Doubting my salvation...

Leevo · Jun 30, 2015

Hey guys, I am doubting my salvation at the moment. I think it has a lot to do with a bunch of things that have happened to me recently. I have started to doubt my Catholic faith, and I was about to return to my Protestant church. I can no longer keep myself persuaded that the Catholic church is the best way. I was about to move back over to my old church when the homosexual marriage decision came out. I have been waiting on the church or any of the pastors to comment, and they haven't. I have sent messages to them via Facebook but they haven't replied. I cannot in good conscience go there if they support the decision. My faith is on hold. Now, because of all this, I am doubting my salvation. I haven't been to church in over a month and a half... It makes me reflect on my "conversion" a little over a year ago.

I used to be a believer when I was younger, but my family never went to church. I believed, but it didn't cross my mind much as I was only a kid. I said many of sinners prayers over those years but never felt that I was truly saved. I doubted strongly that God even existed for awhile when I was 17 and up to a few weeks before my baptism. In 2014, on Easter Sunday, I was baptized (still Protestant at this point), I don't even really know why I did it. I just felt that I should because it was something Christians did and because Jesus commanded it. I also said another Sinner's Prayer that day when the Pastor did, and put my "trust" in Christ. Then he invited anyone who had done so and wanted to be baptized to come up, so I did. It had been my plan for a few weeks to do this. About a week or two after my baptism, I backslid. I stopped reading the Bible, stopped praying, and continued sinning as I pleased. I was researching church's during that time but doing very little that showed I was saved/a believer... A few months later, in August, I joined RCIA and started converting to the Catholic faith. All the while struggling to keep my faith on track and had several backslides that would go on for a couple months at a time. Fast forward again to Easter this year, I was confirmed into the Catholic church. Fully convinced this was the best church around and that I had finally found the end of the road where I would finally be content in my faith and serve God. Nope. Now because of what I wrote in the first paragraph, I am doubting my salvation and whether or not my baptism was valid. I never had that radical conversion you hear about from people where they just are only living for themselves, and one day, complete 360 and they start living for Jesus. Should I be re-baptized?

I know the Bible does say we cannot be snatched from God's hands once we're in, but I doubt whether I was ever truly in. The only sign I see that makes me think that I might be saved, is that I do not only care about myself anymore. I always want to learn about Jesus and talk about him. I love sharing the gospel with people. I feel like there should be more to it...

Tigger45 · Jun 30, 2015

First what was the denom of your old church, maybe we can help you find something similar that does not support gay marriage.

Leevo · Jun 30, 2015

Tigger45 said:
First what was the denom of your old church, maybe we can help you find something similar that does not support gay marriage.

Non-denominational. I am unsure as to whether or not they support it. They refuse to comment on it. The main pastor has made no remarks about it. I set up a meeting with him on July 13th but it seems so far off...

Gentle Lamb · Jun 30, 2015

I'll be honest, I didn't read through your whole post, just the first paragraph or so. First, congratulations on standing on the Word of God and not returning to a church that will neither stand here nor there on an issue of morality that goes against the Word of God. Second, the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior

(http://biblehub.com/esv/john/14.htm John 14:6 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.),

our High Priest who currently sits in Heaven at the right hand of God, compassionately pleading our case with our Father because He has been through every temptation and understands exactly what we are going through on this earth

( http://biblehub.com/esv/hebrews/5.htm Hebrews 4:14-5:9
Jesus the Great High Priest
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Chapter 5
1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

6as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

7In the days of his flesh, Jesusa offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.).

There is no salvation in religion or denomination. There is only salvation through your Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, whose perfect sacrifice

(http://biblehub.com/esv/hebrews/10.htm Hebrews 10:10 10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.)
(biblehub.com/nlt/revelation/1.htm Revelations 1:5-6
5and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen)

has made it possible for you to have a personal relationship with God. Jesus is all you need. Ask Jesus to come and dwell in your heart, ask God to put His heart in you, His spirit in you, ask God to lead and guide you and give you a spirit of wisdom and discernment (looks like he has already started doing that) and that is all you need. God will guide you, Jesus is your way to the Father, and He will give you the strength to continue growing in relationship with Him.

Leevo · Jun 30, 2015

justneedhelp said:
I'll be honest, I didn't read through your whole post, just the first paragraph or so. First, congratulations on standing on the Word of God and not returning to a church that will neither stand here nor there on an issue of morality that goes against the Word of God. Second, the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior

(http://biblehub.com/esv/john/14.htm John 14:6 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.),

our High Priest who currently sits in Heaven at the right hand of God, compassionately pleading our case with our Father because He has been through every temptation and understands exactly what we are going through on this earth

( http://biblehub.com/esv/hebrews/5.htm Hebrews 4:14-5:9
Jesus the Great High Priest
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Chapter 5
1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

6as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

7In the days of his flesh, Jesusa offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.).

There is no salvation in religion or denomination. There is only salvation through your Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, whose perfect sacrifice

(http://biblehub.com/esv/hebrews/10.htm Hebrews 10:10 10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.)
(biblehub.com/nlt/revelation/1.htm Revelations 1:5-6
5and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen)

has made it possible for you to have a personal relationship with God. Jesus is all you need. Ask Jesus to come and dwell in your heart, ask God to put His heart in you, His spirit in you, ask God to lead and guide you and give you a spirit of wisdom and discernment (looks like he has already started doing that) and that is all you need. God will guide you, Jesus is your way to the Father, and He will give you the strength to continue growing in relationship with Him.

Thanks man. I did exactly that. I don't feel much different, maybe I am just being silly, I don't really know. Though, I think getting my butt to church would help me tremendously.

Gentle Lamb · Jun 30, 2015

Leevo said:
Thanks man. I did exactly that. I don't feel much different, maybe I am just being silly, I don't really know. Though, I think getting my butt to church would help me tremendously.

You're quite welcome. Don't depend on your feelings, depend on God, seek Him in prayer, and yes getting to church can help, and if you want to hear Spirit filled sermons to encourage your faith in the meantime, I highly recommend the messages of Pastor David Wilkerson (now deceased) his messages greatly helped to boost my current path towards getting closer to God, He talks about the importance of spending at least 15 minutes a day in prayer (http://www.tscnyc.org/media_center.php?pg=sermons&spg=davidwilkerson#top). Prayer is your greatest weapon against the enemy and we are to make use of it as often as we can (Pray without ceasing - 1 Thessalonians 5:17) But all of the sermons coming from Times Square Church are spirit filled (http://www.tscnyc.org/media_center.php?pg=sermons), they are rooted in Jesus and that is all we need. Make time to pray and seek God's face everyday and be prepared for the enemy to come at you with all types of stupid distractions, but don't take your focus off of God and Jesus. Seek Him, ask for His guidance, and He will definitely help you.

Gentle Lamb · Jun 30, 2015

Also, get water baptized at your soonest opportunity, if you've already done it before, doing it again could just be a way to show you're renewing your commitment to the Lord. I'm finally getting baptized this Sunday, I hope & pray everything turns out according to plan.

BFine · Jun 30, 2015

Your salvation isn't to be based on
whether you "feel" saved or not, it's
based on whether you put your faith
in Jesus and are relying upon Him.

There's no scripture that teaches we are
to "feel" saved...there's a lot in the Bible
about trusting the Lord, relying on Him,
abiding in the Vine(Jesus) etc.

I was born and raised in the bible-belt, so I've
heard all sorts of stories about how people felt
this way or that... that's nice but we aren't to
rely upon what we felt or experienced when
we sought the Lord for salvation...far too
many have gotten off-track by relying upon
their feelings.

We are to rely/trust/abide in Christ, not our
feelings/experiences.

Feelings are fickle, the least thing can upset
them. That is why we are to trust the Lord and
hold to His Word...neither of them change.

Leevo · Jun 30, 2015

justneedhelp said:
Also, get water baptized at your soonest opportunity, if you've already done it before, doing it again could just be a way to show you're renewing your commitment to the Lord. I'm finally getting baptized this Sunday, I hope & pray everything turns out according to plan.

I have been baptized once, I fell away almost immediately after. So I doubt its validity. I might get a second baptism, depends on how all this works out... I pray everything goes well at your baptism, and congratulations!

Leevo · Jun 30, 2015

BFine said:
Your salvation isn't to be based on
whether you "feel" saved or not, it's
based on whether you put your faith
in Jesus and are relying upon Him.

There's no scripture that teaches we are
to "feel" saved...there's a lot in the Bible
about trusting the Lord, relying on Him,
abiding in the Vine(Jesus) etc.

I was born and raised in the bible-belt, so I've
heard all sorts of stories about how people felt
this way or that... that's nice but we aren't to
rely upon what we felt or experienced when
we sought the Lord for salvation...far too
many have gotten off-track by relying upon
their feelings.

We are to rely/trust/abide in Christ, not our
feelings/experiences.

Feelings are fickle, the least thing can upset
them. That is why we are to trust the Lord and
hold to His Word...neither of them change.

This is true man. Thanks. It is just hard to do, not rely on our feelings. I just start experiencing doubt because that "feeling" of salvation has gone from me. Makes me feel I never truly was. However, I know and believe fully that Christ died for all sins including my own, I trust that he can save me and that he will. It might be the enemy playing tricks on me and causing me to doubt... Maybe nothing is changing when I pray because it doesn't need to, maybe it is because I truly am saved?

Gentle Lamb · Jun 30, 2015

Leevo said:
I have been baptized once, I fell away almost immediately after. So I doubt its validity. I might get a second baptism, depends on how all this works out... I pray everything goes well at your baptism, and congratulations!

Thank you!

I'm very glad to see how God has been working in your life to bring you back to Him, He never forgets about any one of us

Hospes · Jun 30, 2015

Just to add some balance, feelings are not determinative of salvation, but neither are they unimportant. God commands us to feel certain ways. Gladness, joy, and delight are all to be part of our experience as disciples of our Lord. Feelings very often are the indicators God uses to open our eyes to our own condition.

Can you imagine the person rescued from a paper cut having the same feelings of gratitude, joy, and relief as the person who is rescued from a wood chipper? If the person rescued from a wood chipper is unmoved in emotion, more than likely it indicates they don't really understand the greatness of their salvation. As the redeemed of God, we have no reason to be unmoved by God's matchless grace in our salvation. He brought us from death to life, the perfect and holy God of all creation has adopted us as his children, the insurmountable debt we owed he nailed to the Cross, we have meaning in our suffering, we need not fear death, we have truly tasted the Lord and seen that he is good! How can anyone truly believe the Good News and not feel it is so good?

BFine · Jun 30, 2015

Having doubts, none of us are immune from them...we can; however, combat doubts with
truth...renew your mind on the truth found in
God's Word-- recall how you sought the Lord for
salvation...stand your ground, hold to truth!

Something else... put on the full armor of God--
bible study on that here:
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god.htm
Study it, meditate on it, accept it and apply it
in your life each day.

I got saved when I was a little girl around seven
years of age.

I prayed about a lot of things... believe me,
some prayers seem to take a long time to be
answered, while other prayers don't.
Example:
I grew up in severe poverty, we lived in a shack,
no indoor plumbing and no electricity...my prayers
to the Lord were: help us to get out of poverty,
they seem to take so long...funny thing is, I had
to learn to shed the "poverty mentality" - before
I could really accept/believe that God was going
to help us.

There were many hinderances...
where I lived in NC was pretty racist and it was
hard to get ahead when people are coming against
blacks (I'm black.)

You know something else?
God usually works first by changing us on the
inside...you don't notice it but change happens
slowly... you renew your mind on God's Word.
You see, the mind hasn't been regenerated
yet, it takes a lot of time and effort to correct
"stinking thinking".

Long story short... God did help us to overcome
poverty and to be able to stand against racism.
It took many years for that prayer to be fully
answered but when I looked back over my life,
I saw that my prayer was being answered shortly
after it was prayed... for the Lord was working on
my broken heart and helping me by being a
father to me...my earthly dad died before my
5th birthday--the Lord stepped in and begin
encouraging me with His Word and with hymns.
My mom tells me I was singing hymns when I
was a mere toddler, just learning to walk
and talk well enough to understand...when I was
much younger, I didn't see how the Lord was
answering my prayer early on.

Remember...
The adversary(devil) will come against you, not
to mention how the ungodly/unsaved people will
come against you as well.
It's a spiritual battle we are all in, we need to
join forces with other believers and stand against
the darkness in this world.

We also need to put on the full armor of God,
more on that here:
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god.htm
I share this a LOT!
Many are having trouble with doubts and
negative/intrusive thoughts...too many who
get saved, are left un-discipled.
I'm encountering so many like that these days.

Gentle Lamb · Jun 30, 2015

Hospes said:
Just to add some balance, feelings are not determinative of salvation, but neither are they unimportant. God commands us to feel certain ways. Gladness, joy, and delight are all to be part of our experience as disciples of our Lord. Feelings very often are the indicators God uses to open our eyes to our own condition.

Can you imagine the person rescued from a paper cut having the same feelings of gratitude, joy, and relief as the person who is rescued from a wood chipper? If the person rescued from a wood chipper is unmoved in emotion, more than likely it indicates they don't really understand the greatness of their salvation. As the redeemed of God, we have no reason to be unmoved by God's matchless grace in our salvation. He brought us from death to life, the perfect and holy God of all creation has adopted us as his children, the insurmountable debt we owed he nailed to the Cross, we have meaning in our suffering, we need not fear death, we have truly tasted the Lord and seen that he is good! How can anyone truly believe the Good News and not feel it is so good?

This is so true and very important to keep in mind! I didn't mean to be dismissive of feelings, sorry about that.

Gentle Lamb · Jun 30, 2015

BFine said:
Having doubts, none of us are immune from them...we can; however, combat doubts with
truth...renew your mind on the truth found in
God's Word-- recall how you sought the Lord for
salvation...stand your ground, hold to truth!

Something else... put on the full armor of God--
bible study on that here:
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god.htm
Study it, meditate on it, accept it and apply it
in your life each day.

I got saved when I was a little girl around seven
years of age.

I prayed about a lot of things... believe me,
some prayers seem to take a long time to be
answered, while other prayers don't.
Example:
I grew up in severe poverty, we lived in a shack,
no indoor plumbing and no electricity...my prayers
to the Lord were: help us to get out of poverty,
they seem to take so long...funny thing is, I had
to learn to shed the "poverty mentality" - before
I could really accept/believe that God was going
to help us.

There were many hinderances...
where I lived in NC was pretty racist and it was
hard to get ahead when people are coming against
blacks (I'm black.)

You know something else?
God usually works first by changing us on the
inside...you don't notice it but change happens
slowly... you renew your mind on God's Word.
You see, the mind hasn't been regenerated
yet, it takes a lot of time and effort to correct
"stinking thinking".

Long story short... God did help us to overcome
poverty and to be able to stand against racism.
It took many years for that prayer to be fully
answered but when I looked back over my life,
I saw that my prayer was being answered shortly
after it was prayed... for the Lord was working on
my broken heart and helping me by being a
father to me...my earthly dad died before my
5th birthday--the Lord stepped in and begin
encouraging me with His Word and with hymns.
My mom tells me I was singing hymns when I
was a mere toddler, just learning to walk
and talk well enough to understand...when I was
much younger, I didn't see how the Lord was
answering my prayer early on.

Remember...
The adversary(devil) will come against you, not
to mention how the ungodly/unsaved people will
come against you as well.
It's a spiritual battle we are all in, we need to
join forces with other believers and stand against
the darkness in this world.

We also need to put on the full armor of God,
more on that here:
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god.htm
I share this a LOT!
Many are having trouble with doubts and
negative/intrusive thoughts...too many who
get saved, are left un-discipled.
I'm encountering so many like that these days.

Your testimonies are always so encouraging, BFine.

This is definitely important to keep in mind as well!

Leevo · Jul 1, 2015

Thank you all for your responses. I feel quite a bit better now. It may sound crazy, but I sinned today, wont be specific as to what, but I did. I immediately felt remorse and yet, also renewed. It made me realize how much I need God and depend on him. Thank you all for your encouraging words.

LoricaLady · Jul 1, 2015

Your faith seems to all be bound up with what people, and Churches, do and say. The early believers never heard of a Church, i.e. a building with a big cross on top where people go to worship on Sundays. The word Church comes from the Greek word ecclesia and simply means a gathering of believers anywhere any time.

The early believers were not Protestant or Catholic. They simply followed the Word. My friend, that is what you need to do, also.

Yes, many Churches have done some wonderful things, and still do some wonderful things These wonderful things are done, though, when they are acting in accordance with the Word, not in some "wisdom" of some Church authority or doctrine.

Guess what? You never have to go to Church, per the Bible! Nowhere does it tell you to do any such thing. My suggestion is that, with prayer and fasting, you get into the Bible and see what it is saying! We are told there "You need that no man should teach you, but the Holy Spirit will teach you." If you get close to Him (and the number one way is through staying in the Word), whatever you hear from them, you can ask Him about it. The closer you get to Him, the more He will prompt and guide you, even when you aren't asking. If someone has some wisdom and insight into the Word that you need - and probably no one will always be right all the time - He will lead you to that. He will teach you how to "eat the meat and spit out the bones".

As for "eternal salvation" and "once saved always saved" I personally do not believe in that at all. We are told to "persevere to the end." Read Revelation at the beginning where 7
Churches (bodies of believers) are being addressed by Messiah. They all started out great, but all but 2 are shown to be in danger of losing their Menorrah, i.e. Light of the World, i.e. Messiah and salvation.

Step away from the world, and all it's conflicting and confusing "Christian" denominations and walk into the Word daily and deeply.

Praying for that for you.... I also pray for patience and perseverance for you because understanding the way of YHWH, aka God, does not come fast or easy always. To the diligent and determined go the prizes.

Doubting my salvation...

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Pray like your life depends on it!

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"Let there be sheep!"

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"Let there be sheep!"

"Let there be sheep!"

Seed Planter

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Well-Known Member

"Let there be sheep!"

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Seed Planter

"Let there be sheep!"

"Let there be sheep!"

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YHWH's

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