Posted on 11/30/2012 9:23:11 AM PST by EaglesNestHome
Yes, You Can--Know God...
Why would such a powerful, just God care enough about you and I to take the form of a man—Jesus, called Christ--come to earth and die on a cross to pay for our sins?
I asked this question, before I knew God. I have heard physicians say that dying on a cross is the most painful death imaginable. Even after many years as a Christian, I still can’t totally grasp God’s love, except to say that He has proved His love to me. Jesus is the only one who ever died to save me. He proved His love for each person--me, you, and everybody.
That's my basic understanding of what God says in the Bible. Of course, there is much more, and I don't know everything. Don't worry if you don't understand it all yet—we may not know everything about how a television works, but we can still watch it. So you don't need to understand everything about God all at once, either, to know Him.
Here's my own personal experience, that I share in the hope that it will help you. Although I believed in Christ at the age of sixteen, I also struggled with doubts and questions. Yet, when I believed in Him, I also asked Him to open my eyes (spiritually), and let me know Him. Decades later, I am still learning to know Him more intimately. After all, He is infinite.
In the late 1970s, my husband and I visited Cherokee Village, in North Carolina. We were visiting to learn more about Cherokee ancestors. While there, we had the privilege of listening to a native Cherokee lecturer.
He related a story that you are not likely to hear anywhere else. When the European missionaries first told the Cherokee people about Jesus, they were met with several surprises. For one, the missionaries were greeted with open arms, and the Cherokee people immediately converted to Christianity, almost every one of them. The startled missionaries had to know why the tribe experienced such sudden conversions.
The reason? The Cherokee had a story about a visitor, who when described, sounded remarkably like Christ. Proof of this story, to me, is the native Cherokee word which is almost identical to the Hebrew word for God. So God can do what He wants, but He proved His love on the cross. You can't do any more for anyone than die for them.
Over the years of getting to know God, through His son Jesus Christ, I am learning that the Bible is a spiritual book, which God directed His people to write. God did not physically write it, but it is His Word, as if His people were taking dictation.
I wondered, if we are like ants to God, how can we possibly understand Him? We can't by ourselves. That's why people say all the time, "I can't understand the Bible." But we can understand some of it--the most important parts, and what we need to know now--if we ask Him to help us, through His Spirit. I am also learning that the Bible is a spiritual book--the Holy Spirit is how God talks to people.
I want you to know that God is calling you, just like He called me, and just like He visited (according to ancient Cherokee legend) the Cherokee. He loves you so much, that He was willing to die for you. You may not believe this yet—God understands. However, if you want to know God, you need to be willing to listen to Him.
Would you pray a prayer every day? Just talk to God, in Jesus name, the way you would talk to a person. Every day, just ask God "God, help me to know Jesus." Will you do that, because Jesus loves you? Do this, and be WILLING to believe (I didn't say you have to have blind faith--I said you need to be willing to listen), when God helps you to understand. Simple, I know. Please let me know that you will do this, and write me when you can.
In Christ’s Love, Melissa Morgan, http://homeschoolblogger.com/eaglesnest/781930/ "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36)
I am asking you to take the time to look up the Bible verses that I list, below. They will help you to know God. If you don't have access to a Bible, please tell me, and I can send you a free Gideon Bible. Or look them up at http://www.biblegateway.com/.
Romans 2:11-16, Hebrews 8:10-12, 1 Colossians 1:13-23, Hebrews 11:3, John 14:6, 7 (Jesus is THE WAY to God. NO ONE comes to the Father except through Jesus.)
1 Peter 1:6-9, 1 John 5:10-13, Mark 16:16, John 3:3,5, 6,14-21 (Jesus said, "You must be born again.")
Matthew 10:22, 2 Corinthians 6:2
Matthew 28(Christians are COMMANDED to teach the world all of the commands of Christ.)
Please pray every day, read these verses over every day. Be willing to listen to Jesus. He WILL make Himself known to you, if you are bold enough to meet Him, and take the time. When you feel the desire for more, you may wish to start reading through the book of John in the Bible. Are you up to the challenge?
In Christ’s Love, Melissa Morgan, http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/eaglesnest
"I can wish no better thing for you, sirs, than this, that, recognizing in this way that intelligence is given to every man, you may be of the same opinion as ourselves, and believe that Jesus is the Christ of God."—St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue With Trypho, http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-dialoguetrypho.html
Absolutely you can get to know God. We are in interesting times where the communication channels are opening.
Remember, if you accept Jesus you are also in God as if you are in Christ, Christ is also in Our Father.
I use Russian nesting dolls to explain how we exist within Christ and Christ exists within God. Thus the only way to God is by going through Jesus.
In India a wise young child was born who was very enlightened. The town elders got together and offered the young child an orange if he could tell them where God is.
The young sage replied, I will give you two oranges if you can tell me where God is not!
Yes—interesting times...I think that people increasingly feel that the time is very, very short. This is no time to be shy—save who you can.
I like your idea of the Russian nesting dolls. I would love to see that presentation, if you ever care to make a video.
I love “word pictures”—and in our society, most people think in pictures today.
I used to be puzzled by the concept of the trinity, until I read the story of St. Patrick, teaching the Irish with the shamrock. The three leaves, on one plant, beautifully illustrate Father God, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit—three in one person.
Thank you. Well said. We must listen with our hearts open to hear Him.
Many do not understand, also, that Jesus GAVE His life. They did not take it.
Crucifixion is a slow, extremely painful death. Hanging from the hands, or wrists, makes it difficult to breathe. One must push down on the nails through the feet to be able to catch a breath.
Creating the breath to talk would also be difficult. But, as He gave up His earthly body, Christ cried out in a LOUD voice “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit!”
Luke 23:46 NIV
Yes—a horrifying death—and He could have called angels to strike the Romans dead, and get Him down. He died willingly, for each and every one who will receive Him, while there is still time! He is waiting, waiting, but God is a just Judge, and sooner or later, He has to judge.
I don’t understand everything in the Bible. I don’t understand everything about evil, and why people suffer.
But I know this—Christ died for me. He doesn’t need to do anything else, to prove His love.
Hi EaglesNestHome,
Question:
In the Catholic Church we hold the cross with the Body of Christ on it to be a beloved symbol of Christ’s Passion and Death on that cross.
So to honor that we Catholics always have crosses with the Corpus and never the cross alone and I might add we have been doing that for about eighteen centuries.
Why did the protestant church remove the Body of Christ from the Cross - it doesn’t sound like they want to be reminded of what he did, which seems to be the opposite of what you are saying.
I am happy to see you so engaged in your faith.
Regards,
Lurking’
I do not understand everything either. I just trust and believe, and know that one day all of our questions will be answered.
Many more truths can be found in the Bible than questions.
In order to understand at all, we must accept the one abiding truth:
That Jesus died for us, and that God loved us ALL so much that He allowed His only begotten Son to die on the cross to cover our sins. John 3:16,17
As we accept His fate to our hearts, His spirit starts to fill us. The more we seek Him, the more we will understand.
We will never be perfect as we tread this earth. We will all go through trials, as we “take up our cross and follow Him”. But, as we serve, we are refreshed. Love is an unlimited resource.
Thank you very much for your interesting question, and comment. Please understand that I am not a theologian, just an ordinary homeschooling mom. That said, I grew up in a protestant home, and attended church growing up. Over the years (I’m in my fifties, now) I have visited many churches, both protestant and Catholic. Thinking back, you’re right about Christ not being up on the cross in church, as I recall. I can only speculate about the reason, but I would guess it is a fear that people will worship the object, instead of Christ? Does that make sense? Also, we do not know for sure exactly how Christ looked, so it might be illustrating his appearance incorrectly—making it harder for, say, a native American to identify with a blond, blue-eyed Jesus. If I am wrong about this, I hope some of you professorial types will correct me, and explain this better.
I have, however, seen protestant churches and homes with pictures illustrating the body of Christ on the cross, as portrayed by various artists. (I have a few pictures like that, myself.) I have never heard a protestant sermon condemning anyone for having or hanging a painting of Christ, so I don’t think it is an issue.
That said, I think the cross, with or without Christ, is an offense and a stumbling block to those who deny God. I think that both the protestant and the Catholic cross vividly illustrate Christ’s loving sacrifice for all who will accept it.
I appreciate your love for Christ, and again, I thank you for your question. May God bless you and yours!
I grew up Catholic and now worship in a non-denominational church. I understand both sides. However, we worship the risen Christ. When Jesus rose from the dead two things happened: he conquered death and atoned for our sins. So, it’s the risen Christ that saves us from our sins. So the cross absent the body of Christ symbolizes the Lord’s absolute defeat of sin.
Those who had died in Grace prior to His crucifixion were seen walking about Jerusalem before He was even in the tomb, not after He had risen, which shows He had already conquered Satan and Death at that point. An empty cross was a Roman threat, and an empty cross would often be erected where the enemy could see it to make clear what would happen to those who didn't surrender. When a captured enemy was crucified on it, the time for surrender was past and everyone taken prisoner could look forward to crucifixion or slavery. If it proves anything, an empty cross proves that some people will go along to get along and carefully avoid offending anyone. A crucifix is a crystal clear statement of what our salvation cost Jesus Christ and that He loves us so much He was willing to pay that price to save us.
I honor my King by displaying His moment of triumph over Satan, not by displaying a Roman death threat.
The Protestants did not remove Jesus from the Cross...Jesus' disciples did...Jesus hasn't been on a Cross since about 33 A.D....And he never will be again...
Mar 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Jesus is not here...He is risen!!!
it doesn’t sound like they want to be reminded of what he did, which seems to be the opposite of what you are saying.
Dying on the Cross is not the end of it...Do you not believe Jesus has risen??? Why do you keep him on the cursed Cross??? It was a shameful thing for Jesus to hang on that Cross...
Jesus conquered; overcame the Cross...He beat it...The Cross nor Satan could keep him there, like you guys try to do...
Jesus does not say to come to the Cross to worship him...He says to come to the Throne...
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Ignoring Iscool since ‘98
He is not on the cross, but He is risen from the dead, is ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
I beg you, come out of the idolatrous Roman Catholic church, come away from the idolatry of the mass, come away from the idolatry of the crucifix.
Apparently not...But you certainly ignore the words of God that He left for us to read and believe...
Thank you to all who have responded to this thread. I would prefer if the discussion of objects, such as the cross, could possibly be on another thread. I can tell that many have strong feelings about this, and this is just a gentle reminder, that this is a thread about Knowing God, not an argument about objects. Jesus said he is the WAY to God. I am concerned with knowing God, not knowing a religion. Again, thanks for the responses, and of course you are free to talk about anything you wish; however, I respectfully ask that we please return to the original topic, Knowing God.
May God bless all those who truly seek to know Him. After all, none of us gets out of this world alive, and sooner or later, we will meet our maker. We want to have the correct ticket to heaven, and not a counterfeit! When I say “ticket” I am speaking figuratively, as this is a spiritual ticket (believing in and receiving Christ), not a physical object. I hope that makes sense.
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