Did you know that God wants you to really know Him? Yes, You Can REALLY get to Know GOD ! Have you ever wanted to really get to know God but didn't know where to start? Perhaps you have tried different religions or have read different books looking for the answer. The Bible explains that God is Spirit (1) and that the NATURAL person can't understand the things of God, because they are spiritually searched out (2). Adam and Eve knew God well: they talked with Him in the Garden of Eden, but God told them that in the day that they eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that they would surely die (3). After they sinned by eating of that fruit we know that they still walked, and talked, and thought; but they no longer had communication with God, because something had died that very day that they ate the fruit - just as God had said would happen. It was their spirit (that part of a person which God originally created to have natural communication with Him) that died (separated from God). Since they could reproduce only what they themselves were, every person (4) (except Jesus) (5) has been born as a sinner with their spirit separated from God. That is why Jesus told a religious leader of His day that in order to enter the kingdom of God, he must be born again..... That is, of water and of the Spirit (6). Jesus said "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 (7) Jesus comes into the heart (through the Holy Spirit (8) of those who invite Him, and their spirit is then born again of the Holy Spirit. They can then start to have communication with God. This is further exemplified by the fact that Jesus said that He will come in and have supper with those who invite Him in. When we invite someone to supper we desire, and do have communication with them. The Bible refers to the church (those who are born again) as being the bride of Christ (9). It also refers to those who are born again as being adopted children of God (10). Each of these refers to a very close relationship in which individuals really get to know each other, and that's exactly what God desires. The problem with trying to get to know God, though, is that sin separates us from Him (11). The Bible says that the wages of sin is death (12). That means that sin kills our spirit, our body, our soul, and separates us from God. Finally, if we haven't asked God to forgive our sins through Jesus, we will be totally separated from God for eternity in Hell. The Bible says that it is impossible for us to pay the price of our sins on our own (13) so out of love Jesus paid the price for us. Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying in our place and rising again so that our sins would be washed away by His Blood if we only ask. In order to pay that price he was not only crucified ( the most torturous method of execution known), but He was also whipped 39 times with a Roman cat-of-nine-tails (nine whips in one), spit upon, made fun of, beaten, and even had a crown of thorns jabbed into His scalp.... all to pay for our sins so that we could have eternal life with God; have a more abundant life here and now; and, yes, even so we could really get to know God (14). Since sin separates us from God, we are told in the Bible to repent of our sins: that is, to be truly sorry for them, turn away from them, and stop sinning. If and when we sin after we have been born again, we should immediately ask God to forgive us again, turning from that sin toward Him. Otherwise we will feel badly, because our fellowship with Him has been broken. Once we have made a relationship with God through Jesus we should talk with Him often. We do this by praying to God from our hearts, praising Him for what he has done in our lives, and thanking Him for His blessings. We read and study His Word, the Holy Bible, and He talks to us through it. The more we obey what He tells us in His Word, the closer we will draw to Him. As we continue to do this He will talk to us during our daily lives by His Holy Spirit who now lives in the believer and through His Word, even during work or recreational times... not just in formal times of prayer, or Bible study, or church services. Just as getting to know any friend takes time, so it is with our getting to know God. The more time we spend with Him, talking with Him, and listening to Him, and keeping our relationship right with Him, the more we will get to REALLY KNOW GOD.

REFERENCES (1) John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (2) I Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (3) Gen. 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (4) Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (5) Heb. 4:14,15; Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.     I Pet. 2:21,22 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (6) John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (7) 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. (8) I Cor. 3:16;      Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?          I Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (9) II Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.          Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (10) Rom. 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (11) Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (12) Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (13) Mt. 19:25,26 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Mk. 10:26,27;) Eph. 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (14) John 10:10 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.

FULL SITE TABLE of CONTENTS AN INTRODUCTION TO GOD WHO JESUS IS WHY JESUS CAME THE DEITY of JESUS - is Jesus Christ God? THE WORD OF GOD - How to get to know Jesus better. OLD TESTAMENT MESSIANIC PROPHECIES AND FULFILLMENT PRAYER CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TRUE & FALSE - teachers, groups (cults) - HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE Scriptures for Salvation Who Killed Jesus Christ? Sin (what is it?)- Judgement & Forgiveness Who or What is a Christian? Encouraging Bible Promises Low Self-Esteem? Find Your True Worth FREE Bible with Strongs for notes in EXCEL Scripture Study Notes By Topic (frequently updated - over 700 different files) The Gospel of St. John