butswana

Where in the bible is the "personal relationship with Jesus" thing mentioned?

Talulah

It is not mentioned in those words, but give me a bit and I will find some verses that will give the idea behind it.

spurly

Those words are not there in the exact quote you mentioned. However a relationship between God and humanity is what Christianity is all about. It is not about a list of do's and don'ts - it's about living hand in hand with God.

From beginning to end it is all about relationship.

Kevin

Talulah

Matthew 11:27: All things have been committed to be by my Father. No ones knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (28) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy and my burden light.

Luke 10:22 has the identical verse as Matthew 11:27.

John 10:7 So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

25 The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one."

John 14:18-24
18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

In essence, this 'personal relationship' consists of obeying and loving Jesus, because the only alternative is hell.

Mageth

Those words are not there in the exact quote you mentioned. However a relationship between God and humanity is what Christianity is all about. It is not about a list of do's and don'ts - it's about living hand in hand with God.

From beginning to end it is all about relationship.

Kevin

Yeah, I think that was understood by butswana. What's requested, though, is for someone (you?) to provide biblical backing for the concept of "living hand-in-hand with god" in a "personal relationship." Do you know of any, or do you accept this doctrine at face value as "something Christianity is all about" apparently based on what others have told you and without bothering to study the scriptures to see if they back this up?

Mageth

In essence, this 'personal relationship' consists of obeying and loving Jesus, because the only alternative is hell.

Yup. And it's hard to support from scripture (it can be done, but not easily) that god wants to walk with each of us "hand-in-hand", interacting with each of us as individuals. Most of these scriptures are speaking to the church as a collective, e.g. as "the sheep" or the "bride of christ" (now there's an interesting personal relationship).

Talulah

Matthew 12:48-50

He replied to him. "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Matthew 16:24-25

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.