Sameness of Spirit, and personal relationship with divinity are the topics, today. The “Yahoo! Answers” Top Contributor using the ID “Camille” (Level 7 with 177, 569 points, a member since March 18, 2009) posted the following:
What does it mean to have a personal relationship with the Christian God?
I am not asking about pagan gods.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (John 3: 1-12, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Belief, Faith, and Proof (03/02/2014); Miracles and Visitations? (03/03/2014); Face to Face Like Moses? (01/28/2014); Covenants and Relationships (01/29/2014); Salvation is Conditional? (01/30/2014); Reveal Himself To All? (12/03/2013); Is Science the Right Tool? (12/04/2013); Why “Mysterious” (11/11/2012); Attending Church? (11/12/2012)
“Camille”, here are a few of the many ideas and points that all Christian believers examine to arrive at their correct human view. These things are not for you unless you choose to have them:
(1.) GOD is a spirit who has put forth all awareness, form, process, and substance that we know as “life”. For GOD to be more than an abstract and mechanical feature in human experience, and to interact with created beings and living creatures acknowledging their unique integrity, divinity must exist with fixed and unchanging aspects that make relationship possible. Included are attraction, affection, authority, respect, person, purpose, trust, and sovereign will.
(2.) Personal relationship with GOD requires the presence and operation of divine spirit. Intellect, logic and reason continue to be used, however, under the direction and influence of elements having cosmic dimensions. The spirit makeup of GOD does not include the features that continue human error, and sin. Also, the spirit matter of GOD should not be thought of as a cloud, fog, mist, smoke, or vapor that all consist of material particles. So to speak, the content of GOD, is inseparable substance (where you find one, all the others appear) such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom and wrath against sin. These aspects of divinity interact generating the active presence and power of GODhead.
(3.) Without a fresh endowment of divinity, the living can not comprehend their own experience of GOD. Conflict and spiritual confusion repeatedly result through clashes of appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, cravings for stimulation), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and emotion/mental functions (e.g., fantasy, fear, imagination, lust, recall, thought). Also, the operations of sin among the angels and mankind, have introduced corruption of their makeup at Creation. Only by the dispensation through Jesus Christ is there a mechanism for permanent atonement, cleansing, healing, and restoration to right relationship.
There is a lot more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Where a person is “born again,” they must also grow again to become perfect (we say, mature). As we enter into any relationship, we must be prepared to hear and see things that are new, sometimes off-putting, and unfamiliar. We must grow in confidence, “in ease,” and in self-mastery. The expectation (we say, hope) of eternal life may only be realized in those relationships where mutual agreement, acceptance, and absolute truth appear (we say, reconciliation and sanctification.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to the measure of divine faith that resides in you.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3: 14-15, KJV)
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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