How Can I Know God

God is a very personal God. He desires an intimate and personal relationship with every human being in every tribe and tongue. He does not prefer one person over another, one person's skin, color, ethnic background or social status. He loves the Jew along with the Arab. He loves the Indian as well as the Mexican or American or Australian.

HE LOVES US ALL

You see, when God created man, male and female, He put them in paradise on earth and gave them everything that was beautiful and good - that also included choice - a free will to choose for themselves how they would live their lives: either in obedience and harmony with God, or disobedience that would lead to disharmony and finally death -both spiritually and finally physically.

He had given His Word that if they made a choice to disobey Him they would surely experience DEATH. What we must understand is that God is not like humans; His Word is absolute and powerful. He is the God of righteousness and Holiness. He cannot lie.

As you probably already know, Adam and Eve both chose disobedience, which changed not only their destiny, but the destiny of all who would follow. Man had become a sinner by nature, by practice and by Divine Decree; so, from then on He declared all Humans under sin.

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This was a Great problem when looking through the eyes of mankind. Here we have a perfect and righteous and holy God Who had created man in His image for intimate fellowship, yet mankind was seeped in sin. Since Adam we had become sinners in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Proof of sin thoroughly infused within all the fabric of our humanity is the fact that no one escapes death...as that lifeless body is put into the grave to decay - a sad conclusion to a terrible choice.

The problem was, how could a Holy God Who loves us, bring us back into an intimate relationship with Himself? Holiness and sinfulness can not co-exist.

No human being in all of history could have thought of a plan so glorious as the plan that God put into motion before the foundation of the earth. God would send His Son Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, to become fully human as the second Adam; live a perfect, obedient and sinless life as the unique God-man; fully God and fully man; then give Himself as a Sin Offering, becoming a substitute for all of us.

God the Father was pleased to have His Son take the penalty that we deserved and lay it on Himself. The Holy wrath of God was completely appeased because the penalty for sin had been paid in full by His only Unique Son.

Now God could deal in grace and favor toward all of us who would receive His Son and the Son's finished work on the Cross. Jesus Christ did it all. He paid the Full Penalty for all the Sins and Sinners of the world. This includes all their past sins, all their present sins, and all the future sins they would commit.

After He paid the price on the Cross He was buried in a tomb for three days; but, on the third day HE AROSE FROM THE TOMB as He Defeated Death that held everyone in its tight grip down through the ages. The sting and power of death was nullified; the fear of Death was completely defeated for those who would appropriate This transaction in their hearts by faith.

So just how important was and is the Cross?

• The Cross defeated Satan 
• The Cross defeated Sin 
• The Cross defeated Satan's world System 
• The Cross Validated the Son 

Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is the One and Only way to Know God. There is no other way to God!

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Let us see now what the Word of God says about Jesus and Salvation; what do we do on our part since Jesus Paid the Price. As you know people are trying every which way to Know God..there are myriads upon myriads of religions in the world. Just remember this: RELIGION is man's attempt to reach God through his own works..but

Christianity in not a religion but a RELATIONSHIP. When we make it Religion it gets ugly.

It is a relationship with the Living God, the Creator and the Sustainer of the Universe. It is a Love Affair which was initiated before the foundation of the World. He has sought you out personally to woo you and draw you into an intimate communion with Himself. He paid the ultimate price to give you the right to become a child of God...You see, we aren't born children of God; no, we are given the Right to become Children of God by Receiving Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMachiach, as our Lord and Savior--it is by FAITH---trusting in Him and what the Bible says about Him.

He never asked anyone to take a great big leap of faith into the unknown and to entrust yourself to someone you know nothing about.

No, Jesus, Yeshua, manifested impeccable character to everyone at all times; He lived His life in perfect obedience to the Father and as a servant to all the people; He proved Himself the Savior and Messiah by the Miraculous Works He performed in fulfillment of all the Scriptures written hundreds of years previous to His Coming. He proved Himself by humbling Himself to the Tortuous Pain and Shame of hanging on that Cross, and of course He proved Himself by EXPLODING OUT OF DEATH and THAT TOMB.

This is no "blind leap of faith" Jesus, Yeshua, invites us to take. It is a well thought out decision of each individual to entrust their soul and eternal destiny into the hands of the One Who came from Heaven; lived how the scriptures had foretold the Savior-Messiah would live; spoke the words the Scriptures had foretold the Savior-Messiah would speak; did the Works the Scriptures had foretold the Savior-Messiah would do; then died and rose again just like the Scriptures had foretold the Savior-Messiah would do.

Remember, the Scriptures clearly tell us that "faith comes through hearing the Word of God," not taking some 'blind leap of faith' into the unknown...Read the scriptures for youself - see for yourselves He is Who He says He is. THAT'S FAIR, ISN'T IT?

Jesus, Yeshua, created us and respects our freedom and dignity. Unlike us, He doesn't use the wisdom of the world with persuasive and manipulative arguments or threats; He tells us the truth and shows us which path He took and then invites us to FOLLOW HIM...then He leaves the choice up to us.

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Le'ts take a look at what the Bible says about Jesus Christ

A man named Thomas was a legitimate seeker of truth and asked Jesus a legitimate question; notice the answer he received from Jesus:

John 14:5-6 ^5 aThomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" ⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am ^athe way, and ^bthe truth, and ^cthe life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

Look at this astounding answer, but let's dig in deep and simplify it: unlike the relative truth of today Jesus, Yeshua, went to the heart of the matter with ABSOLUTES

• If you don't have a relationship with Me you are on the wrong path in life and are going the Wrong Way. 
• Without a personal relationship with Me you are living in lies and deception. 
• You may claim that you know the Father but no one can know the Father if you don't come through Me---There is ONE MEDIATOR between heaven and earth - between the Father and creation---Me, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach. 

Do you notice how wonderfully Absolute the answer is? Do you discern any wavering, any political correctness, any pandering to the crowd or the Religious leaders? 

No, because He embodied all that is TRUTH.

Scripture also states this truth Absolutely and emphatically: 

Acts 4:12 ¹² "And there is salvation in ^ano one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

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 The Bible says that many of His own didn't receive Him but rejected Him. Those who did receive His message, life and works were given the Right to become Children of God. Contrary to public belief we are not born Children of God; we are Born Again, Born from Above into the Family of God as Children of God.

We must fully understand that God alone bestows this Right upon those who receive Him by entrusting themselves to Him.

John 1:11-12 ¹¹ He came to His ¹own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become ^achildren of God, even ^bto those who believe in His name..

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Another seeker of truth came to Jesus; he was a religious leader who was drawn to the life of Jesus, Yeshua. This leader was told by Jesus that he needed to be born again, ie, born from above.

John 3:3 ³ In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Jesus, Yeshua was speaking of a spiritual rebirth  that we needed due to the fact that we had lost the ability to communicate with heaven because of Sin.

So, it was explained to this seeker that there would have to be a total Supernatural transaction that would be accomplished solely through God - The Holy Spirit.

This Supernatural Transaction would equip every Believer with the Power and Perspective of Heaven. God's Kingdom and His very Presence could then invade our very beings and our whole lives would be TRANSFORMED.

We could now communicate freely and intimately with the God of the universe through Jesus, Yeshua the Son. The Holy Spirit is the One Who makes the scriptures jump off the pages into our hearts, and enables the Father and Son to be truly and genuinely experienced in our lives.

This is not a 'changed' life. This is a Supernatural Holy Spirit transaction that progressively Transforms us from the sin ridden 'ugly ducklings' we were, into the glorious Image of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit starts to Transform us by 'renewing' our minds with the thoughts and attitudes and principles of the Kingdom of God. In other words, God has placed the Kingdom of God within our hearts for now. In the future He will set up a literal Kingdom here on earth.

In the Kingdom of God:

• There is a King Who is Sovereign 
• There is the King's government 
• There are the Subjects 
• There is a territory 
• There are laws and ways things are done 
• There are rights given to the subjects 
• There is authority given 
• There is power given 
• There are ambassadors or representatives of the King. 

I think you see the point. The thing we must fully understand is this: God's Kingdom stands diametrically in opposition to the kingdoms of the earth; the kingdoms of the earth are set up by man and invisibly Controlled and Engineered by Satan.

God and King Jesus, Yeshua, do not do business like the world does business. When the world hates their enemies we are to love them; while the world promotes self indulgence, we are empowered to live in self-control; while the world exalts and feeds pride and self achievement, we are to walk in humility and meekness towards others.

This is what we are called to as Believers in Jesus, Yeshua. But you see, our leader not only perfectly modeled this life of Kingdom Living, but also empowers us to live it out; not in our own efforts but in the power of the Holy Spirit...

He enables us to live out the Kingdom Principles while living in a foreign and antagonistic Satanically engineered kingdom.

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The invitation Jesus, Yeshua, offers us is to partake of Life that is spiritual and eternal. It is intimate communion with Him now and forever more.

John 10:28 ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

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So the decision is yours. What will you do? By doing nothing you reject the gift from God of His only Begotten Son. Maybe you are being drawn to this glorious Life that came down from Heaven to make a Way for us know the God of heaven. If so here is His invitation:

 Matthew 11:28-30 ⁸ "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 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 is light."

The scripture states that:

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23)

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

But God demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, You will be saved.(Romans 10:9)

Acts 3:19 ¹⁹ Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

You must understand that salvation through Jesus, Yeshua is a FREE GIFT that is received by your FAITH alone; plus or minus nothing. Jesus, Yeshua accomplished everything on the Cross to procure for us Forgiveness of Sin and Eternal life in Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

We serve Him willfully and passionately out of LOVE alone. Hallelujah - what a glorious salvation!

I bear witness to you who are reading that Jesus Christ is the promised Savior and Messiah. He is Who He said He was; He did what He said He would do; He does what He said He would do in my life.

He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, the Alpha and the Omega, the Bright Morning Star, the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, the Lilly of the Valley, the Balm of Gilead, the Mighty God, the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, the Light of the World, the Great 'I AM', the Root of Jesse, the Last Adam, the Bread of Life, the chief Corner Stone, the Chief Shepard, the Firstborn from the dead, the Good Shepard, the Great Shepard of the Sheep, the High Priest, the Holy One of God, Immanuel (God with us), the Lord of Glory, the only Mediator between God and man, the only Begotten of the Father, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of Man, The Word of God.

If you would like to receive Him into your heart at this moment, I could help you with a prayer of Confession and Proclamation..this prayer will really help you to establish the reality of this great spiritual transaction that will take place within you heart.

Pray this and as you repeat these words let them resonate in your heart in trust:

Dear Jesus, Yeshua,

I have examined the Words of the Bible and I believe them. I believe that you came from heaven as God's Son.

I believe that I am a sinner and stand in need of your saving work.

I believe you died on the cross in my place as a substitute for what I deserve. I believe that the debt was fully paid by your death.

I believe that you died, were buried and then rose again out of death and the grave to forever live and reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I understand that you will give me the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower me to understand You and Your Word; and that I will never ever be alone as You will be with me always forever and ever. And that no one or any thing can snatch me out of your loving hands.

I also understand that I need to be Born Again by the power of Your Mighty Holy Spirit. That it is a progressive transformation through the renewing of my mind through the Word of God and Spiritual Food.

Because I believe these things, in exercising my Faith I am repenting from trusting in myself and what the world offers; I am turning to You alone and putting my trust in You for my salvation and eternity. By an act of my will I confess before all in heaven and earth that this day I make Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and now I declare Him my King with the right to rule in my heart.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of eternal life. Thank You for your grace.