I don't know anything at this point

[oldtimedude]

I don't know if I've ever believed from the heart. I know a lot of theology but I understand that doesn't cut it, and you need a heart change. God says we must be born again by water and his Spirit. I'm not sure I know the Spirit. People say you have to accept Jesus in your heart as your savior, yet the bible says God makes us born again (1 Peter chapter 1), and there's nothing we do because the action of the Spirit is like the wind. And besides, God elects and chooses who he saves.

I have thought for so long I might be a Christian because I study the word of God and I was baptized, and I try not to sin, although I'm lousy at that. But anyway, like I said, I don't know if my heart actually believes, maybe I've been doing this all on my own strength and trying to earn God's favor by trying to be good. I really question whether I'm saved or not.

I have asked so many times for a heart change, for God to save me, but what if there is a wall up and he won't hear me? I have sin in my life, but doesn't everyone struggle with sin? I even talk to God and tell him about my sins, although I don't know if I'm motivated by fear or love.

Bottom line, I don't know if I died today, whether I'd be judged or whether I'd be saved in grace. I really don't know. I'm actually getting upset and mad at God for not clearing my spiritual sight and spiritual ears. I am very mad, because he knows how hard of a life I've had, and I although I realize my behaviors bring condemnation, I also know I struggle to perceive reality. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and I don't know how much that has played a part in my thought process and my heart attitude.

I'm in a real trap, a mental block of sorts. Jesus celebrated the fact that the Father reveals his kingdom to people with child-like faith and hides it from the wise and prudent. I think a person can have mental blocks.

I've struggled with sexual sin for most my life. It feels like I've been putting the effort to flee sexual sin all on my own. Again, I don't know if my heart has been changed and been given the Holy Spirit, so I could be struggling with this all by myself.

Does any of this sound familiar to any of you, or does anyone have any advice for me?

 

[crossnote]

Bottom line, I don't know if I died today, whether I'd be judged or whether I'd be saved in grace.

That is the bottom line and I believe the crux of the matter.
If you have seen yourself as completely guilty before a Holy God without hope, then you are in the perfect position to receive His perfect Gift of pardon.
By His death, He took the punishment due us and for those who look to His Son for salvation, He robes them with His righteousness.

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.
(Rom 3:9-11)

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
(Rom 3:19-20)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
(Rom 3:21-24)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
(Rom 5:8-11)

 

[1watchman]

Hello "old time dude" from another one. I can tell you that as a young man I received the Lord Jesus into my heart as Lord of my life, and made Him my best Friend. I have enjoyed His blessings and ever presence for over 60 years. It is all about a relationship, and not just intellectual thoughts and ideas. I suggest you prayerfully read all of John 14 in a sound Bible like the KJV.

Surrender your pride, friend, and RECEIVE the Lord Jesus and thank Him for dying for your sins, and if you are sincere in your conversation, He will come into you by His Holy Spirit, and you will be "born again" forever and very happy. I will pray for you, and you can PM me at Conversations here if you wish to chat. - 1watchman

 

[Greg J.]

This is a double-post with this one also in this forum.

I don't know if I've ever believed from the heart. I know a lot of theology but I understand that doesn't cut it, and you need a heart change. God says we must be born again by water and his Spirit. I'm not sure I know the Spirit. People say you have to accept Jesus in your heart as your savior, yet the bible says God makes us born again (1 Peter chapter 1), and there's nothing we do because the action of the Spirit is like the wind. And besides, God elects and chooses who he saves.

I have thought for so long I might be a Christian because I study the word of God and I was baptized, and I try not to sin, although I'm lousy at that. But anyway, like I said, I don't know if my heart actually believes, maybe I've been doing this all on my own strength and trying to earn God's favor by trying to be good. I really question whether I'm saved or not.

I have asked so many times for a heart change, for God to save me, but what if there is a wall up and he won't hear me? I have sin in my life, but doesn't everyone struggle with sin? I even talk to God and tell him about my sins, although I don't know if I'm motivated by fear or love.

Bottom line, I don't know if I died today, whether I'd be judged or whether I'd be saved in grace. I really don't know. I'm actually getting upset and mad at God for not clearing my spiritual sight and spiritual ears. I am very mad, because he knows how hard of a life I've had, and I although I realize my behaviors bring condemnation, I also know I struggle to perceive reality. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and I don't know how much that has played a part in my thought process and my heart attitude.

I'm in a real trap, a mental block of sorts. Jesus celebrated the fact that the Father reveals his kingdom to people with child-like faith and hides it from the wise and prudent. I think a person can have mental blocks.

I've struggled with sexual sin for most my life. It feels like I've been putting the effort to flee sexual sin all on my own. Again, I don't know if my heart has been changed and been given the Holy Spirit, so I could be struggling with this all by myself.

Does any of this sound familiar to any of you, or does anyone have any advice for me?

You're not alone. Lots of people face this at times after they've started to be Christian as best they know how. Do you believe there really is a God? Do you believe that there is nothing you can do to undo the harm caused by your sins (including to yourself)? Do you believe that the only way for you to be forgiven was for God to pay the price for your sin himself (through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God)? Have you yielded to Jesus as your Lord—the one who has the right to define what is right and wrong and hold you accountable. Do you see that you really meant it when you chose to accept Jesus as your Lord by looking at how you have reacted to it (taking seriously the need to obey and speaking and acting accordingly?)

It's pretty difficult to have a resounding "yes" to all those questions. Lots of people who are saved will have uncertainty for some of them. However, note that none of the questions addresses how successful you have been in your obedience.

If you genuinely believe these things, then you are saved and need to persist in seeking to know the Lord better and do what He said.

If you have to admit a "no" answer to any of those questions, then you need to ask God to save you and grant you to really believe in Him, then you need to persist in seeking to know the Lord better and do what He said. This could be termed obedience "training wheels" (aka, the imitation of Christ). We are children compared to God. The desire and efforts of a child to obey God are sufficient to be saved, because it is your heart God looks at—your true intentions and commitment, not the strength or success of your actions. i.e., what do you really want?

Do you act in such a way that shows you want to keep doing what you want with your life, or such that you have accepted that you really do need to do what the Lord wants? If the latter, then you are saved. Having a full assurance that one is saved often comes after actually being saved. God grants us that and ever-increasing faith in him through our continued obedience. We don't need to obey to be saved, but if we are saved, we will have a disposition of wanting to obey (not necessarily joyfully).

 

[Greg Merrill]

Sometimes the word "heart" can confuse people. When the Bible speaks of "heart" regarding salvation, it is speaking of one's mind, not their emotions. Because a new Christian's emotions vary, as do all of ours, if they don't "feel" saved, they may think they are not saved. It is an act of our will to believe God's Word on the matter, that if we sincerely invite Jesus to become our Lord and Savior, forgiving us of our sins, immediately giving us eternal life right then and there, then He will. Then we don't have to be in doubt, basing it on our changing thoughts our emotions, but on the reliable Word of God. Why am I saved? Because I believed on the Lord like the Word of God said, and He came into my life like it said He would, and because He said it was eternal life, and that He would never leave me or forsake me. Therefore I was saved, am saved, and will eternally be saved.

 

[Newsgurl]

Hey you can get through this. God didn't give you anything you can't handle. If you would like to talk more feel free to message me

 

[cuja1]

I don't know if I've ever believed from the heart. I know a lot of theology but I understand that doesn't cut it, and you need a heart change. God says we must be born again by water and his Spirit. I'm not sure I know the Spirit. People say you have to accept Jesus in your heart as your savior, yet the bible says God makes us born again (1 Peter chapter 1), and there's nothing we do because the action of the Spirit is like the wind. And besides, God elects and chooses who he saves.

I have thought for so long I might be a Christian because I study the word of God and I was baptized, and I try not to sin, although I'm lousy at that. But anyway, like I said, I don't know if my heart actually believes, maybe I've been doing this all on my own strength and trying to earn God's favor by trying to be good. I really question whether I'm saved or not.

I have asked so many times for a heart change, for God to save me, but what if there is a wall up and he won't hear me? I have sin in my life, but doesn't everyone struggle with sin? I even talk to God and tell him about my sins, although I don't know if I'm motivated by fear or love.

Bottom line, I don't know if I died today, whether I'd be judged or whether I'd be saved in grace. I really don't know. I'm actually getting upset and mad at God for not clearing my spiritual sight and spiritual ears. I am very mad, because he knows how hard of a life I've had, and I although I realize my behaviors bring condemnation, I also know I struggle to perceive reality. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and I don't know how much that has played a part in my thought process and my heart attitude.

I'm in a real trap, a mental block of sorts. Jesus celebrated the fact that the Father reveals his kingdom to people with child-like faith and hides it from the wise and prudent. I think a person can have mental blocks.

I've struggled with sexual sin for most my life. It feels like I've been putting the effort to flee sexual sin all on my own. Again, I don't know if my heart has been changed and been given the Holy Spirit, so I could be struggling with this all by myself.

Does any of this sound familiar to any of you, or does anyone have any advice for me?

This is me to a tee. I feel like I could have written that except for the schizo part. I've never been diagnosed with that.

One thing I learned recently about sexual sin is if someone turns you on, recite this phrase "they are a person" or "they are a person not an object". It focuses your mind off the attraction an on to the fact that the person is a living breathing human just like you.

 

[chriscomplex]

I don't know if I've ever believed from the heart. I know a lot of theology but I understand that doesn't cut it, and you need a heart change. God says we must be born again by water and his Spirit. I'm not sure I know the Spirit. People say you have to accept Jesus in your heart as your savior, yet the bible says God makes us born again (1 Peter chapter 1), and there's nothing we do because the action of the Spirit is like the wind. And besides, God elects and chooses who he saves.

I have thought for so long I might be a Christian because I study the word of God and I was baptized, and I try not to sin, although I'm lousy at that. But anyway, like I said, I don't know if my heart actually believes, maybe I've been doing this all on my own strength and trying to earn God's favor by trying to be good. I really question whether I'm saved or not.

I have asked so many times for a heart change, for God to save me, but what if there is a wall up and he won't hear me? I have sin in my life, but doesn't everyone struggle with sin? I even talk to God and tell him about my sins, although I don't know if I'm motivated by fear or love.

Bottom line, I don't know if I died today, whether I'd be judged or whether I'd be saved in grace. I really don't know. I'm actually getting upset and mad at God for not clearing my spiritual sight and spiritual ears. I am very mad, because he knows how hard of a life I've had, and I although I realize my behaviors bring condemnation, I also know I struggle to perceive reality. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and I don't know how much that has played a part in my thought process and my heart attitude.

I'm in a real trap, a mental block of sorts. Jesus celebrated the fact that the Father reveals his kingdom to people with child-like faith and hides it from the wise and prudent. I think a person can have mental blocks.

I've struggled with sexual sin for most my life. It feels like I've been putting the effort to flee sexual sin all on my own. Again, I don't know if my heart has been changed and been given the Holy Spirit, so I could be struggling with this all by myself.

Does any of this sound familiar to any of you, or does anyone have any advice for me?

You can only believe more and more or less and less, but never getting to know. This is because knowing is something that comes with evidence. Unless you get the evidence you're looking for you are going to be stuck with believing (And no one can just believe something for ever)

 

[1watchman]

Too many souls reject the evidence, Chris. Some come near to God, then begin to challenge Him and turn away. If you did that with any human being you would never have a friend. If one cannot accept the counsel God gives in John 14 of the Holy Bible, and receive His free gift of eternal life and blessings in embracing Jesus, the Christ of God, they are turning away from God's free gift, and that is a choice we must make. Be wise and don't turn away!

When one faces God (which all souls will do), the only issue to consider is: "What think ye of Christ?" If He was not esteemed here on earth, it will then be too late.

 

[joinfree]

I don't know if I've ever believed from the heart. I know a lot of theology but I understand that doesn't cut it, and you need a heart change. God says we must be born again by water and his Spirit. I'm not sure I know the Spirit. People say you have to accept Jesus in your heart as your savior, yet the bible says God makes us born again (1 Peter chapter 1), and there's nothing we do because the action of the Spirit is like the wind. And besides, God elects and chooses who he saves.

I have thought for so long I might be a Christian because I study the word of God and I was baptized, and I try not to sin, although I'm lousy at that. But anyway, like I said, I don't know if my heart actually believes, maybe I've been doing this all on my own strength and trying to earn God's favor by trying to be good. I really question whether I'm saved or not.

I have asked so many times for a heart change, for God to save me, but what if there is a wall up and he won't hear me? I have sin in my life, but doesn't everyone struggle with sin? I even talk to God and tell him about my sins, although I don't know if I'm motivated by fear or love.

Bottom line, I don't know if I died today, whether I'd be judged or whether I'd be saved in grace. I really don't know. I'm actually getting upset and mad at God for not clearing my spiritual sight and spiritual ears. I am very mad, because he knows how hard of a life I've had, and I although I realize my behaviors bring condemnation, I also know I struggle to perceive reality. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and I don't know how much that has played a part in my thought process and my heart attitude.

I'm in a real trap, a mental block of sorts. Jesus celebrated the fact that the Father reveals his kingdom to people with child-like faith and hides it from the wise and prudent. I think a person can have mental blocks.

I've struggled with sexual sin for most my life. It feels like I've been putting the effort to flee sexual sin all on my own. Again, I don't know if my heart has been changed and been given the Holy Spirit, so I could be struggling with this all by myself.

Does any of this sound familiar to any of you, or does anyone have any advice for me?

You have the thinking mind and the feeling heart. Follow the right path, please. Do not look for sinful pleasures of the fallen world: they soon will pass away. You could look this collection of videos:
The True Religion is Proven - YouTube

 

[1watchman]

I would be interested if "Old Time Dude" has taken any of this to heart, and looked to the Savior in a personal way for life and blessings.

Greg spoke of much of the essence of this in his post here.

 

[xianghua]

I don't know if I've ever believed from the heart.

its ok. you can also believe in a logical way in god. there are many evidence that god exist (for instance the complexity of nature combine it with the self replication abillity)<