Thread: Does Jesus Know You or do you just think you know Jesus?
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Does Jesus Know You or do you just think you know Jesus?
Posted : 27 Aug, 2011 05:24 PM
Does Jesus Know You or do you just think you know Jesus?
Knowing the Scriptures is NOT the same thing as Knowing Jesus. Jesus made this quite clear when He said this:
John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
I am particularly interested in the importance of knowing Jesus since the Lord spoke of this as a requirement to enter into eternal life with him. It is sad that I have never heard a sermon on such an important topic but I have studied it myself and this posts lays out my understanding of the truth. I believe and I pray I am wrong, that the majority of professing Christians do not know Christ. This includes many that read their bibles, go to church regularly, sing in the choir, tithe, do mission trips etc. Many do these things to be seen and approved by men and if so they are dead works in God�s eyes. We should be seeking to please God and ultimately to know Him on an intimate basis.
Let me first begin by stating that knowing Jesus is the same as knowing the truth. Jesus told us that we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free. Later Jesus tells us that if the Son sets you free you shall be free indeed. Pilate asked Jesus what is truth when �it� (Jesus) was standing right in front of him. Truth is not Bible knowledge of facts, figures, doctrines, or history. Jesus Christ is THE TRUTH. The bible further says that truth comes by Revelation from God not by us being bible gurus. I finally realized that I yearned for the real truth, not the approval of my friends, family or co-workers; but to really know Christ and His teachings. I have come along way in a fairly short period of time but beleive me, I have much to learn about truth which means I have much to learn about Jesus. I pray he will continue to reveal himself to me. The writer of Hebrews tells us that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. Let�s seek the Lord!
To Know Truth, We Must Know Jesus. Jesus said some most amazing things about the implications of knowing him.
In the parable of the ten virgins the left out virgins plead �Lord Lord, open up for us.� But he answered, �Truly I say to you, I do not know you.� Mt. 25:12
Jesus in defining who will inherit the kingdom of God upon his second coming warns us �then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.� Mt. 7:23
In describing his true followers Jesus said: �My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me� John 10:27
Again in Luke, the bible shows us people that confess Jesus as Lord being denied entry into heaven. �Lord, open up to us!� then He will answer and say to you, �I do not know where you are from, Depart from Me all you evildoers� Luke 13:23
Let me remind you of another point I have been speaking of in my blogs. Jesus never said anywhere in scripture �depart from me you that DO NOT BELIEVE�. He told those denied entrance into the kingdom of God that they practiced lawlessness, did evil, and that THEY DID NOT KNOW HIM; not that they didn�t believe in Him. So those that will ultimately go to hell includes all unbelievers be definition but also those that say they believe but that actually are evildoers and practicioners of lawlessness. These are the very same people Jesus is speaking of when he says he doesnt know these people and they will be condemmed on the last day.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE KNOW JESUS. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY PROCLAIM HIM AS LORD. THE MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENT JESUS MADE ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE, THAT IS TOTALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURE IS IN MATTHEW 7:21.
�Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will inherit the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I NEVER KNEW YOU. Away from me you who practice lawlessness (sin).� Mt. 7:21
I looked up in my concordance what the word �many� meant in Mat 7:21. It said the �greater preponderance of, the majority�. This means that Jesus said that when he comes again, the majority of people that call him Lord will be told HE NEVER KNEW THEM. It is imperative that we KNOW him.
As I have written in my other of my posts, many are sadly decieved and are being taught error in the church. To tell people they only need to say a single prayer one time in their life that appoints Jesus as their Lord and Savior and then they are saved is not only NOT SCRIPTURAL, it ignores the very clear teachings of Jesus and the Apostles about true saving faith. Jesus is the Lord and Savior of all people already � but some may reject him, continue to call him Lord yet choose to live in the world and not in him. I apologize if this offends some, but it is the truth as the rest of scripture (the whole counsel of God) makes clear. I hope my boldness may inspire a few to examine themselves and scripture and come to a true saving faith. Jesus, Paul, Peter and others warned us repeatedly in the bible that in the latter days, error would creep in and many would be led astray. My eyes have been opened to that very horror.
How do we know that we KNOW him?
1 John 2:3-4 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep his commandments. The one who says, �I have come to know Him�, and does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.
1 John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us; we know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him
1 John 4:8 Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love
You can�t claim to know Christ and not love Him, you can�t love Him and not follow Him. Is the faith of many today false? I am not a judge, as only God can know someones heart, but I do believe the complete truth is not being taught. Even Jesus said there was such a thing as false faith.
Mat 15:8-9 THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. �BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.
I pray that all will seek a deep intimate relationship with Jesus. When you have a close relationship with someone you REALLY know them, they are not just a casual acquaintance. I have concerns that many (meaning the vast majority) of the 80% of Americans that call themselves Christians do not really know Jesus and Jesus in his own words said that would be the case. I call all of you to be bold and encourage others to seek first His kingdom believing his promise that all things would then be added unto us.
God told us not to boast about anything except that we know Him. Everything else in meaningless.
Does Jesus Know You or do you just think you know Jesus?
Posted : 27 Aug, 2011 07:42 PM
There are Many Great Truths in this Article. I Personally have Agreed with this for many Years. I once worked for a company that had many Christian churches as clients. I would deal with many Pastors on a Daily Basis.
Often�we would get into Discussions about �Our Faith��with me �being Catholic� and �in need of True Salvation�.
I would listen to very Knowledgeable�Intelligent�Very Pious and Accomplished Men�Men that Wrote and Published�Wonderful Books on Christianity�
�I would watch and listen as they would say
�All you have to do is just Open Up Your HEART and Invite JESUS in�
AND YOU WILL BE SAVED�!
Romans 10:9
New International Version (NIV)
9 If you declare with your mouth, �Jesus is Lord,� and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
This Scripture says ��you WILL be Saved.� Not you ARE Saved. Of Course if you Obey and Believe and FOLLOW JESUS to The END�then you WILL BE SAVED.
Big Difference.
I felt it was such a �Disservice� to those that were �Babes in CHRIST�. Nowhere in Scripture could I find such a thing. The closes I could find was �The Thief on The Cross��and that was Christ�Exercising His �Divine Authority�. Everywhere else in Scripture it was �walk the path���run the race���Obey My Commandments���work out your Salvation�.
I have Long Spoken on The TRUTH. That Jesus is The TRUTH.
My Question to you and All my Brothers and Sisters is Who is TEACHING The TRUTH Today? Where can you go and Hear The TRUTH being Taught in this Day and Age? What does Scripture say about this? Who has The TRUTH?
1 Timothy 3:15
New International Version (NIV)
15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God�s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
��in God�s Household,��
��The Church of The Living God,��
��The Pillar and Foundation of The TRUTH.�
My Brothers and Sisters�it is The Church that is The Pillar and Foundation of The TRUTH! The Church. You have to ask yourself which Church was being spoken of when this Scripture was Written? Is that Church still around Today?
This is The Church that Christ COMMANDED to be a �Teaching Church�. The Church that Christ COMMANDED to ��go and make disciples of all nations,�� �� and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. �.
��EVERYTHING I have COMMANDED YOU.�
And then Jesus Promised�PROMISED that ��I am with you always, to the very end of the age.� .
Matthew 28:18-20
New International Version (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, �All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.�
WE are Sheep my Brothers and Sisters. If left to our own Devices we will follow another sheep into Perdition! WE need a Shepherd here on earth. Many of you think that The Holy Spirit will be your �shepherd� and Personally Guide YOU!
Others think that �God Causes Everything to Happen� and therefore He will lead me�I have nothing to do but �enjoy the ride�.
There are So Many Different Beliefs�All Based on Scripture! At the last Census more than 33,000. 33,000! That is an Incredible Number! They will tell you��No church has All The TRUTH�. That is not what Scripture Says.
Our God is not a Legalistic God. God does not Condemn Anyone to hell because they did not �dot an I or cross a T�. He is a Loving God�that Loved us so much that He �Gave His Only Begotten SON��for Our Salvation!
Everyone will have an Opportunity to �gain� Heaven�even those that are being led astray by man. But�I beg you to Consider the words of this Article and what I have �laid� before you�and PRAY�PRAY�about it.
Does Jesus Know You or do you just think you know Jesus?
Posted : 27 Aug, 2011 08:31 PM
Yeah, i even think its up to 35,000+ i guess dependign on the poll.
Thing is they ALL rely on thigns other then the HOLY SPIRIT. Either Tradition, or church membership, or sacraments, or submission to pastor/bishop. NONE of that saves you. Waht DOES saye you is Beleive ON, IN Jesus as saviour and LORD. OBEYING HIM(building house on sand) and do that, while gettign to KNOW him i nhsi suffering adn allowing HIM to put to eath the deeds of the flsh IN YOU adn YOU grow in HIS spirit, and maintain that untill the end. THEN, Said Jesus you WILL be saved.
We ARE SAVED if the ELECT maintain obedience of covenant untill the end. Walkign i ncovenatn was what ALWAYS saved a person. only NOW Covenant is IN GODS SPIRIT who makes it POSSIBLE for you to now be HOLY like HE is HOLY, here.
Does Jesus Know You or do you just think you know Jesus?
Posted : 27 Aug, 2011 09:39 PM
RK,
My POINT is that I do not �Depend� on my own Interpretation of Scripture. I read Scripture and I �feel� Revelations that come to my Mind and Heart�I �feel� Truths come �into my Heart�. There are times that I Get �God Bumps� (they are AMAZING and Wonderful) that moved up and down my Body! I Know The Holy Spirit is REAL and Moves among us and IN US.
But�I Test Everything I Believe with The Full Deposit of Faith that The Church has�that Christ Gave Her.
This what I was Speaking about.
We Tread on Dangerous Ground when we start to Rely on our Own Understanding. Close to 35,000 Different churches�All based on Scripture. Something is wrong here! This is not what Christ wanted...what Christ Asked of His Father when Christ Prayed
John 17:16-21
New International Version (NIV)
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 �My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
��17 Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth��
�� 20 �My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you�.�
��May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.�
How can any Non-Christian believe what we tell them�if WE Ourselves cannot Agree on what is or is not TRUTH?
The dark one�the great deceiver�has managed to split us�over and Over and Over and OVER again and again and�Until we are now at each other�s Throat�beating up The Body of Christ.
Never mind�darkness will Never Prevail! Christ PROMISED that His Church will be Standing at the End�when He RETURNS to Claim His Bride�and that The Full Deposit of Faith�that He Gave Her�will Remain INTACT and UNCHANGED!
Man�being Corrupt and Weak�will Sin and Fall�even those in Power and Authority in God�s Church�but�God Will Prevail and�even from their Sins will come Much GOOD!
Be careful my Brothers and Sisters�which Shepherd you Follow�especially Yourself.
Does Jesus Know You or do you just think you know Jesus?
Posted : 4 Sep, 2011 07:43 PM
best post ever! Few of those claiming Christ have the will to stand up and face the hypocracy that we all have lived in that moment when we thought our own will and plans were enough to get us into heaven. "If I can just live by these rules, I'm not sinning. If I obey the commandments, heaven will be waiting for me." All falacies.
When I am struggling with my flesh and my pride, I try to remember that I am the 'bride' of Christ and he is my 'groom'. That is a real love relationship, and it takes a committment to keep loving each other, and learning more about one another, not a contract with its rules. The goal is not to stay together; the goal is to grow in love together, on a daily basis. When was the last time any of us just lay down in silence to LISTEN to the Spirit?
