Has 'a Personal Relationship with Jesus' eclipsed 'Justification by Faith Alone'?

[crossnote]

The clarion call of the Reformation was that a person was justified freely by grace alone through faith alone.
Even Luther said 'justification is the article by which a Church stands or falls.'

Yet today it seems the clarion (false) call is 'have a personal relationship with Jesus'.
The problem here is 'which Jesus?'. The Jesus that follows you through life, making a checklist to see if you are naughty or nice or the Jesus who took God's wrath and lived a perfectly righteous life in our stead that he may declare us forgiven and righteous...not on our account but on His account.

Failure to grasp this article leads many Christians to despair confusing law and Gospel, justification with sanctification and ending up a hopeless basket case fearing whether they are saved or not.

Of course there is the aspect of 'a personal relationship with Jesus', but it is not to overshadow that fact that we have been justified (declared righteous) on account of Jesus Christ.

 

[Whispered]

The clarion call of the Reformation was that a person was justified freely by grace alone through faith alone.
Even Luther said 'justification is the article by which a Church stands or falls.'

Yet today it seems the clarion (false) call is 'have a personal relationship with Jesus'.
The problem here is 'which Jesus?'. The Jesus that follows you through life, making a checklist to see if you are naughty or nice or the Jesus who took God's wrath and lived a perfectly righteous life in our stead that he may declare us forgiven and righteous...not on our account but on His account.

Failure to grasp this article leads many Christians to despair confusing law and Gospel, justification with sanctification and ending up a hopeless basket case fearing whether they are saved or not.

Of course there is the aspect of 'a personal relationship with Jesus', but it is not to overshadow that fact that we have been justified (declared righteous) on account of Jesus Christ.

I didn't know there could be a difference, nor an , either or scenario. I think if one has a relationship with Jesus it would be due to their having faith in Jesus. And when Jesus Himself said by Faith ye shall be saved, with no other attachments to that statement of his, are we to doubt He knew what he was talking about?

 

[crossnote]

I didn't know there could be a difference, nor an , either or scenario. I think if one has a relationship with Jesus it would be due to their having faith in Jesus. And when Jesus Himself said by Faith ye shall be saved, with no other attachments to that statement of his, are we to doubt He knew what he was talking about?

It's not an either/or scenario, it is both. My point is that the concept 'you need a personal relationship with Jesus' has become all encompassing with some, when 'you need to be justified before God' has been displaced as foundational by the former.
Man must be first justified before he can get chummy with God. BTW, we are saved through faith alone, not by having 'a personal relationship with God'.

 

[MattforJesus]

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.

We are saved by faith, and then we receive grace.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

But charity, love in action is greater than faith, and faith works by love.

Love is the fulfilling of the law.

No love, no faith, no grace.

Everything stems from love, not faith, for love is greater than faith, and faith and hope are not needed in heaven, but love will go on forever.

Luk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luk 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luk 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luk 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

If we do not have the Spirit we are not saved, and the blood of Christ washes away our sins so we can have the Spirit, then we have a relationship with Christ.

We cannot have faith, and fall short of a relationship with Jesus, for then we are none of His.

The salvation process is so that we have a relationship with Jesus for that is what saves us.

Because if we do not have a relationship with Jesus we are not born again, not part of the body of Christ, do not belong to the kingdom, and are none of His.

We have to have love to have faith, to have grace, to have a relationship with Jesus.

But it is all about having a relationship with Jesus for then we are one with God, and compatible with His Spirit, and His ways.

Love is greater than faith.

Love does not think an evil thought, and does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, and only goes by their needs, and helps the poor and needy.

There is a lot of hypocrites and they lack love, then no faith.

Without a personal relationship with Jesus they lack love, faith, and grace.

 

[crossnote]

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.

We are saved by faith, and then we receive grace.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

But charity, love in action is greater than faith, and faith works by love.

Love is the fulfilling of the law.

No love, no faith, no grace.

Everything stems from love, not faith, for love is greater than faith, and faith and hope are not needed in heaven, but love will go on forever.

Luk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luk 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luk 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luk 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

If we do not have the Spirit we are not saved, and the blood of Christ washes away our sins so we can have the Spirit, then we have a relationship with Christ.

We cannot have faith, and fall short of a relationship with Jesus, for then we are none of His.

The salvation process is so that we have a relationship with Jesus for that is what saves us.

Because if we do not have a relationship with Jesus we are not born again, not part of the body of Christ, do not belong to the kingdom, and are none of His.

We have to have love to have faith, to have grace, to have a relationship with Jesus.

But it is all about having a relationship with Jesus for then we are one with God, and compatible with His Spirit, and His ways.

Love is greater than faith.

Love does not think an evil thought, and does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, and only goes by their needs, and helps the poor and needy.

There is a lot of hypocrites and they lack love, then no faith.

Without a personal relationship with Jesus they lack love, faith, and grace.

You seem to have the cart before the horse.
Without the new birth, man is incapable of love, He only hates God.
Without forgiveness of our sins, there is no being accepted by God and therefore we have no relationship with God.
Love is a fruit of the Spirit available only to those who are His through justification and rebirth.

 

[Whispered]

It's not an either/or scenario, it is both. My point is that the concept 'you need a personal relationship with Jesus' has become all encompassing with some, when 'you need to be justified before God' has been displaced as foundational by the former.
Man must be first justified before he can get chummy with God. BTW, we are saved through faith alone, not by having 'a personal relationship with God'.

Faith justifies.
“Any church which puts in the place of justification by faith in Christ another method of salvation is a harlot church.” Charles Spurgeon

The Book of John chapter 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Yet today it seems the clarion (false) call is 'have a personal relationship with Jesus'.

It seems that what you are saying here is that Gospel truth is generally not being properly and fully preached in the churches. And no one can argue with that. There is no doubt (as seen on Christian forums) that even Christians are not really clear about JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. Which was a fundamental Reformation doctrine. And the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of pastors and teachers within the evangelical and fundamental churches.

Getting back to the doctrine of justification, it is not something which can be readily believed. It is shocking to the natural man that God would actually declare a guilty sinner to be "NOT GUILTY", and over and above that "DECLARED TO BE RIGHTEOUS". But only when one clearly understand the scope of the finished work of Christ, as well as the infinity of God's grace, that one can believe this doctrine.

And it is only after justification (based upon repentance and faith in Christ, or obedience to the Gospel) that one is born again. And it is only after the New Birth that one has a personal relationship with Christ.

The problem here is 'which Jesus?'.

This is a totally separate issue. Evangelical churches all believe that Jesus is God who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. It is only the cults where you have to ask "Which Jesus?"

 

[JaumeJ]

If by "personal relationship with Jesus" it is intended to be simply talking about how you feel, this is missing out on the relation ship of the in-filling of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, one of the many titles attributed to our Savior, Jesus, Isaiah 9:6.
If this is your personal relationship, the Holy Spirit, then this is most important. Again if it is simply one taking about Jesus without the personal in-filling, I am afraid dthe rlationship is lacking, but not doomed.

 

[KhedetOrthos]

The Jesus that follows you through life, making a checklist to see if you are naughty or nice or the Jesus who took God's wrath and lived a perfectly righteous life in our stead that he may declare us forgiven and righteous...not on our account but on His account

You realize that these ”Jesuses” aren’t mutually exclusive, right? That although he trampled down death by death, that does not exempt us from giving an accounting of ourselves to him? That is perhaps the important thing that has been lost in the Jesus is my buddy/boyfriend movement.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

The clarion call of the Reformation was that a person was justified freely by grace alone through faith alone.
Even Luther said 'justification is the article by which a Church stands or falls.'

Yet today it seems the clarion (false) call is 'have a personal relationship with Jesus'.
The problem here is 'which Jesus?'. The Jesus that follows you through life, making a checklist to see if you are naughty or nice or the Jesus who took God's wrath and lived a perfectly righteous life in our stead that he may declare us forgiven and righteous...not on our account but on His account.

Failure to grasp this article leads many Christians to despair confusing law and Gospel, justification with sanctification and ending up a hopeless basket case fearing whether they are saved or not.

Of course there is the aspect of 'a personal relationship with Jesus', but it is not to overshadow that fact that we have been justified (declared righteous) on account of Jesus Christ.

Amen

I see it this way, Without justification. There can be no relationship.

After justification. This is what God says about us

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

This is our relationship now. Not fear based. But power based on the spirit of being adopted into Gods family Where he gives us POWER, LOVE and a SOUND MIND

Something you can not have in a "law" based system.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.

We are saved by faith, and then we receive grace.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

But charity, love in action is greater than faith, and faith works by love.

Love is the fulfilling of the law.

No love, no faith, no grace.

Everything stems from love, not faith, for love is greater than faith, and faith and hope are not needed in heaven, but love will go on forever.

Luk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luk 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luk 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luk 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

If we do not have the Spirit we are not saved, and the blood of Christ washes away our sins so we can have the Spirit, then we have a relationship with Christ.

We cannot have faith, and fall short of a relationship with Jesus, for then we are none of His.

The salvation process is so that we have a relationship with Jesus for that is what saves us.

Because if we do not have a relationship with Jesus we are not born again, not part of the body of Christ, do not belong to the kingdom, and are none of His.

We have to have love to have faith, to have grace, to have a relationship with Jesus.

But it is all about having a relationship with Jesus for then we are one with God, and compatible with His Spirit, and His ways.

Love is greater than faith.

Love does not think an evil thought, and does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, and only goes by their needs, and helps the poor and needy.

There is a lot of hypocrites and they lack love, then no faith.

Without a personal relationship with Jesus they lack love, faith, and grace.

Paul says we are saved BY GRACE through Faith.

If not for Gods grace, all the faith in the world would do us no good. We would still be lost in our sin.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

You realize that these ”Jesuses” aren’t mutually exclusive, right? That although he trampled down death by death, that does not exempt us from giving an accounting of ourselves to him? That is perhaps the important thing that has been lost in the Jesus is my buddy/boyfriend movement.

Never heard or seen examples of this so called movement, Can you share what it is?

Even the OP showed Jesus as a loving father, who justified the ungodly and adopted them into his family as children, not boyfriend

 

[crossnote]

If by "personal relationship with Jesus" it is intended to be simply talking about how you feel, this is missing out on the relation ship of the in-filling of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, one of the many titles attributed to our Savior, Jesus, Isaiah 9:6.
If this is your personal relationship, the Holy Spirit, then this is most important. Again if it is simply one taking about Jesus without the personal in-filling, I am afraid dthe rlationship is lacking, but not doomed.

I’m not always sure what people mean by ‘have a personal relationship with God’, but I know it is not the Gospel by which we are saved.

 

[crossnote]

You realize that these ”Jesuses” aren’t mutually exclusive, right? That although he trampled down death by death, that does not exempt us from giving an accounting of ourselves to him? That is perhaps the important thing that has been lost in the Jesus is my buddy/boyfriend movement.

My Jesus doesn’t make a checklist to see if I’m naughty or nice, rather He is actively involved, working in me both to will and do of His good pleasure.

 

[JaumeJ]

I’m not always sure what people mean by ‘have a personal relationship with God’, but I know it is not the Gospel by which we are saved.

This personal relationship teaching is akin to the teaching of the Trinity, the Rapture and more, not mentioned per se as a teaching yt named by what is derived by many from the content.
I do not believe there is anything more personal than the instant the Holy Spirit entered into my heart and let me know all about the Father , the Son and that Holy Spirit, so in this regard I certainly have a personal relationship wiht our Lord, or at least, a personal experience.
I suppose it all hinges on what the individual believes he or she is experiencing after being convinced of the Lordship and Persons of Jesus-Yeshua.

 

[crossnote]

This personal relationship teaching is akin to the teaching of the Trinity, the Rapture and more, not mentioned per se as a teaching yt named by what is derived by many from the content.
I do not believe there is anything more personal than the instant the Holy Spirit entered into my heart and let me know all about the Father , the Son and that Holy Spirit, so in this regard I certainly have a personal relationship wiht our Lord, or at least, a personal experience.
I suppose it all hinges on what the individual believes he or she is experiencing after being convinced of the Lordship and Persons of Jesus-Yeshua.

Again, I’m not against the concept of a personal relationship with Jesus (I’m all for it) but it must be built on a true understanding of what Christ has done for us lest we go forth thinking that our good works will earn us merit or approval before God.

 

[CharliRenee]

Not knowing the nature of others own "relationship to Jesus" it is hard to fully speak on it.

I do believe if one has taken the time with his or her mind and heart, in word and deed to fellowship with Him, through reading the word, and prayer, then walking out that life best one can.... yes that seems to be what defines a personal relationship.

We are all at different stages of our faith....

I am just so glad that He know our hearts. I think just knowing scripture and being able to point out error, does not justification make.

I believe....

He yearns our hearts, fully committed. I believe He wants that head knowledge transported to the heart of His matter.

For me, faith itself beckons our intimacy with Him. Heavens sake, He even woos us in the desert, calling us to Him personally.

He dwells within...again, up close and personal. I suppose that as a female I am talking less logical to some. However Mary, at His feet, showed us her heart for an intimate relationship with Him.

I think being justified, though so important, is still secondary to just being in His company.

 

[CharliRenee]

Again, I’m not against the concept of a personal relationship with Jesus (I’m all for it) but it must be built on a true understanding of what Christ has done for us lest we go forth thinking that our good works will earn us merit or approval before God.

Ok, i kinda see what you are saying.

Bear with me,

I have a friend, one since HS. She prays all day to Jesus but struggles believing in all of the bible. So I wonder is she praying to the Jesus of the bible. Can we seperate the two?

I do not know. I am still trying to convince her of Jeremiah 15:16's truth. I do not know crossnote. Perhaps Jesus only knows as He is the ONLY authority on our hearts.

 

[crossnote]

Not knowing the nature of others own "relationship to Jesus" it is hard to fully speak on it.

I do believe if one has taken the time with his or her mind and heart, in word and deed to fellowship with Him, through reading the word, and prayer, then walking out that life best one can.... yes that seems to be what defines a personal relationship.

We are all at different stages of our faith....

I am just so glad that He know our hearts. I think just knowing scripture and being able to point out error, does not justification make.

I believe....

He yearns our hearts, fully committed. I believe He wants that head knowledge transported to the heart of His matter.

For me, faith itself beckons our intimacy with Him. Heavens sake, He even woos us in the desert, calling us to Him personally.

He dwells within...again, up close and personal. I suppose that as a female I am talking less logical to some. However Mary, at His feet, showed us her heart for an intimate relationship with Him.

I think being justified, though so important, is still secondary to just being in His company.

Yes, and that 'personal relationship' and all that it entails is only made possible through God's grace and mercy, sacrificing His Son on a bloody cross, taking our sins upon His Son, pouring out His wrath upon Him, so that He may forgive us, clothe us with His righteousness, regenerate us...bringing us into that 'living personal relationship'.

 

[crossnote]

Ok, i kinda see what you are saying.

Bear with me,

I have a friend, one since HS. She prays all day to Jesus but struggles believing in all of the bible. So I wonder is she praying to the Jesus of the bible. Can we seperate the two?

I do not know. I am still trying to convince her of Jeremiah 15:16's truth. I do not know crossnote. Perhaps Jesus only knows as He is the ONLY authority on our hearts.

I don't know offhand, but if she is not believing the bible (or even struggling to believe it), it could possibly be she is not born again.
We are born again by His Word and Spirit. To be born again means one has God's Spirit dwelling in them which means they have the Author of the Bible dwelling in them. That would raise the question whether or not they are born again or just religious, which in turn raises the question if she understands herself a sinner in the light of the Work of the Cross. Remember Jesus's discussion with Nicodemus about the necessity of being born again? Well, right in the middle of it he brings up the serpent being raised on the pole. So I believe there is an inseparable link between being born again and us looking to the cross.

Well, that's my off the cuff guess, but like you say, God knows.