For Christians Please, What do you think it takes to have a relationship with God?

In truth, all it takes to begin that relationship is an individual's acceptance of His gift of redemption and grace. All one has to do is put their hope and faith in Jesus Christ. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

That simple statement has a lot of wisdom behind it. If you really stop to think about it...Paul's whole focus was on Jesus and His will, His desires for Paul's life. He knew nothing else except his Lord. He sought that time to speak with Him and learn from Him through the Holy Spirit. He was faithful even as Christ is faithful to those who call on His name...and even those who do not. Paul was also a very effective witness to others, showing the love of Christ...he couldn't help it. Christ permeated his whole being because he knew Him well.

As I said before, it all begins with accepting Christ's sacrifice. After that, to further the relationship and truly grow into His likeness, it's up to the individual to spend time with the Lord. It is good to study the Bible and pray and fellowship with other believers. It is also good to simply sit and talk with the Lord...yes, talk. Many people don't think we can carry on a conversation with God, but I tell you I have and those have been the times I have learned the most. You just have to listen.

I'll share with you something that a very special person shared with me. "Wisdom begins with open ears and a closed mouth." To know Christ, you must listen for His gentle voice and patiently seek out the movement of His Spirit. He is always with us, we just need to turn to Him. He has promised never to leave or forsake us...if we feel distant, it is because of sin.

One should never put off going to the Lord because of sin. Repent and draw close to Him! That is so important. Run to the loving arms of the only One who can truly save anyone. He is waiting and He longs for each of us more than we will ever know. He loves every person He has made and wants that personal relationship. What it takes is a broken and contrite spirit...a humbled heart...a love for Jesus Christ...a faithful diligence to meet with Him....open eyes and ears to learn from Him...His strength to apply what you learn and grow further...His spirit within you to guide you.

There is no feeling like that of the Holy Spirit rushing over you as you bow before God, knowing you are covered in the blood of Christ which takes away the sin of the world.

God wants us each to know that we are His beloved...his love...and we are all precious and beautiful in His sight. His perfect love covers a multitude of sins, if only we repent and ask for His forgiveness.

Blessings to you, brother!

This word 'relationship' comes up a lot amongst certain Chritians. But can God really have this relationship with people who make Him out to be a liar and who despise His righteousness?

What am I talking about?

I am talking about your fundemental belief in God; something you should have checked before embarking on this journey. If you boarded this bus and you did not check your faith in God to see if it was whole then you can be sure this bus is driving straight for hell.

Many people on this bus despise Gods righteousness. This righteousness is His gospel of the water and the Spirit (John 3:5). What is this water and the Spirit Jesus is talking about here? It is His water baptism where He took all our sins away by it being placed upon Him by His servant John the baptist the last earthly high priest. He then only went to to Cross where He paid for them with His very lifeblood (1 John 5:6-11).

So if we leave just anyone of these righteous acts out then we will never be born again as we are still sinners, and sinners can never be accepted into heaven (Matt 7-21-23).

But what do many Christians do.....they commit this great sin before God by rejecting the first part of the atonement, and only embrace the last part of the atonement, that of His death on the Cross, making God out to be a liar.

Only those who believe in this full and complete atonement have been truly born again, and can have this close relationship with God, because they have been made into sinless and righteous children. God cannot tolerate sin, so Christian sinners who do this cannot have this relationship, even though they believe in Him fervently.

All of me, none of God.

Some of me, some of God.

None of me, All of God.

Jesus said there were 3 levels of relationship with God, 30, 60, and 100 fold.

Therefore to answer ypur question correctly you need to specify which level do you wish to learn about? And do you wish to know the consequences if you choose less than 100?

After you say the sinners prayer, this will help in your walk:

There are 4 things in which all believers should participate.

1.Read The Bible

The believer should read and study the Bible. The Bible is God's Word to humanity, His communication to us.

Blessed is the person who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law they meditate day and night (Psalm 1:1,2).

By reading and studying the Bible we can know what God requires of us.

2.Pray

By reading the Bible we have God talking to us prayer is our talking to God. Jesus had this to say regarding the importance of prayer:

And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the onewho seeks finds, and to one who knocks it will be opened (Luke 11:9,10).

3.Assemble With Believers

The Bible commands believers to meet with one another.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

This is necessary so that we can draw encouragement from one another.

4.Tell Others The Good News

Finally, it is the responsibility of the believer to tell others the good news about Jesus. The Gospel according to Matthew closes with these commands of Jesus.

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).

Summary

Bible study, prayer, assembling with believers, and telling others: these four things should be the practice of all believers.

Why ask us Christains why dont you ask Jesus himself and really be sincere in asking. He will then come to you I promise and so does he. When you find him then you will need guidance on what to do next. If nothing else do a Yahoo search for Billy Graham his ministries has lead more people to Christ than any other I know.

I was born to know God to love God and serve God and be happy with Him forever in heaven. That is what it takes.

You must Repent from Sin

re - to go back pent - a place of higher position

Go back to righteousness

Believe -- Trust in, Stick to ------>>> Christ Jesus

Be Obedient

get Baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit

Walk daily in Christ despite weaknesses.

Be real and don't hide your faults to anyone and be transparent.

The same things it takes to have a relationship with your fellow man, except for one aspect in particular.

You need faith, trust, and worship.

He's your boss, your best friend, your Father, your partner....etc. That is the start. You have to talk to Him, ask what to do, do what He says, take His advice, please Him in your conduct, Love Him with all your heart, spend time with Him and His relatives (fellowship), etc.

Just spending lots of time with Him. (well I guess that goes for maintaining one.) But to even have one...would pretty much be to just accept him into your life and acknolwedge his son as the only way truth and the life...and allow him to be your personal saviour.