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He's an avatar, giving unconditional love, regardless of the person. It can be a reformed criminal, or it can be a devoted saint. His love is the same.
If you (in general) give love to Jesus, he takes it and gives it to God.
He's an avatar, giving unconditional love, regardless of the person. It can be a reformed criminal, or it can be a devoted saint. His love is the same.
If you (in general) give love to Jesus, he takes it and gives it to God.
Just my understanding.
Unconditional love "IF". Please notice that little word 'if' at 1st John 1:7 because 'if' carries with it a BIG meaning "IF...."
I like that you brought out ' reformed criminal ' because the wicked are 'destroyed forever' - Psalms 92:7; 104:35; 145:20; Prov. 2:21-22
Last edited by Matthew 4:4; 05-08-2024 at 04:22 PM..
...................But to me, that is a separate experience from what a "friend" feels like. In a book I read recently, Jesus "Friendship" with us was described as being our advocate in heaven, before God. He is pleading our case, so to speak, intervening for us.
So maybe he's more like a nice no-fee lawyer, than what we consider a "friend"....
Since a friend sticks closer than a brother - Proverbs 17:17 - and usually even a nice no-fee lawyer is Not such a friend.
If you were arrested for a crime you did Not commit but the Judge issues the death penalty for you, how would you feel
A voice in the courtroom speaks up and says to you, " I'll take your punishment in your place " How would you feel
The Judges then asks the person, " Are you sure? "
The person replies to the Judge, " Yes Father I am sure! " How would you feel ?
That is the type of friend Jesus is to you.
Is "Jesus as a friend" any different than kids who have imaginary friends?
If so, how?
In my observation, you don't often see Christians imagining Jesus' side of the conversation. To the point that when they occasionally do, it is jarring and seems sacrilegious. I remember a pentecostal radio preacher or TV evangelist -- might or might not have been Oral Roberts -- who would sometimes pretend to be interrupted in the middle of an oration, tilted his head quizzically, and then ask, "what was that, Jesus? ... oh, Jesus just reminded me to tell you ..."
For the most part, Christians seem to admit only to God "impressing something on them", or "sensing something" spiritually, but they leave a lot of weasel room as they don't want to be seen to be so ridiculous as to actually be conversing with God, or make some claim for something god said that turns out to be totally wrong or not to come to pass, etc.
I heard the following joke told by a charismatic Christian once: A guy was giving a prophecy, which began: "Behold, when Elijah led the children of Israel through the Red Sea ..." The guy sits down after giving the word from God, his wife whispers in his ear, and he stands back up: "Behold, I the Lord your God hath made a mistake..."
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