The REAL Jesus
Paul fears that believers he was close to have been given a distorted view of God, "a different Jesus" he says, by false teachers recruiting them away from him and other sound teaching.
According to many sound bible teachers, the view of God we envision has direct impact on the comfort we will experience and the victory we will enjoy. Last evening I started a book by Tim LaHaye entitled
The Merciful God of Prophecy which addresses this subject. He starts out by saying that those who have a wrong & confused understanding of God from a legalistic background or other influence will not be confident in seeking his comfort or receiving his love. Concerned about this crucial matter especially in hard times, Mr. LaHaye wrote this book to others could get to know the REAL Jesus. There are still foundational things I need to understand clearly and confidently, especially the LOVE of God.
Another bible teacher I was listening to today said that 'until you become 100% confident that God really loves you today just as much as he's ever loved you, you will never have complete victory. Explaining that not believing this allows you to think God is against you and results in us getting mad at God. This is why we must be deeply rooted in God's Love, the real unconditionally loving God. Thus, Christians who are not rooted deeply enough in this become offended & turn away from God like the plant that has no root in the parable of the sower.
If anyone else has biblically sound authors on the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE of God, I would be interested in learning about them. I once saw a movie about God, Our Sheperd which was terrific because it described very well how we are NOT pawns of God, but personally loved. However, I can't seem to find it.
