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How do you know when you are saved?

ShiningSonBeam

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CrazyforYeshua said:
How do you know?

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

It's not a life long process, it's a decision. The life long process comes in by walking it every day, reading His Word, praying, and growing.

Well said. It has been ill-posted too many times that salvation is a life-long process BUT the very moment one turns to Jesus and asks forgiveness, they are and forever will be SAVED. There is no saved-one-moment, not-saved-another-moment teeter-totter. We do fall away and come back as humans, but if we *could* do it on our own (i.e. earn salvation over a lifetime) then we wouldn't need His sacrifice to begin with. We couldn't do it before knowing Him and we can't do it after knowing Him. HE must do it and it is DONE once.
 
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CardinalBaseball

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full_of_faith said:


For instance, if you watch the History or Discovery Channel, they will talk about how dinosaurs were around 16 million years ago or something like that. If the Earth has only been around for about 6,000 years, how is that possible???

You don't need to believe in a literal 6 day Creation to be a Christian. I don't and I am. If the earth being older than 6-10,000 years would destroy your belief in God, then you've got something wrong. No where in the Bible does it say that the earth is 6,000 years old.

On knowing that you're saved, I figured that you would just know, as long as you truthfully confessed Christ.
 
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full_of_faith

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TexasGirl06 said:
Hello, Full_of-Faith....

We are saved, when our sins are forgiven.

The Bible says that the wages for sin is death. That means, that because we have sinned (we all have) we will go to hell when we die and leave earth.

But, God loves us too much....to just leave us in our sinful, going to hell state.
This is why He sent his Son.
That would be Jesus.

Our sin has to be punished.
Jesus will be born and live a perfect, sinless life.
He is a pure, sacrificial lamb.

The Father will put my sin (and your sin) onto Jesus, when Jesus is hung on the cross.
Jesus will take the punishment for my sin.
This was His purpose for being born.

But...do I believe this?
Do I trust that Jesus did this FOR ME?
Do I acknowledge that I have sinned against a Holy God?
Have I brought my sin to the Lord and asked Him to forgive me?
Am I experiencing genuine repentence for my sin?
ie: Am I REALLY sorry for what I have done.

If yes, then the Bible tells us that we are saved. Our soul is saved for all eternity. Heaven bound upon earthly death.

Will I continue to sin, after I am saved?
Of course.
I am still human and will still sin.
My sins (past, present, future) are forgiven at the cross, if only I trust.

I can never be good enough for God. I can never be good enough to get myself into Heaven. Never.

Good people don't go to Heaven.
Forgiven people go to Heaven.

With Jesus, my sin is washed away, clean as pure, white, snow....
I have full access to the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

After I am saved, I begin my relationship with the Living God. It is a lifelong process.

God never promises us an easy life, as one of His children.
He does promise that He will always be with us.

Hope this helps....
Thank you for your ideas and suggestions......TexasGirl06.

I understand it a little better now.
 
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full_of_faith

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matthewgoh said:
Believing in Christ is the only way to God's kingdom. Do not let your heart be deceived by devil. Develop a close relationship with God, pray and ask him to soften your heart, tell him you want to be saved. Dedicate your life to Christ, stay away from the worldly deceptions, if your faith is still weak. God bless.
Thank you for your ideas, Matthewgoh. I have already started praying to God everyday. I haven't been doing so and was only doing so when I had a problem that I need solved. I wasn't praying on a regular basis and now I am going to (like I should have been doing all along...)
 
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full_of_faith

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ShiningSonBeam said:
The process of "sanctification" is lifelong. You may not feel saved when you are giving into temptations, but "if you confess with your mouth and believe with your heart that Jesus is LORD, then you will be saved." Remember, the demons know the truth also... they just choose not to make Him Lord of their existence (and maybe they are unable to in the first place, I'm not sure)... the point is that simply believing Jesus is the Son of God sent to die in our place will not bring salvation until you ask Him to be the Lord (meaning "master") of your life. That is step one: "Justification", the one-time sacrifice by Jesus for your sins. Once you have been "justified" then you can grow in Him (which is becoming "sanctified", meaning "set apart" for Him.)

With regard to the Discovery Channel, etc... this is man's attempt to understand things which are incomprehensible. The Earth was not created as dust, seedlings and saplings, but as full-grown mountains, adult animals and mature trees. So, when stuff is dug up and dated (which is interesting in itself: how can they determine the age of something when comparing it to something else which they have to determine the age of), they are seeing full-grown examples with the appearance of many thousands of years before Day 1.

Ask HIM about these things and it will make sense. "Knock and the door will be opened unto you. Seek and you will find".
Thank you for reply, ShiningSonBeam....

I guess that is it...I don't "feel" saved. Lately, I have been feeling like I should be a "better" person. (I guess we could all use a little improvement, right?;)) I get upset with myself when I find myself judging people lately. I know I shouldn't do it, but then I do.
 
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full_of_faith

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MinDach said:
(For instance, if you watch the History or Discovery Channel, they will talk about how dinosaurs were around 16 million years ago or something like that. If the Earth has only been around for about 6,000 years, how is that possible???)

Yes there was dinosaurs, everyone usually forget the time factor, how God fit 1,000,000,000,000,000 in to 6 days, You may think I am nuts, but it's simple , it is space, time, matter....there is a book by Dr.Gerald Schroeder he is a Nuclear Physicist, he does seem to know what he is talking about, he is the first person I have every found who has put it all together

(Is there any specific feeling that happens when you are saved?)

You can not go on feeling, if we did that it would drive us all nuts. You need to reach out to God, he has not left you, you left him. Ask the the Holy Spirit to come, and he will.........let me ask you this, if you sin tomorrow, will you be lost that day, and the next day you do good and ask God to forgive you, will you be saved that day only. God loves his children, the key here is ( His Children ) all the world are not his children, we are his by a mark, the mark is the Holy Spirit, search for him and he will come.......my best to you

Yes, I hear what you are saying, MinDach. I am going on a feeling and you are right, sooner or later, it will probably make me nuts.

You have a point about asking for forgiveness one day and that day you are saved, but you have to continue to ask for forgiveness every day.

Thank you for your reply. It has helped me.
 
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full_of_faith

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ebia said:
Others have said it, but it bears repeating: being saved is a lifelong process, not an instantaeous event.


Yep - you'll know it when you finally come face to face with our Lord. In the mean time...


Good. One should never stop thinking and asking questions. Christianity is a journey, not an arrival. A walk with God, not a one off meeting.


It's not. Most of the world's Christians accept that Genesis is a theological document, not a scientific one. That it is a narrative to tell us about God's role and purpose in creation and ours, not a dry piece of history, and that God's Creation itself can tell us how it was created, how long it took, etc. Genesis is about why?


In what way?


Ok. What do you think "a Christian life" is?

Ebia, OK so I will know when I'm saved when I come face to face with God. OK, but my understanding of God is that He isn't a person per se, but an all powerful spirit, the Almighty, perfect in every way. A person has flaws, so I don't believe that God can be a "person." I guess no one knows what God looks like, so I guess someone will just "know" I suppose.

OK, I understand now about Gensis. I always took the beginning that the Earth was created in 6 days literally. But I realize now, it isn't meant that way.

Also, I've noticed that in the OT that everything seems to be about 7s. Do you know if there is a reason for that. I know God created the Earth 6 days and rested on the 7th, so is that why or is there another reason? If you don't know, that is OK, but I thought I would ask.

What do I think a Christian life is? I think a Christian life is doing what Jesus would do, being spiritual, praying for others even if you don't like them. It means not hating people. To me, it means forgiving people, even if you don't forget. I think it means going to Church on Sunday if one so desires, and to be a good person. Following the Ten Commandments, reading the Bible. To me, that is a very tall order. Maybe I'm expecting too much of myself.

I know that there are people I don't like and there are times where I have a hard time forgiving (I can hold a good grudge at times). I don't go to Church on Sunday and haven't been to church in a copule of years. I try to follow the Ten Commandments as best I can.

Thanks for your reply.
 
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full_of_faith

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Adstar said:
Hi full of faith:)

The first thing you must do is stop relying on your own emotions. People who do that will think they are saved one day and think there doomed the next. Place your trust in the Word of God that if you believe in the Messiah Jesus that you will be saved. It has nothing to do with your current emotional state. It has to do with what you believe and whom you trust.



This rings alarm bells in my head. Your salvation is not dependant on your ability to live a perfect life or your ability to reach some super spiritual state. Salvation is not Earned or Won. It is a Gift that is Accepted.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days
I understand about who you believe in and who you trust.

I guess there are some people out there who believe very deeply and I guess that's the way I thought it is supposed to be. I'm glad I'm getting more and more clarification on this. I think I got off track years ago and I just need to get back on again. I guess that it's not that I don't believe, I guess I don't believe "deeply enough." I guess all you have to do is believe, no matter how much, and that is good enough.....

Thank you, Adstar for the clarifications....
 
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full_of_faith

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£amb said:
As someone else said, being saved is a life-long process. Believe me, lightening doesn't strike when you become saved...unless you're in a really bad thunderstorm. Alot of people new to christianity think all their problems and answers will be taken care of the minute the turn to God. Not true. God will work those things out as we walk daily with Him. When I say walk daily with Him, I mean to be in prayer, read His Word, and to live your life the way Christ has set an example for us to do. Those are not always easy things to do at first, but God needs to come first over everything else and you will see a difference in your maturity with God. You need to grow your roots deep so when a storm in your life comes, then you can withstand it and not fall from God. Your faith will become stronger and alot of the doubts will get answered along the way.

Lamb, thank you for your reply.

I completely understnad what you are saying. You are right, God should come first. I agree about the deep roots so that throught the bad times I can still be with Him.

I guess the way to being a Christian is living your life like Jesus has set for us, read the Bible and pray to God. All of these things I learned way back when, I guess I just need a refresher...I'm a bit rusty.....:)
 
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full_of_faith

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LilLamb219 said:
How do you know YOU are saved? You look to Christ and Him crucified and know that on the cross your sins are forgiven. You trust that no matter what, God has forgiven your sins and reconciled you to Him. Even though daily you will mess up and try to turn the other way, God draws you back to Him. He keeps providing the good news to you so that you will be strengthened in faith.

Christians are only perfected because of Christ. We cannot make ourselves perfect and we cannot sanctify ourselves. Try as I might, I just mess things up when I think that *I* am doing so well. That's why Christians continue looking to Christ for strength. When we see the cross, we know that Christ died in our substitute because of our sins.

How do YOU know you're saved? Stop looking at yourself and the things you do and don't do and look to Jesus Chist, his death on the cross, the forgiveness of YOUR sins and the resurrection that is to come so that you may have eternal life. There is where salvation is found. Not within yourself.

LilLamb, thank you for your words of support. You are right, I shouldn't be looking within myself. I should be looking to Jesus and God. I need to work on that (I have already started, btw) Thank you.
 
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full_of_faith

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Stinker said:
The moment one gets saved they know it.

As far as all the scientific rhetoric that has been churned out over the last 30 years, well, all one has to do is examine each claim carefully and see that it is just a phoney story.

Scientific weather prediction....forget it! Scientific dating methods....forget them!

Stinker,

So someone knows when they are saved? Is there a certain feeling or event that takes place? Do you feel a certain way or a certain emotion?
 
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full_of_faith

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lovepeacenjoy92 said:
Well I think you are saved when you fully believe in the Bible. You just have to grew and try to get a stronger one by learning more. Hope it helps

Lovepeacenjoy, thank you for your reponse. Yes, your response has helped.
 
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full_of_faith

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ShiningSonBeam said:
Well said. It has been ill-posted too many times that salvation is a life-long process BUT the very moment one turns to Jesus and asks forgiveness, they are and forever will be SAVED. There is no saved-one-moment, not-saved-another-moment teeter-totter. We do fall away and come back as humans, but if we *could* do it on our own (i.e. earn salvation over a lifetime) then we wouldn't need His sacrifice to begin with. We couldn't do it before knowing Him and we can't do it after knowing Him. HE must do it and it is DONE once.

ShiningSonBeam,

When someone turns to Jesus and asks for forgiveness, they are forever saved, no matter what? Then, under what you have said that means I am saved because I have asked Jesus for forgiveness before in my life.

There was someone else who replied and said that you need to pray for forgiveness every day to be saved every day. That if one day you don't pray for forgiveness, then you aren't saved that day. What are your thoughts on that? I don't want this to turn into a debate, since this is not one of the debate forums, I just want to know what you think.
 
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full_of_faith

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CrazyforYeshua said:
How do you know?

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

It's not a life long process, it's a decision. The life long process comes in by walking it every day, reading His Word, praying, and growing.

Thank you for your response, CrazyforYeshua. I appreciate your comments and am definitely going to act on them.
 
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full_of_faith

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eoe said:
You will know that you are saved when you are standing at Chirst's right hand on judgment day.

If our salvation were a one time event this verse would be gibberish. How can something be nearer if we already posess it? Why do we need to wake up if we are already done?

How is it possible that Salvation can be nearer now than when one believed?

You make a good point, eoe. That if one were saved one day and that was it, there wouldn't be any need to do anything else further. That make sense to me. I guess I never thought about it like that until you put it that way. :)
 
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full_of_faith

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sherry40 said:

As far as the dinosaurs go and the millions of years read 2 peter below. As far as not doing what you should to be saved fear not for you already have been saved but in our bodys the law of sin is still at work. Read romans 7, below 2 peter.

2 Peter 3:4-6 (NIV)


4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

Romans 7

7What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."[b] 8But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For 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. 20Now 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.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but 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. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks 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.

:hug:

So what you are saying Sherry40, even though someone is saved, they will still sin. I don't doubt that for a minute.

I see what Peter says about the water destroying the earth that was there before and then God made the Earth and it progressed to what it is today.
 
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ebia

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full_of_faith said:
Ebia, OK so I will know when I'm saved when I come face to face with God. OK, but my understanding of God is that He isn't a person per se, but an all powerful spirit, the Almighty, perfect in every way. A person has flaws, so I don't believe that God can be a "person." I guess no one knows what God looks like, so I guess someone will just "know" I suppose.
I rather suspect it will be obvious when it happens.

OK, I understand now about Gensis. I always took the beginning that the Earth was created in 6 days literally. But I realize now, it isn't meant that way.

Also, I've noticed that in the OT that everything seems to be about 7s. Do you know if there is a reason for that. I know God created the Earth 6 days and rested on the 7th, so is that why or is there another reason? If you don't know, that is OK, but I thought I would ask.
Most cultures have numbers that are significant - for the hebrews it was 7 (usually symbolising perfection), 12, and 40 (signifying "a lot").


What do I think a Christian life is? I think a Christian life is doing what Jesus would do, being spiritual, praying for others even if you don't like them. It means not hating people. To me, it means forgiving people, even if you don't forget. I think it means going to Church on Sunday if one so desires, and to be a good person. Following the Ten Commandments, reading the Bible. To me, that is a very tall order. Maybe I'm expecting too much of myself
.
All of that. Trying to grow in one's understanding of Him and his will for one's self. Trying to understand what he was on about, especially in the gospels. Listening for his call to vocation in one's own life and following that vocation when it comes (even when it's scary or uncomfortable to do so). Remembering that we are all his children made in his image, looking for and trying to bring out that image in those around you, and treating those in need as though they are him. And so on...

I know that there are people I don't like and there are times where I have a hard time forgiving (I can hold a good grudge at times). I don't go to Church on Sunday and haven't been to church in a copule of years. I try to follow the Ten Commandments as best I can.
I would suggest putting aside the 10 in favour of the two they follow from: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.... and love your neighbour as yourself".
 
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full_of_faith said:
You make a good point, eoe. That if one were saved one day and that was it, there wouldn't be any need to do anything else further. That make sense to me. I guess I never thought about it like that until you put it that way. :)

But you see...

When I was saved, my life became not my own.
I live now for Him

I now go forth and live a life set apart for service.

When saved, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within the person who is saved.

What I do now, is BECAUSE I have been saved.
I do now, because of His Love.
I do now, because I know what I have been saved from.
 
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