Dear Zimmer36,
Your uncertainty is not uncommon but you do not have any anything to be concerned about. Our salvation is 100% the work of Christ. He is the one who does the saving, not us. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. If you believe that you can do something, then you are not presently saved.
Can you believe this verse?:
1 Tim 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
If you do believe this verse, then ask yourself how and when will Christ accomplish this great work of saving all mankind? Scripture answers those questions but the answers are presented in "another language".
Isa 28: 10-12 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Even Paul taught in this other language.
1Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Cor 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Scripture is written in the spiritual language of Christ, it is not literal as most believe. And because it is not literal, scripture appears to be full of errors and contradictions. But that is not so. When a believer is given "eyes that can see" (spiritual understanding), the problems disappear and a whole new truth starts to come to light. Only a "few" will understand in this age - most believers will not. It simply was not ordained for everyone to understand at this time. But as the verse above in 1Timothy says, someday they too will be given the knowledge of the truth.
To know the truth, you must put away all that you have ever been taught because nearly all of it is not true as this verse says:
Matt 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
This verse is a parable but more than that, it is written in Christ's spiritual language. The "woman" in the verse represents carnal mankind who have been "called" to follow Christ. They have received the Early Rain of the Spirit (like you) but remain carnally minded and have not had their spiritual blindness healed. In the parable, the woman takes leaven (false teachings) and hides it in 3 measures of meal. It is hidden because when a person eat this bread, they do not realize that it is full of false teachings. They believe that it is the true bread from heaven (truth) but it is not. Once a person eats this bread, they will spiritually die (fall away). At this point, the believer is no longer saved but they do not realize it. This happens to all who are called out from the world. But if Christ has chosen you to be saved in this present age, He will come to you a second time and give you the Latter Rain of the Spirit. Upon receiving the Latter Rain, Christ will heal your spiritual blindness and you will be able to start understanding and accepting the truth of what Christ says in scripture. These chosen believers are the First Fruits of Christ's harvest of mankind. They are first to be saved but salvation is not limited to just them. All others who Christ did not chose to be saved in this present age will be saved in the final age, at the end of the harvest season. This includes not only those who we called but also unbelievers as well. Christ is the good farmer and will not lose any of His crop of mankind. So remember the order Christ is saving mankind: the Elect (First Fruits, a very small group) are saved first in this age, then everyone else will be saved in the final age.
Also, there is no "hell" as is commonly taught. That is a false teaching that comes from the bread the woman made. The Lake of Fire which is commonly thought to be "hell" is a spiritual symbol for Christ's judgment. All mankind must be judged and from our judgment we will learn God's righteousness. The Elect are judged in their lifetimes now but all others will be judged in the final age.
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
I will end this now but there is much more that could be said. If Christ has given you a "love for the truth", then I suggest you do as Christ says and pray for Him to reveal Himself (Truth) to you.
Just remember that all of mankind's salvation is assured - only the timing of it is varied. Christ came to save us all and He will not fail us.
If you have any questions, please ask.
Joe
