What Makes A Religious Experience Genuine?
This is a very good question. So many claim to be Christian. It’s the most overused title. But we know that on that final judgement day there will be many who really believed they were Christians.. Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
God wants a relationship with us, not a religion. Christ did not die to give us religion, organized by men in funny costumes. This is where the world judges by the appearance looking on some religious men as holy looking.
We must be born again to see the Kingdom of Heaven. We are born physically (first birth) but spritually separated from God because of sin (Adam & Eve) so we are born with a sin nature and no connection with God because He is Holy and we are sinful. He sent Jesus to die for us to pay the debt of our sins so we didn’t have to die, as we cannot pay the debt ourselves, only Jesus was perfect enough to do this. We have to be born again/spiritually (2nd birth) where we are connected with God. We must plead to God for our sinful ways and acknowledge what jesus did for our sins. It is through His name that God will liten to us. Jesus is the mediator.
The born again experience – when God forgives you, you become a new creature in Christ. The Holy Spirit enters your body and changes you. You’re given a new heart and you start to see things differently and feel differently. It’s a supernatural experience, not a religious experience.
If you call out to God in the name of Jesus He will save you from your sins and will make you a new person. Your life will change from doing this and your eyes will be opened.
God Bless 🙂
Today increasing numbers of people claim to have had a religious experience. Some say they have had several. They have received visions, the sense of God’s presence, or other miraculous signs. Quite a few now have a message to share with believers. How is a Christian to decide what is genuine? Are Christians to pay any attention to these claims? How does one answer? RSV 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. It is imperative to remember that the anti-Christ will also do “miracles”. And they will be practically undeniable! (See Revelation 13:13-14.) These miracles will mislead the uneducated and the educated, rich and poor. It will make the unspiritual believe they are spiritual. The basest impulse it will legitimize and make “holy”. It will spread these ideas (lies) like propaganda. Not even the most famous popstar or leader in history will have such support from the mas
