We are on a quest to know Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Our quest is based on the firm belief (a belief not without evidence) that Jesus Christ is in fact permanently RISEN FROM THE DEAD. That is, He is ALIVE and knowable today.
The Bible was given so that we might know Jesus. According to the Christian faith, "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD WAS GOD" (John 1:1) and "The Word became FLESH and DWELT AMONG US" (John 1:14). So Jesus, who is also called the "Living Word" is revealed through "the written Word".
Jesus is the central figure of the Bible. He lived in history, in a place called Israel, in cities you can visit today, and He shook His world then. His extra-ordinary claim was to be the only begotten Son of God, in perfect union with Almighty God, who sent Him to show forth God's character and bring people back into the original relationship with God through a kind of death and resurrection. People listened to Jesus because he frequently healed the sick miraculously, demonstrated power over tormenting evil spirits, and lived an exemplary life of love in total purity.
Now you might say, that was very interesting for the people who lived at the time and saw Jesus, but what about NOW?
Well, the claim is that Jesus is alive now. Physically as well as spiritually. HE HAS NOT CHANGED - though the people who claim to represent Him are often UNFAITHFUL to His Word. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8,
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER.
Today Jesus reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit, who comes into our lives if we meet God's simple conditions of faith and surrender, and makes US also like Jesus - having the same nature and power. True Christians are the ones who have renounced their old corrupt selves and are seeking, through faith, to become like Jesus their Lord.
Jesus promised that He would manifest or reveal Himself to certain people, the ones who love Him through obeying His Word.
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
(John 14:21-24)
Jesus will come and live in you and reveal Himself in and through you if you
(a) HAVE His Commandments, and
(b) KEEP them.
A lot of people have Bibles but very few could list off the top of their heads just TEN things which Jesus commanded us to do.
Its not good enough folks, we have to take it seriously.
Second thing is to DO IT. The only way you will do the things Jesus commands is if you seek Him out diligently through Bible Study and meditation, AND through relationship with the Holy Spirit.
That is the core of what we are trying to do in our group meetings associated with brisbanehousechurches.com.
We are beginning to see results. We've seen big results before overseas in other nations but we want to see Jesus in Brisbane too. God has already filled some of us with the Holy Spirit and enabled us to speak in tongues as the early disciples did. The sense of God's presence has been amazing.
As things develop, we expect to see healings and miracles as Jesus did. We expect to see a loving community of people grow up. These things are happening in the world today, but only on a very small scale in our city until now. That has to change.
If you are in the area and would like to visit us, please use the information in the Contact US link.