Does God Understand

[Charpaul]

Hi everyone. I was wondering your opinion on this topic. If you get out of church for one reason or another, you love the Lord and believe in Jesus but have a hard time getting back in. Does he understand and will accept you when you come back. I was always taught once saved always saved. What is your opinion?

 

[costlygrace]

If you repent, and ask in faith for Him to continue His work of change in your heart, of course He will accept you back, at any time. But the repentance is a must.

Blessings,
costlygrace

 

[Iollain]

Just because someone stops going to church for awhile, does not necessarily mean they left the Lord.

 

[ZiSunka]

I agree that just staying away from church for a while doesn't mean that you left the Lord. If you want evidence of this, just visit the Home church/unchurched Forum. The people there are as Christian as anyone else here at CF, they just don't go to church for some reason.

And, God will ALWAYS take you back, not matter what you've done. Just look at King David, he committed adultery, lied, committed murder and constantly waged war for no reason, yet every time he repented, God took him back. Look at Paul, he persecuted Christians and helped commit murder, yet God not only accepted him when he repented, he made Paul a leader of the church. I could go on and on with examples, from Abraham (he doubted God would really give him an heir by Sarah) to Jacob (he stole his brother's birthright) to Moses (he abused the authority God gave him), to every single one of us, every person of faith who was ever born. If he didn't always take us back, we would have no hope of seeing heaven.

 

[Matthan]

Always keep in mind that God knows everything. He can look into the deepest recesses of your heart, and know for certain what you have done and why you did it. If your reasons for avoiding the gathering of others who wish to worship Him in communion and fellowship with each other is reasonable, He will understand. Once you are saved eternally, you belong to Him. Nothing can harm the relationship you and He have together, once it has been properly established according to His Truth (Scripture).

I have often wondered about our judgement before Christ. Will He simply tell us our sins are forgiven because we have loved Him in our feeble way? Or, like any upset parent, will He yell at us, point up all of our shortcomings, and then tell us to get our butts to His supper table?

Matthan <J>< (Festina Lente)

 

[repoland2]

Matthan, *chuckles* I liked your post. I personally feel that even though He is as a Father to us, his patience, grace, and love far exceed that of our earthly parents. Such that things that may have bothered or upset our Father's here on earth, don't upset Him in Heaven because He is patient, and gives us His Grace. Agree?

Charpaul - The Love of God is infinite. He will always accept you back should you stray and return. Remember the prodigal son, how he went away, squandered his inheritance money then came crawling home begging forgiveness. Also, as costlygrace had mentioned, repentance is the key. The prodigal son didn't get into his house because he just breezed back in through the door, he got down on his knees and BEGGED forgiveness with a humble attitude, then he worked twice as hard as the other son to make up for his ill deeds.

Always remember, repentance isn't just saying you're sorry, it's changing that thing you're sorry for so it doesn't happen any more.

*smiles, hugs*

 

[Steve_SandbachBaptist_UK]

I think you can always come back as long as you repent. But if you stay 'lost'/backslidden until you die I don't think you are saved.

 

[RED that's ME]

God is a loving, forgiving God when we come to him in repentance.

I encourage you don't let Satan drag you down and try to keep you from getting back in church. Going to church is important for so many reasons to be with other believers and be encourage in your walk with Christ and also for regular fellowship with other believers. Don't wait, start this Sunday.

 

[costlygrace]

Just because someone stops going to church for awhile, does not necessarily mean they left the Lord.

True!

 

[2Timothy2]

I think we have wonderful examples in the Bible of just this sort of thing. Look at how the Israelites followed God, then left Him, then came back. He was always wanting to bring them back to Himself. see Isaiah 30, in particular vs 18 We also have examples from Adam to Jonah. And how about Peter? The one thing these all did was, as has been mentioned, repent and turn back to the Lord.

I agree with some of the above posts that not going to church doesn't mean you have lost your salvation. And conversely, I think that's the word, going to church doesn't mean you are a Christian. But, the fellowship and teaching we get by going to church is important as it builds us up in the faith. I know it is hard to get back into it, but remember, it is about our relationship with Him, not how we look or feel. It will be worth it once you get back into a fellowship of believers.