fear to faith-how?

[ulu]

How does one go from fear to faith? I, like the demons who tremble mentioned in the bible, believe it's the inspired word of God. What this has done in my life is increase my feelings of guilt over habitual sins, and increase my dread of death. As great a motivator as fear is, it's not enough to reduce my sinning significantly, or to make me love God.
I've asked God repeatedly to change me, but he knows I still prefer my sins to him. Jesus did say faith without works is dead, as well as mentioning many times the various groups of people who would not get to heaven (liars, adulterers etc)

 

[dvd_holc]

How does one go from fear to faith? I, like the demons who tremble mentioned in the bible, believe it's the inspired word of God. What this has done in my life is increase my feelings of guilt over habitual sins, and increase my dread of death. As great a motivator as fear is, it's not enough to reduce my sinning significantly, or to make me love God.
I've asked God repeatedly to change me, but he knows I still prefer my sins to him. Jesus did say faith without works is dead, as well as mentioning many times the various groups of people who would not get to heaven (liars, adulterers etc)

I firmly believe that fear can get you to the door way, but fear of God does not lead you to a relationship that builds intimate bonds of marriage.

For example, if you have the outlook that God is a Might hand ready to smack you done when you do something wrong, I would suggest as soon as you think you can get away with something without consquences such as...having sex outside the marriage just fun the pleasure of it with a willing participant...you will do it every time.

But if you had the outlook of because God loved me and wanted a harmony of life that was truly fulfilling on all levels, I would wait to have sex with my wife with a emotional and life long commitment.

We grow to be complete health people which has a intimate emotional relationship with God, each other, and the environment because God made us that way...there is a maturing of the individual. Our maturity is in a pefected love that drives out fear because fear involves punishment. So then, we love because God loved us and we want more than anything to love others in all circumstances because that love builds others up rather than taking what we want.

Sin is a temporary lust that alway leaves the person with a gap in the soul because it can't give you want you need which is love. Sin is but a illusion of the truth. Sin is something that always selfishly takes from the world not producing anything positive in the process.

 

[Macca]

How does one go from fear to faith? I, like the demons who tremble mentioned in the bible, believe it's the inspired word of God. What this has done in my life is increase my feelings of guilt over habitual sins, and increase my dread of death. As great a motivator as fear is, it's not enough to reduce my sinning significantly, or to make me love God.
I've asked God repeatedly to change me, but he knows I still prefer my sins to him. Jesus did say faith without works is dead, as well as mentioning many times the various groups of people who would not get to heaven (liars, adulterers etc)

The groups of people who will not get to heaven are those who will not accept Jesus as their saviour and desire to continue in a sinful lifestyle.
If you will give your life to Jesus, and understand what it cost Him to go to the cross and die for your sin you will grow to a point where doing the right thing in His eyes is what you want to do, sin will become less of a focus for you.

 

[seajoy]

How does one go from fear to faith? I, like the demons who tremble mentioned in the bible, believe it's the inspired word of God. What this has done in my life is increase my feelings of guilt over habitual sins, and increase my dread of death. As great a motivator as fear is, it's not enough to reduce my sinning significantly, or to make me love God.
I've asked God repeatedly to change me, but he knows I still prefer my sins to him. Jesus did say faith without works is dead, as well as mentioning many times the various groups of people who would not get to heaven (liars, adulterers etc)

If you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you already have faith. The reason you feel guilt is because God gave you a conscience, and you know your sins are wrong. The next step in your walk with Jesus is to live for Him, out of the love you have for His saving you.

Start by asking for forgiveness. Ask for help to avoid sin...God loves to help with stuff like that . Next, find a church (a Scripturally sound one). Often times we try to 'go it alone,' there is no need for that. Find a pastor to talk to about your fears. The fellowship of other believers will also help you so much.

Please read the Psalms, expecially Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. These are promises straight from God!

The Lord will give you strength. When you stumble, He is there. He died and rose again for you, He desires your salvation more than anything else.

May you have peace in His promises!

seajoy

 

[Adstar]

How does one go from fear to faith? I, like the demons who tremble mentioned in the bible, believe it's the inspired word of God. What this has done in my life is increase my feelings of guilt over habitual sins, and increase my dread of death. As great a motivator as fear is, it's not enough to reduce my sinning significantly, or to make me love God.
I've asked God repeatedly to change me, but he knows I still prefer my sins to him. Jesus did say faith without works is dead, as well as mentioning many times the various groups of people who would not get to heaven (liars, adulterers etc)

I am confused. First you say you feel guilt then you say you prefer your sins? If sin is making you feel guilty then how can you prefer sin? I know guilt is not a pleasant thing.

With the help of the Holy Spirit sin can be greatly reduced but no one on earth can cease to sin in this life time. Faith in Jesus is about trusting in the atoning blood of Jesus that has our sins forgiven. That forgiveness leads to joy and hope not guilt and fear.

Do you think you need to live a perfect sinless life to be with God in eternity? If that where the case then everyone here would be doomed.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Rafael]

There is a healthy level of fear for a person to have about sin and the sonsequences of it, but Paul told us in Romans 7 that sin dwells in our fallen flesh and will always be a problem right up until the day we have new eternal bodies that are like that of Jesus. Galatians 5:7 also explains how the flesh and the deisres of the Spirit are opposed to each other and we are never free of that controversy until the end of it with Victory through the blood of the Lamb. Revel and rejoice in the victory we have over sin and death through our Savior's sacrifice and never lie down in sin. By your confessing the problem, you prove that you are fighting the good fight of faith against sin. Continue to grow in God's grace because it is His will to give it to you to grow in. As you grow more and more in Him, love will finally cast out the last vestiges of fear of punishment over sin. The judgment of all our lifetime sins are nailed to the cross over 200 years ago and will never be mentioned again, being forgotten as far as the East is from the West. Keep trying and you will be an overcomer - by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, not giving in, but fighting the fight of faith.

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Re 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.

15 I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.
16 I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good.
17 But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.

24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
1 ¶ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.

 

[LilLamb219]

Ok, you've listed things about yourself and your sins, but you haven't said anything about believing in Jesus Christ or the forgiveness of sins. Do you believe your sins are forgiven because Jesus died on the cross for you?

Personally, I'd recommend beginning to look at the cross since you've already examined yourself and have found great faults (we all have them!). Look to what the Gospel says for comfort and get your eyes off what you do.

 

[Key]

How does one go from fear to faith?

I have no idea.

I never started believing out of Fear, nor did Fear get me to look into Jesus as Salvation.

I guess, it is more of a Knock at your door type of thing.

Once you take the time to get to know your lord, your outlook might change.

Just like we "fear" powerful people, but when we get to know them, they are just people like you and me, and our original fear can become respect, and even love as we get to know them more and more.

God Bless

Key

 

[Calminian]

I firmly believe that fear can get you to the door way, but fear of God does not lead you to a relationship that builds intimate bonds of marriage.

For example, if you have the outlook that God is a Might hand ready to smack you done when you do something wrong, I would suggest as soon as you think you can get away with something without consequences such as...having sex outside the marriage just fun the pleasure of it with a willing participant...you will do it every time.

But if you had the outlook of because God loved me and wanted a harmony of life that was truly fulfilling on all levels, I would wait to have sex with my wife with a emotional and life long commitment.

We grow to be complete health people which has a intimate emotional relationship with God, each other, and the environment because God made us that way...there is a maturing of the individual. Our maturity is in a perfected love that drives out fear because fear involves punishment. So then, we love because God loved us and we want more than anything to love others in all circumstances because that love builds others up rather than taking what we want.

Sin is a temporary lust that always leaves the person with a gap in the soul because it can't give you want you need which is love. Sin is but a illusion of the truth. Sin is something that always selfishly takes from the world not producing anything positive in the process.

This is a very perceptive rely and I think right on the money. It's one thing to obey you father because you fear he will spank you, but another to obey him because you know he loves you. I think the fear of the Lord is a good start,

Prov. 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

but when you understand the Lord's love that is behind His warning it becomes much easier to love Him back.

Also, conversely, when you see the Devil for what he really is, and the motive behind his earthly temptations, you find it easier to hate him.

 

[Sheva]

I think it’s healthy to have a “fear” in God. He is almighty and he has given us the Law for us to follow to the letter. It’s not abnormal to feel guilt and fear when we realize that we are horrible sinners and can’t do anything right. One purpose of the law is show us all this. That we can never measure up. Our best acts are “filthy rags”. However, you should never separate this from the message of the gospel; Jesus lived, died and rose again and took every bad thing and put it on the cross so you could have eternal life. That should be where the fear ends and hope and faith begin.
Another point is that fear never leads to faith. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. And until we get to heaven we will always have fear and sin in our lives. That won’t change. You shouldn’t worry so much about works. Instead focus on the cross and strengthening your faith and the works will come. And stick with prayer too.

 

[ulu]

Thanks for the replies.

"I am confused. First you say you feel guilt then you say you prefer your sins? If sin is making you feel guilty then how can you prefer sin? I know guilt is not a pleasant thing. "

When I say I prefer my sins it is because even though I know they're against God's will, I continue to do them. At this point, it's not even guilt so much as dread of eventual punishment. I have a sex drive, but am single, as I've been all my adult life. Repressing the drive only works short term, and then the thought life is even more sinful. Asking for God's help hasn't worked. I've yet to meet a woman who warms to the idea of getting married so I can have sex without guilt. The idea doesn't appeal much to me either, but it seems preferable to hell. I've hated my life for quite a while now, but God has only shown me what not to do. (everything that brings me happiness or temporary relief)

When I first asked Jesus to save me (out of fear) I believed he would, and would cover my sins and direct my path. I now doubt that is the case. Virtually everything I do may be sin. When I work it is for money, among other things-not to please God. When I watch TV I could be using the time to help someone worse off. When I dwell on my misery, I should be thanking God for the good things in my life.
When I exercise, it's partly out of vanity.When I eat junk food, it's a sin. When I start thinking God's concept of good is so different than mine, it becomes almost meaningless to me. When I think how nice it would be to own a sports car, or a place to live , it's a sin. Why try to get ahead when God condemns it? Most people in the world are much poorer than I already. Every day I don't work or seek a job is a sin. Even if I kept a journal I couldn't keep track of the thousands of sins I commit every day of my life.
At this point asking for forgiveness seems like an insult to God because it's insincere. I only do it to hope to avoid hell. Same with praying-I don't do it consistently anymore-I could probably do it every day, but each day it would be more meaningless than the previous day.
I think true christians are as rare on earth as billionaires, and probably at least as disciplined.

 

[seajoy]

Thanks for the replies.

"I am confused. First you say you feel guilt then you say you prefer your sins? If sin is making you feel guilty then how can you prefer sin? I know guilt is not a pleasant thing. "

When I say I prefer my sins it is because even though I know they're against God's will, I continue to do them. At this point, it's not even guilt so much as dread of eventual punishment. I have a sex drive, but am single, as I've been all my adult life. Repressing the drive only works short term, and then the thought life is even more sinful. Asking for God's help hasn't worked. I've yet to meet a woman who warms to the idea of getting married so I can have sex without guilt. The idea doesn't appeal much to me either, but it seems preferable to hell. I've hated my life for quite a while now, but God has only shown me what not to do. (everything that brings me happiness or temporary relief)

When I first asked Jesus to save me (out of fear) I believed he would, and would cover my sins and direct my path. I now doubt that is the case. Virtually everything I do may be sin. When I work it is for money, among other things-not to please God. When I watch TV I could be using the time to help someone worse off. When I dwell on my misery, I should be thanking God for the good things in my life.
When I exercise, it's partly out of vanity.When I eat junk food, it's a sin. When I start thinking God's concept of good is so different than mine, it becomes almost meaningless to me. When I think how nice it would be to own a sports car, or a place to live , it's a sin. Why try to get ahead when God condemns it? Most people in the world are much poorer than I already. Every day I don't work or seek a job is a sin. Even if I kept a journal I couldn't keep track of the thousands of sins I commit every day of my life.
At this point asking for forgiveness seems like an insult to God because it's insincere. I only do it to hope to avoid hell. Same with praying-I don't do it consistently anymore-I could probably do it every day, but each day it would be more meaningless than the previous day.
I think true christians are as rare on earth as billionaires, and probably at least as disciplined.

No matter how hard you try, you will never have a sinless day on this earth. None of us will. Even Paul called himself chief of sinners.

You are actually further along in your walk with God than you think. You know there is sin in everything you do. The part you don't have correct though, is that you think your sins are somehow way worse than most folks, and that God doesn't even want to bother with you. Satan is really enjoying telling you that lie.

Christ died for you. Even if you were the only person in the world, He would have given His life so you could go to heaven.

Start going to church...you might find some good wife material there . Ask God to lead you to the woman of His choosing. Please don't give up because it's just too hard. Nothing is too hard for God.

I pray you find comfort in our Savior. He washes away all your sin.

seajoy

 

[Calminian]

No matter how hard you try, you will never have a sinless day on this earth. None of us will. Even Paul called himself chief of sinners.

You are actually further along in your walk with God than you think. You know there is sin in everything you do. The part you don't have correct though, is that you think your sins are somehow way worse than most folks, and that God doesn't even want to bother with you. Satan is really enjoying telling you that lie.

Christ died for you. Even if you were the only person in the world, He would have given His life so you could go to heaven.

Start going to church...you might find some good wife material there . Ask God to lead you to the woman of His choosing. Please don't give up because it's just too hard. Nothing is too hard for God.

I pray you find comfort in our Savior. He washes away all your sin.

I'll just piggyback onto this good reply. I think you are further along than you think also. Check out this testimony from a mature apostle toward the end of his ministry.

Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Now I'm not sure you are quite where Paul is at here, as it doesn't sound like you delight in God's law in your inner being (vs. 22). But the fact that you are struggling is a good sign. Get used to it! And there is nothing wrong with you not wanting to go to hell! This is exactly why God warned you. But I think if you get to know this God who also doesn't want you to go to hell, it'll be easier to delight in Him. Relationships take time to develop and mature.

Ulu, I'm curious what you've done in the past to build your relationship with God? In other words, what have you done to get to know Him? Maybe that's were we can help you along.

 

[ulu]

"Ulu, I'm curious what you've done in the past to build your relationship with God? In other words, what have you done to get to know Him? Maybe that's were we can help you along."

In the past, and still occasionally, I've prayed, read the bible, and listened to sermons from sermonaudio(on the web) and on tv(charles stanley, john hagee, jack crawford) My two closest friends are christian, but I haven't spoken with them about my situation recently.
Reading the bible, though, seems like reading whitney housten's autobiography-it's a way to know about her, but not to actually know her.
There's a verse in the new testament that admonishes christians to not even associate with sexually immoral people. One reason I know I prefer sin to God, (despite feeling guilty) is I avoid accountability.

Thanks for your response.

 

[BoranJarami]

How does one go from fear to faith? I, like the demons who tremble mentioned in the bible, believe it's the inspired word of God. What this has done in my life is increase my feelings of guilt over habitual sins, and increase my dread of death. As great a motivator as fear is, it's not enough to reduce my sinning significantly, or to make me love God.
I've asked God repeatedly to change me, but he knows I still prefer my sins to him. Jesus did say faith without works is dead, as well as mentioning many times the various groups of people who would not get to heaven (liars, adulterers etc)

ulu, you believe the Bible but do not know how to apply it to your life. Take heart for there is hope.

You have heard the law and are convicted by it. Through the the law you have seen just how far you have strayed from the will of God. This is exactly where the law is supposed to bring you. The law is to show our deviation from the will of God. But where does this leave you?

You are a sinner who feels the guilt of your sin but does not know how to overcome that sin.

As a believer I can tell you that there is no way to overcome sin. There is no way to atone for it and there is no way to pay our debt except with our lives for eternity. But as I said, there is hope. While there is no way for us to do this, there is a way for one man to do this and he did. Jesus lived a perfect and sinnless life and he did so in our place. When he died on the cross he overcame all sin, including the ones that you are currently struggeling with, and payed the debt for it all. All of your debt had been paid in ful, all of your sin has been paid for.

Does this mean that you are now debt free? Absolutly not. If I were to give you an envelope with five hundred dollars in it, would it do you any good if you did not acept it from me? Of course not. You must first accept a gift for it to do you any good. It is the same with the gift of God.

What then must you do to accept the gift? Ask him for it. It may seem too simple to be the answer, but it is. Just tell God your true feelings. Tell him of your guilt over going against his word and your desire to live according to that will. Ask him to apply that payment that Christ made for you to your debts and ask him to take you into his family and guide your heart. If you truely believe that he will do it, if you truely believe what the Bible says, as you have declared, then he will.

May the Lord guide and strengthen you and show you the way. Amen.

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

How does one go from fear to faith?

1John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

How do you get that love to live by & be motivated by ?
- Simple:-

Romans 5:5: . . . the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

So, how do you receive the Holy Spirit ?
- Simple, desire and expect (that's faith):-
Acts 2v4 . .they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Then you have something better than sin !
People find they don't even want to smoke, drink, swear, doubt, lust etc anymore, NOT because they are more fearful or moral, they simply have a New Life !

PM me if youhave not received this !

 

[Calminian]

In the past, and still occasionally, I've prayed, read the bible, and listened to sermons from sermonaudio(on the web) and on tv(charles stanley, john hagee, jack crawford)

I would recommend you keep listening to Stanley. I'm not familiar with the other guys.

My two closest friends are christian, but I haven't spoken with them about my situation recently.

I would go ahead and do so.

Reading the bible, though, seems like reading whitney housten's autobiography-it's a way to know about her, but not to actually know her.

That's actually not true. Reading people's biographies is a great wat to get to know those people. They won't get to know you, but you'll get to know them and even love them by listening to their stories (if they're worth loving). What's different about God is, He knows you already—your every thought and desire. And the words of the Bible are directed at you specifically, so it would be more like getting a direct letter from a Whitney Houston who already knows you. (Why we're using Whitney as an example, I'm not sure )

There's a verse in the new testament that admonishes christians to not even associate with sexually immoral people.

Actually that's from 1 Cor. 5, but you're missing some context. The fact is, you're not quite a christian yet. Paul's admonishment is only intended for those in the church. Read carefully.

1Cor. 5:9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

God actually wants us to associate with you. He wants us to model for you how to live. Obviously the way you are living now is not fulfilling you, or you wouldn't be posting in the forum. Something’s telling you you’re on a wrong path.

One reason I know I prefer sin to God, (despite feeling guilty) is I avoid accountability.

Then why post here? Seems you have a conflict within. There is a sense in which you prefer sin. There's a sense in which we all do. But there's another sense in which we know it is not a true friend and want those preferences to change. This is a slow process that begins when you commit yourself to God.

I still remember the first day I did it. I had been flirting with christianity for years, then one day in my car, I simply told God I was going to try to follow His commandments starting that day. I knew I was going to fail miserably (and have been ever since), but from that day on I knew I had begun a relationship with Him. Thankfully, my failures aren't going to count against me as salvation is not by works.

Rom. 4:7 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

We don’t work to earn but rather to show our faith.

James 2:18 ...I will show you my faith by what I do.

 

[Harry3142]

ulu-

St. Paul, as a Pharisee, had studied the Mosaic Law and knew it by heart. But he also realized, as do we, that there was no possibility of our keeping it to the extent that God would require if we were to obtain our own salvation. But God himself laid the foundation for our attaining the righteousness which he requires of us:

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:19-26,NIV)

The righteousness that God requires of us is a righteousness which only he can provide to us. This he has done; through the work which Jesus Christ performed we can have confidence that we have salvation. But it is up to us to accept the righteousness offered freely to us.