Depression over salvation

[KnowHisJoy77]

Romans 8:1 , there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. A trick the enemy uses to keep us from living in the fullness of Christ is to keep us doubting, and keep us filling guilty. Forgiven means forgiven! Don't be discouraged, the great thing about grace is that we don't deserve it, but it's freely given to us anyway. Stay encouraged!

Amen and amen!

 

[dms1972]

I don't really know why you think this is addressed to you in particular, anymore than the other parables. If you had prayed and asked Jesus of Nazareth, like the rich young ruler: what 'good thing' you must do to get eternal life? then I could understand perhaps.

In any case why do we ignore the obvious thing that Jesus says: "If you want to enter life obey the commandments..."


What is salvation and are you sure that is what you are depressed over?

 

[abovetheclouds]

Some helpful ideas for me here. I will try these things. Thanks

 

[abovetheclouds]

DMS1972 my translation said “Jesus looked at the man with love” so tink Jesus loved him anyway. But Jesus loves everyone. Not everyone is saved though. My biggest fear is if I disobey God in a single area of my life will it cost me heaven?

 

[Restoresmysoul]

Paul teaches us to set our affections on things in heaven, not on the earth, he teaches us to flee covetousness which is wanting more than we have or maybe its about greed, and he teaches us to fight the good fight of faith. I think materialism can cause us to become unfruitful, in my opinion. The parable of the sower teaches that the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches cause us to become unfruitful. Its not bad to own a few things however, how would these men work without tools? Or how would they study without books? How would musicians play without instruments? Paul teaches us to be content with food and clothing, Christ teaches us not to worry about those things but to seek the kingdom and God will supply our needs, however, we are also taught to work, so work is good. But still, paul also says this-

2 Co 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

I wouldn't worry over scripture, but its good to compare them, meditate on them and to pray about it. The reason i post scripture is because we are taught to meditate on those things, and to be renewed in our minds. It helps me personally and so i know it can help us all.

 

[dms1972]

DMS1972 my translation said “Jesus looked at the man with love” so think Jesus loved him anyway. But Jesus loves everyone. Not everyone is saved though. My biggest fear is if I disobey God in a single area of my life will it cost me heaven?

Hi abovetheclouds, That's a good point. This meeting is recorded by both Matthew, Mark and Luke and Luke records how Jesus looked at the rich young ruler, with love in his countenance.

I can't tell anyone what Jesus wants them to do. If we only have very scant awareness of the teaching of Jesus on the Kingdom then its going to be difficult for us to hear what he is saying in our particular circumstance.

Also we might be conditioned a little by others to think only in terms of doing this and doing that.

I think its interesting because I heard this taught in a christianity explored course and we got round to talking about this. What they said was it was about 'authenticity' - but as I thought about it later I couldn't help notice the difference between the way Jesus responds to this enquirer and the way he responds to the Pharisees with only a few exceptions. I didn't quite accept the answer that the record of the meeting is to do with 'authenticity', or the young mans lack of it - that's too vague.


God's word does promise mercy. Lamentations 3:22 It also tells us what is impossible with man, is possible with God.

There was a whole different attitude in the rich young man of course, the Pharisees came with trick, or nonsense questions quite often, he came with a genuine interest, he clearly believed Jesus could give him an answer. He wasn't trying to catch Jesus out with a difficult question.

As I understand this Jesus answered the man according to his position religious and otherwise. He knew the commandments so Jesus answered him at first according to the best the young man knew, as he did with the Pharisees and Saducees.

Remember Jesus taught the multitude and I don't believe that he ordered his teaching hapzardly or that it was recorded in a muddled way.

Since its inner character that is important I think if we went back to our old lifestyle having been redeemed from it then that would be a turning back.

The christian life is a pilgrimage but not to places on earth - people can go to those if they want, but how much closer are you to heaven if you go to these? Don't get me wrong there may be value in visiting some of these places, but I think that one can if not careful then end up thinking the journey ends there.

I'm not a calvinist, or not any longer. I am not against Calvin, some of his thoughts commentary are helpful - I just no longer go for that whole system, because of the way its filtered down over the last four centuries, and because it does seem to have been somewhat infected by the spirit of the age in France.

Eternal Life as far as christian living on earth is concerned means Life with God in Christ (given the meaning content the Bible would give to that). It's a walk. After we die it will no longer be possible to turn back. If you turn back and it doesn't bother you then you never really were a christian. Commiting suicide would be a form of turning back, despairing of God and life - whereas despair of ones own ability to save oneself can take a person on to Faith.

Presumption and despair are two sins for the christian to be wary of.

Josef Pieper wrote a book on Hope, called "On Hope", I find him helpful.

Question that I have on this also : did the believers in Acts sell everything? - they certainly shared with other believers if they had genuine need from what I read?

I help at a community garden (open to christians and non-christians) and take some stuff of my own (books, tools) and leave it there for others to use at the Garden, I can also use the things myself there - that's one way I think Jesus wants me to serve Him at the moment.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

If our minds are telling us something that is opposite of the Word, we know our minds are leading us astray.

If we seek forgiveness, God is faithful and will forgive us.

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

 

[Rubiks]

Paul teaches us to set our affections on things in heaven, not on the earth, he teaches us to flee covetousness which is wanting more than we have or maybe its about greed, and he teaches us to fight the good fight of faith. I think materialism can cause us to become unfruitful, in my opinion. The parable of the sower teaches that the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches cause us to become unfruitful. Its not bad to own a few things however, how would these men work without tools? Or how would they study without books? How would musicians play without instruments? Paul teaches us to be content with food and clothing, Christ teaches us not to worry about those things but to seek the kingdom and God will supply our needs, however, we are also taught to work, so work is good. But still, paul also says this-

2 Co 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

True, I think God is calling me to learn to live without luxuries, but It's also evident in scripture he want us to use the things of this life as tools to advance his kingdom. I think it's all about balance.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

True, I think God is calling me to learn to live without luxuries, but It's also evident in scripture he want us to use the things of this life as tools to advance his kingdom. I think it's all about balance.

That's the only good thing about wealth, to advance the His Kingdom by helping the poor and preaching the Gospel. Living in luxury fails in that task, in my opinion, it feeds only worldly desires and sets a bad example for others to follow. In my opinion.

 

[abovetheclouds]

Bless you MourningDove.

 

[dms1972]

If our minds are telling us something that is opposite of the Word, we know our minds are leading us astray.

If we seek forgiveness, God is faithful and will forgive us.

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

That's true. And also God gave me a mind, and He promises a sound mind to believers. He tells us to love him with heart, mind, soul and strength. He wants us to use it but not depend on it. We do need to think and question things sometimes. It was one of the most difficult and unsettling things I did to think through my faith, and to approach the Bible as God's Word. But the reason people get into difficulties is because they don't think, or they think without God and the Scriptures.

If our minds go against the Bible then we are to trust God to make his way clear to us, and to help us. But I have seen and been lead into more trouble and difficult by those who thought that what the Bible said could be followed without any thinking.