What is a relationship with Jesus like?
Pretty cool, sometimes demanding, enlightening, not much different than real life, mostly what you make of it.
How does one know this relationship is real?
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
I never understood that verse, until I felt what I believe to be the Holy spirit. Jesus left, but sent the Hoyl Spirit to be a guide in our lives. The verse says you will be a witness.
Is knowing Jesus anything more than a feeling - how so?
A feeling, and tons of subjective evidences, that seem to defy all odds. Sometimes visions. For some people it can be open eyed visions, or audible words (not for me yet) I have had closed eyes visions, and visions of the future that came to pass. Knowing Jesus is following your heart. If it's in your heart to be an atheist, then thats ok. Just question yourself why you are. If it's because of religion, then I would question that as well.
I've never known Jesus. I'd like to know how to recognize the feelings that clearly demonstrate to you Jesus is real.
Maybe you do know Jesus, but you have just convinced yourself, or the world has convinced you that He isn't real. If your mind is closed, and your heart is hardened, then God will even make you stay that way. either way, I believe you are forgiven.
Is it the opinion of the faithful I block out these feelings, fail to acknowledge them or am unable to possess them?
Yes, and that is what I experienced as well. I am a bit thick headed, and God really had to knock on my door before I completely acknowledged Him. That doesn't make me a saint or anything, in fact it makes my life even more challenging. I still struggle like I did before.
Why can you know Jesus and not me?
I have a hard time with that thought as well. All I can say is, before I knew Him the way I do now, I never felt like I was going to hell, not then, and not now. Call me a heritic.
Why has Jesus allowed you to have a relationship with him and not me? If Jesus has accepted me and entered into a relationship with me I have not seen it. I have not felt it. I have not heard it. I have no evidence it exists. Am I doing something wrong? I do not think I am bad.
And I don't think you are bad either. I believe your questions are very heart felt. There is a desire to know god, and it is genuine. Are you mad that you feel you don't know god?
I think God waited 38 years to really show Himself to me, because everything I learned along the way, which was not interfered with by religion, can now be used for his purposes.
My daughter is 8 - she does not know Jesus.
I think there is Jesus the person, and Jesus the state of mind. I believe all children go to heaven, and your daughter does know Jesus.
Why does Jesus talk to my son not my daughter?
I too have a daughter that my ex-girlfriend took away from me. I have not a clear answer as to why. I share in your fustration. I suppose if I used the bible, one could argue that she is God's child not mine. Even though I desire her in my life, and there is much pain about it.
I have no answers for you on that one, I am asking God myself.
In order to know Jesus I must know what to look for. I must know where to look and how to find him. The only time I had a friend I could not see was when I was 6. I feel kind of foolish entering into another relationship like this - is this feeling justified?
Oh yea. How can you follow the first commandment Jesus set forth, Love God with all your heart mind and soul, if you do not know God?
Is it ok to say I know I know something even if I know in this lifetime I will never have evidence to demonstrate the claims I claim to know are true - other than me stating I know it is true.
Well there is evidence, but it's all subjective. You can claim youlove your mother, and never really be able to prove it, only show subjective evidence.
What I really want to know is how do you know you know Jesus?
By what I feel, by everything that happens to me on a daily basis.
Through prayer.
By asking him to come into your life in a more real way. not just with your mouth, but with your heart.
This is the problem that most atheists have, is that you feel like you don't want to ommit to something that just isn't there. It's a catch 22, I guess.
How do you know Jesus loves you - what does this feel like?
Pretty darn awesome. I cannot fully put into words what I can feel. It's weird because I was never really a spiritual person, or a spacey person, so I have a tough time explaining it, and if the old self heard the new self talking, I would think I was wacked.
The theist also needs to demonstrate how this specific knowing is different than other knowings or feelings.
why would it have to be different?
But I can say this, a relationship with Jesus is an evolving one.
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