Best Religion

AC, I believe there are people who have God's Holy Spirit within themselves the same as you or I do.

But I believe they have the exact same Spirit that we have. You say they do not, unless they found God the same way you and I did...through Christ Jesus.

I think when Jesus preached that the "only" way to God was through himself....he was speaking of through his Christ/God's Spirit.(not his humanity) His humanity and ours is physical, not spiritual. Jesus was always speaking of the spiritual aspect of salvation.

Spirit is not a concrete thing. Christ/God/Holy Ghost are not concrete/physical/matter. God is Spirit. God is Love. God is Energy. They all exist for all of us.

If my siblings call God by a different name, or find Him in a different way from the way I found Him, they are not wrong, or have done a "bad" thing.

Because God loves them unconditionally, He will see to it that they believe in Him through their own scripture and culture.

We don't need to judge each other and insist that they live our way. God is their Father also. He is so much more than you are allowing Him to be in your own mind/heart.

God IS. God is the great I AM. Hindus know this, Baptist; Catholics; Pagans know this. Shiva/Jesus/God/Goddess.....All the Holy and ONE Spirit....I will not brow beat anyone to believe the way I do.

I will gladly share myself with the world and live joyously in the moment with my Lord, and reflect God's Image through the way I deal with the world.

Instead of brow-beating me because you think you see something in my words that go against what you believe, love me...forgive me...befriend me...comfort me...that is the way of Christ Jesus, that is God's Will.

God to me is a wise old guy in heaven who watches over us all. He punishes those who do wrong and rewards those who do good and are nice. I know this God is true because this is the God I know. He does good things for me and He loves me, I love Him too. Some people tell me that he is a lot more then what I know, but they do not know what I know. I tell them that my friend God can be their friend also, but they keep telling me that the God that they know is better. But my friend loves them anyway and tells me that I should too. So I do.

Physicalist

Do you have any evidence there is a god? Historian indicate a Jesus existed but there was no mention of his being a god. Why not?Wouldn't the Jews and Romans know a god when they see one?

***********

Good Morning Phys,

the evidence, for you from me, should be my attitude and opinion of you and your unbelief.

As a person who knows God and knows she has His Spirit within, I am supposed to be reflecting that Spirit to you, my fellowman.

Not all believers do that. That is for certain. But the fact that some believers are negligent in their duties does not prove that there is no God.

And I understand that you want me to prove God's existence by physically showing you proof, but the thing is, we show you by our actions and by our acceptance and our love.

I have been kind to you, I have accepted you as you are, and I've told you that I love you. I cannot reach into my mind and heart and pull out the essence/Spirit of God and hand it to you through this electronic media. That is not possible for me to do.

There is much in life that is real, but not possible to prove to the skeptic. I will not try to convert you to my way, because I know it is not my job. If you want to starve your spirit from having a more abundant existence, that is your prerogative. All I can do is reflect the Holy and Divine Love that I know does exist...for me...

Now...as far as the Jews and Romans "knowing" a god when they see one....they were handicapped the same way you are. "couldn't see the forest for the trees" comes to mind.

Besides, Jesus did not fit their picture in their minds of what a "god" should look like. Certainly not this bedraggled journeyman from Nazareth....This was their mindset at that time....so no, they could not recognize God if/when he walked right up to them.

God makes his appearance through physical beings because He has no physical appearance. You see God in all of Creation, but not if you think you cannot see Him. Once you've closed down your mind and heart, the "sightings" of God will disappear from your sight.

That does not mean God has "died" or disappeared altogether, or absconded, as some claim.

God is present, and will manifest within your own psyche/mind/heart/soul, if you will acknowledge GOD---the Divine Source of ALL.

It is wrong to worship the bible; it is a book, the Inspired Word of God; worship God. No one on this planet is righteous enough to tell others what religion or Faith they are, or are not to follow. If they don’t believe as I do then they are not Christian or following Torah, and only if they accept what I say the Bible or Torah says they are, is this what you believe? When Jesus the Christ said “I am the way, the Truth and the Life,” He had the authority to do so, or generations have been deceived and are still being deceived. I believe that Jesus the Christ is the way as the Jews believe that The Word of God is the way. I guess we are both saying the same thing, for Jesus the Christ is the Word of God. And for what it’s worth, a Christ Consciousness can only begin with the acceptance of Christ, and when you accept the Christ you have accepted the Word of God and have made Him your friend and constant companion. You don’t need to know the scriptures to seek after righteousness, it’s not all about scripture, it’s about LOVE, HOPE, and FAITH.

It would seem as if there are none left who really have the God kind of Faith, if their were would it not reflect from their writings, I am not seeing it here. All I am seeing is an accumulation of haters, not Christian or Jew, but people who are only keeping hate alive by their elaborating replies back and forth. Get behind me, LOL, is all that is deserving of these fakes. One does not need a program to tell the haters from those of True Faith. Long elaborated cut and past elementary scripture in order to sell something and that something is not Christianity, they are selling something else, it is not the Gospel and it is not of Jesus the Christ, they are only using scripture not presenting it for consideration. There is talk the talk but no walk the walk, a reflection of those who hate and does not belong.

For those who can see and those who can hear I would like to reflect on the first two commandments for a while, or should I say continuously, hope you all join me in this worship and accept it as our greatest aim.

How refreshing to hear you speak Jameslee.  Thank you again.

CrimsonClover
THANK GOD CRIMSONCLOVER HAS JOINED US HERE ON THE BEST RELIGION THREAD
Once we understand what false teaching really is, we will see why it can have terrible effects upon people. Just as “true doctrine” tells the truth about God Himself, so does “false doctrine” LIE about God. It misrepresents God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the plan and purpose of God for believers. Thus, if I buy into false teaching, I will have my conversion, and my subsequent walk with Christ, wrongly defined and directed. I will be walking in a way that is contrary to the purposes of God – and deceived to the fact I am doing it.

The real goal of the enemy in false teaching is more than just getting me to believe false teachings. It is to get me to put my faith in someone other than Jesus Christ. If the enemy can get me to do that, then I will never have stability, and I will not be walking in the Truth.

There are many people whose conversion was REAL. But then a false teacher gained influence over them. Error may have come in and defined their conversion falsely. They may have become convinced that it was something it was not. This may have led to them being confused, if not deceived, about who Jesus Christ is. In their case, their conversion was real. Their denial of Christ is not real. It is not the product of unbelief. It is the product of deception.

Fortunately, God is never passive. He is continually seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. (see John 4:24) The Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth. (John 16:13) And God desires that all men be saved and come into the knowledge of the Truth. (I Tim. 2:4) So if I have become confused as to who Jesus Christ is, and as to my conversion, God is more than eager to show me the Truth.

Here is the point: If my conversion was real, then I am “of God.” Even if confused and deceived. Thus, I will hear the words of God when God brings them. Perhaps not very loudly at first. But there will be something in me which responds. And if I am open to God, I will eventually be set free. Conversely, if my conversion was NOT real, then I am “not of God.” Thus, I will not hear the words of God. I will refuse to be open and may end up denying Christ.

The Truth always comes out: Whether I have really embraced Christ, or have, in fact, a denial of Him in my heart – this will be exposed once God faces me with the Truth. And God is continually trying to do that.

We need to see this. I may be confused about Christ, or ignorant of His way. But if I have embraced Him, I will eventually be open to more Truth about Him. God will be able to bring Truth which sets me free from the various side-tracks into which I might fall. But if I have never embraced Christ, this too will come to fruition.

Again, the words of Jesus: “He that is OF GOD hears the words OF GOD.” If I’m not OF GOD, I will prove it by whether I HEAR – by whether I am willing to turn and obey.

It is absolutely impossible to deny Jesus Christ if I am open to the Truth. Why? Because Jesus Christ IS the Truth to whom I am open! So despite the possibilities of error sidetracking me in my walk with Jesus, indeed, perhaps even casting a shadow over Him, it is always possible to turn to God and see the Truth about His Son.

Biblical teaching and sound doctrine can direct me on how to do this. I can be taught as to the true identity of the Son of God. It can be explained to me how conversion works, and how I can always turn to God for Truth. But I must do the turning. Faith doesn’t happen on paper. It is a choice I personally make to surrender to God.
 
 

CrimsonClover
The resurrection validates everything Jesus said, did, indeed, it validates Him as the Son of God. Paul says:

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:3-4)

Paul also tells us that unless Jesus has been raised, we have NO salvation:

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (I Cor. 15:13-19)

God Himself tells us that the identity of Jesus Christ stands or falls upon the resurrection. Our salvation depends on it. Therefore, how are we to know for sure that Jesus was raised from the dead.

The first way to know is by the life of the resurrected Christ within you. Now this is proof that many will not accept, for anyone can claim they have Christ in them. But in the first century, before Christianity became organized into a religion, the life of Christ within was so strong and real, that it really was THE proof.

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (I Jn. 4:13)

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (I John 5:9-12)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (I Jn. 2:20-21)

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (I Jn. 2:27)

We see here very clearly that the proof of the living Christ is the same proof we would use today to prove anyone was alive: THEM. If He is alive, and in us, then there should eventually be evidence to that effect. May God help us return to the original condition of the church, where HIS life in us was so powerful, that it was not something we needed to verify with external evidence.

Did you notice something about this INTERNAL proof – the proof of the life of Christ Himself? It goes back to what I posted earlier about not being able to be converted to Christ, and then later deny Him – if the conversion was real. If our new life in Christ is real then we cannot deny Him. Why? Because we are IN HIM. Not just in theory. Not just in the form of doctrine. Not just as a religious concept. But really. There is a new life in us which, in and of itself, PROVES our conversion was real.
 
 

Njoy
Crimson Clover, Your posts are filled with thoughts and observations with which I can agree:
"Did you notice something about this INTERNAL proof – the proof of the life of Christ Himself?"
" If our new life in Christ is real then we cannot deny Him. Why? Because we are IN HIM. Not just in theory. Not just in the form of doctrine. Not just as a religious concept. But really. There is a new life in us which, in and of itself, PROVES our conversion was real."
The above is very close to a post I made to answer Physicalist earlier this morning. I appreciate your words very very much.
 
However.....(here we go again..lol...) there are some thoughts and ideas I have that, Christ in me, will not allow me to shake off and mosey on my way. You are intelligent enough to know what they are without me having to spell them out for you.
My question is: How would such a gracious and fair thinker as yourself, advise me to square these observances of mine(which I am sure come from our Lord Himself) with those who like me have Christ within, but who as yet cannot go that extra mile of including his/her brother in the fold....without the brother accepting Christ in the form of Jesus himself? How do I turn my back on what I am certain is the Will of God and the love of Christ? If I cannot embrace my brother with the sincere and heartfelt and genuine love of Christ and embrace him as he is, I know in my heart that I am not obeying the Christ I know. It is a dilemma for me, which refuses to dissolve itself.
All I continue to run into(online) is the "all or nothing" way of thinking. THE ONE way or the highway. Either. Or. black. white.
In real life, I do not have this problem. One reason I guess is that I am loved and accepted, and I do love and accept( without pre-judgement.)
Why so much harsh judgement & bitterness online???

Njoy
From the post from Crimson Clover: "We see here very clearly that the proof of the living Christ is the same proof we would use today to prove anyone was alive: THEM. If He is alive, and in us, then there should eventually be evidence to that effect. May God help us return to the original condition of the church, where HIS life in us was so powerful, that it was not something we needed to verify with external evidence."
The above words from Crimson Clover are so very inspiring and beautiful.....and the thing is: I see evidence of the Holy Spirit in the very lives of so many who call this Spirit....The Indwelling.....and I am not bothered by the difference in the name....while so many others online seem to feel that is a sin and a crime on my part. What's a sincere follower of Christ to do? I ask.
 
 

AC, I believe there are people who have God's Holy Spirit within themselves the same as you or I do.

But I believe they have the exact same Spirit that we have. You say they do not, unless they found God the same way you and I did...through Christ Jesus.

I think when Jesus preached that the "only" way to God was through himself....he was speaking of through his Christ/God's Spirit.(not his humanity) His humanity and ours is physical, not spiritual. Jesus was always speaking of the spiritual aspect of salvation.

Spirit is not a concrete thing. Christ/God/Holy Ghost are not concrete/physical/matter. God is Spirit. God is Love. God is Energy. They all exist for all of us.

If my siblings call God by a different name, or find Him in a different way from the way I found Him, they are not wrong, or have done a "bad" thing.

Because God loves them unconditionally, He will see to it that they believe in Him through their own scripture and culture.

We don't need to judge each other and insist that they live our way. God is their Father also. He is so much more than you are allowing Him to be in your own mind/heart.

God IS. God is the great I AM. Hindus know this, Baptist; Catholics; Pagans know this. Shiva/Jesus/God/Goddess.....All the Holy and ONE Spirit....I will not brow beat anyone to believe the way I do.

I will gladly share myself with the world and live joyously in the moment with my Lord, and reflect God's Image through the way I deal with the world.

Instead of brow-beating me because you think you see something in my words that go against what you believe, love me...forgive me...befriend me...comfort me...that is the way of Christ Jesus, that is God's Will.

may have a problem, I may sound selfish, I may sound like I don’t care. ‘But you know what ? I really don’t care to acknowledge who goes to heaven or who goes to hell. On this specific point, I have no power to say who goes where. I can quote scripture until I am blue in the face but it still does not give me any power, any foresight or any ability to know what God will do. The thing is, I don’t care to know where you are going . Is it truly that I don’t care ? No ! quite the apposite, it is just that I know that only God has the power and the wisdom to make the right decisions. That simply leaves me off the hook. I always tell you what I think, what I feel, how I understand scripture. What is relevant to me. That is where it stops. That is where I say to myself, I have told them what I think and it is up to them to believe it or not. My job is done. What ever God, my Father decides to do, it totally up to him. I will still care for you, I will still pray for you, I will still do my best to love you. I have alwayssaid, God is not an outside observer that is not involved in our decisions. God is a participant. I do not or I will not get involved in how God participated on an individuals decisions. You will never here me say that you are bound for hell or you will not make it to heaven. That to me is presumptuous and it is not at all, truth positive. That is ego speaking. The commandment to love your neighbor as yourself, outweighs all other scripture. It is the bottom line, it is the focal point, no exceptions, not deferrals, no excuses, no what if’s or butt’s. A direct order by Christ. No need to ask what Matthew said, or Mark, Luke or John, acts, proverbs or ext. .the order was by the admiral himself, the commander and chief. All else is a subjective perspective by a subordinate. No one, not one of you can say that I am saved or unsaved. That is between the Holy Spirit an myself. I do not and will not as Christ said, deny the Holy Spirit within me. I also know the same thing holds true for you. GBY MikeC.