Knowing Jesus personally

[jhys06567]

Hi everyone.
I`ve been  to many churches over the last 40 years and I`ve lost count of the number of times the preacher has made a contrast between knowing about Jesus and knowing him personally.
I`ve never been sure what this means. I believe that he died for the sin of the world (including mine) but I cannot in all honesty say that I know him personally in the sense that he speaks to me or that I feel his presence all the time.  The implication is that if you dont know Jesus in this way then you are not a true christian and (not stated but implied) that you are headed for hell which (here in the uk) usually means eternal separation from God or annihilation. ET is very rarely taught here.
I hope that someone can shed some light on this as has bugged me for so long.
Jeff

[WhiteWings]

Hi everyone.

Hi only you  :banana:

I`ve been  to many churches over the last 40 years and I`ve lost count of the number of times the preacher has made a contrast between knowing about Jesus and knowing him personally.
I've never been sure what this means.

I think it can't be really explained as a something very strictly defined.
Part of my answer is comparing it to for basketball. A person may know absolutely everything there is to know about basketball but never personally played a single game.

The other part of my answer isn't that simple... As with the basketball example knowing Jesus goes a but further than having read about Him.

Matt 7:
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

So "knowing Jesus" seems to be connected to actually doing things. As an example it's good to know the Bible forbids stealing, but the next step is to stop stealing.
You can use knowledge as just a bit of background info or you can use it as  a measuring stick in your life.


I hope that makes some sense. It's hard to explain for me.

[sheila]

something else to consider...the many false-Christ'[spirits] out there with lying signs and miralcle's that can mislead men....into

  ministry's..and they are believing they do God a favour when they do such works..in His name......Paul said you can do all

manner of things..but without love ye are a clanging symbol[lawless one/distracting noise]  Some ministries are all about the

  'glory' of the minister[see rich tv evangelists]...and not about GOD AND JESUS" GLORY  THE SALVATION OF ALL MEN..THEIR

GREAT LOVE  FOR ALL MEN...[flowing robes in the 'best' positions that rob widows houses..blowing horns to announce their great

charitable works etc]they become very rich..stealing from their fellow man  for 'their' ministry..live in luxury as a 'super-star]

   I don't think people such as the above 'Know' the Lord at all..instead  they are 'lawless' with all kinds of greed coveting

  the people's money....the rich young man..sell all your possesions then come follow me.

[lomarah]

My advice to you would be to earnestly pray to know Him (if you haven't already). It has been my earnest prayer and I find that the more time I spend with Him (especially alone, in quiet time, but sometimes also in fellowship/through another's spiritual gifts), the more I come to know Him (or more like remember Him, His true nature). The bible says when we see Him we will be like Him. But now we see thru a (looking) glass darkly. Our vision has been obscured. I believe this is His will, that our vision be obscured for a time, so that we could experience this evil and sin for our own good/learning.

The scriptures also say that we can know who those are who truly know and love God because of their love. Many who think they know God truly don't know Him at all, but a false spirit masquerading as Him (anti-Christ), one that would "damn" people to hell for eternity. Now, ironically, these are the ones who are actually in "hell" (bondage/slaves to sin/blind/deaf/sick) but yet do not realize it. I know, because I was there as well.

Knowing Christ is a lot simpler than many people think. That still, small voice is a great place to start. :)

:HeartThrob:

[bushy]

I think preachers say things like that to make people feel more afraid that they are missing the boat. Same as saying just because you're in church doesn't mean you're a christian. So what? Just an attempt to scare the hell out of people.

But of course knowing Jesus is different than knowing about Him. Like for anyone we get to know personally it takes time. I went years feeling like I didn't know Him even though I knew a lot about Him. Finally I heard His voice and knew it was Him. Now I think I heard His voice way before that and didn't know it was Him.

[eaglesway]

In several places Jesus equates knowing Him to acts of kindness towards the less fortunate. While I do believe in the personal subjective experience of fellowship with God in Christ, I think it is over emphasized. When we love those He has placed in our lives we are in union with Him. Beyond that, I think Romans 10:8-11 is dependable

But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 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. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."

The subjective experience in Christ varies from one person to another and can fluctuate depending on many things. The word of God is trustworthy, and relying upon it is more secure than experience, and will actually become the well-spring of experience as we trust in it, and as Lomarah said, spending time in prayer.

[dajomaco]

Whenever you can feel or imagine yourself as being in a good relationship with God,
because Jesus died on the Cross.

You have a personal relationship with Jesus.

When you go to the Father believing Jesus your brother went ahead of you
and made everything good between you and God.

You can't  get any closer to Jesus than believing in the work he did.

[jabcat]

I believe it's head knowledge vs. heart experience.  We can know about Him, but no one comes to the Father except the Holy Spirit draw him.

whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved

how shall i be saved..believe in your heart and confess with your mouth Jesus and you will be saved

not of works...for it's by grace are we saved through faith and that not of ourselves

to those given faith to believe on His name He gave He right to become children of God


i believe all that = calling on and trusting in Him, in what He did on the cross to be the atonement for our sins, creates the relationship;  vs. just saying sure there's a God, He had a Son, but never being drawn and calling on Him (even the demons believe and tremble).  **but they've never been drawn by the Holy Spirit and given faith to believe and trust in HIm as Savior.  To me, therin lies the difference.

[CHB]

I believe it's head knowledge vs. heart experience.  We can know about Him, but no one comes to the Father except the Holy Spirit draw him.

My thoughts exactly.

CHB

[eaglesway]

I agree with that . I am just leery of emotional or feeling based definitions of that. Not for my own sake, because i have had an abundance of experience and interaction with God in the spirit since I became a Christian in 1974. But I have known so many Christians who I believe will fall into the category of those who say "Lord, Lord, didnt we prophecy and cast out demons and do mighty works in you name- and He will reply to them, "Depart from me you lawless ones, for I was hungry and you gave me no meat, I was naked and you did not clothe me".

Personally, I think if a person believes Romans 10:8-11 enough to look up into the heavens and say thank you Jesus for saving me and then go out and give a hungry person a piece of bread- they are saved enough for Jesus, and more "saved" than a lot of Christian religionists I have known :o)

To me He was talking about obedience to practical love in daily living, those whose paths we cross who are in need and we respond or by pass them, or those who have needs in our own families and we respond or neglect them. These are the testimonies that determine whether He lives within us, or not, imo.

Reliance on biblical knowledge, spiritual manifestations and feelings is not enough, according to Jesus. I am sure the people Jesus rejected would have said their works were done "in the Spirit"- but Jesus focused on a manifestation of the Spirit that was much more important to Him, ministering to the practical needs of others- as a testimony that a believer knew Him and was known of Him.

[sheila]

....sooo true...and what about those who obey and do their acts of charity in secret...pray in seclusion.......how will people judge

them? what? they see no acts obedience to observe....but GOD SEE'S...GOD KNOWS..AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE ANOTHER

MAN'S SERVANT!

[dajomaco]

....sooo true...and what about those who obey and do their acts of charity in secret...pray in seclusion.......how will people judge

them? what? they see no acts obedience to observe....but GOD SEE'S...GOD KNOWS..AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE ANOTHER

MAN'S SERVANT!

:iagree: Let him who has ears hear.

[Seth]

I agree with that . I am just leery of emotional or feeling based definitions of that. Not for my own sake, because i have had an abundance of experience and interaction with God in the spirit since I became a Christian in 1974. But I have known so many Christians who I believe will fall into the category of those who say "Lord, Lord, didnt we prophecy and cast out demons and do mighty works in you name- and He will reply to them, "Depart from me you lawless ones, for I was hungry and you gave me no meat, I was naked and you did not clothe me".

Personally, I think if a person believes Romans 10:8-11 enough to look up into the heavens and say thank you Jesus for saving me and then go out and give a hungry person a piece of bread- they are saved enough for Jesus, and more "saved" than a lot of Christian religionists I have known :o)

To me He was talking about obedience to practical love in daily living, those whose paths we cross who are in need and we respond or by pass them, or those who have needs in our own families and we respond or neglect them. These are the testimonies that determine whether He lives within us, or not, imo.

Reliance on biblical knowledge, spiritual manifestations and feelings is not enough, according to Jesus. I am sure the people Jesus rejected would have said their works were done "in the Spirit"- but Jesus focused on a manifestation of the Spirit that was much more important to Him, ministering to the practical needs of others- as a testimony that a believer knew Him and was known of Him.

Beautiful words

[Seth]

....sooo true...and what about those who obey and do their acts of charity in secret...pray in seclusion.......how will people judge

them? what? they see no acts obedience to observe....but GOD SEE'S...GOD KNOWS..AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE ANOTHER

MAN'S SERVANT!

On the other hand, doesn't love shine forth?

[sheila]

sure does,Seth..but satan also keeps transforming himself into an angel of light,also.

[eaglesway]

....sooo true...and what about those who obey and do their acts of charity in secret...pray in seclusion.......how will people judge

them? what? they see no acts obedience to observe....but GOD SEE'S...GOD KNOWS..AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE ANOTHER

MAN'S SERVANT!

He who sees in secret will reward those who work in secret in the secret place under the shadow of His wings :o)

[sheila]

...and when satan does it..he will blow trumpets ahead of 'acts of charity' so everyone will be sure to see it!! He'll be making long

  prayers in public places...and have all that religious piety on display for you,too[flowing robes in the wind/can't you just see the spirit

moving sic].

   amen EW

     

[Seth]

sure does,Seth..but satan also keeps transforming himself into an angel of light,also.

I agree but not and Angel of love. I agree with you were can't go about judging people. But the early church was closely entangled with each other and I think Paul gave common sense signs about how to identify real ministers. You can tell when you live and work closely with eachother.

[Seth]

I personally don't even think that Satan inspires acts of charity. He would be a kingdom divided against itself.

I think Satan transforms himself by taking what is false and making it look like it could be true or taking something that is evil and making it look like it could be good.

[eaglesway]

I think discernment is the key. In 1 Cor 13 it says someone could give all they have to the poor out of something other than love. but i think we are to let God judge that, except where He gives discernment of a false motivation. there are those who do things to achieve recognition or to assuage guilt.

When God opens up the inner man and tears the veil of self, motives get purified and the ability to discern grows accordingly. before that happens, the "earth" is without form and void. Chaos(mixture) reigns, there is darkness covering the faceof the deep(soulish religion, blinded spirit).

That's why we are to trust the stewardship of our souls to those who "by reason of experience have their senses exercised to discern the difference between good and evil, soul and spirit", "in the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established", "in the multitude of counselors is wise war strategy made".

that's why I say before one can rightly divide the word of God they must be rightly divided by it :o)