Confused about God (Full Version)

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norajm -> Confused about God (8/5/2008 7:02:29 PM)


I was reared in a household that did not talk about God. As an adult I believe in God, heaven & hell and Satan. I have a problem believing in everything in the Bible. I say this because I know that things get lost in translation and the Bible has been translated a lot.

I'm also confused about all the rules and regulations to being or becoming a christian. I'm told that I have to pray a certain way, include scriptures in my prayers, pray for a certain amount of time in a prayer closet and a host of other things.

I read my Bible (although I have no pattern) and visit churches. I have not settled on a church home as of yet. My question is should it really be this difficult to be a christian? What if I miss a step or don't know something?



ladyichigo -> RE: Confused about God (8/5/2008 7:28:58 PM)

Hello and welcome to the forums!! :)

I'll leave the different Bible translation issue to someone else who is better equipped in explaining that part.

To be a Christian, the only thing you do is to acknowledge that you are a sinner and accept Jesus Christ to be Lord over your life. We are ALL sinners, fallen short of God's perfection. We have all missed the mark. That is why we need a Savior to atone for our imperfection so that we can have a relationship with God. Jesus Christ is Savior. He is the free gift that God has given us (grace) and if we accept His gift, His sacrifice, and accept His Lordship over our life, then we are forgiven of all our sin.

There really is no "set" prayer, or prayer time. You can pray whenever you want to. Praying is having a conversation with God, the Creator of the Universe, the Lord of lords, King of kings. Jesus Christ did teach us how to pray, (called the "Lord's Prayer") and you can use that as a "outline" to help you focus. You don't have to include scripture in your prayers. Every time you speak to God from your heart, you are praying to Him. Pour out your heart, your concerns to Him. He desires to have a relationship with you. Praying to God isn't like making wishes to a genie and hoping your wishes come true. Keep in mind that God does hear your prayers, but that doesn't mean He will answer them in a way YOU want or in the time YOU want.

Spending time with God helps us to be closer to Him and it helps us to be trained to hear Him better. You can read scripture and pray about it, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand how you can apply scripture to your life. You can strengthen your faith through reading scripture and praying about it. That is one way you can spend time with God.

Christianity is a lifestyle. It is a life that chooses Jesus Christ to be Lord over your life every single day. It is a lifestyle that chooses God's way over your own way/the world's way. This lifestyle calls us to be obedient to God as we become His adopted children. One way to show our gratefulness and love to such a merciful God is to be obedient to Him. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, etc., love your neighbor as yourself. Those are the "rules". Just letting you know that nothing YOU do will get you to be with God for eternity. All our works are like filthy rags to Him....It is ALL by God's grace that we are saved.



earthless -> RE: Confused about God (8/5/2008 7:34:37 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: norajm

I'm also confused about all the rules and regulations to being or becoming a christian. I'm told that I have to pray a certain way, include scriptures in my prayers, pray for a certain amount of time in a prayer closet and a host of other things.



None of that is true. Neither religion, rules, regulations, duties, fees, associations, check-lists, etc.. none of those make someone a Christian, a true born-again believer.

The Bible teaches us that the good works we do cannot make us acceptable to God.

Titus 3:5 tells us that it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

So, a Christian is someone who has been born-again by God (John 3:3; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23) and has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8 tells us that it is “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

A true Christian is someone who has repented of his or her sin and put faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone.

Their trust is not in following a religion or a set of moral codes, or a list of do’s and don’ts.

A true Christian is a person who has put his or her faith and trust in the person of Jesus Christ and fact that He died on the cross as payment for sins and rose again on the third day to obtain victory over death and to give eternal life to all who believe in Him.

John 1:12 tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Christ. The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:10).



beachcooky -> RE: Confused about God (8/5/2008 8:28:36 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: norajm


I was reared in a household that did not talk about God. As an adult I believe in God, heaven & hell and Satan. I have a problem believing in everything in the Bible. I say this because I know that things get lost in translation and the Bible has been translated a lot.

I'm also confused about all the rules and regulations to being or becoming a christian. I'm told that I have to pray a certain way, include scriptures in my prayers, pray for a certain amount of time in a prayer closet and a host of other things.

I read my Bible (although I have no pattern) and visit churches. I have not settled on a church home as of yet. My question is should it really be this difficult to be a christian? What if I miss a step or don't know something?


Welcome, welcome!! (:
It doesn't make you a Christian if you believe in God, heaven, hell, and satan. It doesn't even make you a Christian if you attend church. What makes you a Christian is if you have Jesus Christ in your life (aka, asking him to come into your heart) and you try to live for Him.

The rules and regulations of the bible are guidelines to teach us how to be more like Christ. Are we going to succeed? No. Because we all sin, and we all fall short of the glory of God. But God's such an amazing heavenly father..and His grace comes in and he offers us second chances. If we fail, God's grace comes. And it's time to repent. As in, try not to do that sin again.

You don't need to pray a certain way. But you need to pray to God with respect. Don't be like, "Yo, home-dog! Waz up?!" But approach him and talk to him respectfully. Just like you would to your boss. And when things go bad in your life, you can go and tell God about the troubles that you are facing. But don't forget about the good things.

That's really good that you read your Bible. But don't read your bible just because you think it's the right thing to do..you need to really want to read it and learn more about God. But thats really good that you started reading it!!

And being a Christian is difficult. I'm not going to lie.
Its going to be very easy at first, because you are just starting a relationship with God (if you already asked him into your life). But when you grow and walk with the Lord, it's going to be difficult. Satan is going to try to destroy you because he knows that you want to be close to God...and Satan HATES you, because he hates God. Don't let Satan tell you any lies. Because you have JESUS' blood in you!

Take care!



makarizo -> RE: Confused about God (8/5/2008 10:12:58 PM)

here is an interesting prayer:
Mar 9:23 And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can???????' All things are possible to him who believes."
Mar 9:24 Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

quote:

What if I miss a step or don't know something?


that is the beautiful thing about grace!!! it takes care of soooo many missed steps.

Footprints
One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

...Mary Stevenson



deermousie -> RE: Confused about God (8/6/2008 12:45:19 AM)

Welcome to God's Forever Family, Norajm! You will live forever with Him - and us! It's a party!

It's easy to be a Christian - Jesus said when He died an innocent death He traded places with us who really are guilty. In exchange, we got His righteousness, like a judge banging his gavel and declaring us innocent. Legally it stands, but in experience it's a gift because we don't deserve it. We're sinners. But God gives righteous standing in His eyes, and salvation, to us as a gift. Yay!

It's hard to be a Christian, like Beachcooky said - God teaches us to avoid what is wrong and do what is right. Your Bible will tell you. Avoid selfishness, taking vengence, sex outside of marriage (but dont' stop once you are married! [:)]) but do love others and do what is right by them. You'll pick it up as you go along, and when you blow it - get this- God says to just tell Him you blew it and that you're sorry and will try not to do it again and He forgives you. Like it never happened, He forgives you. Wow! See 1 John 1: 8,9. Sin is an archery term that means missing the bull's eye. God will help you and will change you and you'll marvel and rejoice (and hit the bull's eye more often. You'll never be perfect on this earth, but we try and God holds our hand and never gets mad at us but helps us).


quote:

ORIGINAL: norajm
I have a problem believing in everything in the Bible. I say this because I know that things get lost in translation and the Bible has been translated a lot.


I have good news: there are several Bible versions that have been translated directly from the original Greek and Hebrew from the most accurate manuscripts, and they haven't been retranslated more than twice(like, Greek in first century to Greek in third century to English in the 20th century). And by big groups of scholars who know what they're doing.

There's the New American Standard Bible (so accurate to the Greek that the Greek sentence form shows up in the English and makes it a little awkward at times, but I like it), the New King James Version (Greek to Greek to English to English), and the New International Version.

The original manuscripts are lost, but we have hundreds of copies that are 98.3% identical. The differences might be a misspelling or missing punctuation mark. Even Shakespeare doesn't have that kind of wealth of manuscripts, and his stuff is only 400 years old (much newer).

So take heart, rejoice that you are now a son of the King (yes, all Christians are sons, even if they are female, because sons do all the inheriting! But we're also the Bride of Christ as a collective group, and some guys feel odd about that. God will show them how right it is. There's nothing weird going on here, it's just a picture to help us understand our relationship).

If you miss a step, God will gently point it out and get you moving the right way. Don't worry, it's His job to help you. Just step out and start moving. Read that Bible (it sounds like you do) every day (I'd read the New Testament first, as it explains the Old Testament) starting with Matthew. Prayer is talking to God (and sometimes it's "God, I don't feel like talking to You today. I hurt. I'm mad. Please help me").

You are safe. God holds you in His loving hands, and He has sent the Holy Spirit to help you. It's not scary. He'll teach you about Jesus. God will pick you up when you fall down; you couldn't be safer.

So laugh, rejoice, throw a party - God loves you and has called you His own! He made the universe, He makes the earth turn, He makes your heart beat and He loves you and has forgiven your sin. Yay!!! A good life is now yours, and other Christians are your family, too (although sometimes we're pretty ugly. God is never ugly, but He'll fix us up in time). Lift your head and laugh - you are a child of the King!



norajm -> RE: Confused about God (8/6/2008 7:28:42 AM)

Thank you everyone,

I feel so much better and understand more of what I need to do and how to do it. I don't recall how I managed to find this website but I am so glad I did. You all were a lot of help.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Confused about God (8/6/2008 7:36:37 AM)

Read the bible and ask God to reveal its truths to you. When you leave your faith up to someone else, you wil run into trouble.

This is a great place to learn many things about people's relationship with God. We, christians, are a very diverse group coming to God from many different life styles, cultures and religions. It can be very confusing....

just know God loves you and your part is...to love Him above all else. From that love, obediance will come.



BibleL7 -> RE: Confused about God (8/7/2008 1:45:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: norajm

Thank you everyone,

I feel so much better and understand more of what I need to do and how to do it. I don't recall how I managed to find this website but I am so glad I did. You all were a lot of help.


Actualy it is simple, the Lord led you to this site. It is good to read your bible I have read some different translations and most come to the same conclusions and speak of Christ Jesus. Read your bible to get to know about God. We go to church to praise and worship Him and hopefully the sermon is from bible so we also get to know more of Him.

Being a Christian is more about having a right relationship with our Lord and God not about praying certain ways or following certain steps. As in any relationship we need to learn about the other person and talk to them and since He is the Lord we are to learn to follow Him and if we dont do things right is not a problem we pick ourselves up and brush off the dust and turn to Him. He is faithful and just to forgive us. As you read more of the bible you will come to know more of Him.

There are many out there that will say you have to do this or that in such and such a way. A right relationship is not built by following someone elses rules but by doing our best to follow Gods rules and we have the Holy Spirit to help us in doing so. And we know if we make a mistake He can forgive us after all He created us and knows all our faults.



Mickley -> RE: Confused about God (8/7/2008 2:14:14 PM)

From the Bible:

"for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" Rom. 3:9


The following are promises from God:


Heb 7:19] Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Jn 3:16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rev. 3:20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


In case you don't already know Jesus yet:

I have been taught, if we ask Jesus to forgive us and if we ask Jesus to come into our life (or our soul), He will come in. We just need to accept Him. What He offers is a free gift. Then, what's next for us to do is set about obeying Jesus. These things I was taught, I was taught by persons with "good spiritual fruit".

I am not the best at saying this stuff. You may need the same type of information above said to you in a another way in order for you to understand how to start your relationship with God. You might need to read other Bible verses. You might want to seek out some others who you believe are strong believers in Jesus (or at least believers in Jesus).

Remember (in case you would like a reminder), God is not trying to trick us and keep us out of heaven. He makes it simple. It does take faith. I suspect it does take a mustard seed of faith on your part (which means not lots of faith is required) to start your relationship with Him. He wants to bring us into a close relationship with Him and he wants to eventually bring us to a new home in heaven some day.

Hope this helps.

Later



norajm -> RE: Confused about God (8/7/2008 7:03:45 PM)

quote:

Read the bible and ask God to reveal its truths to you. When you leave your faith up to someone else, you will run into trouble.


You are so right SonInMe. As I read the Bible I am thinking that's not the way I heard that story or a lot was left out of that. I am also thinking my interpretation sure is different from whomever.

There is so much I hadn't considered. Every response has been so helpful and thought provoking. I do believe that I was led here.



TheBibleTRUTH -> RE: Confused about God (8/7/2008 7:26:50 PM)

Becoming a Christian is extremely simple. In fact, little children do it all the time.

Romans 10:9-10

9)That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is lord, and believe that God raised him from the dead, you are a Christian. That is all it takes. Becoming a Christian is very easy!

God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ



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