In the NT normative Christian experience is limited neither to mere confession of sins and repentance nor to a lived faith based on salvation by grace through faith, but primarily consists of a living intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In a recent study 3 of 4 Christian young people reportedly lost their faith during their college years. In my view, this apostasy is primarily due to their failure to have ever enjoyed such a sustained supernatural relationship. 3 of my cousins, children of missionary parents, were such casualties. I would have been too, were it not for a momentous experience of the Spirit's power that cemented such a life-changing relationship with Christ.
This thread will develop its normative claim with a focus on these 4 topics, separated to make dialogue more focused and less helter-skelter:
(1) John the Seer's focus on the need for the experience of feasting on the Risen Lord
(2) Peter's focus on the affective experience of "tasting" Christ's goodness
(3) Jesus' [and Paul's] focus on the experience of "drinking in the Spirit" and Paul's understanding of the need to "pray in the Spirit"
(4) Paul's further understanding of the need to dramatically experience the power of the Spirit
Please join in once each theme is developed.
This thread will develop its normative claim with a focus on these 4 topics, separated to make dialogue more focused and less helter-skelter:
(1) John the Seer's focus on the need for the experience of feasting on the Risen Lord
(2) Peter's focus on the affective experience of "tasting" Christ's goodness
(3) Jesus' [and Paul's] focus on the experience of "drinking in the Spirit" and Paul's understanding of the need to "pray in the Spirit"
(4) Paul's further understanding of the need to dramatically experience the power of the Spirit
Please join in once each theme is developed.