How do we know....

[Proeliator]

If we are truly saved? This has come to my mind many times, as like most people, I fail in the things that I plan to do often, such as pray before bed, etc.....How do we know we havent been fooled by the Devil?

 

[cygnusx1]

If we are truly saved? This has come to my mind many times, as like most people, I fail in the things that I plan to do often, such as pray before bed, etc.....How do we know we havent been fooled by the Devil?

do you cease being your earthly fathers son because you didn't say hello to him today ?

You cannot break a tie that is stronger than blood , God's will is that all who truly believe shall never perish ...... and if God is for us then who can be against us ?

True we still have to make our calling and election sure , for even though God knows those who are His , He wills it that we find out for ourselves if we are amongst the elect .

If we love the brethren and Love and obey God we have the assurance in our hearts that we are saved. (try reading the epistles of John)

 

[Proeliator]

do you cease being your earthly fathers son because you didn't say hello to him today ?

You cannot break a tie that is stronger than blood , God's will is that all who truly believe shall never perish ...... and if God is for us then who can be against us ?

True we still have to make our calling and election sure , for even though God knows those who are His , He wills it that we find out for ourselves if we are amongst the elect .

If we love the brethren and Love and obey God we have the assurance in our hearts that we are saved. (try reading the epistles of John)

But have u ever just had that time where you wonder? I dont pick up my Bible anymore hardly, all kinds of things.

 

[cygnusx1]

But have u ever just had that time where you wonder? I dont pick up my Bible anymore hardly, all kinds of things.

sure , but then again I don't rely on my experience for my salvation ............ we may backslide .... we may fall , we may grow cold , but we have an ADVOCATE ... JESUS .

I don't look at my experience as a guide , Peter took his eyes of Christ and he began sinking in the sea.

Keep your mind on Christ , let Him be your hope.

 

[Proeliator]

I don't look at my experience as a guide , Peter took his eyes of Christ and he began sinking in the sea.

Keep your mind on Christ , let Him be your hope.

THANKS!!!

 

[JJB]

shadrach,

Speaking for myself, I have been where you are. I understand what it's like to feel like you are not doing your part in your spiritual walk. Then the doubts can come creeping in.

Take heart, my friend! I was just listening to John Piper lecture on Paul Bunyan this week (from an mp3 recording), and his opinion is that too many Christians don't struggle with their spiritual walk anymore. The Puritans struggled a lot! Am I doing enough? what else is there? how is my walk with the Lord? Let your doubts or slothfulness spur you on to do the right thing! Use them to your advantage! Pray about them, then keep slogging through the mire no matter how heavy your spiritual legs and feet may feel.

Sometimes I have to force myself to do the Godly thing. Reading (or listening to) biographies of the great men of God can also be a very encouraging thing. To see the whole picture and how God worked through it can bring much hope, as well as remembering all the things God has already done for you.

 

[Proeliator]

Have a link for that Piper?

 

[JimfromOhio]

I don't know if this will help.............

Over the years, I have heard and read that "if you ever doubt your salvation and you are very concerned about your salvation then the answer would be you are saved without question because Satan will always make you doubt your salvation." Another way to know if you are truly saved is when you are going through sancification process. Holiness is giving ourselves to Christ (see Romans 12:1-2). God has given the Holy Spirit to enable us to have a holy relationship with our Father. The key to holiness is submitting to the Spirit's control in daily life that will enable us to overcome the human nature and live through grace's sufficiency. Holiness is our spiritual relationship with God alone. Each of us can always trust the Holy Spirit in our lives and experiences, but we have to be careful no to trust our human reasoning and our fleshly conclusions based on visible activities. In other words, A person who have the Holy Spirit in the heart will understand God's standards of "sin" because a Christian will understand God's holiness. A person without having the Holy Spirit in the heart will not understand God's holiness therefore a person will define God's definition of sin in a human point of view (rather than spirit).

During our sancification process, we will know what is God's Holiness will. Another reason you may noticed your salvation is when you noticed how liberal a local church is. When you see a local church change God's holiness in order to make people happy on various sins? Some denominations "relaxed" God's holiness without God's permission.

Ephesians 4:24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Understanding God's Holiness:

Romans 7:12 (NIV) So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

Romans 11:16 (NIV) If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1 Thessalonians 4:4 (NIV) that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NIV) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Hebrews 10:14 (NIV) because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

1 Peter 1:13-16 (New International Version)
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

2 Peter 3:11 (NIV) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives

I have more.. but this will be a start... maybe this will lead to good discussion!!

 

[McWilliams]

Shadrach, you can find John Piper's articles and books here:

http://www.desiringgod.org/

 

[JJB]

Shadrach,

On monergism.com as a special they offered Piper's lectures for about $5.00 in mp3 format. If that offer is no longer there pm me, and i'll see if I can't find a way to get them to you.

Try email them at customerservice @monergismbooks.com

or here are other two contacts on my disk: www.desiringGod.org and mail@desiringGod.org

Toll free: 888-346-4700

Title of the biographical lectures: Men of Whom The World was not Worthy
taken from Bethlehem Pastors Conference

 

[Proeliator]

So then mostly what people are saying is that this is sort of a common, and almost expected thing to go thru?

 

[JimfromOhio]

So then mostly what people are saying is that this is sort of a common, and almost expected thing to go thru?

Yes.. it is common and expected that Christians go through the process of doubting which Satan plays the large role in it. John Piper's message about this is good. I recommend what have mentioned about John Piper's message. Sproul and Boice have said the same thing. Christian is a spiritual battle until you go home.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

Shadrach,

John said "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)

I recommend you read all of that epistle of John. It was written to answer the question above.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

Shadrach,

I thought I would add a bit more to wht I wrote earlier.

Here is a little more from 1 John.
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (3:23-24)

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (5:1-3)


In Christ,
Kenith

 

[Proeliator]

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (5:1-3)


In Christ,
Kenith

So then as long as I keep my actions in the standard which He has set for us, that shows my love for Him as well as prayer, etc? I dont like this doubting I have, its a very unusaul feeling.

 

[cygnusx1]

hey shadrach , if you think Calvinists have trouble with assurance , have pity on the Arminians who believe that anytime they may still go to hell , even after 50 years of service!

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

So then as long as I keep my actions in the standard which He has set for us, that shows my love for Him as well as prayer, etc? I dont like this doubting I have, its a very unusaul feeling.

I have had times of doubt when I was young and struggling with certain sins. Doubting can be good. It can be a tool to search the Scriptures on assurance. I believe the Lord wants His people to have a assurance, but at the same times there are plenty of warnings against a false assurance scattered throughout the New Testament Scriptures.

Read John's first epistle; it was written so that the elect of God can have assurance.

In Christ,
Kenith

 

[mlqurgw]

There have been and are still many times that I wonder how I could be a child of God and think and do the things I do. I always get this way when I look at myself. When we focus on ourselves, whether it is our walk or our reading or any other things we expect we should do, we can only see failure. By all means seek to honor Christ and His name in everything you do but assurance doesn't come from those things. I am sure becuse God doesn't lie. I may not have faith as I should but I do have faith. He that believes shall never perish.

 

[JJB]

shadrach,

Speaking for myself, I have been where you are. I understand what it's like to feel like you are not doing your part in your spiritual walk. Then the doubts can come creeping in.

Take heart, my friend! I was just listening to John Piper lecture on Paul Bunyan this week (from an mp3 recording), and his opinion is that too many Christians don't struggle with their spiritual walk anymore. The Puritans struggled a lot! Am I doing enough? what else is there? how is my walk with the Lord? Let your doubts or slothfulness spur you on to do the right thing! Use them to your advantage! Pray about them, then keep slogging through the mire no matter how heavy your spiritual legs and feet may feel.

Sometimes I have to force myself to do the Godly thing. Reading (or listening to) biographies of the great men of God can also be a very encouraging thing. To see the whole picture and how God worked through it can bring much hope, as well as remembering all the things God has already done for you.

Make that John Bunyan. Thanks McWilliams!

 

[Proeliator]

I have had times of doubt when I was young and struggling with certain sins. Doubting can be good. It can be a tool to search the Scriptures on assurance. I believe the Lord wants His people to have a assurance, but at the same times there are plenty of warnings against a false assurance scattered throughout the New Testament Scriptures.

Read John's first epistle; it was written so that the elect of God can have assurance.

In Christ,
Kenith

read, and thank all of you for your help. It was rather had to finally put these things down for people to read, as no-one enjoys being judged, and you never know what some people may say. It is definately good to see that others have had doubts when they were young Christians as well, for it lets me know I am not alone on this.