This is understandable why the Roman Catholic doesn't view Christ in this manner.
Roman Catholics have it beat into their heads that Jesus is the judgmental Savior Who appears ready to zap the Roman Catholic for every indiscretion whereas Mary is the kind, sweet mother they can run to and ask for things because her mean ol' Son won't listen to them.
It's one of the primary reasons for such Mariolatry in Roman Catholicism.
It may also explain why so many Roman Catholics have fallen for the lie of the apparition regarding wearing a man-made piece of cloth to avoid the eternal fire.
However, IF one reads the Bible one begins to truly understand just how personal the relationship is with Jesus.
He died for us. Consider that. He died for us.
Consider this event regarding the death of Lazarus on how Jesus responded.
This is from John 11 for the Biblically challenged:
10“But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
Skipping down a bit...….notice what Jesus says to her regarding belief....the promise of salvation for those who believe.
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21Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22“Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
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This is her profession of faith in Him in verse 27.....sounds pretty personal doesn't it?
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27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35Jesus wept.
38So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it
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10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11 NASB
12“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14“You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17“This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:12-17 NASB
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Still wanna say He's not your personal Lord and Savior?
For the "personal relationship" with Christ...
Ever consider what birth is like?
Birth starts with pregnancy...since those who are pregnant first, cannot give birth.
When the time is come, full gestation one hopes, uterine contractions begin; the cervix widens, and the baby is pushed out of the womb.
The process is called "labor."
You might note that St. Paul writes in Scripture, about "my little children, with whom I am in labor until Christ is formed in you." Galatians 4:19
OK, there is such a thing as a C-section. ("Christ-section" ?...bad pun)
But in general birth is not instantaneous.
St. Paul also writes to the Corinthians, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready."
So we see the comparison to birth, to infancy and milk, to growing up to maturity in Christ.
From what Scriptures do you get the supposition that the ONLY way to have a relationship with Jesus is to "say the sinner's prayer"?
For the Catholic example...have you ever tried *reading* the autobiographies of any Catholics, whether Saints or visionaries?
One of the Catholic Nuns, spoke of wanting nothing from childhood but to be the humble servant of the Holy Family; and begged her Mother Superior to sell her to Jesus as his little donkey.
She had a number of revelations from Jesus about prayers for God's Mercy in reparation for Atheism and Blasphemy; and that He had chosen her, because she was such a nobody, all the credit would go even more to Him.
I find great similarities in the writings of some of the Saints, with the writings of the Pentecostals, about being led continuously in prayer (and yes, in actions) by the Holy Spirit.
The main difference being, the Catholics all seem to say that God has instructed them Himself, that even if their superiors contradict HIs impression on their hearts, to obey their superiors; whereas Protestants seem to rejoice in any excuse for "We must obey God rather than men."
This, despite St. Paul *immediately* apologizing for reviling the High Priest when he commanded someone to strike Paul...and St. Paul quoting the Scripture, "For it is written, brothers, you must not speak evil of a leader of your people."
Why do the Protestants automatically declare that they get a free pass?
I am beginning to consider that to be a danger, just as Protestants...no, that's not fair. Some Protestants declare in advance, even without finding out what was said, that ALL revelations whatsoever after the close of the New Testament, *must* be diabolical.
I never said that. I pointed out that phrase didn't appear in the New Testament as such.
And instead of admitting, oops, you're right; but the concept is congruent with Scripture -- you lied through your teeth about me and about Catholics.
As far as His dying for us?
I posted one set of Sorrowful meditations for the Rosary.
You apparently missed them in your haste to start foaming at the mouth.
Read them. Notice that they do nothing BUT talk about the Suffering and Death of Jesus for us.
The Agony of Jesus in the Garden
1st Sorrowful Mystery
My Son came with His apostles to the mount of Olives. There was a garden there that He frequently went to pray: He felt a sadness; a deep, deep sadness. He felt lonely: my Son in His humanity felt a deeper sadness than anyone could ever feel because He was pure of heart: He was sinless. He took His closest friends, Peter whom He was to give charge of the Church, James, and John. John was the one who was going to take care of me after Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus said to them: My heart is sorrowful to the point of death: stay here and pray and keep watch while I go and pray by Myself." Jesus went over further to pray: He wanted to pray by Himself. He wanted to pour out His heart to His Father as I often have seen Him do with His prayer. My Son always prayed continuously to His Father: He always looked to the Father for His consolation. During the time He prayed, He saw all the agony He was going to suffer: and the agony was not so much the pain of the crucifixion as the pains of the sins of the world. Every sin, every injustice, every infidelity He saw and felt at that very moment, caused Him to sweat blood. His agony, His sorrow, and so much sinfulness caused the blood to burst from His forehead. It was just another anticipation of when His Precious Blood would be shed on the cross. That Blood that was sweat on Gethsemane blessed that very spot into Jesus' sacred place of prayer.
My children, never seek your comfort in anyone but God. In your times of loneliness, in your times of depression, in your times of doubt, have recourse to prayer. When you go to the Father, offer this mystery for those who are in doubt: those who do not know where to turn to: those who are depressed: the mentally ill: the emotionally ill. Pray that as the Father sent an angel to comfort my Son, the Lord in His mercy will comfort them and enlighten them.
The Scourging at the Pillar
2nd Sorrowful Mystery
My Son was sent to Pilate after being judged by the Jewish authorities, I was there in spirit: I heard Pontius Pilate as he came out to talk to the crowd. He said: "I find no fault in this Man worthy of death: so I will have Him scourged: then I will set Him free." Pilate said this to placate the crowd because he knew my Son was innocent of all the accusations that they were throwing at Him. Pilate sent my Son to be scourged: He was whipped. The normal procedure was to be whipped thirty-nine times. My Son was whipped furiously: the demons took possession of the soldiers. All the anger of hell was vented out on my Son. At that moment, I asked the Father to spare my Son from dying at the scourging and the Father answered my prayer: and still the soldiers that scourged my Son were filled with the very hatred of hell itself. That was the reaction they had to the purity of my Son. When Jesus received all this scourging for the love of you, it was because He loved you that He took all this pain: because He wanted you to be healed of your sins: of all the diseases of the soul, mind, and body that Jesus took all this punishment. Jesus did not take all this punishment to condemn you: He took it all to save you. Behold the love of my Son for you and yet behold His meekness as the Lamb that is brought to the slaughter: my Son was scourged without even opening His mouth.
My children, my Son wishes to heal you by His stripes. By the scourging He received, He wants to set you free of all types of oppression, of all types of bondage. By the stripes of my Son you are healed and set free. My children, pray to the Father that He will heal the wounds of your heart so that you can pray with love. Ask the Father to teach you how to love the way my Son loves. Pray for those who are possessed by hatred: pray for those who have an insatiable need to seek revenge. Pray that they too will be liberated and healed by the stripes of my Son.
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
3rd Sorrowful Mystery After the scourging, my Son was led to the praetorium where the soldiers wanted to further amuse themselves. They took some twine filled with thorns and made a skull like cap. They placed the cap on the head of Jesus and pressed causing the thorns to penetrate His scalp until He began to bleed. Then they put a reed in His hand and they knelt before Him and they mocked Him and said to Him, "All Hail, King of the Jews," and they spit in His face, they hit His head with the reed, they slapped His face, and plucked His beard. Jesus continued to say nothing. He received it all.
My children, Jesus still receives a crown of thorns from many. It is normal for Jesus to be mocked by His enemies but it is more painful when Jesus is mocked by His own people. Even today, my children, Christians mock Him by living in mortal sin, by receiving Communion in mortal sin, by not believing the truth contained in the scriptures which is the word of God. My children, Christians mock Jesus and crown Him with thorns when they invent their own doctrines at their convenience: when they use the gospel of my Son, they use it to justify their own teachings, their own doctrine. My children, I call you to make reparation to my Son. Follow Him by leaving all sin behind: by loving Him and revering Him in the Blessed Sacrament. When you receive Him in Holy Communion, tell Him that you love Him for those who will not love Him. Offer this mystery to the Father in reparation for all the blasphemes that were ever said against my Son. Pray for those who take the name of God in vain: pray for those who will not keep Sunday holy. Promise the Father that you will keep Sunday holy by going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion and avoiding all unnecessary work in order to give yourself to prayer and doing the will of God. I am praying for you, my children and I will guide you in loving Jesus for those who will not love Him.
Jesus Carried the Cross
4th Sorrowful Mystery
That Friday, that first Good Friday, Jesus, my Son, after He was scourged and was crowned with thorns, was given a cross to carry through the streets of Jerusalem all the way to Mount Calvary where they had crucified others. He carried the cross through the same streets which He had come triumphantly the Sunday before. The people who cried "Hosanna" now cried "Crucify Him." I was there along the way and I met my Son: His face all beaten, all covered with blood from His bleeding head, tired and dirty, and yet our eyes met. Our eyes filled with love for each other. Both of us knew that it was totally unavoidable that He should go through this agony for the salvation of the world. The weight of the cross on Jesus' body was not as heavy as the weight of the sins of the world on His soul. Out of obedience to His Father, Jesus continued the journey until He reached Calvary. He met a group of women who were weeping and He said to them: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but for yourselves and your children."
My children, pray for the gift of tears, that through that gift the Lord will cleanse your souls of sin and the effects of sin. My children, pray for the gift of obedience: that each one of you will be obedient to the call that the Father has given to you. Pray for those who have burdens on their hearts and the weight of their trials seems more than they can bear, pray to the Father that these people will have the strength to carry their crosses following Jesus. Finally, ask the Father for the gift of being true disciples of Jesus: ask the Father that you will always say yes to Jesus and to His way even though it may mean suffering and sorrow. Pray to the Father that you will have the grace to take all out of love for Him.
The Crucifixion of our Lord
5th Sorrowful Mystery
When we had finally reached Mount Calvary, my Son was thrown on the cross after being stripped naked in front of the crowd. They drove spikes through His hands and feet and yet the Lord gave me the strength to withstand the sight of my Son being nailed on the cross and literally butchered by the soldiers. They lifted the cross to its place, and then my Son hung there for three hours. I heard my Son say, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they're doing." Jesus prayed for His enemies and pleaded for their ignorance: He also pleaded for your ignorance. There were two thieves crucified with Jesus, one on His right and the other on His left, and to the repentant thief He promised paradise. Finally He looked at me and at John: He told me, "Woman, behold your Son" and to John, "Behold your mother." My spiritual motherhood is Jesus' gift to you: Jesus gave me to His disciples and to the whole Church to be mother and intercessor for everyone who calls himself a Christian. When the third hour came, the sky became dark and Jesus cried out, "Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit."
My Son bowed His head, the symbol of obedience to the Father, and then the earth began to quake. There was a great storm in Heaven, the whole of creation was reacting at man's crime, the killing of their God, the killing of their Savior. After it was calm, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimethea, and John took my Son down and then placed Him in my arms. I remembered while I was holding Him the prophecy of Simeon, "The sword of sorrow will pierce your soul." That prophecy was coming true: but just as I was holding my Son in my arms, I remembered His words that He would rise, again. All that I needed to do was to wait until that prophecy was fulfilled. My children, ask the Father to extend His salvation and forgiveness to your enemies. Pray for those who abuse you: pray for those who hurt you in any form. Ask the Father that they will also be cleansed by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Come, my children, to the foot of the cross and there I will pray with you and for you that your sins will be blotted out: that you will experience the redeeming power of my Son. Pray before the crucifix and I will pray with you. Ask the Father that you will constantly remember the death of my Son and be ever grateful for the salvation He has obtained for you.
I don't think anybody wanted to say Jesus is not his, or our, personal Lord and Savior; but just that the phrase "accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior" does not appear anywhere in Scripture as some kind of formula or summary statement of salvation.
If you want to select a summary statement, one could just as well select:
Or:
It makes me wonder if we are justified in selecting just one "salvation" statement, when Jesus offers us multiples. They don't contradict each other, but they offer us ample perspectives, ample angles of approach, to give a fully-rounded view of what it means, not to be "saved" (as if that were a one-time thing), but rather to "remain" in Christ.
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4 )
May we, as brothers and sisters, always abide in love, be merciful, and remain Him.