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Salvation Is More than a Personal Relationship with Jesus

Salvation Is More than a Personal Relationship with Jesus

There is no doubt that all the saved will have a personal relationship with Jesus. They will know Him and be known by Him (John 17:3). And as happens in all healthy loving relationships, the saved will absolutely want to please Jesus—no question about it.

So, do not read the title of this blog to suggest that the saved do not or will not have a relationship with Jesus—they have the most incredible relationship with Jesus!

But what I am pointing out is that a person can have a relationship with Jesus, a personal, one-on-one, intimate experience with Jesus and still not be saved—because the relationship must cause something in the sinner that opens the door for that person to be saved by Jesus.

To ask it another way: Is salvation merely having a relationship with Jesus, or is salvation something that we experience from and through our personal relationship with Jesus?  

I am asking whether it is possible to have a personal relationship with Jesus and still not be saved because the core saving result that our personal relationship with Jesus is supposed to cause to happen in us didn’t happen.

Consider Lucifer in heaven—did he have a real, individual, personal relationship with Jesus? Did that relationship cause Lucifer to remain loyal? Did it cause Lucifer after his rebellion to repent and be saved?

What about Judas on Earth—did he have his own, individual, personal relationship with Jesus? Did the personal relationship Judas had with Jesus result in his salvation? Why not?

What did Lucifer and Judas lack despite their personal relationship with Jesus? They didn’t trust Jesus and didn’t love Him more than themselves!

What is the core element that is the actual factor of what it means to be saved? It is what Jesus described to Nicodemus—it is being reborn; it is receiving, through our relationship with Jesus, a new heart and right spirit; it is dying to fear and selfishness and living to love and trust; it is being recreated in the inner man; it is being recreated in righteousness by the Holy Spirit—all of which is achieved through our personal relationship with Jesus, through our trust in Him. For a personal relationship with Jesus to result in salvation, it must cause our sinful, distrusting heart to be changed to love and trust—in other words, we must come to actually trust Jesus and love Him and His methods, design law, and principles. We must choose to open the door to our hearts to Him and let Him in. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, but we experience salvation only when we open the door to our hearts and trust Him.

In heaven, Lucifer broke trust with God and never restored it. While Judas had a discipleship relationship with Jesus, he never truly trusted Jesus. Judas had a personal experience with Jesus, but never died to self and was never reborn to love God and others through genuine trust in Jesus.

Is there a danger in thinking salvation is in the relationship with Jesus rather than being transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit through our relationship with Jesus?

What if someone prefers the false Christ, the imposter, the imposer of law and the inflictor of punishments, believing that he is god, that the “enforcer-of-law Jesus” is the true Jesus—could they form a relationship with that Jesus, and in that relationship, could they trust that Jesus to pay their legal penalty, erase their sin crimes from the records, and to one day punish all their enemies for their unrepentant sin crimes and then go out in the name of that Jesus to do “justice,” to advance on others with law and punishment to put down rebellion and sin—just like Saul of Tarsus did before the Damascus Road?

And what will Jesus say to such worshipers when they claim they were doing all of this in His name? Jesus foretold:

Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:22, 23 NIV84).

He will tell them to go away and that He never knew them—they actually didn’t have a trust relationship with Him but preferred the “Jesus” who is like Satan in character.

Yes—all the saved will have a personal, deep, loving, and intimate relationship with Jesus, and it is through that relationship that trust is restored and they receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who transforms and heals them to be like Jesus. Salvation means healing; it means saving from sin; it means restoring God’s law in us and cleansing our hearts, minds, and characters from fear, selfishness, and distrust—and that requires we know God and Jesus Christ and die to self and actually come to trust Jesus and be reborn to love God and others more than self.

This is how the apostle Peter was saved. Through his relationship with Jesus, he experienced a transformation of heart that overcame his inherent fear and selfishness, which were obstacles to his salvation. At the Last Supper, Jesus said to Peter,

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (Luke 22:31, 32 KJV, emphasis mine).

Peter replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (v. 33 NIV84).

But we know the story. Peter denied Jesus with cursing, and as the cock crowed and Peter just denied his Lord,

The Lord turned round and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered that the Lord had said to him, “Before the cock crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.” Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61, 62 GNT).

Peter’s relationship with Jesus brought into conflict his inherent fear and selfishness and his love and trust in Jesus. He had to choose, and in that moment, he chose fear and selfishness. He wept bitterly because he realized his heart was still infected with sin, but that is also when he was converted, when he finally surrendered his old life to Jesus and was reborn with a new heart and right spirit, when he experienced the transforming power to live a new life of love. Jesus confirms this on the beach after His resurrection:

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–17 NIV84).

Salvation is more than having a relationship with Jesus—it is becoming like Jesus through that relationship with Him!

 

 

 

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Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 17

The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 53

I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

Elssy P., Modesto, CA, USA