There are many people who are satisfied with knowing facts about God who do not have a relationship with Him.
You might say: "but I believe in God and know things about Him", and I would say; "so does the devil."
Just knowing facts about God and facts about the history of the Bible does not make a Christian. Unless you have a relationship with Him there can be no salvation.
What is a relationships with God? First we have to confess our sinfulness, then we desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. No one will be changed into a new creation who does not think they need changing.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
"Therefore" is an important word because it qualifies why we become a new creation.
The previous verses in 2 Corinthians 5:14-16 "14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."
When we love to hear from Him through the reading of His word and prayer desiring that He teach us His own heart, then we have a relationship with Him.
Learning His principles just to be able to feel superior to others is not a relationship with Him. We can know a lot about someone else, where they live, who they know, their job, even their likes and dislikes without knowing their heart.
Those who are focused on their own superiority using religion as a means to elevate self are not able to confess their sinfulness to be born again. Some may even mouth the words but they are hollow words designed to pretend something is true that is not.
Proverbs 30:15 "knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth, and the needy from among men. 15 The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”: 16 Sheol, the barren womb, land that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough!”…"
2 Peter 2:18-19
"18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."
Psalm 20:4 "4 May He grant you your heart’s desire
And fulfill all your counsel!"
When we have God's desires for us in mind then He will grant us those things that are His will. His will is best for us even if it doesn't feel like it. The more we focus on learning God's heart for our lives the less we will be determined to get our own way. The less we desire the praise of men.
John 12:42-44 "42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me."
Psalm 51:10
"10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Jeremiah 29:13
"13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
Proverbs 3:5-6
"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."
To pray "give me give me" all the time is disrespectful and self willed. It is when we seek God for His will mentioning our desires but willing to let go of them if they do not match with God's will then we are truly wanting to worship and please God.
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