If you are interested in checking out more evidences for God's Word, check out the following link:

http://www.christianforums.com/threads/general-list-of-biblical-evidences.7833944/

Anyways, I hope this helps.
And may God's love shine upon you.

With loving kindness to you in Christ,

Sincerely,

~ Jason.


...

 

[Goodbook]

I did see Jesus, dying on the cross, was given a vision.
Even though I cant see him everyday, his Word is real to me because its the truth.

I think you are like one of the disciples, known as doubting thomas, who didnt believe in Jesus until hed touched him..and Jesus showed him his nail peierced hands and feet. This is not to say Thomas had not faith, it was there, he was seeking, but he didnt have faith others who hadnt seen him but only heard about him and all the miracles he did, to believe.

Jesus did a miracle in my life so that is why I believe, it is only by his name i am saved. Hes amazing, read the gospels and be amazed at what he did, he can do the same for you. Realise that the only way to be free of sin is to recognise you are a sinner and Jesus gave his life for you.

 

[rockytopva]

There are more senses to the body other than vision... Why the need to see the Lord Jesus when you can experience him? Quoting the full testimony of George Clark Rankin... This story is dear to me because I had experienced Christ in identical methods. The only difference is that I would wash dishes at a local restaurant during the morning, put up hay in the afternoon, and attend the revival meetings at night! And instead of the Presbyterian training mine was Baptist.

"Grandfather was kind to me and considerate of me, yet he was strict with me. I worked along with him in the field when the weather was agreeable and when it was inclement I helped him in his hatter's shop, for the Civil War was in progress and he had returned at odd times to hatmaking. It was my business in the shop to stretch foxskins and coonskins across a wood-horse and with a knife, made for that purpose, pluck the hair from the fur. I despise the odor of foxskins and coonskins to this good day. He had me to walk two miles every Sunday to Dandridge to Church service and Sunday-school, rain or shine, wet or dry, cold or hot; yet he had fat horses standing in his stable. But he was such a blue-stocking Presbyterian that he never allowed a bridle to go on a horse's head on Sunday. The beasts had to have a day of rest. Old Doctor Minnis was the pastor, and he was the dryest and most interminable preacher I ever heard in my life. He would stand motionless and read his sermons from manuscript for one hour and a half at a time and sometimes longer. Grandfather would sit and never take his eyes off of him, except to glance at me to keep me quiet. It was torture to me." - George Clark Rankin

Then he got it good in the Methodist church in Georgia...

...Quote...

After the team had been fed and we had been to supper we put the mules to the wagon, filled it with chairs and we were off to the meeting. When we reached the locality it was about dark and the people were assembling. Their horses and wagons filled up the cleared spaces and the singing was already in progress. My uncle and his family went well up toward the front, but I dropped into a seat well to the rear. It was an old-fashioned Church, ancient in appearance, oblong in shape and unpretentious. It was situated in a grove about one hundred yards from the road. It was lighted with old tallow-dip candles furnished by the neighbors. It was not a prepossessing-looking place, but it was soon crowded and evidently there was a great deal of interest. A cadaverous-looking man stood up in front with a tuning fork and raised and led the songs. There were a few prayers and the minister came in with his saddlebags and entered the pulpit. He was the Rev. W. H. Heath, the circuit rider. His prayer impressed me with his earnestness and there were many amens to it in the audience. I do not remember his text, but it was a typical revival sermon, full of unction and power.

At its close he invited penitents to the altar and a great many young people flocked to it and bowed for prayer. Many of them became very much affected and they cried out distressingly for mercy. It had a strange effect on me. It made me nervous and I wanted to retire. Directly my uncle came back to me, put his arm around my shoulder and asked me if I did not want to be religious. I told him that I had always had that desire, that mother had brought me up that way, and really I did not know anything else. Then he wanted to know if I had ever professed religion. I hardly understood what he meant and did not answer him. He changed his question and asked me if I had ever been to the altar for prayer, and I answered him in the negative. Then he earnestly besought me to let him take me up to the altar and join the others in being prayed for. It really embarrassed me and I hardly knew what to say to him. He spoke to me of my mother and said that when she was a little girl she went to the altar and that Christ accepted her and she had been a good Christian all these years. That touched me in a tender spot, for mother always did do what was right; and then I was far away from her and wanted to see her. Oh, if she were there to tell me what to do!

By and by I yielded to his entreaty and he led forward to the altar. The minister took me by the hand and spoke tenderly to me as I knelt at the altar. I had gone more out of sympathy than conviction, and I did not know what to do after I bowed there. The others were praying aloud and now and then one would rise shoutingly happy and make the old building ring with his glad praise. It was a novel experience to me. I did not know what to pray for, neither did I know what to expect if I did pray. I spent the most of the hour wondering why I was there and what it all meant. No one explained anything to me. Once in awhile some good old brother or sister would pass my way, strike me on the back and tell me to look up and believe and the blessing would come. But that was not encouraging to me. In fact, it sounded like nonsense and the noise was distracting me. Even in my crude way of thinking I had an idea that religion was a sensible thing and that people ought to become religious intelligently and without all that hurrah. I presume that my ideas were the result of the Presbyterian training given to me by old grandfather. By and by my knees grew tired and the skin was nearly rubbed off my elbows. I thought the service never would close, and when it did conclude with the benediction I heaved a sigh of relief. That was my first experience at the mourner's bench.

As we drove home I did not have much to say, but I listened attentively to the conversation between my uncle and his wife. They were greatly impressed with the meeting, and they spoke first of this one and that one who had "come through" and what a change it would make in the community, as many of them were bad boys. As we were putting up the team my uncle spoke very encouragingly to me; he was delighted with the step I had taken and he pleaded with me not to turn back, but to press on until I found the pearl of great price. He knew my mother would be very happy over the start I had made. Before going to sleep I fell into a train of thought, though I was tired and exhausted. I wondered why I had gone to that altar and what I had gained by it. I felt no special conviction and had received no special impression, but then if my mother had started that way there must be something in it, for she always did what was right. I silently lifted my heart to God in prayer for conviction and guidance. I knew how to pray, for I had come up through prayer, but not the mourner's bench sort. So I determined to continue to attend the meeting and keep on going to the altar until I got religion.

Early the next morning I was up and in a serious frame of mind. I went with the other hands to the cottonfield and at noon I slipped off in the barn and prayed. But the more I thought of the way those young people were moved in the meeting and with what glad hearts they had shouted their praises to God the more it puzzled and confused me. I could not feel the conviction that they had and my heart did not feel melted and tender. I was callous and unmoved in feeling and my distress on account of sin was nothing like theirs. I did not understand my own state of mind and heart. It troubled me, for by this time I really wanted to have an experience like theirs.

When evening came I was ready for Church service and was glad to go. It required no urging. Another large crowd was present and the preacher was as earnest as ever. I did not give much heed to the sermon. In fact, I do not recall a word of it. I was anxious for him to conclude and give me a chance to go to the altar. I had gotten it into my head that there was some real virtue in the mourner's bench; and when the time came I was one of the first to prostrate myself before the altar in prayer. Many others did likewise. Two or three good people at intervals knelt by me and spoke encouragingly to me, but they did not help me. Their talks were mere exhortations to earnestness and faith, but there was no explanation of faith, neither was there any light thrown upon my mind and heart. I wrought myself up into tears and cries for help, but the whole situation was dark and I hardly knew why I cried, or what was the trouble with me. Now and then others would arise from the altar in an ecstasy of joy, but there was no joy for me. When the service closed I was discouraged and felt that maybe I was too hardhearted and the good Spirit could do nothing for me.

After we went home I tossed on the bed before going to sleep and wondered why God did not do for me what he had done for mother and what he was doing in that meeting for those young people at the altar. I could not understand it. But I resolved to keep on trying, and so dropped off to sleep. The next day I had about the same experience and at night saw no change in my condition. And so for several nights I repeated the same distressing experience. The meeting took on such interest that a day service was adopted along with the night exercises, and we attended that also. And one morning while I bowed at the altar in a very disturbed state of mind Brother Tyson, a good local preacher and the father of Rev. J. F. Tyson, now of the Central Conference, sat down by me and, putting his hand on my shoulder, said to me: "Now I want you to sit up awhile and let's talk this matter over quietly. I am sure that you are in earnest, for you have been coming to this altar night after night for several days. I want to ask you a few simple questions." And the following questions were asked and answered:

"My son, do you not love God?"

"I cannot remember when I did not love him."

"Do you believe on his Son, Jesus Christ?"

"I have always believed on Christ. My mother taught me that from my earliest recollection."

"Do you accept him as your Savior?"

"I certainly do, and have always done so."

"Can you think of any sin that is between you and the Savior?"

"No, sir; for I have never committed any bad sins."

"Do you love everybody?"

"Well, I love nearly everybody, but I have no ill-will toward any one. An old man did me a wrong not long ago and I acted ugly toward him, but I do not care to injure him."

"Can you forgive him?"

"Yes, if he wanted me to."

"But, down in your heart, can you wish him well?"

"Yes, sir; I can do that."

"Well, now let me say to you that if you love God, if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin and if you love your fellowmen and intend by God's help to lead a religious life, that's all there is to religion. In fact, that is all I know about it."

Then he repeated several passages of Scriptures to me proving his assertions. I thought a moment and said to him: "But I do not feel like these young people who have been getting religion night after night. I cannot get happy like them. I do not feel like shouting."

The good man looked at me and smiled and said: "Ah, that's your trouble. You have been trying to feel like them. Now you are not them; you are yourself. You have your own quiet disposition and you are not turned like them. They are excitable and blustery like they are. They give way to their feelings. That's all right, but feeling is not religion. Religion is faith and life. If you have violent feeling with it, all good and well, but if you have faith and not much feeling, why the feeling will take care of itself. To love God and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, turning away from all sin, and living a godly life, is the substance of true religion."

That was new to me, yet it had been my state of mind from childhood. For I remembered that away back in my early life, when the old preacher held services in my grandmother's house one day and opened the door of the Church, I went forward and gave him my hand. He was to receive me into full membership at the end of six months' probation, but he let it pass out of his mind and failed to attend to it.

As I sat there that morning listening to the earnest exhortation of the good man my tears ceased, my distress left me, light broke in upon my mind, my heart grew joyous, and before I knew just what I was doing I was going all around shaking hands with everybody, and my confusion and darkness disappeared and a great burden rolled off my spirit. I felt exactly like I did when I was a little boy around my mother's knee when she told of Jesus and God and Heaven. It made my heart thrill then, and the same old experience returned to me in that old country Church that beautiful September morning down in old North Georgia.

As we returned home the sun shone brighter, the birds sang sweeter and the autumn-time looked richer than ever before. My heart was light and my spirit buoyant. I had anchored my soul in the haven of rest, and there was not a ripple upon the current of my joy. That night there was no service and after supper I walked out under the great old pine trees and held communion with God. I thought of mother, and home, and Heaven.

I at once gave my name to the preacher for membership in the Church, and the following Sunday morning, along with many others, he received me into full membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It was one of the most delightful days in my recollection. It was the third Sunday in September, 1866, and those Church vows became a living principle in my heart and life. During these forty-five long years, with their alternations of sunshine and shadow, daylight and darkness, success and failure, rejoicing and weeping, fears within and fightings without, I have never ceased to thank God for that autumnal day in the long ago when my name was registered in the Lamb's Book of Life.

.../Quote...

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

When I truly had no doubt at all is when I got the holy ghost speaking in tounques tbh, and when I saw miracles in church that I couldn't explain. I mean when you can't control your tounque when you first get the holy ghost it's like man wth.

Then as you read the bible even more you doubt less as well becuase it makes more sense and even some scientific observations like the gap theory can lowkey fit in.

It's just not only The Holy Spirit but it is also something so simple like your own mother raising you. I remember going to her work place a long time ago and she would make money by selling groceries. There are times when she sells and makes only ten or twenty pennies because the product costs like $1 and everyone has to get their cut. So always tells me money is dirty so wash your hands after you handle money. Money goes through everyone's hands and it is dirty. Just this Christmas my mother is being like Jesus Christ by sacrificing her hard earned work by sweat and blood spent at work so she can get me a cell phone. $50 per month is a lot to spend on a monthly basis. If you calculate that out it is $25000 over a 50 year period of life if you live 50 years minimum and need a phone for 50 years of your life!!! So the phone charge is like paid for in that monthly payment and you now know why they could care less that the phone is already included. haha The joke is on you. No offense since everyone has to make a living. Not only that but internet expenses whether you use it or not. So thanks mom Vu Thi Thuyen Huong. I'm sorry I took you for granted for so long. You always handled the little things that adds up over all my life to be a big deal. Dad Nguyen Binh Thuy thanks for being the protector of the family and teaching me to be one. Sister Nguyen Khoa Thuyen thanks for being a successful graduate along with our other sister Nguyen Khoa Thi. So I'm sorry to GOD that I didn't realize why the reason for "honour your parents and not strangers" in The Ten Commandments was until now. Thank you Jesus Christ that you always save me!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[smartCoder]

Hello

 

[juvenissun]

Yes, a man called Jesus must have existed.... I reason that soley from History and documentation.

However, to me personally God embodying himself in a human for a brief period to undergo horror unimaginable, so that He can say that He has kept me from Hell because I choose to turn my back on him.... how that is supposed to work does not compute naturally in my brain at all.... its actually confusing (rightfully so of course since it is supernatural).

Without the man called Jesus, do you think you can see God face to face after this life? To the God I believe, I don't think I can.

It is a different story of course, if your god is a different one from what the Bible described.

 

[juvenissun]

You ask if the name of your God is Yahweh. If by that you mean when I read the Old Testament it speaks to me as though it came from above I can definitely say yes.

Do you also accept the nature of Yahweh as He is described in the OT? For example, He is justice so that no sinner can stand before Him. Adam sinned, so he can not be with God any more. Do all these make sense to you?

 

[Stillicidia]

I should have much faith in Him because I sought Him, and He made himself known to me.

There are two ways of thinking you could pursue,

1
Having this logic: That all my life I will pursue to figure out the truth behind who He is, therefore I will ask Him to make Himself known to me sooner, because my hopes and my curiosity will not fail to continue to pursue until He is found or until I die.

2
Having this logic: If I am a child of God, why does not a child get to see his Father's face? Does not the woman say to her husband after giving birth, look at our child? Wherefore can I not look upon you? Let me look upon you, and see Your face if I am a child of The Most High God.

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

Hello

You see I believe in Jesus Christ because of my experiences in life. There are too many experiences that says it is God who saves me!

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

I should have much faith in Him because I sought Him, and He made himself known to me.

There are two ways of thinking you could pursue,

1
Having this logic: That all my life I will pursue to figure out the truth behind who He is, therefore I will ask Him to make Himself known to me sooner, because my hopes and my curiosity will not fail to continue to pursue until He is found or until I die.

2
Having this logic: If I am a child of God, why does not a child get to see his Father's face? Does not the woman say to her husband after giving birth, look at our child? Wherefore can I not look upon you? Let me look upon you, and see Your face if I am a child of The Most High God.

You see when you are in your mother's womb you know who the one nurturing you is. When you are outside for the first time you cry because you are separated from your mother's womb. You can see your father's face but he is not familiar to you so you cry for your mother!!!

 

[Stillicidia]

You see when you are in your mother's womb you know who the one nurturing you is. When you are outside for the first time you cry because you are separated from your mother's womb. You can see your father's face but he is not familiar to you so you cry for your mother!!!

You do not cry over the separating from your mother's womb! In the crying of babes there is perfected praise!!!

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

I am who some may call a 'seeker' but have grown discouraged. Grew up in a religious household and now am in my late 20s.

Its easy to see the God exists. Creation makes that evident.

I feel like I know God. I've felt His presence. I don't know doctrinally who He is... the God of Abraham; Mohammed; or the Trinity.

I'm sure he is not 100% pleased with me and the way I live but I can only do so much in this skin. I have many ingrained desires and wants which, without supernatural help, I cannot overcome.

But I just cannot come to believe in Jesus (and I have tried for over 20 years). I cannot see him. And there is no evidence of him from what I can see except from history and what people call the New Testament which I have read over many times and yes it is very beautiful and thoughtfully written albeit by men. The message is very compelling but it stops there - at 'believe in me'.

So I raise this question, to help me understand, to those on this forum who say they know Jesus on a personal level - how do you believe in someone you cannot see?

How do you know that you know Jesus on a personal level and not the God of Abraham or some other?

Remember nature tells us there is a God, however I know of nothing that tells me there is a Jesus and He is alive today.... nothing. How do you know who you are talking to when you pray is not the God of Abraham or Mohammed? What am I missing/not doing?

Please don't grow discouraged! I once was like you. I grew up knowing the laws of what is right. I continued through life in a motionless way thinking I had no meaning. The truth it I had it all. When you are feeling lifeless you have it all. You already have everything set for you. Then I decided to break out of my routine and "test" the laws. That's when I realize trouble started and it lasted even to this 20th year of life.

 

[2 know him]

I am who some may call a 'seeker' but have grown discouraged. Grew up in a religious household and now am in my late 20s.

Its easy to see the God exists. Creation makes that evident.

I feel like I know God. I've felt His presence. I don't know doctrinally who He is... the God of Abraham; Mohammed; or the Trinity.

I'm sure he is not 100% pleased with me and the way I live but I can only do so much in this skin. I have many ingrained desires and wants which, without supernatural help, I cannot overcome.

But I just cannot come to believe in Jesus (and I have tried for over 20 years). I cannot see him. And there is no evidence of him from what I can see except from history and what people call the New Testament which I have read over many times and yes it is very beautiful and thoughtfully written albeit by men. The message is very compelling but it stops there - at 'believe in me'.

So I raise this question, to help me understand, to those on this forum who say they know Jesus on a personal level - how do you believe in someone you cannot see?

How do you know that you know Jesus on a personal level and not the God of Abraham or some other?

Remember nature tells us there is a God, however I know of nothing that tells me there is a Jesus and He is alive today.... nothing. How do you know who you are talking to when you pray is not the God of Abraham or Mohammed? What am I missing/not doing?

The main reason I believe in Jesus is that when one looks at Jesus's teachings they see that they are about having us subdue or bad emotions and get us to act with good emotions towards others. I don't subscribe to a forgiveness doctrine based upon intellectual acceptance of certain facts, but rather forgiveness based upon one turning from our sins to walk in the teachings of Christ; what you live is what you really believe, not what you think.

 

[dc87]

God has indeed blessed this Forum.

I've read through everyones posts. Thank you all.
There is much meditation I must do.

Some curiosities still remain ...

... But after hearing the gospel preached, I knew it was true and accepted Christ. But I still went through the same battle you're going through now. I begged God to speak to me out loud so I could hear His voice. I had a hard time giving up previous thoughts and beliefs that went against what I was reading in the bible....

So honestly you knew it was true because it made sense; or because you needed an answer and that was the best you've heard; or because an uncanny voice in your brain said yes what you just heard is true?

... and the sin disconnected them from god, it was the spirit of man that was disconnected and could not relate with God...

Ok, so why does God make it like this to where we must gather that He loves us and went through what He went through for us? Why doesn't He just come out and make it known to all the world and so everyone praises Him? Is it because it makes Him so happy when someone decides by themselves they don't want to continue to pursue sin? Is this a contest? If thats the case then why does He not make it so obvious that sin is so harmful? Why does He allow the nefariousness of sin to still be so well hidden? It doesn't compute. I realize His ways are not our ways... but that doesn't mean we need not know why (the "Owners Manual" analogy). If he would make it known to the world how horrid pursuing sin is and what a trap it is, would we not all turn from it?

....which is done by confessing that Jesus is lord of your life, and believing in your heart that he died and rose again....

Does that belief come from us (which IMHO would be a blind gamble/bet we place based on our spiritual experiences or to fill a void/need), or, did the belief you currently have come, not from you deeming it was correct, but from a 'Holy Spirit' MAKING your heart believe He died and rose again? (if that is the case then my first question still stands... why does he not make it UNDENIABLY obvious to the entire planet that those events are undoubtedly true?

... After Thomas the Doubter demanded to see the wounds, ....

Call me Thomas.

... Are you willing to do it on His terms and not yours? Are you willing to believe even though you can't see Him?...

I would Love to. If by "give your life" you mean 'change it', I do not harbor the ability to change at all. I can do it temporarily yes, but I cannot maintain. I've asked Him to help... but... I don't know... I feel like I've been sincere. How hard should it really be to change a mere human like me? Even with the help of someone who created the universe...

.... Now and then others would arise from the altar in an ecstasy of joy, but there was no joy for me......

... "Ah, that's your trouble. You have been trying to feel like them.....

Been there. Thank you.

 

[Basil Isaacks]

I am who some may call a 'seeker' but have grown discouraged. Grew up in a religious household and now am in my late 20s.

Its easy to see the God exists. Creation makes that evident.

I feel like I know God. I've felt His presence. I don't know doctrinally who He is... the God of Abraham; Mohammed; or the Trinity.

I'm sure he is not 100% pleased with me and the way I live but I can only do so much in this skin. I have many ingrained desires and wants which, without supernatural help, I cannot overcome.

But I just cannot come to believe in Jesus (and I have tried for over 20 years). I cannot see him. And there is no evidence of him from what I can see except from history and what people call the New Testament which I have read over many times and yes it is very beautiful and thoughtfully written albeit by men. The message is very compelling but it stops there - at 'believe in me'.

So I raise this question, to help me understand, to those on this forum who say they know Jesus on a personal level - how do you believe in someone you cannot see?

How do you know that you know Jesus on a personal level and not the God of Abraham or some other?

Remember nature tells us there is a God, however I know of nothing that tells me there is a Jesus and He is alive today.... nothing. How do you know who you are talking to when you pray is not the God of Abraham or Mohammed? What am I missing/not doing?

I've never seen air. i couldn't tell a vacuum from a well-ventilated room by my eyes alone.

I've never seen an atom. Have you? Do you believe that they exist?

And so it goes.

BTW--The Logos (who took flesh and is now known as Jesus) IS the God of Abraham.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

 

[DingDing]

I am who some may call a 'seeker' but have grown discouraged. Grew up in a religious household and now am in my late 20s.

You asked,
Why do you believe in Jesus if you cannot see him?

So what have you seen that is worth believing in?

 

[JESUS=G.O.A.T]

It's just not only The Holy Spirit but it is also something so simple like your own mother raising you. I remember going to her work place a long time ago and she would make money by selling groceries. There are times when she sells and makes only ten or twenty pennies because the product costs like $1 and everyone has to get their cut. So always tells me money is dirty so wash your hands after you handle money. Money goes through everyone's hands and it is dirty. Just this Christmas my mother is being like Jesus Christ by sacrificing her hard earned work by sweat and blood spent at work so she can get me a cell phone. $50 per month is a lot to spend on a monthly basis. If you calculate that out it is $25000 over a 50 year period of life if you live 50 years minimum and need a phone for 50 years of your life!!! So the phone charge is like paid for in that monthly payment and you now know why they could care less that the phone is already included. haha The joke is on you. No offense since everyone has to make a living. Not only that but internet expenses whether you use it or not. So thanks mom Vu Thi Thuyen Huong. I'm sorry I took you for granted for so long. You always handled the little things that adds up over all my life to be a big deal. Dad Nguyen Binh Thuy thanks for being the protector of the family and teaching me to be one. Sister Nguyen Khoa Thuyen thanks for being a successful graduate along with our other sister Nguyen Khoa Thi. So I'm sorry to GOD that I didn't realize why the reason for "honour your parents and not strangers" in The Ten Commandments was until now. Thank you Jesus Christ that you always save me!!!!!!!!!!!!

True also forgot it's also your parents raising you to love God amen.

 

[aiki]

I know God mainly from reason, some emotion. That He must exist. However reason does not seem to help when it comes to knowing Jesus. Logic doesnt really seem to apply. For example, I can prove the existence of 'a' God. Now proving which Lord we are talking about is a different question.

Actually, you can't prove the existence of God, though you can find many strong evidences of His existence. Incontrovertible proof is often a very difficult thing to muster. Even in the most rigorous scientific investigations some things must be taken on faith. For example, how do we know we can trust our physical senses to accurately convey reality to our minds? Every bit of science that is done assumes that we can trust our senses. There is no way to prove that our senses are conveying reality to us accurately. Why, then, do you have to have undeniable proof that Jesus was God? What would that look like to you? Would he have to do miracles? We have multiple eyewitness testimonies to Jesus's miraculous deeds. Would he have to have power over death? Again, we have multiple eyewitness accounts of his raising the dead and rising from the grave himself. Maybe some sort of supernatural divine stamp of approval? The New Testament Gospels record such occurrences, too (ie. At his baptism by John the Baptist, his transfiguration before his disciples). It seems perfectly reasonable to me to take Christ's claims to divinity as true when such incredible things attend his claims.

No other figure in history has both made the bold claims Jesus has to deity and demonstrated by supernatural means the truth of those claims. Confucius, Mohammed, Buddha - none of these can boast the kind of life and deeds of Christ. And that is simply because, unlike Jesus, none of them were God incarnate.

However, to me personally God embodying himself in a human for a brief period to undergo horror unimaginable, so that He can say that He has kept me from Hell because I choose to turn my back on him.... how that is supposed to work does not compute naturally in my brain at all.... its actually confusing (rightfully so of course since it is supernatural).

So, if you recognize that God does not, as a divine Being, operate according to your understanding and preferred methods, why make understanding all His ways part of your criteria for believing in His divine Son? A God we could fully comprehend wouldn't be much of a God, I think.

What's so difficult, though, about understanding that Jesus came to Earth to atone for our sins? Why is that confusing to you?

He has not answered my calls for help when facing temptation. This has lead me to conclude that I must not actually know Jesus, otherwise He would give me strength. This is partly what has prompted this search.

This is one possibility as to why God has not answered your prayers for victory over sin. Or, you might simply not have been discipled and properly taught how to walk with Christ. These seem to me to be by far the two most common reasons people claiming to be Christians have such rotten, frustrating experiences trying to live the Christian life.

Selah.