faith

I seem to be discussing with different people different issues of faith.

There will always be differences but what makes us believe what we do? I have a view of the world which is ever changing but there are things that remain the same:

• I have a personal relationship with the LORD which to me means his holy spirit lives in me and guides me in my every day life.
• This personal relationship is built on revelation (through the LORD's spirit), through prayer, through the bible and the resources which he has given to me.
• I believe in the trinity - God, my Creator and Father (heavenly), Jesus my Saviour and Lord, and the Holy Spirit who is God's Spirit living in me.
• I believe in God's master plan to save his children and return to us the gift of eternal life which Satan stole from humanity with our help. Jesus died and took my punishment for my sins and through his resurrection fulfilled the LORD's master plan. But the final chapter has yet to be played out - when he returns and destroys Satan and all the evil he represents once and for all.
• No one knows when Jesus will return though a few signs are named in the bible, but basically he will return like a thief in the night and our job is to be ready at anytime and all times.

Non-christians will read that and think what a load of crap :-)

Yet 11 jewish men and many 1st century christians sacrificed their lives in a little middle eastern country so that 20 centuries later I would hear the truth on a tiny Pacific Island and believe. World views have come and gone. Empires have tried to destroy christians yet we still exist today and millions still believe.

It took one man's life, and 11 believers to realise that their jewish faith had been fulfilled in their lifetime. Their Saviour had come and they were willing to abandon their world view to believe that he was the son of God.

Today I believe the same. I hope whatever the differences between denominations that each of us who believe know the truth like those 11 disciples, like Paul. Even if we differ in practice and teaching but this remains the same for all of us. Jesus is LORD, son of God, the Christ risen, our Saviour.

It's our belief in who Jesus is that unites us.