Forever Lost???

Nope

rickscraps1975 said:

I have an uneasy feeling. Ten years ago when I became a believer I was on fire for the LORD. I believed in orthodox christian teachings, I went to church, I read my bible, I prayed. As the years went by I grew colder, little by little. First, it was Open Theism and the teachings of Greg Boyd, then this led me to Tony Campelo - which led me to Brian McLaren, which led me to Rob Bell. Then I questioned hell and salvation. After this it was easy to toss beliefs overboard. I got involved with the Emergent Church, was influenced by Liberal and "Death of God" theology, Jesus Seminar, etc. I questioned the soul, the afterlife, the virgin birth, a literal resurrection. I questioned all truth. I was lost and in a wilderness of unbelief.

Now, I want to come home. I can see all the wrong paths I have tried to take. But, I read Hebrews 6:4-6 and I am afraid God does not want me back.

Am I forever lost?

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If you were really on fire for the Lord 10 years ago, you should already know the answer to that question.......

God never rejects anyone. It is not in his nature. It is people that reject him. If you want to connect with Jesus "for real" again, he's all ready with a big smile on his face.

Confusion is the result of hearing too many differing opinions, or being challenged about something you are not fully informed about. Any opinion can be justified (to some people's thinking) with Scripture.

You may need to read Scripture afresh with an "I don't know anything" perspective. Stick to mainstream Christian aid for you to understand Scripture yourself. There's a reason mainstream Christian beliefs are "mainstream." It's not because it's the group of people who decided to just do what they were told by someone. It's the group of people with extreme differences who all came to similar conclusions about what the Bible says.

rickscraps1975 said:

Now, I want to come home. I can see all the wrong paths I have tried to take. But, I read Hebrews 6:4-6 and I am afraid God does not want me back.

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2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

How did the Prodigal's father react when he saw his son coming down the road?

rickscraps1975 said:

I have an uneasy feeling. Ten years ago when I became a believer I was on fire for the LORD. I believed in orthodox christian teachings, I went to church, I read my bible, I prayed. As the years went by I grew colder, little by little. First, it was Open Theism and the teachings of Greg Boyd, then this led me to Tony Campelo - which led me to Brian McLaren, which led me to Rob Bell. Then I questioned hell and salvation. After this it was easy to toss beliefs overboard. I got involved with the Emergent Church, was influenced by Liberal and "Death of God" theology, Jesus Seminar, etc. I questioned the soul, the afterlife, the virgin birth, a literal resurrection. I questioned all truth. I was lost and in a wilderness of unbelief.

Now, I want to come home. I can see all the wrong paths I have tried to take. But, I read Hebrews 6:4-6 and I am afraid God does not want me back.

Am I forever lost?

Click to expand...

Hi I used to have the same fear. The Hebrews 6 thing. God drew me back to himself with many proofs. I am now happily back in the fold. I also had to work through the scriptural understanding of Hebrews 6. The following is a long read but it should help you, as it did me to understand forgiveness as scripture.

http://www.futureandahope.net/unforgivable_sin.php

rickscraps1975 said:

I have an uneasy feeling. Ten years ago when I became a believer I was on fire for the LORD. I believed in orthodox christian teachings, I went to church, I read my bible, I prayed. As the years went by I grew colder, little by little. First, it was Open Theism and the teachings of Greg Boyd, then this led me to Tony Campelo - which led me to Brian McLaren, which led me to Rob Bell. Then I questioned hell and salvation. After this it was easy to toss beliefs overboard. I got involved with the Emergent Church, was influenced by Liberal and "Death of God" theology, Jesus Seminar, etc. I questioned the soul, the afterlife, the virgin birth, a literal resurrection. I questioned all truth. I was lost and in a wilderness of unbelief.

Now, I want to come home. I can see all the wrong paths I have tried to take. But, I read Hebrews 6:4-6 and I am afraid God does not want me back.

Am I forever lost?

Click to expand...

Hi Rick,

As one of the previous posters said, "NOPE!" If you still have a conscience toward God, that's a very good sign. It's kind of like being in the E.R., and if you just happen to hear the medical staff say something like, "...there's a pulse," then that's probably a good sign that your not dead yet.

As to the journey of inquiry you've been on, particularly through the "emergent" sector of faith, I'd would be tempted to understand this to mean that you've been searching for some answers. That's not a bad thing. While on the one hand, we do need to be cautious about from where and who we imbibe various teachings, but on the other hand, it isn't a sin to ponder and ask questions about our faith. Some questions can be answered. And some of the answers we'd like to get have been withheld by God; we'll find these out some day when God finishes His plans.

Being "on fire!" On a practical scale, it is probably a little too much for any of us to expect to feel a persistent emotional high and be excited about our faith at all times, raring to go to 'fight the good fight,' as Paul said. Some of this is normal and is the kind of emotional dousing that can be typically experienced during many endeavors in life, whether they be taking on even the 'ideal job,' or getting married to the spouse that we couldn't help but fall in love with. The emotional highs don't necessarily last, but they can come and go, and even change as we move through time. (The human brain is funny like that ... )

In sum, don't let your current understanding of Hebrews 6:4-6 ruin it for you. In fact, it may or may not even mean exactly what you think it means.

Peace of mind to you!
2PhiloVoid

Purge187 said:

How did the Prodigal's father react when he saw his son coming down the road?

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Luke 15 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Welcome back

Not at all. And be encouraged--God promises to work all things together for the good of them that love Him. He can use everything you described to reach and help other people. There are a lot of Christians who are completely oblivious to how much damaging "doctrine" there is out there and you can help them.

Have you ever checked out www.equip.org? You may find some resources there that will help you on your journey.

God bless!!

rickscraps1975 said:

I have an uneasy feeling. Ten years ago when I became a believer I was on fire for the LORD. I believed in orthodox christian teachings, I went to church, I read my bible, I prayed. As the years went by I grew colder, little by little. First, it was Open Theism and the teachings of Greg Boyd, then this led me to Tony Campelo - which led me to Brian McLaren, which led me to Rob Bell. Then I questioned hell and salvation. After this it was easy to toss beliefs overboard. I got involved with the Emergent Church, was influenced by Liberal and "Death of God" theology, Jesus Seminar, etc. I questioned the soul, the afterlife, the virgin birth, a literal resurrection. I questioned all truth. I was lost and in a wilderness of unbelief.

Now, I want to come home. I can see all the wrong paths I have tried to take. But, I read Hebrews 6:4-6 and I am afraid God does not want me back.

Am I forever lost?

Click to expand...

rickscraps: Even though you got carried about/tossed to and fro by different doctrines/teachings...Hebrews 13:9, Ephesians 4:14.

The thing to do is repent...but if there be any question about whether you be saved: Romans 3:10-23...and this Romans road guide...http://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html

rickscraps1975 said:

I have an uneasy feeling. Ten years ago when I became a believer I was on fire for the LORD. I believed in orthodox christian teachings, I went to church, I read my bible, I prayed. As the years went by I grew colder, little by little. First, it was Open Theism and the teachings of Greg Boyd, then this led me to Tony Campelo - which led me to Brian McLaren, which led me to Rob Bell. Then I questioned hell and salvation. After this it was easy to toss beliefs overboard. I got involved with the Emergent Church, was influenced by Liberal and "Death of God" theology, Jesus Seminar, etc. I questioned the soul, the afterlife, the virgin birth, a literal resurrection. I questioned all truth. I was lost and in a wilderness of unbelief.

Now, I want to come home. I can see all the wrong paths I have tried to take. But, I read Hebrews 6:4-6 and I am afraid God does not want me back.

Am I forever lost?

Click to expand...

Heb 6:4-6 KJV
(4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
(5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
(6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

the key to understanding this is in verse 6:

seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

you aren't doing that; and if you were, it wouldn't bother you at all - ever

the fact that you are afraid you that might have forever rejected God is evidence that you haven't

Hebrews 6:4-6, may refer to those Christians, which continue in their sin, even though they have the conviction of the Holy Spirit, to repent. You see, we as Christians are able to continue in doing our sin, because of giving to temptation or a weakness, but the Holy Spirit in us, will convict us of our sin, until we decide to repent. If we decide to repent, I believe that God will forgive us! The question is do we want to repent or not. As long as we continue to live in sin, we practically crucify the Son of God, Jesus again.

It sounds like you are taking the ideologies of other people and NOT that of GOD the heavenly father and his son JESUS CHRIST. remember...

We are to put our trust in GOD and not our confidence in man.

We must be wary of others; testing the spirits for seeds of true belief and faith. We must not provoke one another, but love first and foremost GOD the heavenly father and his son JESUS before all others then through grace and wisdom approach others with a sound resolute spirit of GOD and LOVE.

It sounds to me like your confidence is in men rather GOD through his son JESUS CHRIST. I advise you to seek communion with GOD through his son JESUS, then approach your path un-blinded with GOD's understanding to guide you. Allowing JESUS CHRIST the son of GOD to lead you will result in never getting lost, but finding the way, the TRUTH and the life that JESUS CHRIST is.

Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST. forever>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Joh 16:7-11 KJV
(7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
(8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
(9) Of sin, because they believe not on me;
(10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
(11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

the Holy Spirit reproves or convinces us that we are righteous because Jesus died to pay the price for our sins and rose again to give us life - regardless of how well or poorly we obey His laws in our own strength - and we (the reborn in Christ) believed God about that and received His complete forgiveness (and ALL our transgressions of His laws were future tense from His perspective on the cross, even the transgressions we have not yet committed); the devil is the accuser of the brethren, not the Holy Spirit - it is the goodness of God, not the badness of the penalty for transgressing God's laws, that causes change in us; we are overcome by God's selfless, undeserved eternal love, not by the fear of His judgment and eternal punishment. if we could 'stop all that sinning' (as in 'obey all of God's laws perfectly) then we wouldn't need a Savior - the 'sin' we are to repent of on our own is unbelief - not believing that God forgave the sins of the WHOLE word some 2000 years before we were born. God has forgiven us; but we must believe Him about that in order to receive His already-available forgiveness...

to crucify Jesus afresh is to embrace the lie that He was a servant of the devil, and to teach others this as well, and do so with no regret - like the jews who cried for His death

Mat 27:22-25 KJV
(22) Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
(23) And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
(24) When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
(25) Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Oh child...reach out your arms if sincere with a humble heart. Sometimes in order for us to learn and accept we have to observe and be called.

To say forever lost...well that is between you and GOD the heavenly father through his son JESUS. Do not rely on other people(earthlings), but put your full trust in GOD and his son JESUS whom is the way, the truth, and the life. For there is no lie found in him. Reach out and accept JESUS into your life...if you are sincere and honest he will reach out to you. You need a personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST then build upon that by following him.

Just say...."I need you JESUS CHRIST in my life; show me the way, guide me!!" Tell me what I need to do....then you yourself-DO WHAT HE ADVISES!!!

The true all in one reading material you need is the holy scriptures, the word of GOD; the BIBLE!!!

Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>