Status
Not open for further replies.

tadowrippatoe

Member
Oct 1, 2005
5
1
47
✟15,130.00
Faith
Baptist
I have been reading posts, but I come asking so questions about salvation. I was raised in a baptist church and know that one must believe in Christ with their heart in order to be saved. I went to an altar call when I was 6, but I really do not believe I knew what I did. At the age of 13, I really started to get convicted about that, especially during altar calls. I fel the holy spirit convicting me, so I stood by the pew and asked Jesus into my heart, but never went forward publically. I was always worried about what others would think since I was in church my whole life. I now that wasn't right, but I did do it. I struggled with this for most of my life, never really having the assurance of salvation, the peace. I've wrestled with this for too long. I talked with my pastor about 4 months ago, wanting to end this doubt. He counseled me and I got re-baptised because I did not feel like I knew why I did it at 6. I'm now 28 btw. I guess my concerns are I still don't have the peace of salvation. How does one know they truly believe in their heart? Instead of head knowledge. Although I've been in church my whole life, I feel like I don't know too much. Must one be convicted by the Holy Spirit? I'm afraid since I didn't go publically as a teenager, I just said the prayer to myself, pretty much after every time the message of salvation was preached, after being convicted, that maybe I'm not saved and God pulled His spirit from me. As I'm older that presence does not seem to be with me, but I knew I had to go publically. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TwinCrier

arunma

Flaming Calvinist
Apr 29, 2004
14,818
820
39
✟19,415.00
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
Hello. Let me point out that public confession of faith doesn't save anyone. The fact that you haven't come forward at an altar call doesn't affect your salvation. My church doesn't even do altar calls. In fact, sometimes when we celebrate the eucharist, the pastor will mention that if you are an unbeliever who becomes a believer by the time the tray reaches you, then you may partake of the elements with us. The Bible says, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9).

Even if you never shared your faith with anyone before, I suppose that your last post counts as confession of Christ with your mouth. And I'm sure you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. So you can have an assurance that you are saved. Now, if you don't feel this assurance, then perhaps it would be a good idea to spend time in the Scriptures, pray, and talk to other Christians at church about this.

Well, I hope that I helped.
 
Upvote 0

carmi

Well-Known Member
Nov 1, 2004
13,771
386
✟16,723.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Single
tadowrippatoe said:
As I'm older that presence does not seem to be with me, but I knew I had to go publically. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Just as Arunma I do not believe that public confession is necessary/needed for salvation.

I did not follow an altar call - at the time I did not know what's this about. I asked the pastor lateron, he explained to me, showed me scripture and prayed with me. I got saved after the altar call on that day.

The pastor did encourage me to come forward at the next altar call - but not because I needed it for my salvation. He said it would help me later on with witnessing. It is easier to confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior in front of people who believe the same. It is much more difficult to do that in front of people who don't believe that.

tadowrippatoe said:
God pulled His spirit from me.

I believe it might be just the opposite. I believe that the Spirit of God is working in you and trying to get you to make the next step: to be a witness for Him. And that is why you have this desire/wish/thoughts to come forward publicly.
 
Upvote 0

RED that's ME

*~*God *IS* Love*~*
Sep 15, 2003
29,230
1,353
Where God wants me to be right now.
Visit site
✟42,152.00
Faith
Baptist
A lot of teens/older adults question their salvation many times if they made a committment as a young child. Salvation is not based on walking down an aisle, being baptized or doing good works. Being a christian is not because of a *feeling* but a commitment you made. When we make that commitment the Bible says, God seals it.

You can look at scripture like when the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what must I do to be saved? Paul's response was.....“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:30

If you truly repented of your sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and made him your personal Savior and Lord you are now a christian.

If you want to know if you yourself are a Christian, just ask yourself if you've truly allowed Jesus Christ to come into your heart and change you. That's what a Christian truly is. One who allowed Jesus Christ into their heart to change them.

You are now saying, God my life is not my own anymore I give it to you and for your service. It is a daily walk. You need to plan time for Bible Study and have daily prayer time.

One way to see if others are is, if you can see the "fruits of the Spirit" in their lives.

[bible]Galatians 5:22-23[/bible]

The importants of walking forward in a church is for the church family to pray for you and help keep you accountable in your walk with Christ. The church family/body is suppose to encourage/exhort/admonish each other.

[bible]Hebrews 10:25[/bible]


A1718E-md.jpg


 
  • Like
Reactions: daveleau
Upvote 0

daveleau

In all you do, do it for Christ and w/ Him in mind
Apr 12, 2004
8,958
703
49
Bossier City, LA (removed from his native South C
✟22,974.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The position or location of the body does not matter. The sentiment conveyed to God and the manner of the heart is all that matters. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that you have to go to anyone but Christ to be saved. So, going to the altar call was not necessary. You were saved the moment you made that prayer. Irrevocably, so.

Conviction by the Holy Spirit is not something that is always felt. It does not mean that the Holy Spirit is not with you. Christ said He would never leave you nor forsake you. So, He is there if you believe and prayed for Salvation.

Conviction by the Holy Spirit is often confused with emotion for Christ, God or church. You don't have to be on fire all of the time. I believe God is more blessed by our adherence to His Will and by our worship when we don't feel like it is what we want to do.

Also, we can tune out God's Will and the speech of the Holy Spirit even when we are Saved. These can be times when we feel less convicted. When we feel less convicted, these are the times when we need to work and pray harder to meet God's desires for our lives.

None of these are hard and fast answers, but are possibilities for your situation. What I am saying is that I am not saying you are not listening to the Holy Spirit, nor am I saying that you are mistaking emotion for the strength of the Holy Spirit in you. The most devout have lags where they feel the Holy Spirit less.

I would suggest getting into a Bible study or Sunday School class where you can grow and fellowship with others. Don;t worry about your salvation, as that is already taken care of according to Scripture (Romans 10 and John 3:16). Just try to expand your knowledge of God (1 Thess 5: study and prove all things, holding onto what is good).

Yours in Christ,
Dave
 
Upvote 0

DeaconDean

γέγονα χαλκὸς, κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον
Jul 19, 2005
22,183
2,677
61
Gastonia N.C. (Piedmont of N.C.)
✟100,334.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Friend, after reading your post I had to think real hard as to whether or to answer your question. When you talk about someone's salvation it's a personal thing. Let me answer this way:
1) While at 6 years old may or may not be the right age, it is still dependant of the individuals convictions. I have known some who confessed Jesus at an early age and are (to the best of my knowledge) living a good Christian life.
2) While you said you later on confessed and talked to your Pastor and he baptized you, that was your public confession of your newness of life in Jesus Christ.
3) Satan will use every thing in his power to make you doubt your salvation. Including bringing up past sins to throw in your face. The scriptures are clear that "if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart he rose from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 10:9.
4) Not everybody has an easy time understanding the depth and riches of his word. Some will spend their entire life searching. I personally have been in the Bible most of my life, but most seriously the last 10 years and I am still learning things I didn't know before.
5) If you, as you say, have had that "life altering" experience, then a sure test of your salvation is do you still live the same way after conversion as you did before?
6) If you don't live the same after as before, then rest assured that the Holy Spirit is with you.
7) If you do something that is not right, do you hear that still, small, quiet voice in the back of mind saying that it was wrong? If you do, then rest assured that the Holy Spirit is with you.

I am one who believes that it is the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. That is one reason you confessed in the pew. And I agree with the others that since you went public here, that counts as a public confession. Since Jesus is no longer with us, His Spirit (Holy Spirit) is the directing force in the Christians life. I too confess that after each sermon I too re-confess to the Lord. But it is my sins I confess to Him. For I don't know a single person in this world who does not sin. Even Pastors sin too. The fact that you knelt in church and confessed, and the pastor re-baptized you in front of the church gives proof to the world and church of your faith and salvation. Take comfort in that. Don't let Satan take that away from you, don't let Satan put those doubts in your head. It sometimes takes many, many years for people to get past the "head knowledge" that is in the church. Get in your Bible, read it daily, pray every time these doubts present themselves, and above all believe God's word. He cannot lie. (Titus 1:2)
 
  • Like
Reactions: daveleau
Upvote 0

TwinCrier

Double Blessed and spreading the gospel
Oct 11, 2002
6,069
617
54
Indiana
Visit site
✟24,768.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
I didn't have assurance of salvation for most of my life either. I believe I got saved young, and was baptised as a teen, but one day during a revival sermon, the preacher made a comment about those who were unsure. It was something to the effect of 'If you're saved and you don't feel it, God can for give you for seeking assuarance, but if you're not saved and you die in your sins, God cannot forgive that.' Personally the biggest evidence for me was that my life changed. I actually feel bad when I knowingly do wrong, and I try to correct my sins the best I can. I read things in the bible that convict me and I don't try to dismiss them because it's not what I currently believe, I pray and change those things that I feel are wrong. Baptism is the only public confession required, not walking down an aisle.
God doesn't pull the Holy Spirit from us. If we don't feel as close to God anymore, you can bet we are the one who moved. That's to be expected though, none of us is perfect in our walk with the Lord.
 
Upvote 0
£

£amb

Guest
Wow! Your story is similar to mine. I grew up in church and knew all the church stuff also. I was about 9 when I went forward and was baptised. I was alittle older than you were. I continually went through hot and cold spells throughout my walk with God, and wondered myself if I have lost my salvation. It wasn't until last year that I finally picked up the bible and asked God for the knowledge to understand the Word. It has taken some time, but I have a better knowledge of my faith in God and don't doubt my salvation anymore. It's taken me 26yrs. to finally get my act together. It's funny, at the end of our church services, our pastor will ask this question everytime.."if you died today, do you know where you'll be". I can finally say "yes!", I know where I will be and where I want to be. I truly feel satan is attacking you. He's making you doubt your assurance in your salvation. You will need to pray and ask for God's strength to help you overcome the doubt that satan is placing in your heart. He cannot take you out of God's hand, but he will make you feel like you have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TwinCrier
Upvote 0

tadowrippatoe

Member
Oct 1, 2005
5
1
47
✟15,130.00
Faith
Baptist
Thanks for all your replies. There's nothing more in this world, that I want right now more than the assurance of my salvation. I guess I have some fears that I don't know if I understand things exactly. Could someone explain exactly what is meant by accepting as Lord and Savior, I've heard it my whole life, but no one has ever really explained it to me. How do we really know if we believe with all of our hearts?

I used to really have conviction over my sins, now it seems that it is almost gone or dwindling away. I know I am struggling with trusting God completely. You know where in Proverbs it says to trust in God with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding, well I have been leaning on my own understanding. How do I learn to trust God completely?
 
Upvote 0
£

£amb

Guest
tadowrippatoe said:
Thanks for all your replies. There's nothing more in this world, that I want right now more than the assurance of my salvation. I guess I have some fears that I don't know if I understand things exactly. Could someone explain exactly what is meant by accepting as Lord and Savior, I've heard it my whole life, but no one has ever really explained it to me. How do we really know if we believe with all of our hearts?

I used to really have conviction over my sins, now it seems that it is almost gone or dwindling away. I know I am struggling with trusting God completely. You know where in Proverbs it says to trust in God with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding, well I have been leaning on my own understanding. How do I learn to trust God completely?

I think you sorta answered your own question. You were convicted of your sins, but it's dwindling away. The reason is parly what you said at the end...you have leaned unto your own understanding. You are taking things into your own hands and trying to solve them without God's help. Of course, by trying it by ourselves, we ignore the Holy Spirit convicting us. You need to ask God for widom to help you understand what He wants from us. James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it whall be given him."

I love the story about how Peter walks on water. When he sees Jesus on the water, Peter asks Jesus if he could also walk on the water. Jesus told him to come. When he was focused on Jesus, Peter walked on the water. But as soon as he took notice of everything else going on around him, he started to sink and cried out to Jesus "Lord save me". Jesus reached out for his hand and asked why did he doubt. To trust God, we need to take our eyes off of everything around us and put our focus on God. To put our focus on Him requires a great deal of prayer and to study His Word. There are adversities that are always going to attack our faith and trust in God, but we need to make sure we keep focused on God and not end up sinking in it all.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

DeaconDean

γέγονα χαλκὸς, κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον
Jul 19, 2005
22,183
2,677
61
Gastonia N.C. (Piedmont of N.C.)
✟100,334.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Could someone explain exactly what is meant by accepting as Lord and Savior, I've heard it my whole life, but no one has ever really explained it to me.

Friend, let me put it as simple as I know how; at one time in your or my life we were the lord of our own actions. We decided what was best for us. We now know that was wrong. I no longer am the controler of my life. The Lord is Lord of my life. I let Him have supreme control and trust in His guiding actions. As for being Savior, I realize that the law, those laws spelled out in the Old Testament, could not bring righteousness that God wanted or desired from His children. Seeing that the law was weak, God sent His Son in the likeness of human flesh to fulfill all that the law required. The Lord God demands a blood sacrifice for sins, it was Jesus' shed blood upon the cross that covered not only all my sins past, present, and future, but the sins of the whole world. And realizing that Jesus took my place on the cross as my substitute, all my sins required that I should be on the cross not Him, that makes Him my Savior. He redeemed me from the law. Whereas I once was bound to the law, accepting Him as my Savior freed me from the law. He was the one who said to God I'll pay the sin debt for Dean. He is my Savior because He SAVED ME personally from my sins and adopted me into His family. So I can now say that I'm a child of God. He is my Father, My God, My Savior! Praise be unto God the most high!
 
Upvote 0

mesue

Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
Aug 24, 2003
9,221
1,616
Visit site
✟32,662.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
KJV said:
KJV said:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt besaved.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


There are many more verses.
The mere fact that you question your salvation tells me that your heart is tender towards God.


 
Upvote 0
I would like to suggest having a "nailing it down" time. My pastor encourages this to members.

If you still have doubts about your salvation tell it to God and say from this point on, I know that I know I am forgiving of my sins because of what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross. I do accept what he done for me and from this point on I am going to live my life as close as possible to his. Write the date/time down in your Bible. When Satan tries to play with you say, No satan! This is when I nailed it down for sure.

Realize you are a child of God and no one can change that. :)

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." --John 1:12

John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

The difference between making Jesus your Savior and Lord is that when we make Jesus our Savior we are acknowledging & accepting what he done for us as our Savior on the cross.

Making Jesus our Lord, you first have to understand what Lord means. The definition of two words of the Bible in its original language are "Kurios" and "doulos", they mean "Lord" and "slave" respectively. Referring to the time when Jesus was here, the "Kurios" (Lord) had control over the "doulos" (slave). The lord of slaves commanded everything - when they ate, slept, worked and died. The "doulos" was property of the "Kurios." Their submission was total.

We can see the historic context of the word "Lord". To call Jesus your Lord means, you are His slave. Your life belongs to Him totally. Your loyalty and obedience to Him is essential. We daily die to ourselves and be a witness/testimony of what he has done through us with every action/word. Even in the small stuff we should talk to him about it.

How do we find out his will for us by reading & studying regularly the Bible, prayer. God also uses other Godly people to help us. By following him in obedience in baptism, by sharing the gospel to the world Matthew 28:19-20, teaching others to do the same.

2 Cor 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.


Know that you will make mistakes as a christian and the Bible tells us what to do. :)

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

A781-md.jpg

 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

tadowrippatoe

Member
Oct 1, 2005
5
1
47
✟15,130.00
Faith
Baptist
£amb said:
Which passage was this?

Matthew 26:64-66 (New International Version)

64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered.
Mark 14:63-65 (New International Version)

3The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.

Don't these passages mean that they wanted Jesus to pay because he was saying He was God's son. Doesn't this mean that blasphemy is saying we are God? Or is the unforgivable sin of blasphemy something else?
 
Upvote 0

JPPT1974

April Showers and Easter 2024!
Mar 18, 2004
288,806
11,532
49
Small Town, USA
✟569,139.00
Country
United States
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
CA-Conservatives
Nobody gets to God first of all. Because you have to go through Jesus.
Jesus is the one and only way to God. And also the one and only way to heaven. If God didn't send Jesus into the world. To die on the cross for our sins and to save us from eternal death. We would still be in a lost and dying world. Jesus will come back, mark God's words. Like a thief in the night.
Only to save rather than steal though.
 
Upvote 0
£

£amb

Guest
tadowrippatoe said:
Matthew 26:64-66 (New International Version)

64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered.
Mark 14:63-65 (New International Version)

3The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.

Don't these passages mean that they wanted Jesus to pay because he was saying He was God's son. Doesn't this mean that blasphemy is saying we are God? Or is the unforgivable sin of blasphemy something else?

In a sense you right about them claiming that Jesus said a blasphemy, but this (I believe) does not pertain to us. [font=Arial, Helvetica][font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]Jesus asserted that he was the Messiah, but also the Son of God; making himself equal with God. They charged it as blasphemy against God, to assume such a character and relation to himself.
[/font]
[/font]
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
Status
Not open for further replies.