How do you know when you are saved?

[TexasGirl06]

And to add:

Is what Jesus did on the cross not enough for my salvation?

Must I go now and do, do, do....in order TO BE saved?

No. He was crucified once for my sins.
Done.
There is no need to do anything further for salvation.

 

[ebia]

And to add:

Is what Jesus did on the cross not enough for my salvation?

Must I go now and do, do, do....in order TO BE saved?

No. He was crucified once for my sins.
Done.
There is no need to do anything further for salvation.

No, but there is stuff to be done, it isn't optional, and if you aren't doing it then your faith is a useless parody of the truth (St James, paraphrased).

 

[ShiningSonBeam]

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.

I'll give you an analogy. Let's say you got a speeding ticket and had to show up in court. The judge would need to make you accountable for that ticket via fines or some kind of community service (or traffic school). Let's say one "ticket" equals one time you have ill-will toward someone, lie even a little bit, or swear under your breath (i.e. sin)... and you did this only once a day. That'd be 365 tickets every year. There'd be no way you could repay a debt that large in your lifetime.

Jesus paid that debt ONCE, for all mankind. The moment you recognize His sacrifice was for YOUR sins (past, present and future), and you ask Him to be Lord of your life, you are saved. His sacrifice is a gift that is accepted and "unwrapped" once. Of course, you can THANK Him daily for this salvation and certainly ask forgiveness for times when you fall short, but you have already become His child, adopted into His family. There is a verse in Romans I think (not sure) where Paul says something to the effect of "so, if I have been saved from the power of death, does that mean I have the liberty to go out and sin? Heaven forbid!" If you have been saved (the one-time event of accepting His gift of payment for all your sins), then you will want to live for Him... it no longer becomes such a struggle.

One thing to remember, however: as a human, your fleshly nature still resides in you, but the eternal consequences of it have been stamped out. So, if you "feed the flesh" you will be "starving the spirit" and vice versa. Feed the spirit and you will starve the flesh. I hope this makes a little sense. I have a hard time explaining things that have taken years to learn from the Bible.

I will admit, I have fallen back many times... and I've stayed that way for over a year before turning back to God. But if I had died during my "rebellious years" I would still have gone to heaven because my trust was placed in Christ as my Savior long ago. That's the thing. He is always there with His children... when you don't see Him it's because you've turned your back on Him, not the other way around.

 

[TexasGirl06]

No, but there is stuff to be done, it isn't optional, and if you aren't doing it then your faith is a useless parody of the truth (St James, paraphrased).

If one is truly saved, one will do the "stuff".
It is called works.
Works will follow true salvation.

However, works will not get you saved.

 

[ShiningSonBeam]

If one is truly saved, one will do the "stuff".
It is called works.
Works will follow true salvation.

However, works will not get you saved.

Exactly, TexasGirl. Too many people confuse the two. And let me add the verse: "For by Grace you have been saved, through faith; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

 

[TexasGirl06]

Here are some verses from the Book of Hebrews:

Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
Hebrews 7:25,27b

*********************
In the Old Testament (before Jesus came to earth as a man), the role of the Priests was to offer sacrificed animals for the sins of man.
This was a temporary sacrifice.
It was done over and over to TEMPORARILY cover the sins of a man.

This was simply setting the stage for the ultimate sacrificial Lamb (Jesus)....to enter the picture.
He would be sacrificed one time.... for the sins of man.

Not over and over.......
done is done.
Not every Sunday.
Not every day.

 

[ebia]

Exactly, TexasGirl. Too many people confuse the two. And let me add the verse: "For by Grace you have been saved, through faith; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

That's fine and correct, but constantly repeated on it's own is not the whole picture, but only half the story.

 

[LilLamb219]

Christian WILL do works...fish swim, birds fly, Christians do good works. We can't help it.

If you think of the verse where the people are saying, Lord, Lord, when did we do those things for you?, you'll see that oftentimes we aren't even aware of some of the things we're doing ARE GOOD WORKS! It's the Holy Spirit working through us!

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

Hello full-of-faith, I note you replied to everyone but not to the PM I sent you on the 10th . . .maybe you forgot, anway, here's part of what I said:-

. . . you want to know you are saved and be full of faith - amen - that's what The Lord wants for you too.
Here's how he does it . . . .

"he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour "
(Titus 3v5-6)

So, how do you know if you have received the Holy Spirit ?

The same way they knew in the New Testament:-
"they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance . . . Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear . . .
:39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

. . . . that means you and me !

(Gentiles all got the same - Acts 10v44-48, 19v1-6)

. . . and by the way, the only way to truly "receive Jesus" *si* to receive the infilling of the Spirit -
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you . . .
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14v17, 20)

- have you received that ?
- if not, do you want to ?

 

[Breaking Babylon]

In all honesty, you could listen to various opinions all day and not get anywhere - not to say that most of the people here aren't right or anything, but the best thing to do would be to ask God, and He's already given the answer in His Word.

Read the Book of Romans. It will amaze you.

All I will add is my personal take on the subject. A lot of people would have you resort to a 'feeling' to verify your salvation. Jeremiah 17:9 says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Here is how God said for it to be. First, we must hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17). Second, by believing. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16) - Jesus Himself said that. Some would sugarcoat it, tell you that it's a not a step you have to take, that it isn't necessary. More on baptism after step three.

Third, confession. The apostle Paul wrote: "But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:8-10).

The Lord has established faith as a requirement of salvation. There are many Scriptures which further state the necessity of faith (John 3:16; John 8:24; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6). However, Jesus did not simply say, "...he who believes...will be saved..." He included a second requirement, equally important as the first, namely, baptism. Equally important, for Jesus used the conjunction "and" to bind these two prerequisites for salvation together.​

Peter first commanded that they "Repent...", [which is the fourth step of salvation. Turn away from the path of wickedness and begin to walk on the righteous path.] They were to turn from the path of wickedness in which they had conducted themselves to the path of righteousness. However, Peter did not stop speaking there. He continued, "...and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." Note, the command was not, "Repent for the remission of sins, and then be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ..." If Peter had meant that, he would have said that. Was Peter mistaken? If so, we must trash the entirety of Scripture, for he wrote as directed by the Spirit of God (
2 Peter 1:20-21), as did each Bible writer.​

In Romans 5:9-10, Paul writes, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Paul says explicitly that we are "...reconciled through the death of His Son..." Just fourteen verses later, Paul tells us that we "...were baptized into His death..." and again, "...we were buried with Him through baptism into death..." Where then does our reconciliation take place? Where is it that we shall contact the blood of Christ? Before we are baptized? Surely not, for then the apostle's words are made void and false.
The apostle Paul clearly illustrates that we have a death, burial and resurrection patterned after the Lord's own death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 6:5). He died physically; we die to sin (Romans 6:1-3). He was buried in a tomb; we are buried in the grave of baptism (Romans 6:3-4). Coming forth from the grave, He conquered the power of death; arising from baptism, we are raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).​

Indeed, the Scriptures teach that faith is necessary and that without faith one cannot be saved (Hebrews 11:6). However, God has also plainly told us in His word that baptism is essential for the salvation of man's soul. Jesus said that the one who "...believes and is baptized will be saved..." (Mark 16:16). Peter commanded men to "...be baptized for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38). Ananias entreated Saul to "...be baptized, washing away your sins..." (Acts 22:16). Later, Paul wrote to the Romans that we were "...buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4). This same Paul told the Colossians of the need to receive the "...circumcision of Christ..." wherein God cuts off "...the body of the sins of the flesh..." (Colossians 2:11-12). And finally the apostle Peter stated​

You may ask, "What about the thief on the cross, who Jesus told 'You will be with me in paradise?'" Jesus didn't lie. I'll explain.​

Baptism is a work of faith brought on by the new covenant, established in the NT. The New Testament wasn't born until Christ died. While Christ yet lived, He told the thief that he will join Him in paradise.​

Those who desire to be "...saved like the thief..." fail to note that they are subject to a different law than he (Galatians 3:15-29).​

Hear. Believe. Confess. Repent. Be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins.​

It's right there in the Word. I used to believe that baptism was not a necessity, only a privilege. However, rather than going simply on what I was being fed in church, I began to study on my own [2 Tim. 2:15] to rightly divide the Word of Truth.​

What I have told you is what I came to learn.​

Don't rely on a man-made doctrine, or a feeling from the heart to 'confirm' your salvation. If you follow God's Word, use HIS guidelines, your salvation is unquestionable.​

I'd be more than willing to talk more on this subject with you via PM if you would so like.​

In Christ,​

Blake​

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

. . .
Read the Book of Romans. It will amaze you.

Romans is not written to unsaved people, it is written to people that have received the Holy Spirit, only they can appreciate what Romans says.

The apostle Paul wrote: " . . . if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved . . "

Paul is not telling unsaved people to "say Jesus is Lord" and you are saved !
He's telling God's people to fulfil what Jesus said, *only* these people can do this. This is seen from the previous verse:-
v8: “. . . The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart . . . “
Is the word in the heart of unsaved people? No!

. . arising from baptism, we are raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

Only if we separately receive the Holy Spirit, just because a person thinks they believe and get's baptised does not mean they have received the Holy Spirt - God must bare independant witness - the new tongue signifies the new heart - because "the heart is deceiitful above all things"

Indeed, the Scriptures teach that faith is necessary and that without faith one cannot be saved (Hebrews 11:6).​

All those people in Hebrews 11 expected God to *do* what only he could do, it's faith in the OPERATION of God, relying on God to infill you with His Spirit, whereby you become saved (Titus 3v5-6).
​

 

[LilLamb219]

just because a person thinks they believe and get's baptised does not mean they have received the Holy Spirt

The Holy Spirit is promised to us in baptism...

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Breaking Babylon]

Only if we separately receive the Holy Spirit, just because a person thinks they believe and get's baptised does not mean they have received the Holy Spirt - God must bare independant witness - the new tongue signifies the new heart - because "the heart is deceiitful above all things"

1st Corinthians 12:13 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
You would claim that those who have never spoken in a new tongue don't have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? That contridicts scripture. If a new tongue, or utterance, was the sign of becoming a Christian - I suppose it would be safe to assume that Balaam's donkey was Christian.

Did Jesus not say that all those who called upon His name, and adhere to His Word, would be saved? Yes! Following your claim that a new tongue is the evidence of Holy Spirit Baptism, what of the other 6 gifts of the Spirit that are claimed? Does one who prophecy's do so in vain? Does one who 'discerns the spirits' do so in vain?

This claim doesn't hold water.

The only ones who were able to do this were Cornelius and his kinfolk (Acts 10:44-46) And those whom the apostles laid their hands on.

Did you learn that you were only Heaven-bound because that's what your Pastor said? We are to study and obey what scripture says (2 Tim 2:15, John 8:32), not take it all by what is simply heard from the mouth of man or felt with our own heart.

1. The Holy Spirit was promised to those who would be baptized for the remission of their sins ... first on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:38)
2. He is given to all those who will obey God. (Acts 5:32)
3. The Galatians received the Holy Spirit by the hearing of faith. (Gal 3:2,3)
4. The Holy Spirit dwells in those who make up the church. (1 Cor 3:16,17)
5. The Spirit dwells in our bodies. (1 Cor 6:19,20)
If we love one another, God dwells in us. If we will confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in us. (1 John 4:12-15)

The Holy Spirit is received "because ye are sons" (Gal 4:6) ... not to become sons! Amen!

The Holy Spirit leads sons by "the law of the Spirit" (Rom 8:1-14) .. producing the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:16-25).

1. "He that abideth in me, and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit .. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you ... ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples ..." (John 15:1-14).

2. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal 5:22-25).

3. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Mat 7:20) By your fruits. Not by your 'miracles.'
Praise God.

When Paul preached at Pentecost in a new tongue, it was a tongue that could be understood for all those listening to understand. Acts 2:6-8 says that everyone present understood the message in their own language. It was by no means some emotional display of an unknown language, rather something that everyone present at Pentecost could understand for the sake of edification and understanding. What good would it have done for Paul to preach to the masses if they did not understand what he was saying? Thus, the Lord gave the Disciples the miraculous ability to preach the Gospel in a way that every person present could understand.
Acts 1:4,5 says that such gifts were promised to the Apostles. Only.

Speaking in Tongues, Hetero Glossos in the Greek, always means to speak in a strange language. Not a holy language. Not a prayer language. Scripture says that a time will come when all such miracles shall cease to be, with the death of the Apostles.

My blunt opinion: Charismania is emotionalism at it's finest. I attended a Pentecostal church for some time. I diligently began to study the Word on my own, turning directly to God for Spirit and Truth, depending on it alone to tell me God's only Word.

Don't depend on man to teach you what you need to search out for yourself. If you put your faith in man, man will fail you. If you put your faith in God's Word, you will be a workman not ashamed, rightly diving the Word of Truth[2 Tim. 2:15].

Where is the scripture claiming God must give an independent witness of all those who are saved? Did the thief on the cross speak in a new tongue once he became saved by Christ?

Acts 2:1-12 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia , Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia , Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene , visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs — we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"

God blessed the Apostles at Pentecost with the miraculous ability to speak to people from many different nations in their own language, in a manner which they could all understand.

Why would we need this today? We have the Bible in many different languages, translators, missionaries...

It's not my aim to sit here and try to discredit you as a person. It's my aim to show you the Bible's truth, as opposed to a doctrine established in the 1800's.

Is the word in the heart of unsaved people? No!

I know many atheists and agnostics who use teachings from the Bible in their everyday lives. Are they saved? No. Is the Word known to them? Of course.

 

[MidnightCandel777]

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.

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

The Holy Spirit is promised to us in baptism...

no, you have to *believe* the right thing too, not just a sincere belief that Jesus is Lord, but an expectation that he will give *you* what he gave all the disciples, the infilling of His Spirit - you must receive that to become saved from your natural state (Titus 3v5-6).

You cannot rely on your natural heart and mind, no matter how many scriptures you know, you *need* the NEW mind and heart and power of God, and until you receive the Holy Spirit you havn't got that.

In Acts 8v12-16 the people were baptised but hadn't received the Spirit, and were known not to have . . . how ?

The same way it was known precisely when people *did* receive the Spirit.

 

[Breaking Babylon]

I didn't see that in Acts 2:38...

... I didn't see that anywhere, actually.

Didn't Jesus say that we are all new creations upon being saved? That's all we need to know. The Lord said we shall be known by our fruits whether or not we've truly been saved. Galatians 5:22-25. Not once was a new tongue mentioned.

Is God not the discerner of the heart? We can't please Him with words - much less noises. We don't have to 'prove' anything to God, who already knows well our salvation... He wrote the guidelines, for crying out loud. Knowing this, we don't need to 'prove' anything to man, either - which is precisely what this new tongue claim is aimed at doing. We don't need a surge of emotion, man's approval, or glossolalia for that matter to determine our salvation. Follow God's Word. There is no room for question.

I'm not doubting anyone's salvation, here... what I hold in question is this doctrine. The Bible's been with us for over 2000 years and not once has it led us astray. This doctine? It traces back no further than 200 years.

Galatians 1:9 "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

The Bible's truth has already been given to us all. Tongues is adding to it. Removing baptism is taking away from it.

Hear the Word. Believe it. Repent. Confess, as Romans tells you to do, and be Baptized for the remission of sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And then you will be blessed with the Holy Spirit, a lifelong Companion, Counselor, Helper, Comforter, and He which will give you remembrance of God's Word. That's how scripture defines Him.

More food for thought...

Just before His ascension, Jesus promised them this: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Here, He promised the that the Spirit would come and give them power to be witnesses of God in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles wrote the Holy Bible, which is now on every corner of the earth. Their mission was complete. The power God gave them stopped with them - He was given to no one else since in such a manner.

However, God did promise us the Holy Spirit as a guide and companion, and all the other things I mentioned a couple of paragraphs up.

There are no longer any prophets. No more apostles. Christ came, Christ died for us, and Christ will return again - His Word, as prophecied in Acts 1:8, is in all corners of the world. Their duties, I say again, have been fulfilled. We no longer need such things. John 20:29 "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

It is now a matter of faith, my friend - not modern signs, miracles, or anything else of that nature. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Go with God.

 

[full_of_faith]

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.

The way I understand it is that Jesus is God in the flesh. John 1:1 says "the Word was God" and John 1:14 says "the word became flesh." So, Jesus is God in the flesh. So, if we pray to Jesus we are really praying to God, correct?

 

[Breaking Babylon]

Correct. The Divine Godhead consists eternally of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

 

[full_of_faith]

Correct. The Divine Godhead consists eternally of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for the clarification, BlakeMichael. I almost feel embarrassed asking these things, considering I went to Church EVERY Sunday growing up and Sunday School EVERY Sunday (have the awards to prove it! ). Just trying to get back on track again after all these years of not praying and ignoring my spirituality.

 

[TexasGirl06]

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 !