Hello, I'm 16 and have grown up in church my entire life, but haven't taken it too seriously until recently. I truly desire to live for God, but no matter how much I ask for forgivness, reassurance, and stronger faith, I cannot quit doubting if I'm saved or not. I'm worried that I have rejected Jesus too much and now there's no hope for me to be saved again, but at the same time I know that I am feeling conviction for past sins, but no matter how hard I pray I just can't seem to be saved. Am I too far gone?
You got some good counsel here, friend. We need to walk and talk with the Savior. Let me share a sound paper with you that I saw, which is to be our standing as we walk here with God:
DO GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN ?
Yes, they certainly would go to heaven...if there were any good people! But the Scriptures plainly declare that there is not even so much as one good person on the face of the earth (Eccl.7:20; Rom.3:12). Moreover, the very things human beings call righteousness: morality, religion, philanthropy, pleasing personality---those are the things God calls "filthy rags" (Isa.64:6) because His holiness so far surpasses our righteousness.
No doubt you have said: "I believe that if I do the best I can and treat everyone fairly, I will go to heaven". Let us examine these claims to virtue. Be honest ---do you really do the best you can? Do you always treat everyone fairly? If not, you have ruled yourself out and to hell.
Heaven is for bad people...people that saw themselves condemned before God, and fled to Christ, the Savior. They trusted Him, and were delivered from God's judgment. But the so-called good people ---the ones who were so righteous in their own estimation that they did not need a Savior, are condemned to the blackness of hell forever. That is the gospel truth.
God will not trade you eternal life for a tarnished bunch of shabby morality, or religion, no matter how good you may regard it to be. He offers as an unconditional gift to you without any return at all,
eternal life simply confessing your sin, and receiving His dear Son into your heart as Lord and Savior.
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.6:23).
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (I Jn.5:10-12).
Don't try to earn everlasting life; don't try to prepare yourself for heaven. You would do a very bad job.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works" (Eph.2:8-9). Just turn yourself over to the Savior, let Him prepare you, and let Him give you His free gift of everlasting life (see John 14).
Believe---receive---rejoice! How simple it is! God planned it this way.
"These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name" (John 20:31). - from
Good News Publishers
[ADDENDUM:
Sometimes one is heard to say: I believe in Christ, but I can't say I am saved forever. Believing about Christ and thinking or reasoning about Christ is not communion with Him, and not believing in the heart (Rom.10: 9-13). One should understand that even devils believe and tremble (James 2:19), but one who speaks to the Lord Jesus personally, thanking Him for His sacrifice, and receives Him into his heart, shall surely be saved. An earnest seeker must believe what God has said and receive His precious Son; then will receive the indwelling Holy Spirit and be sealed as a "child of God" as "born again". - RLD]
Go boldly to the throne of grace and receive it ..
