For this week’s column, I perused dictionary definitions of the word, “religion.”  What I found wasn’t pretty.  I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say, it was all about “bonds,” “obligations,” “duties,” “practices,” “rites,” “rituals”—mainly overt actions performed by human beings compelled to do so by the tenets of the particular system to which they adhere.

Few sources even got ‘round to mentioning “beliefs.”  No hint was provided as to God’s role, if any.  Much was said about conformity and tradition, but there was nary a word about inner transformation.    If this seems dull and dead, there is nothing wrong with your powers of perception.  Should you feel inclined to take a poll on the subject, you’d better hurry—”organized religion” is hemorrhaging members at a steadily accelerating rate.

Now for an informal and completely unscientific poll of my own.  The sample size is one.  The key question is, “Do you have a personal relationship with God?”

What is your initial reaction to the question—the thoughts and feelings it evoked?  Did your antennae go up in instant wariness?  Were your defensive shields automatically raised or maybe just the hackles of annoyance and disgust?  Did you suddenly find yourself struggling to remain civil, angered by my breach of protocol? 

What about the physiological effects—dry mouth, sweaty palms?  Did a hand fly up involuntarily and your head start shaking from side to side?  Did the awkwardness trigger your fight or flight reflex?  Did you feel trapped—ready and willing to gnaw off your own foot, if necessary, to escape?

Regardless of whether one or more of these responses approximates your own, chances are you’re unlikely to answer, “Why yes, thanks for asking!” or “No.  Can you tell me how to get one?”  The strange thing is, the question is not unimportant, is not unfair, is not inconsiderate.  It is not even a theological one.  So, why all the drama?

Perhaps it’s due in part to the fact that the question of personal relationship with God cannot be answered intelligently without more information.  For instance: is a real relationship with God possible?  With what God would this relationship be established?  Of what would this “relationship” consist?  Who initiates it, and by what means?  How would someone know when or if it is in place?  Is a personal relationship with God something worth having?  At what cost?’ [There’s always a cost.]  And then there’s the question human beings cannot resist asking: what’s in it for me?    Let’s see what we can learn.

According to God’s word, the Bible, the Creator (a.k.a. God the Father) is the only true God, and knowing Him and His Son Jesus Christ personally, is connected with eternal life: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”  John 17:3

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ, Co-Creator of all things, is also true God: “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”  I John 5:20

Jesus, being God’s Son, knows the Father: “But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me” (John 7:29).  The Father is revealed by and through the Son: “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matthew 11:27).

If you have “seen” Jesus through the eyes of faith, you have also seen the Father.  Those who know Jesus, know the Father, as well:

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip [a disciple of Jesus, who, on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion still didn’t get it] 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 yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?  John 14:7-9

From the Bible, we learn that God loves us and sent His Son Jesus, to die for our sins: “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.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

In the Gospel of John, Jesus compares Himself to a Good Shepherd, to convey the intimacy of the relationship He has with His followers, His “sheep” (John 10:2-15; 17-18):

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not…

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep…Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

The Apostle Paul’s personal relationship with Christ began when Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus, where Paul was headed to arrest more Christians. When the risen Christ appeared to Paul that day, Paul had to ask, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5)

But after many years of following Jesus through persecutions, imprisonments, hardships and dangers, things had drastically changed.  In writing to his young protégé, Paul made this declaration about his trials for the sake of Christ: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  II Timothy 1:12 (emphasis added)

Looking back on his life and ministry, Paul would reflect:

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  …but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:7-11; 13b-14 (emphasis added)

YES, a personal relationship with God is possible (and necessary to receive God’s gift of eternal life).  No one is saved without one.

Jesus vividly describes the nature, purposes and benefits of a close, personal relationship with Him, our Good Shepherd.

It is God the Father who draws people to Christ and the Holy Spirit who regenerates spiritually dead sinners, giving them new (spiritual) birth and initiating a relationship with God.

This relationship is possible only when the barrier of sin that separates us from a holy God has been removed, by repenting from our sin and accepting by faith the pardon Jesus died on the cross to purchase for us.

It is also by faith that we know a relationship with God is in place.  God, the true God, the One and only, has promised it.  Soon after, as the Holy Spirit takes control, we will also begin to see the evidence of a changed life.  Others will notice the transformation, too.

As for the cost, let’s be honest.  In coming to Christ now, you will have to forfeit eternal separation from God and everlasting punishment in the Lake of Fire.  You must forego an empty and meaningless life in exchange for a full and purposeful one.  And you will have to swap out loneliness, fear, anxiety, disappointment and despair, for love, peace, calm, joy, and hope.   Not only that, but you’ll have to totally retrain yourself to accept blessings from God in place of the curse you’re used to dealing with.  You’ll also have to settle for God’s presence, providence, provision and protection while still in this life and endure glory and beauty unimaginable in the world to come.  Full transparency—there’s a whole lot more, but you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you.

Is a personal relationship with God something worth having when it comes with that kind of pricetag?  You tell me.  Of course…if you’re satisfied with religion, there are plenty from which to choose.  You should have no trouble finding one that suits you and fits your lifestyle.  Take your pick.  Satan won’t mind at all if you do.  He’ll probably call you a cab!

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “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.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “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.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31)