Bible Questions and Answers
Published 06/20/2020
How to develop an intimate relationship with God and establish an emotional connection with God? Sometimes when reading the Bible, it is much easier to think intellectually than to draw closer to God on a deeper level emotionally.
How to combine knowledge about the Bible and who God himself is? Is it true that proper Bible study leads us to a more accurate understanding of God? Is it true that knowing God better leads us to a more righteous life and a closer relationship with God?
Answer:
How to get closer to God.
It is impossible to think about anything without having a clear idea about it. The Supreme is the Supreme Being who has many energies. One of the types of His energies is a special type of energy that permeates everything that exists. This type of energy is the basis of gravitational waves, thanks to which objects and various objects are held on Earth. The planets are in their orbits. Thanks to gravity, water moves downstream in rivers. Thanks to gravitational energy, water evaporates and moves through the air, causing precipitation to fall.
This type of energy from the Vedic scriptures is known as "Brahman" (this word has several meanings). “Brahman” is the cause of gravitational waves and is also the basis of intermolecular bonds. Thanks to these connections, objects can have a certain shape. “Brahman” is the basis of the bonds of elementary particles that make up atoms. Thanks to this type of energy, bonds are formed between neutrons and protons. As a result, atoms have a nucleus. Thanks to these bonds, electrons rotate around the nuclei, thereby forming an atomic structure.
As we can see, this type of divine energy that permeates absolutely everything – “Brahman” – is the root cause of all the connections that are formed, that is, everything that we see! Without this type of energy, the reality around us (and ourselves) would be a kind of homogeneous energetic “jelly”.
The essence of fulfilling this point of the process for knowing God is to look at any material object or object and realize that the root cause of this object is the all-pervading aspect of the Supreme - “Brahman”. The Almighty is the source of this type of energy. It is when looking at any object that one must keep in mind the fact that the reason for its appearance is “Brahman” - the all-pervading energy, the source of which is the Almighty. That is, to see in everything the manifestation of the energy of the Almighty.
How to become closer to God.
In order to understand how to become closer to God, you need to constantly remember one more manifestation of God. Of all the major religions that recognize the Almighty as the intelligent first cause of all things, we know that God is present in the heart of every living being. He knows thoughts, and has information about what a person has done or wants to do in the future. This property makes God Omniscient (or Omniscient).
This divine property can be understood from such a fact as clairvoyance, which some chosen people possess. They explain this phenomenon by information about a future event that suddenly appears in their minds. Such people can accurately make some predictions about future events. In order to make an accurate forecast of an event that will occur in the future, two criteria are needed:
- Possession of absolutely complete information regarding this event;
- Error-free calculation of future events, taking into account all possible data.
That is, a Being that can transmit error-free information about future events to a person must have these two criteria!! It is the Almighty, present in the heart of every person, who has the most complete information. It is the Almighty who has an unlimited amount of memory and intellectual power to process all the necessary information in order to accurately predict events that should happen in the future. Then, the Supreme Being transmits this information to a person who has the gift of “clairvoyance.” Therefore, the facts of “clairvoyance” are nothing more than a demonstration of such properties of God as:
- omniscience (receiving any information) and
— omnipotence (accurate processing of any amount of information).
Based on this, every sane person, whether he wants it or not, must recognize the fact that there is at least one Almighty Being who has complete information about his thoughts, actions and desires!! Realizing this fact, a person can answer the question - how to feel God.
You can live next to someone close to you, but this person will not know all your thoughts and desires. But the Almighty, being in your heart in the form of a certain energy, KNOWS absolutely everything about you! Thus, the Supreme Being, by virtue of owning all the information concerning you, is the Being closest to you! Therefore, if a person constantly, every second remembers this, then he becomes as close as possible to God, simply realizing His omniscience about himself and about everyone.
The very moment-to-moment constant remembering that all your thoughts, desires and actions are known to the Supreme Being makes a person sinless. A person simply cannot think, much less do anything bad, aware of the fact that the observer of all his thoughts and actions is the Almighty Witness! People who practice this - the only true principle of thinking - are usually silent, respectful and friendly towards all living beings. The principle of constant remembering the presence of the Almighty in the heart is also in the practice of one of the branches of Hinduism. From the Vedic scriptures, we can learn that the Supreme resides in the region of the human heart in the form of His personal expansion - “Paramatma”. Its size is about 20 centimeters. The nature of the energy of “Paramatma” is the same as that of “atma” - the human soul. “Atma” - the soul of a person, as well as “Paramatma” - the Supersoul, is located in the region of the heart. The Katha Upanishad says that one of the birds sitting on the tree of the material body eats fruits (atma - the human soul), and the other only watches it (Paramatma - the personal expansion of the Supreme). Yogis, with the help of special spiritual practice, constantly focusing their attention in a certain way on Paramatma, achieve incredible mystical abilities. Two types of turning to the Almighty to achieve 1. Material goals, and 2. Spiritual goals of self-awareness are fundamentally different from each other. Therefore, the likelihood that God will respond to a person who turns to Him to achieve spiritual goals is immeasurably higher than if a person turns to God only to achieve material goals.
But there is another type of appeal to God. This is a person’s request that the Almighty give him the opportunity to serve Him. This is communication with God of a person who wants to completely surrender to God.
The main mantra - “Maha-mantra” in Vaishnavism (a branch of Hinduism where the Supreme is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead) sounds like this: “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."
"Hare" is the energy of the Supreme.
“Krishna” is one of the Names of the Supreme, meaning “All-Attractive”. The Slavic version is “Kryshen”, which can also be translated as “covering everything.”
“Rama” (ancient Slavic – “Ramha”, the same root word for “pleasant”) is one of the Names of God, which means “All-Pleasing”.
Devotees of the Supreme who read this “Maha-mantra” recite it in a state of consciousness that can be expressed as follows: “O energy of the Supreme, let me serve You.”
It is this state of consciousness, and the request to God: “Let me serve You,” that is the highest level of communication with God. This is how souls who have surrendered to Him, that is, devotees of the Lord, communicate with the Almighty. Achieving such a higher state of consciousness is the ultimate in Vaishnavism (we are better known as “ Hare Krishnas ”).
About the post
Many Christians try to get closer to God through fasting. But this is what God says through the prophet Isaiah:
(Isaiah 58:2-4)
They seek Me every day and want to know My ways, like a people who do righteousness and do not forsake the laws of their God; they ask Me about the judgments of righteousness, they want to get closer to God: “Why do we fast, but You don’t see? We humble our souls, but You don’t know?” - Behold, on the day of your fast you do your will and demand hard work from others. Behold, you fast for quarrels and strife, and in order to strike others with a bold hand; you do not fast at this time so that your voice will be heard on high.
And then God speaks about what kind of fasting is pleasing to Him.
(Isaiah 58:5-7)
Is this the fast that I have chosen, the day on which a person languishes his soul, when he bends his head like a reed and spreads rags and ashes under him? Can you call this a fast and a day pleasing to the Lord? This is the fast that I have chosen: loose the chains of unrighteousness, untie the bonds of the yoke, and set the oppressed free, and break every yoke; divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the wandering poor into your home; When you see a naked person, clothe him, and do not hide from your half-blood.
- "Loosen the chains of untruth." Jesus rose again for our justification.
- “Loose the cords of the yoke and break away every yoke.” Freedom from religion.
- “Release the oppressed.” “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus is the truth.
- “Share your bread with the hungry.” Feeding five thousand people. (Matthew 14:20)
. - “Bring the wandering poor into your home.” Parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:30)
- When you see a naked person, clothe him, and do not hide from your half-blood.” Parable of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15:11-22)
So, six points where in the center we see Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can only get closer to God through Jesus.
How to love God.
There is a very effective type of meditation (concentration of attention - regardless of religious direction).
The work of our brain (like any computer) is based on the principle of comparison. We see an object, or some object, and, in accordance with similar information in our memory, our brain produces appropriate information and actions. Thus, our brain constantly spends a large amount of its analytical energy on constant analysis of surrounding objects, based on material interests. Even if we don't realize it. In order for the brain not to waste a lot of its energy, we need to try to think that everything we see around belongs to the Almighty. Since, in fact, everything is “made” from his energy. And also - permeated with His energy, and His energy - permeates and supports - the entire universe (including ourselves). When we learn to look at everything in exactly this way - the only correct, true way, our brain will stop, out of habit, “looking” for benefit from the objects and objects we are considering. As a result, we can feel how a very large amount of our psychic energy has been FREEDOM! As a result, we get two important things:
a) Release of a significant amount of psychic energy (in analytical form). This will be expressed in high tone, increased cognitive abilities, etc.
b) We will learn to constantly think about the presence of the Almighty in the form of His all-pervading, omniscient (He knows everything), and all-supporting energy. A constant image of such thinking leads to one of the highest levels of spiritual perfection.
To understand how to love God with all your heart , just remembering His energies and turning to Him is not enough. One must dedicate one's actions to His service. This universe is designed in such a way that the Almighty Himself does not reveal Himself to man. Knowledge about the Absolute Divine Truth is spread by people who directly decide to dedicate their actions to the service of the Almighty.
In Christianity and Vaishnavism, the following types of relationships with God are considered.
- Servant of God (“servant of God” in Christianity).
- Treating God as a Friend.
- Love for God.
(Vaishnavism also considers other types of relationships with God).
When a person begins to act for the Almighty, then the actions themselves begin to directly connect him with God. A person who acts (serves) for the Almighty begins to feel this direct connection with God. At the same time, he receives transcendental (spiritual) bliss, which cannot be compared in quality to any of the material pleasures. This reliably strengthens the emerging mutual connection between the devotee and the Supreme. And a person moves into the next one - a friendly relationship with God. Having become familiar with the sacred scriptures of the incarnation of the Almighty, a person gets the opportunity to develop his attitude towards God in a certain form. This gives him an incomparable advantage in being able to draw closer to and love God! But a person who is not at the proper level of spiritual development, and divides spiritual knowledge about the Almighty into “mine” and “yours,” “ours” and “not ours,” deprives himself of such an opportunity.
The actions of the incarnation of the Supreme in the form of Krishna are described in the BHAGAVAD-GITA, Srimad-Bhagavatam and other sacred scriptures.
Of course, if Krishna's actions were no different from the actions of an ordinary person, we would not know anything about them. And no one would even think of calling Krishna an incarnation of God. But Krishna performs such actions that no man can do. For example, an action such as detaching a large mountain from the ground and lifting it above the surface on one hand, so that the residents and domestic animals of an entire settlement could hide under it from a heavy downpour. And this is not the only action that is described in the scriptures.
The scriptures describe the life of Krishna, starting from childhood. He is described in the human form of a child of unearthly beauty. Further, it grows. His childhood games are described. Then His life is described in the form of a teenager and a young man of ideal beauty. Krishna does not age, and retains an eternally youthful form, even when He has great-grandchildren. The description of the human form of Krishna (the Supreme) at various ages, starting from the age of a child, gives the reader a unique opportunity to develop the lovingly attractive side of his feelings towards the Supreme. This makes love feelings for God the most multifaceted and complete. Just try to imagine: the Supreme Mind, the Supreme Being incarnated before you in the image of a 5-6 year old boy with dark blue skin, ideal beauty. Only so that you can develop divine love for Him. Moreover, He is also a hooligan. When imagining Him in the form of a human child, one must not forget that this is an Almighty Being. And He, in His power, always responds to the sincere feelings of His devotees, helping to develop divine, incomparable love for Him.
Growing up, Krishna turns into a young man whose beauty cannot be compared with anything. In this human form, without changing, He remains on Earth for about 110 years (125 years in total).
Its magnificence helps to develop another facet of love attraction in a person. A person who reads the scriptures about Krishna gradually develops in himself a versatile and multifaceted feeling of love for the Supreme. This helps him to be constantly aware of the Absolute Truth. Developing such thinking, a person, during the death of his physical body, in his next life incarnates in the transcendental (spiritual) universes in a new transcendental body. In the spiritual world, the devotee meets a new spiritual form of the Supreme.
This is what the Almighty Himself says:
“The mind of one who meditates on objects of sense pleasure is sure to become entangled in them, but if a person constantly remembers Me, then his mind becomes immersed in Me.
“Therefore one should give up all material processes of elevation, which are like the creations of the mind in sleep, and should completely absorb his mind in Me. Constantly thinking of Me, he becomes pure.”
(“Srimad – Bhagavatam”, Canto 11, Chapter 14, Texts 27 – 28).
“Srimad - Bhagavatam” It is recommended to study immediately after “BHAGAVAD _ GITA”). “Think of Me as the omniscient, ancient Supreme Personality, as the ruler of the universe, as the one who is less than the smallest and who maintains the entire universe; as one who is above all material ideas, who is incomprehensible and who always remains a person; as one who shines like the Sun, who is beyond the material world.” ( Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 8, Text 9 )
“...he who constantly remembers Me will be able to easily come to Me, for he serves Me all the time . (Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 8, Text 14).
What is the will of the Father?
Cancel the first to establish the second.
This means abolishing the Old Testament, and it says: “If you obey, I will bless you; if you do not, I will curse you.”
God wants to cancel this covenant and establish a new one.
The first covenant is the law.
The second covenant is grace.
(Hebrews 10:10)
It is by this will that we are sanctified by the one-time offering of the body of Jesus Christ.
Sanctified is a derivative of the word holy.
Do you know that you are holy in your standing before God once and for all?
All the blessings of the saint are upon you.
2. The work of Jesus is one sacrifice once and for all.
(Heb 10:11a)
And every priest stands in ministry every day.
In the Old Testament this meant that their work was not yet finished.
(Heb 10:11b)
And he repeatedly brings the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
(Hebrews 10:12)
He, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down forever at the right hand of God,
The world does not know these words because the Church itself has not yet established itself in this verse.
Jesus is not seated at the right hand of God because He is God's Son, He has always been God's Son. Jesus sat there because our sins were blotted out forever.
We are seated with Christ, and He works when we are at rest.
3. Testimony of the Holy Spirit.
(Hebrews 10:15-16)
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us of this for it is said: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their hearts, and write them on their minds.
The Holy Spirit witnesses to us
This is talking about the laws of the New Testament. This is the perfect law of freedom and the royal law of love. These are the laws of the Spirit of life.
(Hebrews 10:17)
And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
In Greek, the word “more” is a very strong negative. It uses two different words for “no” that go together. This results in a categorical denial.
(Hebrews 10:19)
So, brethren, having boldness to enter the sanctuary through the Blood of Jesus Christ, in a new and living way.
We have a new and living way compared to the Old Testament. There people came to God without proper preparation and died because of their sins. They needed to come to God with fear and trembling. If people were not ready, they fell dead.
King Uzziah inadvertently approached God and was stricken with leprosy. He had to run away.
Now God is our Father because the Blood of the sacrifice was shed. God loves us - this is a new and living way.
(Hebrews 10:20)
Which He again revealed to us through the veil, that is, His flesh.
The Old Testament is an old and dead way.
Today we have a new, life-giving path.
If you are sick, the closer you come to God, the more life you take into every cell of your body, into every muscle and bone. The closer you get to God, the more life God gives you. This is a new and living way.
New - just slaughtered.
This means that from God's perspective, Jesus' death has just happened. With this spirit you must come to God. The blood of Jesus Christ gave you this right. His Blood has washed away your sins. God sees you in His Son.
(Hebrews 10:21)
...and
having
a great Priest over the house of God.
You have a High Priest, and His name is Jesus.
Any teaching that does not give you full faith is not from God.
The teaching of the Holy Spirit gives you complete faith, otherwise you will think, “I guess I'm saved, but maybe I'm not.”
The Bible states:
(Hebrews 10:22)
Let us approach with a sincere heart, with full faith, having cleansed our hearts from an evil conscience by sprinkling, and having washed our bodies with clean water,
