How do you know when you are saved?

[full_of_faith]

Full-of-Faith.......
don't ever feel embarassed about asking questions.
If you don't know...you don't know.

ditto: Jesus is God, in the flesh

He is Risen !

Thank you, TexasGirl06!

 

[Breaking Babylon]

2 Tim. 2:15 says to STUDY the Word, that you could be a workman not ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Who says we can't have study partners?

I'll help you to the best of my ability with any questions you might have, and would consider it a privilege. I don't claim to be a Bible scholar, but I do claim to know a little bit... and as freely as I have recieved, freely will I give.

 

[full_of_faith]

Thank you again, BlakeMichael.

 

[thepianist]

The answer is, actually, simple.

If you have asked Jesus into your hear and confessed with your mouth that He is Lord, you are saved. That's it.
See, God loved you so much that He sent His son to die the worst death you can ever imagine, so that you didn't have to go to Hell when you die.

Salvation isn't something that is a feeling or something that can is tangible that it can leave you. These feelings of doubt is only Satan trying to get you off course.

I will pray for you. Don't give up, because God has a plan for you which will bring others to him. Trust me, you are important in the Kingdom of God.

I couldn't agree more......this young man knows Jesus!!! Jesus is THE way, THE truth and THE life. No one goes to heaven without Him as their personal Saviour.

Please remember that once we ask Jesus into our heart, He gives us ETERNAL life.....not just as long as we live it or feel it. Granted, we should want to strive to be the best Christian we can be after we get saved....but we NEVER loose salvation.....if we could loose it, then God would be a liar.

John 10:28 & 29 "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

My prayers are with you, my dear. I hope you work this thing out and if you've never accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour - that you will do so.

 

[full_of_faith]

I have accepted Jesus as my savior in the past. I have fell off the wagon, so to speak, in my spirituality. I have ignored my spirituality for a long time now. I haven't prayed in a long time (and only when I had a problem) until this week when I joined CF and now I pray every day as often as possible that I will be saved.

I realize the importance of being saved and am working towards that.

Also, my husband and I were driving back from picking up dinner and as we were on the road off in a short distance, I thought I saw a crucifix on someone's lawn. When we got to the house, it was just a couple of bushes or trees. I asked God to give me a sign that I was headed in the right direction, etc. so I guess that is my sign from God. What do you think about that?

 

[Breaking Babylon]

To know Jesus is to know the Word, for He came as the Word in body. Amen.

I couldn't agree with you more, Pianist - no man can take us from God's loving hands. However, should we choose to forsake Him, we have the potential to fall from grace. I don't believe in the once saved, always saved doctrine - and if you do, this isn't a bash on you, rather my attempt at clarification.

Exodus 32:33 - And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book." You must first be in a book to be blotted out of a book.

Deuteronomy 31:16,17 - And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. Then My ANGER shall be aroused against them in that day, AND I WILL FORSAKE THEM, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured..."

1 Chronicles 28:9 - As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. IF YOU SEEK HIM, He will be found by you; BUT IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL CAST YOU OFF FOREVER.

Luke 12:45,46 - "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the UNBELIEVERS."

James 5:19,20 - Brethren, if anyone among you WANDERS from the truth, AND SOMEONE TURNS HIM BACK, let him know that he who TURNS A SINNER FROM THE ERROR OF HIS WAY WILL SAVE HIS SOUL FROM DEATH and cover a multitude of sins.

2 Peter 3:17,18 - You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, BEWARE LEST YOU ALSO FALL from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Please forgive the annoying caps in the verses above, this information was copied over from a previous source.

Saint Paul: "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." KJV - Romans 11:22. Gotta love Romans.

If you would like to know an excellent source to study more on this, I urge you to visit http://www.bible.ca/cal-P-refutation.htm.

Here's a list of scriptures to read from the site above.

A child of God can...

1. Fall from grace - Gal. 5:1-4,13
2. Be led away with error - 2 Pet. 3:17
3. Err from the truth - James 5:19-20
4. Weak brother may perish - 1 Cor. 8:11
5. Fall into condemnation - James 5:12
6. Be moved away from the hope - Col. 1:21-23
7. Deny the Lord who bought them - 2 Pet. 2:1
8. Depart from the living God - Heb. 3:12
9. Can be a castaway - 1 Cor. 9:27
10. Can become accursed children - 2 Pet. 2:14


May the glory and knowledge of God abide.

EDIT: Just saw your latest reply, full_of_faith. Now, clearly I don't believe in modern-day movements of God on a charismatic level, however I fully believe that He still speaks to us in many ways. There's one verse I'd like you to consider, Deuteronomy 6:16 "... Thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God."

I believe God speaks to us, however there is a distinct line, as we are people who have to believe in God by FAITH, not by sight, amen? God speaks to me through His Word. God has spoken to me, and continues to speak to me through His blessings. God speaks to me every time I see a new convert. God speaks to me through nature. However, God does not speak to me audibly. He does not speak to me as He spoke to those in the Old and New Testament time eras; For instance, through a donkey, out of the sky, in a physical manifestation[ie: dove, burning bush, great light], nor has He sent an angel to me. Is it because I have less faith than others? No, it's because He expects me to believe in Him by faith. It's no different for you.

Do I think God spoke to you? Yes. I don't believe that He physically caused some shrubbery to become a cross by any means, nor do I doubt His ability to do so - however I believe He planted a seed in your mind which gave root after you witnessed what you did. He works very mysteriously, faith. Keep seeking Him with all your heart and mind, and you will find Him. Such is a promise of God.

 

[TexasGirl06]

Hey BlakeMichael....

Galatians 5:1-4 is talking about being free from the Law.
Under the Law, we are going to fail...

The Jewish people attempted, unsuccessfully to gain a right relationship with God by obeying certain laws. (the 10 commandments).

Under Christ, a believer is free from the Law.
Do we still honor the Law and attempt to keep it? Sure.

The whole purpose of the Law, was to show us that we are sinners, as there is no way to keep it fully.

Under the Law, we die.

Happy Resurrection Day !

 

[Breaking Babylon]

Hey BlakeMichael....

Galatians 5:1-4 is talking about being free from the Law.
Under the Law, we are going to fail...

The Jewish people attempted, unsuccessfully to gain a right relationship with God by obeying certain laws. (the 10 commandments).

Under Christ, a believer is free from the Law.
Do we still honor the Law and attempt to keep it? Sure.

The whole purpose of the Law, was to show us that we are sinners, as there is no way to keep it fully.

Under the Law, we die.

Happy Resurrection Day !

I agree with what you're saying there. If we think we can achieve Heaven through the law, we're no better than the Pharisees.

I don't think that we're free from God's law, per se. I know that we are forgiven when we fall short, if that's what you're trying to say. Many Old Testament laws were undone once Jesus died, as they were nailed to the cross with Him. We no longer needed to sacrifice, as the greatest sacrifice had already been given, as a prime example.

So perhaps the verses in Galatians can't hold up to discrediting the OSAS doctrine - I don't know. There are definitely a few other verses to take into consideration, though.

Happy Resurrection day to you, also. May God bless us abundantly as we remember His Son today.

 

[euphoria]

I appreciated your writings, BlakeMichael, and my mother and I just had a very similar conversation! I told her many of the points you brought up. I think you said it a lot better than I did, though.

 

[Breaking Babylon]

Thank you. I'm humbled by your appreciation. I'm only glad that I could be a mediator of God's Word, as the words aren't my own, but His.

Thanks again. It's things like this that give me that extra inspiration to study the Bible deeper.

 

[LilLamb219]

I don't think that we're free from God's law, per se.

We're free from the law when it concerns justification (our salvation).

Here on earth the Law helps us to love our neighbors and as Christians, we do see that it is better to live by the Law as it is Holy. It doesn't earn us any brownie points though Jesus took care of that for us

 

[Breaking Babylon]

Couldn't agree with you any more, in that aspect.

 

[full_of_faith]

Ok, so Christians do not have to or need to live by "the law?" Is "the law" the same thing as God's word? I know that may come off as sarcastic, but I am being sincere. So, if you are a Christian and that means you accept Jesus as your Savior that is good enough?

What are the steps that need to be taken to be righteous in God's eyes?

 

[Breaking Babylon]

See, what we're trying to say here is that there's no possible way a man can be redeemed by the law itself. We are naturally unrighteous. Do you know how many sins it takes to be found unworthy of Heaven?

One.

But that's the beauty of Christ. He took the sins of the world upon His shoulders, nailed them to the Cross, and shed His blood to wash us clean. Praise God.

Let's talk about repentance...

To repent doesn't mean to simply apologize. It means tu turn away from. Upon believing in God's Word, you are to turn away from your previous sinful lifestyle and try to walk in Christ's image. Jesus said to forgive, that you may be forgiven. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who persecute you. Be perfect.

Are we always perfect? To say such would be self-righteousness. No, we are not perfect. However, we are justified through Christ, who is willing to forgive us. All we have to do is follow Him down that narrow road. He's given us the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, we have to apply them in our lives.

Upon being saved as God tells us to, He looks at us through the blood of Christ - not through our sins. We've taken the steps to become a child of His Kingdom. Do you understand? We can't be justified through the law because it's impossible to be pure without Christ. However, we're expected to walk in His image, by applying what the Bible says into our lives.

So one glorious day, we will see our Creator eye to eye... and He will tell us "Well done, faithful servant." And He will wipe the tears from our eyes, and lead us into the place which He has prepared for us.

 

[TexasGirl06]

Basically, the "Law" is the 10 commandments.
God gave these in the Old Testament....to show the people what it would require for us to be holy...to be a child of His....to go to Heaven when we die.
Now...God knew that there was no way that any person could keep all of the commandments.
They did...and do...show the people that they are indeed sinners. Each and every one of us.
God then instituted the practice of sacrifice...for the covering of sins. They did this with animals.
God was setting the stage for when His Son would come to earth and be the ultimate sacrifice.
So, since Jesus' death on the cross was the punishment for my sin (death)....
I am no longer condemned under the Law.
Do I still try to keep the Law.
Of course.
It is right in the eyes of God.
I will never be able to keep the Law.
I still sin.
I hate it when I sin.
The Holy Spirit lets me know about my sin right away. Thank God for that.
So... to answer your question (If I can remember it )... The Law is still very important. However, as a follower of the Lord Jesus, I am no longer condemned under the Law.
So...therefore, if someone is not a follower of Jesus, they are still under the Law. They will die because of their sin.
Hope this helps !

 

[TexasGirl06]

PS.
There must be blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.

Old Testament = the blood of the animal COVERED the sin.

New Testament = the blood of Jesus wipes the sin away clean.

 

[TexasGirl06]

Here is the verse:

In fact, the Law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22

 

[full_of_faith]

Thank you TexasGirl.....

I have prayed to God everyday to forgive me of my sins and I do try my best to follow the 10 commandments. I don't always , but then again, who does? I am trying my best to live by God's word (what I know of it, since I have not read the entire Bible). But of course, I know about the 10 Commandments and other obvious things that most of us have learned growing up.

 

[TexasGirl06]

I love Hebrews !

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the God.

Hebrews 10:11-12
I inserted the word (Jesus).

And...I love this one, too !

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
Hebrews 10:18

 

[TexasGirl06]

And.... even though my sins have been forgiven because of what Jesus did for me on the cross...
I still acknowledge them before Him and ask Him to forgive me. It is my natural response to my sin against a Holy God.
I am not asking for salvation all over again.
I am just telling Him that I am sorry.

And,
He always tells me how much He loves me.
and He brings peace to my heart.
He loves it when I come to Him.
And I then know that all is well with my relationship with Him.