Knowing God Personally

 If we believe in Jesus, we are forgiven and saved from eternal death.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 ESV

What is this faith by which we are saved? Many are baptised as babies, but they do not know what has happened.

Some are baptised as adults, but there is no trace of brotherly love and mercy in their lives afterwards. Some become loving people, but others become merely religious and self-righteous.

‘everyone who lives and believes in me.’ Jesus speaks of an enduring life that is determined and characterised by faith.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Jn 8:31–32 NRSV

What does ‘continue in my word’ mean?

You should read the Bible every day? A good idea, but is that what Jesus meant?
Keeping God's commandments? Also good. We must not disobey God's commandments.

Jesus taught the Bible very differently from the pious Jews of his time.

Jesus was one hundred per cent a Bible man, but he spoke of something different, of a living relationship with himself.

Jesus rebuked the pious Bible experts who listened to him.

“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.
Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. Jn 5:39–40 NRSV

What did Jesus mean when he told the Jews to remain in his word?

They should live as Jesus himself taught. It is not enough to agree with biblical truth. We must put Jesus' teachings into practice every day.

But how can we love our enemies? Not just be nice to difficult people, not just pray for the conversion of sinners, but really be touched by the love of God for evil people?

We must take the teachings of Jesus seriously, but that is not enough.

When Jesus called his disciples to follow him before the cross, it was both a command and an invitation to live in personal communion with him. Peter and Andrew had to leave their fishing boat behind. Matthew had to give up his business.

Back then, Jesus was a travelling preacher. Following him often meant travelling with him.

Even today, there are newly converted Christians who have to leave their job or their home, but many should stay where they are.

What does discipleship mean today?

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Rom 8:14 NRSV

We do not have visible fellowship with Jesus today, but we do have God's invitation to experience fellowship with his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a theological concept, but a loving person, a person who loves you like Jesus himself.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Cor 13:14 NIV

We can only live the way Jesus wants us to live if we allow ourselves to be changed inwardly by the love of God. Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to bring about this inner healing.