Personal spiritual growth and development takes place at the union of the teachings of Jesus with the person of Jesus. Christianity is more than a religion, it is a relationship with the Creator of the universe, the Savior of the human race. Jesus said to some in his day, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40, NIV). Jesus is not telling his contemporaries not to study the Scripture; indeed we are commanded to study the Scripture to show ourselves "approved" before the Lord (2 Timothy 2:15). The approval comes not simply in knowing the word of God, but in living what is known. And it is impossible to live the word of God separtate and apart from a relationship with or in the "Word" (Son) of God. (see John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus is teaching us that the Scripture should be leading us into a relationship with him. Men often confuse knowing the Scripture with knowing the Lord. Jesus is telling mankind that it is possible to have some knowledge of the word of God and not know him! It is as if Jesus is saying the answer is not simply in the rules, the regulations, the religion, the precepts and the doctrine, it is in having a relationship, a relationship with him! While it is necessary that we come to God's word to learn, that learning finds its fulfillment in coming into a relationship with Jesus. Only then can we truly experience life!
Just as we have to study the Scriptures that lead us into a relationship with Jesus, we also must have relationships with others who have come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is within the context of relationships that we truly learn to love God. John writes, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God mst also love his brother." (1 John 4:20-21, NIV). While it is true that in life we may have many reasons to hate another person; it is even more true that we have one super-abundant reason to forgive and love all people, and that reason is Jesus Christ who first loved us. Our relationship in Christ is constantly being perfected in two ways, 1) that Christ continually forgives us our sins and we are thus made perfect; 2) and that we are constantly forgiving those who sin against us which allows then for Christ to be perfected in us. We should not expect in this world that we should always be understood, respected and treated fairly -- for such is not the world in which we live. But we should expect that as time and God's grace allow, we learn to forgive those who have sinned against us; to get along as much as humanly possible with those whom we disagree; and to love all men, especially those of the household of faith. In this way we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. (see Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
At AgapePoint we want to encourage you to study the Scriptures with another person or a within the context of a small group of believers. It is there in the context of relationship that we best learn how to mature in Christ. When we share our lives one with the other we find opportunity to express those things learned in bible study. Suddenly, going to the grocery store, or the ball park, or sharing a meal with another family becomes a joyous opportunity to live the Christian life. It is there in the realm of relationships that we, as a community of believers experience life's greatest blessings. No longer are we left to our own strengths or weaknesses to make it or break it. We have a community of believers, a community of faith by in which we may learn what it means to become complete in Christ, to experience a full and abundant life.
Also, we want to encourage you to join in worshipping the Lord at your local church of Christ. There you should find many more people in the family of God that are able to encourage you in love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25). If you are new in Christ you should be able to find several people in the assembly that can help you understand and identify the good works that the Lord has planned in advance to be accomplished (Ephesians 2:10). There you should find spiritually mature Christians that should easily be able to help you to identify opportunities in your life to serve Jesus.
At Agapepoint we want to encourage you to make this spiritual journey, not alone, but with others that are seeking deeper loving relationships in Jesus Christ.
Your friend in Jesus,
Keith