I’m trying to understand exactly what that means…ok, so God gave us Jesus, so that whoever might believe in Him could have forgiveness for their sins and eternal life.
He redeemed us.
why believe ???
I guess I kind of understand this one now…
IF I believe our Heavenly Father is going to do me right…
Believe… that’s another big word… like redemption… bigger that one might expect…
HOW do we believe ???
I believe it’s worth putting some thought into…
and back to Redemption… what EXACTLY does that mean?
I can pretend that I know, but do I really understand it?
Maybe… but only slightly… I’m growing and learning…
Getting to know God is overwhelmingly relational. While He is constant and never-changing, getting to know Him is not like memorizing a list of facts, or studying a simple textbook, or even the Bible.
The Bible doesn’t lend itself to that type of exercise. For instance, have you ever read a Bible verse and later in time found that the same verse meant something completely different to you? It’s not like getting to know God is like reading a bullet-item list… the Bible helps but you have to really marinate in it… to get it.
I believe that God wants us to get it…
I believe that God wants us…
God’s pursuit of mankind has been relentless…
1st Attempt:
The story of Adam & Eve, placed in a utopia called the Garden of Eden… they had it all… enter the serpent… and through the evil one’s temptation came the fall of mankind (i.e., WE BLEW IT)Â
2nd Attempt:
God sent mankind out into the world… and through many trials and tribulations… continually… WE BLEW IT. Enter Noah, a man in whom God was well pleased. Noah believed, and in faith… having never even seen rain before… built an ark… and God decided to start over…
Jesus enters the picture, and we’re now living in the time of grace. Jesus came and died for our sins, and what did we do? We continued to sin. God knew we were going to blow it again, so He made it even easier for us… just believe, He’ll give us an out for most everything else. If we just BELIEVE (there’s that 7-letter B-word again)… and live by the Word.
As God knows all, He surely knew what was going to happen at the fall of man, when Adam and Eve ate of the tree of good and evil. He knew He had to give us our free will, the power to choose to gain unconditional love. The only kind of love that really matters.
He knew the 1st and 2nd Attempts would be futile, and, for many of us, unfortunately, the 3rd attempt would be futile as well.
I believe it’s really all about knowing Him.
Knowing God is extremely relational…
I want to know more…
about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit…
but will I really ever understand it?
Will I really understand what it means to be redeemed?
I want to… because to know Him is a gift…
and to know Him is to love Him.
And that, more than anything else, that is what I BELIEVE this life is all about.
What does it mean to you to be redeemed?
Chris,yes! It’s all about relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So simple, not always easy, but absolutely worth it. So glad you’ve joined the CW blog chain! Blessings!
Thank you Cindee for your encouragement!
Nice, Chris. Ditto Cindee. Happy to have you at CW!
Thank you Carol (fyi, Carol’s blog is contributing to the chain on April 29th !!)
Welcome to the blog chain. Good thought flow. I like the “marinate” concept!
Scrolled down a couple more posts and saw your recipe – yummy! I have a meatloaf recipe using spinach and Italian seasoning but I don’t roll it like you do.
Thanks for the warm welcome Chris!
Excellent post, Chris! Welcome to the blog chain. 🙂
As you and Cindee said, entering relationship with God is easy, but it’s never simple; that pesky flesh keeps interfering… 😉
We can overcome 🙂
I liked the “marinate” part. It takes study *and* reflecting to develop an understanding of who God really is and who we really are and what we need to do to live out his will. “Marinating!”
Thanks for joining the “Chris”tian Writers blog chain!
That’s funny Sheila, I didn’t realize how many Chris’ are involved. Thanks for your thoughtful comments!
Well said Chris!
Thank you Debra, I appreciate you!
Great post. Welcome to the Blog Chain. To me, God’s plan of redemption is a sacred mystery…a mystery being a truth that no matter how much examine it or study it, we never reach a point of full understanding,
Peace and Blessings
Thank you E.G., I think that accepting the truth of the mystery that you mentioned is most difficult for many.
Be Great!!
Everything! It means my life…past, present, and future! Awesome!
Lynn, I really appreciate your extra effort helping me get up to speed at Christian Writers. Thank you!!
I especially liked the ‘marinating’ part. How true. Sometimes we try to approach God with our ‘bullet list’ as you say. I wouldn’t try to have a relationship with my husband or children this way, so why do we think it is good enough for the Almighty?
Thanks Tracy!!
o.O Your post was… awesome! I loved being able to see your thoughts tumble out onto the page. 🙂 It is how I outline a new idea for a story, so it seemed easy to follow. And you are so right-it is rational!
i look forward to future posts from you.
Thank you Nona!!
“you have to really marinate in it… to get it.”
Great thought, Chris. Actually, I’ve seen more than 3 attempts by God to get man’s attention. Many times He started over with a group of people, hoping for a totally devoted society who looks to Him. The Flood, the delivery from Egypt, settling in Canaan, the Captivity and subsequent return, just to name a few. Eventually, prophecy says He’ll do it yet again, in the 1,000-year reign of Christ. Amen!
Anyway, great post. Welcome to the blog chain.
~ VT
Amen! Thanks Victor, looking forward to reading your blog chain addition on the 20th. Keep Being Great 🙂
Love this line, Chris…
“Getting to know God is overwhelmingly relational.”
If ever we really get hold of that truth, we will be set free from worrying about all the “dos and donts” and just enjoy God.
Enjoyed your post!
Thank you Jan, I really enjoy your blog and look forward to more of your wisdom… like “The Voice of Truth” that you posted today. Blessings!!
I believe this side of glory we can only partly understand and partly know God. I am curious to find out what things God will reveal when we enter eternity and are capable of full understanding.
“Getting to know God is overwhelmingly relational.” That’s a line worth a couple of hundred blogs right there. . . .
Very well done, Chris. Welcome to the chain!
Thank you Scott 🙂