I had a dream last night, and in it I was struck by the thought that to believe you have a contract with God you most likely believe yourself his equal in some way.
Why would you need a contract with God if he loves us?
edit: Perhaps I should clarify that I'm referring to a group of people who view God's love as some kind of business deal, a singling out from the rest of humanity for special treatment.
PS I also don't think it's the same God that I percieve.
You understood much better than I wrote it :)
I've clarified my post a bit already.
I should also point out that my relationship with God and Jesus is one of personal discovery, rather than taken from a book. I do read the Bible, but I have trouble understanding most of it to be honest.
I look into my heart and work with what I find there. It eventually led me to Jesus and then to God. I'm a rare species, a gnostic christian.
Oh dear! Paul warned the early church regularly about the gnostics. I'm not sure you're using the term in the same way he did.
If you have trouble understanding it (which is not uncommon) I would suggest sticking with the New Testament for now. It's all about God's grace and Jesus and though the Old Testament lays the groundwork for Jesus, for me, the NT is where it is at. Particularly if you have limited time, knowledge or trouble understanding.
As for the gospels themselves, they are all purported to lean toward a specific group except for John. John is for everyone, so maybe concentrate your efforts there. (Matthew for Jews, Luke for Greeks and Mark for Romans. John for all.)
I use the term in the sense of personal knowledge of Jesus (as opposed to secret teachings).
There were many gnostic groups I believe.
Something I picked up from the Bible early on was Jesus saying that God dwells in our hearts, seek him there. That's all I really needed to know.
Organised religion is an exercise in power and control, it has no place in my world.