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assurance of salvation

ladylins

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I read this book on assurance of salvation and honestly it confused me more then I already was...the book said that some people believe in their head that Jesus died, etc...but they don't believe with their hearts...it also said that if you got saved then your life would change completely...my life really hasn't changed at all...and the book also said that when you get saved you feel bad about every sin and confess every sin to Jesus because you see how wrong you are. Honestly, I don't feel any guilt when I sin...I'm worried I'm not saved and this book has made it worse!! What do y'all think?
 

savedfromdistruction

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I read this book on assurance of salvation and honestly it confused me more then I already was...the book said that some people believe in their head that Jesus died, etc...but they don't believe with their hearts...it also said that if you got saved then your life would change completely...my life really hasn't changed at all...and the book also said that when you get saved you feel bad about every sin and confess every sin to Jesus because you see how wrong you are. Honestly, I don't feel any guilt when I sin...I'm worried I'm not saved and this book has made it worse!! What do y'all think?

The writer is correct and is doing you and many others a great favor by telling the truth. The bible says this. in 1John 3:9-10 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit (practice) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot (practice) sin, because he is born of God.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not (practice) righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Salvation is not about just believing the facts and asking jesus into our hearts. Salvation is about repentance and faith. We repent when we want to get right with God no matter the cost to us. We would walk away from anyone or anything to get right. Repentance is an attitude or heart of surrender to God thta is brought about because we realize thta we are on the way to hell because of sin. Faith is taking that heart and placing it on Jesus Chrisat as Lord accepying that He has paid for our debt and then He saves us.
Here are some messages that might help you in this.


Church shocked by salvation message/Audio


The almost Christian (John MacArthur/Audio)

Evidence of a True believer (Adrian Rogers/Audio)



 
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98cwitr

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1. The way I explain it to myself is this: Even demons know and acknowledge that Christ is the Son of God (Mark 5:1-20). They have no hearts and hard people have hard hearts, therefore while they are able to acknowledge Christ for who He truly is, they have not been regenerated and are left unsaved.

2. One must be reborn into a new creature to inherit the kingdom (Read John 3 and 1 Peter 1). Therefore, their old, sinful and lost selves have passed away and the new self lays down the old life, picks up their cross and follows Christ (Read Luke 14:25-25, Luke 9:57-62, and especially Romans 6).

3. Why do you not feel guilty? Do you realize and acknowledge the evil that you do? You you delight in it?

4. Christ can save you from your sin and damnation, go to Him.
 
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savedfromdistruction

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I don't know what more I can do honestly...I've asked and asked and committed my life to him...and I've begged for reassurance but I still find nothing. I'm so frusturated and this consumes my mind. If I've asked and committed my life to him what more can I do?

It is impossible to repent and not have a life change. I am not sure what you mean by committing your life to him, but that is not what he asks of us for salvation. He says we must have repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am not sure what kind of assurance you are looking for, but i can tell you that based on your own statements that you do not feel guilt when you sin means you can never biblically confess your sin. Did you listen to the messages i posted? Until you are grieved over your sin it would be impossible to repent and get saved. I will certainly pray that the Lord open your heart to see your sin as He does and you come to repentance.
 
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Osage Bluestem

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I mean I asked him to save me and come into my heart and forgive me for my sins because I realize that my sin is what separates me from him.
So you're saying I could just be doomed? I want to go to heaven and have a relationship with God.

No it is impossible for you to be doomed, if you have faith in Christ. If you are repentent of your sins and have asked Christ to save you and believe he has done confessing him as Lord and rest in his work alone you are saved.

Read Romans 10.
 
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savedfromdistruction

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I mean I asked him to save me and come into my heart and forgive me for my sins because I realize that my sin is what separates me from him.
So you're saying I could just be doomed? I want to go to heaven and have a relationship with God.

Asking Him into our heart and asking forgiveness is not how we get saved. Asking forgiveness is not repentance. Repentance and faith is how we get saved. While there is nothing wrong with asking Him into our hearts and asking Him to forgive us without repentance and faith it does nothing. If a person feels no conviction about their sin then there is no reason to believe they are saved. The indwelling spirit always brings conviction. Listen to the messages.
 
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RobertZ

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If a person feels no conviction about their sin then there is no reason to believe they are saved. The indwelling spirit always brings conviction. Listen to the messages.


When I get tempted to look at something that is sinful I can almost feel/hear something telling me not to do it even before I actually commit the sin. What is that? What is happening to me?

Also if I do give in to the sin the whole time Im doing wrong I feel sorta miserable about it and I know directly that im sinning against God and I always try my best not to do the sin again.

Is this a sign of true repentance and evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit or is it just my consience?
 
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98cwitr

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I don't know what more I can do honestly...I've asked and asked and committed my life to him...and I've begged for reassurance but I still find nothing. I'm so frusturated and this consumes my mind. If I've asked and committed my life to him what more can I do?

That's just the point...there is NOTHING you can do...nothing. That said...how are you able to say that you have committed your life to Christ and still living in unrepentant sin? (I am not saying this to be judgmental, I am in the same boat my dear sister)
 
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ladylins

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Asking Him into our heart and asking forgiveness is not how we get saved. Asking forgiveness is not repentance. Repentance and faith is how we get saved. While there is nothing wrong with asking Him into our hearts and asking Him to forgive us without repentance and faith it does nothing. If a person feels no conviction about their sin then there is no reason to believe they are saved. The indwelling spirit always brings conviction. Listen to the messages.

What exactly is repentance then? Is it a feeling?
How could you feel repentance before you're saved? Because before you get saved sinning means nothing to you...but after you get saved you should start feeling bad for your sin...so doesn't repentance come after getting saved...?
I guess I just don't feel that bad about sin because I know it's my human nature and I'm always going to sin because that's how we were made...and I know everyone else does it too...
 
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savedfromdistruction

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What exactly is repentance then? Is it a feeling?
How could you feel repentance before you're saved? Because before you get saved sinning means nothing to you...but after you get saved you should start feeling bad for your sin...so doesn't repentance come after getting saved...?
I guess I just don't feel that bad about sin because I know it's my human nature and I'm always going to sin because that's how we were made...and I know everyone else does it too...

Repentance is not a feeling. It is a choice. A choice to turn to God and that is what has to happen to get saved. You are not simply seeking salvation, you decide to seek, turn to God.
I now see your problem. You have been fed a bunch of lies that has confused you. We do not sin because we were made that way. We sin because we love our sin and hate God. The hate may not be a feeling, but it is hate because we choose sin over God. All sin is a choice. You have never done any sin that you had to. Did you listen to the messages i posted?
 
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savedfromdistruction

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Sounds to me in order for salvation you must first stop sinning. People will then proceed to come in here saying Christ accepts you as you are but then go back and say Repentance is to turn away from sin.

That is incorrect. Repentance IS NOT stopping sinning. Repentance is turning to God and putting that on Jesus which is faith. Then once saved because we are new creations the sin begins to stop. It is like someone drowning. If you have ever had to save a drowing person you understand that they need to be saved , but if they try and help and they do they can drown the both of you. So they have to turn to you (REPENT) and allow you to save them (Trust you, faith). Then they can live a new life.
 
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nhoj

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I mean I asked him to save me and come into my heart and forgive me for my sins because I realize that my sin is what separates me from him.
So you're saying I could just be doomed? I want to go to heaven and have a relationship with God.

God doesn't bring you to your knees with lies. You're His now.

Learn more, pray more, fellowship more and stop wriggling about in a sea of "feelings" while He's shaping you.

Have I already mentioned that you're His now?
 
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faceofbear

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If you trust in Christ, you cannot, and will not, be put to shame. The difference between "believing in the head" and "believing in the heart" is non-sense. Believing in the head is an acknowledgment of facts, believing in the heart is trusting Christ for everything. The terminology is confusing. However, if you trust Christ, you have more than a believing in the head, and can be assured your saved.

Biblically speaking, Peter denied Christ 3 times, was deceived by the Judaizers and went to try to be justified by the law, Peter had wavering faith throughout Christ's ministry, yet Peter was not lost. However, if we judge by what Peter did, Christ said that if you deny Him, He will deny you, so is Peter in Hell? No.

This trusting your fruits non-sense is a load. I find people saying, "You have to have repentance." Granted, you will have repentance if you are saved. However, this is not a perfect repentance. People have repentance in degrees, yet the littlest amount of repentance is enough. In fact, no repentance is enough. Salvation is by Christ. However, if you trust Him, you will have a repentance. But you cannot trust your fruits. As I've mentioned before. Some Islamic people have fruits of the Spirit, but they aren't saved. Peter didn't have the fruits initially.

Heck. Read 1 Corinthians. A guy slept with his mother-in-law, they were getting drunk on wine, there were divisions, but guess what? Paul addressed them as believers.

The thing that irks me about people saying you must repent, is the fact that these people still haven't sold all they have and given to the poor, sure they go to church, but that isn't what Christ demanded. Sure, they give some to the poor, even a lot to the poor, probably ten-fold or more than I do. But that's not what Christ demanded. He demands everything. So if Christ requires perfect repentance, no one, not even the people preaching repentance, are saved.

These people are trusting their fruits. Not the root. I am not saying there should be some growth. But growth is relative. The Corinthian church was rejoicing over their freedom in Christ, that is, they were rejoicing over the man who slept with His mother-in-law. Don't go sleep with your mother/father-in-law, but these things were all given as examples.

Christ said that many will say to Him, "Lord, Lord, did we not...." read this. All those people were trusting their fruits. Yet not one of them was doing the work of God. What is the work of God? To believe in the one whom He has sent. If you want to go and trust your fruits, by all means, enjoy a life on insecurity. But I know whom I have trusted, and I am certain He is able to keep what I have entrusted to Him. Why? Because His promise rests not on my fruits, but on the Root. On His Grace, on His promises, and on the finished work on Calvary. If I go to Hell, fine, but I went to Hell trusting Christ which Paul told me I cannot be put to shame if I trust Him.

I don't know about you, but when I look to myself, I have no hope. All I see is sin. All I see is tainted motives. All I see is a wretch. I don't see myself any "holier" than the day I was saved. I simply rest in my sanctified place in Jesus Christ, because He is my sanctification. I am not growing more holy. I am holy in Christ. In fact, let me ask you, can you grow more holy? Or let me rephrase that, if I act like monkey, if I eat bananas, fling poo, scratch my arm pits, and make monkey noises, am I a monkey? No. You can't become more monkey. You either are a monkey or you aren't. You are either holy, or you're not. And I am holy. Why? Because I am in Christ.

Listen, it doesn't take much to hear these people speak of their "head" and "heart" knowledge, and their "genuine repentance" to logically conclude they are simply terribly confused about the Gospel. Just listen, you'll find they contradict at many points. And ironically, the things they will tell you, don't apply to them. They might think they do, but they judge with high-headed minds, thinking more highly of themselves then they ought (See Romans 12). They judge themselves wrongly. If any of us judged ourselves by our "fruits," honestly, we'd all be damned because we know our fruits aren't "Christian" enough. This is my experience anyways. And if anyone tells me I'm damned, even if the whole world testifies that I am damned, my hope still remains Christ. Not my fruits, not my repentance, and not my faith. Only Christ. And even if all testified against me saying that I had not lived "Christian enough," I'd agree. I haven't. But it's not about me living Christian enough, nor is it about me having "heart knowledge." It's about Christ and whether His blood has purchased me. And I believe it has. And though all testify against me, I know that I cannot be put to shame for trusting Him. If God sends me to Hell for trusting His Son, God is unjust and His Son was put to death in vain.

Look. Stop reading all this bull. Stop looking at all these videos. These books. They won't do nothing but provide you confusion. Whenever you look to yourself, you'll have no assurance. And that's all you're doing. So stop. Look to Christ. Settle to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Settle to know that it is by the Gospel which you are saved. And what is the Gospel? "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

Acts 15 (KJV)
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

I am justified by the grace of God. You are too.. if you trust His testimony concerning His Son, and rely on Him alone to save you from the wrath to come.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
 
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