The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Do Christians have personal contact with Jesus?

I suspect that you do NOT know "about Jesus", despite you believing that you do. From what you have shared so far, it seems evident that you know little about who the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is. Doubtless, you know something about Jesus, but what that is exactly is what I question. My questioning is not one to be taken as condemnatory but inquisitorial, i.e., I would like to know what it is you think you know "about" Him. So, it would be extremely helpful if you could at least summarize your understanding of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I find this more than disturbing that you would claim that, (1) you see only God the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures explicitly say that you cannot "see" God the Father in any manner, shape or form; no man has except the Son. (Jh 1:18; 6:46; cf. Matt 11:27; 1Tim 6:16; 1Jh 4:12, 20). The same is likewise true of the Holy Spirit, who is invisible to both the physical and spiritual eye. God is pure spirit and therefore imperceptible to men. (2) probably the MOST disturbing is that you claim, There is in fact no place or need for Christ in my experience of God. It is by means of the incarnation that God has enabled ANY form of communication and relationship with man. For the Lord Christ is the incarnate God whose sole task was to reconcile sinners to God by means of His atonement. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit, Whom He sent that the blind are given eyes to see, a heart that yearns after God and a will to do that which He requires. Most importantly, it is Christ's Spirit Who creates faith in the soul which is that means by which anyone can reach out and trust in His person and work, which is recorded in Holy Scripture. No man can "see" nor can any man even desire to "see" God without Jesus Christ. Without knowing, having, being united to the Lord Christ, it is impossible that anyone can have anything to do with either the Father or the Spirit. (Jh 14:6; 10:7, 9; 17:2, 3; Matt 11:27; Acts 4:12; 1Jh 2:23; 5:11, 12; 2Jn 1:9) It is in Him that one "sees" the Father. (Jh 8:19;) Here what the Lord Christ said to Philip:

John 14:7-11 (ASV) "If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."

I suspect that this next statement you made is very revealing as to where the problem lies:

You apparently have cast off all reason and sought some existential experience to be your reality of knowing God. However, this is a fatal error which has been the basis of nearly all Mysticism, some Pietism, etc. These teachings find their source in Greek "dualism", i.e., a bifurcation of the soul/spirit and the corporeal, where matter is seen as inferior to that which is spiritual. Man comes to know God through faith and not sight; whether that "sight" is physical or psychological (mental). And true faith is that which one lives before and for God. (Rom 1:17; 3:30; 5:1; 16:26; Eph 2:8-10; Phil 2:11, 12; Jam 2:26; et al) Thus, I must conclude that you are seeking something which is UNreal and a delusion which can only bring confusion, consternation and eventually eternal death.

My suggestion is that you start from the beginning and learn what true biblical Christianity really is. On The Highway website there are over 1100 articles, books, sermons and more which provide the full range of information concerning God, Christ, the Spirit, Christianity, salvation, etc. You might want to start by visiting the following section and begin reading some/all of that which is there.

Go here: In the Beginning

Oh, there is a particular book which I would highly recommend to you called, Knowing God, by J.I. Packer. I think you would find what Packer has to say MOST revealing and perhaps encouraging to you.

In His Grace,