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The Tragedy of Talking About Christ Without Knowing Him

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by procyon, Jan 21, 2006.

  1. procyon

    procyon New Member

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    It is observed that in many discussions in these forums people talk about Christ without really 'knowing Him'. By knowing Him, I mean what Paul says in Phil 3.10. We must experience Christ in our lives, through the process of death and resurrection [2 Cor 4.10]. I am sure that many know about Paul's famous words in Gal 2.20. But very few seem to understand that Christ lives His life in us through the Holy Spirit.

    We seem to be using our own human intellect, and expressing our own human opinions, without waiting for any guidance from the Holy Spirit. Opinionated discussion will not bring glory to God.

    What is required is to be born again, born of the Holy Spirit, born from above. Then only can Christian Debate and Discussion have any value, and bring glory to God.

    Prayerful and careful responses are solicited.
     
  2. TEXASGRANDMA

    TEXASGRANDMA New Member

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    Hubby and I have watched shows on Discovery Channel and PBS, where they bring so called "Bible Experts". Men and Women who have spent years studing the Bible but they do not know God at all. My husband and I often talk about how sad it is for someone who spent years studying God's Word and yet will spend eternity in hell, because they compeletely missed out on the truth of God's Word.
    betty
     
  3. standingfirminChrist

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    It is sad, many are ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth.

    Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
     
  4. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Coming to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in saving grace does not denude us of intellectual capacity. The Lord expects us to use the power of the brain and not get mired in cliches, pet phrases and pointing fingers.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  5. Eliyahu

    Eliyahu Active Member
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    There were many Jews who claimed that they believe in God calling Him as their Father but Jesus told them that their father is Devil. (John 8: 41-44)

    Even today, there are so many, so many church go-ers today who do not know Jesus personally. I don't rule out that there are such people even on this board.


    they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us (1 John 2:19)


    I would recommend them again to read 2 Cor 13:5, examining their hearts.
     
  6. Ray Berrian

    Ray Berrian New Member

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    The Bible is the final authority as to faith and practice. I sometimes say that people have head religion but it never get down into their heart. We need to be doers of the Word as well as just hearing His truth.

    Jesus said, 'Except a man (person) be born of water and the Spirit, he or she cannot ENTER into the Kingdom of God.' [John 3:5].

    Like you said, Elijahu, by some of the things people say on this board they have not ENTERED into the Kingdom of God.
     
  7. Eliyahu

    Eliyahu Active Member
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    Problems are these:
    1) Even among the church leaders there are many who are not born-again believers.
    2) They do not know that they themselves are not born-again.
    3) Mt 7:21-23 shows us that many people expected to enter the heaven because they were church people, but will be denied by Jesus on that day.

    I personally was such a church man and could defend for the existence of God many times against unbelievers and was baptized by sprinkling. 4 years later what has to come has come, when I was preparing for suicide by blowing up myself with dynamite and was searching for the material at the miners' market.
    I experimented the dynamite and developped a good device for the ignition, then started to question about the judgment by God and wanted to make sure whether I had done my best or not. So, I went to a church and listened to a sermon, then the preacher asked the people to read Galatians 2:20. There I found myself was already crucified and that there was no need to commit suicide. It was extremely joyful news to me and I jumped here and there and on that night I could not sleep but read the Bible. I was born again on that day! Jesus became both my spritual Savior and physical Savior!

    Now many of the religious leaders do not have such personal relationship with the Lord, but just have some theoretical knowledge about the truth. My discussion with such people end up with the disagreement all the time.

    Here are two types of people.
    One is a Doctor in Agriculture. The other is a farmer who has orchard for Apple trees.
    The Doctor never tasted the apples but know very well about McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, and so on, and knows the nutrition factors for each of them very well, but never tasted the apples actually at all.

    But the Farmer do not know very much about the contents of the apples but knows very well about the tastes of each species of apples because he actually ate all of them and knows the tastes of them. Therefore such Farmers can make a powerful testimony about their actual experience about the Lord.

    Today so many people just learn from the Doctor theoretically but their lives are not changed at all because Holy Spirit doesn't work in the hearts of theirs.

    Even on this board, such theoretical church men repeat the same theory again and again.
    TV's and Radio's invite such Doctors just because of their titles, for the interview and show the Tragedy of telling about Jesus without knowing Him personally.
     
  8. Me4Him

    Me4Him New Member

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    Do you expect "Blind men to see",

    That the Bible is a book to be "Expericened", not just "read"???
     
  9. Ray Berrian

    Ray Berrian New Member

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    Eliyahu,

    We are glad you are still with us and that the Lord revealed Himself to you in a very special way. He works in the hearts of sinners in various ways and through all kinds of Christian people. Praise God you were saved by Jesus. He is so wonderful to we who know and love Him.

    Finding Christ is a spiritual experience in its beginning and a continual fellowship every day of our lives.
     
  10. Eliyahu

    Eliyahu Active Member
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    Nope!


    That the Bible is a book to be "Expericened", not just "read"???

    You are correct!
     
  11. Eliyahu

    Eliyahu Active Member
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    The reason why I was trying to commit suicide was because I realized that the whole world was corrupted and everyone is selfish, nobody was living for others, there was no justice in the world, and that they were all sinful and even news media were instigating and prompting the people to become lascivious. The more tragedy which I found was that I myself was not different from the others at all, even though such corruption didn't burst out visibly. The whole world and myself were extremely corrupted and sinful, which was irretrievable.

    Then finally I asked a question, "What the hell is God doing now? If He exist really, He must answer me!" Because in my view, God seemed to be just a spectator watching all the agony of the people on this world. Finally I concluded that there is no way other than blowing up the whole world, and I wanted to blow up myself first, declaring that the whole world must follow me!

    That's why I was preparing a dynamite bomb. I developped a very good device for ignition with a filament of an electric bulb and succeeded in the test. I planted it underneath of a persimmon tree and ingnited it, then a huge explosion occurred, scattering the soils over the roof of the house. I intended to conduct it in the downtown after writing 2 letters, one to a famous newspaper and the other to one of my best friends who is a famous journalist now.
    My personality was that whatever I decided and concluded right, I must do it at whichever cost.

    At that time, several questions arose in me,
    1) Are you sure that the next world is better than this world?
    2) Are you sure that you are right in your judgment and decision? Yes! I have so many proofs that the whole world and myself are corrupted!
    3) Are you sure that God has done nothing for that problem ?

    For Q 3) I wanted to check with a professor and Doctor in Divinity, but he refused talking with me, saying that he would be busy for several months. Then I searched the most sincere pastor and concluded that a pastor whom I knew before was the right person to ask. I attended his church. There he asked the attendants to read Galatians 2:20. Next Wednesday was scheduled for my suicide bombing. Just before noon time, at Sunday service, on Sept 2, 1973, I realized that I was already crucified with Christ, when I read Gal 2:20. God has done a tremendous job for me and for the whole world, already about 1950 years ago!

    After the service, I asked the pastor, " why didn't you tell me about that truth before, because I was trying to blow up myself? " then he said "I was speaking about it all the time, but your heart was not humble enough to listen to that truth. I had the same problem like you and was born again in Lord 5 years after I became a Pastor. In other words I was preaching the Gospel and asked the people to believe in Jesus, while I was not a true believer and was not born-again. I myself was not saved while I was trying to preach the salvation to the people."

    I would have become the first Suicide Bomber in the world!
     
  12. Linda64

    Linda64 New Member

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    Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
    Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
    Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

    In John 10:26-27, Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. There are many in churches today that "profess" Christ, but really don't KNOW Him. Jesus KNOWS His sheep, and His sheep KNOW Him. It is those who "profess" Christ who will say "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?". And Jesus' response will be "I NEVER KNEW YOU"--not "I once knew you and you walked away", but I NEVER KNEW YOU--which means they were never His in the first place!! :(
     
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