What does it mean to love Christ?

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:14 pm

I was thinking about this from the other thread about Rick Warren.

What does it mean to you personally to love Christ?

Can you love Christ and not be a Christian?

Do you think there are any falsehoods about what actually loving Christ means?

And these questions are for everyone.

IceMobster · Post by **IceMobster** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:31 pm

In before you delete the thread again.

I suppose it is possible to love Christ despite not being a Christian.

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:35 pm

IceMobster wrote:In before you delete the thread again.

I suppose it is possible to love Christ despite being a Christian.

Guess I kinda asked for that

What about when Christ said if you love me you will keep my commandments?

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:40 pm

wait a minute.. I just re read what you said...

I thought you were saying non Christians could still love Christ...
Maybe you missed out the "not"

or are you being smart

Post by **Philip** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 5:20 pm

What about when Christ said if you love me you will keep my commandments?

WHICH commandments? ALL of them? ALL of the time? And does Scripture indicate that is even possible? Or is He not saying that to the degree you love Christ, the more you will desire to obey Him. The more you will have the ABILITY and MOTIVATION to obey Him. So this is not a "ya gotta try harder to do the impossible" kind of statement. It's a revealing of the more you love and trust, the more you will obey - and the more you will be ABLE to do so. No one could come close to doing this in their own power - nor would they want to. Only the love of Christ can compel our hearts and minds to drive our actions toward obedience, and only His power can make this possible. We're all just human narcissists, always working out what sort of manipulations and pleasures will best serve us.

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 5:36 pm

Of course it's impossible to keep all the commandments all of the time - He who says he is without sin is a liar, right?

But I think Jesus is conveying the truth that if you do really love him it won't be mere lip service. You will put your "money where your mouth is" type of mentality.

I do see this, in part, as a rather harsh, challenging statement for people to really ponder on. To see where they are at with Christ.

When Jesus said "Get away from me, I don't know you" I don't believe he is talking just about a particular group of people. But at large is describing the heart issue of anyone who professes with their lips to love and know Christ but neglects to treat others as they should. And yes we all fail at that. But to me it's a matter of the heart. Just like it was with the parable of the sinner and the tax collector.

To me it's also not just about wanting to following Christ. Can we even say we always want to?

But to me it's saying "I want to want to follow Christ - to know and love him"

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 5:42 pm

Remember also Jesus said to Peter three times "Do you love me?"

and when Peter said yes, Jesus would reply for him to do something.

Though I think we have to be careful because it's very easy for people to do this to each other in a way that's cruel and full of manipulation

"If you love me then you will....."

Post by **Philip** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 5:56 pm

Ness: Remember also Jesus said to Peter three times "Do you love me?"

Of course, this was also a moment of intentional restoration for Peter - as he had also DENIED Him three times.

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:09 pm

Maybe we could also ask "What did it mean for Christ to love the Father"
How do we know that Christ loved the Father?

Kurieuo · Post by **Kurieuo** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 8:56 pm

Sounds like a question I ask my kids. Quick to respond yes, then I ask them if they've seen Jesus? No. So how can you love someone you don't see? My daughter doesn't like my pressing questions, while my oldest son probably was most honest in his response.

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:10 pm

Was it relation to 1 John 4:20?

I looked up different versions. Some seem to suggest theres a link between sight and love.
While others simply seem to state God is unseen and people are seen as a fact.
If that makes sense?

I mean blind people love, right?

Kurieuo · Post by **Kurieuo** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:19 pm

Yes, but to "see" is more than than physical sight.

Do you know Christ? Have you met Him? Did He talk to you? Have you seen Him?

Their responses went from a rather enthusiastic "yes", followed up by less and less certain "no", "no" and "no"...

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:31 pm

It says God who is unseen

If its talking about more than physical sight then why does it say that?

Edit: unless you're saying the person in the example has never 'seen' e.g experienced God?

Kurieuo · Post by **Kurieuo** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:35 pm

I'm not saying anything of the John passage, but talking about frank questioning to my kids.

Nessa · Post by **Nessa** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:37 pm

I get that to see something can mean more than just physical sight but in regards to this scripture I dont see it as meaning something more.

Evidence for God from Science

What does it mean to love Christ?

What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?

Re: What does it mean to love Christ?