I told John I'm saved, but I don't think so. I'm still seeking.

[Robert8102]

Idonjohn has been giving me well-targeted advice, that I'm seeking to be saved in the wrong way. I told him the other day that 'I know I'm saved,' but have since changed my mind. I am still seeking the Kingdom of Heaven.

I'm attracted by Christians' talk of instant salvation, but am apparently unwilling to do what one has to do to be instantly saved. I am like the rich young ruler who walked away after Jesus confronted him with the truth, including the truth of what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Only instead of walking away, I am as if the rich guy, not yet willing to give up his riches, but realizing Jesus is the only way and knowing what the alternative is, kept hanging around Jesus and His disciples, hoping for SOME entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. I've known the gospel for over 45 years and restarted actively seeking to be saved over ten years ago.

I don't want to be fooled into thinking I'm in the Kingdom when I'm not. It's better to be coolly detached and know the truth that one is not headed for heaven, than to be "emotionally fulfilled" and to FALSELY think one is going to heaven.

The Dr. Jeremiah Study Bible, in its notes on Cornelius, the God-fearing centurion who was told by an angel to send for Peter to come talk to him and his household, says that Cornelius was going according to the "more light principle." He did not yet have all the light that he needed, but he responded to the light that he had, so God gave him more.

The Bible says that he who would come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek for Him. Do I diligently seek for God?

 

[Jeshu]

Idonjohn has been giving me well-targeted advice, that I'm seeking to be saved in the wrong way. I told him the other day that 'I know I'm saved,' but have since changed my mind. I am still seeking the Kingdom of Heaven.

I'm attracted by Christians' talk of instant salvation, but am apparently unwilling to do what one has to do to be instantly saved. I am like the rich young ruler who walked away after Jesus confronted him with the truth, including the truth of what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Only instead of walking away, I am as if the rich guy, not yet willing to give up his riches, but realizing Jesus is the only way and knowing what the alternative is, kept hanging around Jesus and His disciples, hoping for SOME entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. I've known the gospel for over 45 years and restarted actively seeking to be saved over ten years ago.

I don't want to be fooled into thinking I'm in the Kingdom when I'm not. It's better to be coolly detached and know the truth that one is not headed for heaven, than to be "emotionally fulfilled" and to FALSELY think one is going to heaven.

The Dr. Jeremiah Study Bible, in its notes on Cornelius, the God-fearing centurion who was told by an angel to send for Peter to come talk to him and his household, says that Cornelius was going according to the "more light principle." He did not yet have all the light that he needed, but he responded to the light that he had, so God gave him more.

The Bible says that he who would come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek for Him. Do I diligently seek for God?

Being saved happens when you call out to the Lord because you want to be saved not because it is a requirement to get into heaven.

If you cannot see how sinful it is to reject the generously loving offer of The Lord to save you from your sins then you are surely not worthy of Him yet. It was my sin that convinced me i needed a saviour.

Perhaps read the bible to yourself. Let the Word make you become aware of your sins and so develop a real need to be saved by Him. Please get into His light, and stop hiding in the shadows of your life, they will only reward you misery in time to come.

My life was hell so i cried out to be saved and He did. Only after that did i become aware of how sinful i really was and had been. His Ways do that to us, they teach us right from wrong but His love cleanses us from our sins like nothing else can.

Life is so very much better with Him as King. i've learned to love Him more than my life.

Peace.

 

[Basil the Great]

Not every Christian believes in instant salvation. Some believe that salvation is a process.

 

[eleos1954]

Idonjohn has been giving me well-targeted advice, that I'm seeking to be saved in the wrong way. I told him the other day that 'I know I'm saved,' but have since changed my mind. I am still seeking the Kingdom of Heaven.

I'm attracted by Christians' talk of instant salvation, but am apparently unwilling to do what one has to do to be instantly saved. I am like the rich young ruler who walked away after Jesus confronted him with the truth, including the truth of what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Only instead of walking away, I am as if the rich guy, not yet willing to give up his riches, but realizing Jesus is the only way and knowing what the alternative is, kept hanging around Jesus and His disciples, hoping for SOME entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. I've known the gospel for over 45 years and restarted actively seeking to be saved over ten years ago.

I don't want to be fooled into thinking I'm in the Kingdom when I'm not. It's better to be coolly detached and know the truth that one is not headed for heaven, than to be "emotionally fulfilled" and to FALSELY think one is going to heaven.

The Dr. Jeremiah Study Bible, in its notes on Cornelius, the God-fearing centurion who was told by an angel to send for Peter to come talk to him and his household, says that Cornelius was going according to the "more light principle." He did not yet have all the light that he needed, but he responded to the light that he had, so God gave him more.

The Bible says that he who would come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek for Him. Do I diligently seek for God?

You diligently seek Him by dedicated study of His Word ... and yes .... He will provide much light through it.

Psalm 119:105

Berean Study Bible
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

 

[Goodhuman]

Not every Christian believes in instant salvation. Some believe that salvation is a process.

This process stop at one time and you have nothing more to wait.

 

[Lukaris]

I think the parable of the rich young man is clearest in Matthew 19:16-26. Note that the Lord says to keep the commandments ( as does St. Paul Romans 13:8-10 etc.). The rich young says he “KEPT” the commandments so the Lord honored his word & told him to sell all & follow Him ( the Lord Jesus Christ).

Since this is before the Cross, I believe, the Lord easily forgives the young man since, I do not believe, the young man intentionally denies the Lord. Further, the Lord still requires works as part of faith ( Luke 3:1-16, Luke 17:1-10, Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20, Ephesians 2:8-10 etc.).

 

[ldonjohn]

Being saved happens when you call out to the Lord because you want to be saved not because it is a requirement to get into heaven.

If you cannot see how sinful it is to reject the generously loving offer of The Lord to save you from your sins then you are surely not worthy of Him yet. It was my sin that convinced me i needed a saviour.

Perhaps read the bible to yourself. Let the Word make you become aware of your sins and so develop a real need to be saved by Him. Please get into His light, and stop hiding in the shadows of your life, they will only reward you misery in time to come.

My life was hell so i cried out to be saved and He did. Only after that did i become aware of how sinful i really was and had been. His Ways do that to us, they teach us right from wrong but His love cleanses us from our sins like nothing else can.

Life is so very much better with Him as King. i've learned to love Him more than my life.

Peace.

This is good advice Jeshu.

Robert,

I believe that the Lord allowed me to go through a similar struggle many years ago, late 1960's - early 1970's, so that today I can relate to the struggles of others. I have counseled many people about their struggle with doubting their salvation, and I always point them to God's Word because in my own struggle I first turned to other Christians in search for answers. But, after reading bible tracts and books written by Christian authors (many times) and talking to pastors & my Sunday school class teacher I still found nothing that convinced me that I had done what God required me to do in order for Him to save me. It's a long story so I will not repeat it here. Well, to make a long story a short one, I'll just say that when I gave up on "my struggle" and turned to God & His Word for my answer, God opened my spiritually blind eyes & showed me how to believe with the right kind of faith.

Robert, I know that God works in different ways to draw people to believe the gospel. Yes, I do believe the best place to search for the truth about believing is His Word, but I also believe that He uses other Christians in that process.

One suggestion I have, other that reading the bible, is a series of programs on the John Ankerberg show with Dr. Erwin Lutzer. I have read his material & watched his videos, and he has some good material on the matter of one doubting their salvation. He is doing a series on that subject for the next few weeks on that program. I watch him on Daystar TV, on Sundays @ 8 pm CST.

John (LDONJOHN)

 

[Rachel20]

I don't want to be fooled into thinking I'm in the Kingdom when I'm not. It's better to be coolly detached and know the truth that one is not headed for heaven, than to be "emotionally fulfilled" and to FALSELY think one is going to heaven.

A reference to Matthew 7:21-23? I believe this refers to hypocrites, not those who sincerely believed they were saved. Just as in life the hypocrites conned others, here they try to con the Lord. But they know what they are.

The sinners in Zion are afraid;
Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”
Isaiah 33:14 KJV

 

[1watchman]

Being saved happens when you call out to the Lord because you want to be saved not because it is a requirement to get into heaven.

If you cannot see how sinful it is to reject the generously loving offer of The Lord to save you from your sins then you are surely not worthy of Him yet. It was my sin that convinced me i needed a saviour.

Perhaps read the bible to yourself. Let the Word make you become aware of your sins and so develop a real need to be saved by Him. Please get into His light, and stop hiding in the shadows of your life, they will only reward you misery in time to come.

My life was hell so i cried out to be saved and He did. Only after that did i become aware of how sinful i really was and had been. His Ways do that to us, they teach us right from wrong but His love cleanses us from our sins like nothing else can.

Life is so very much better with Him as King. i've learned to love Him more than my life.

Peace.

Very good picture and experience way. We need to receive the Lord Jesus to have any part in His Father: i.e. our Creator-God. One should meditate on John 3; John 14; Romans 8; etc.

 

[1watchman]

Not every Christian believes in instant salvation. Some believe that salvation is a process.

Yes, many people believe lots of things, but the Gospel in our Holy Bible sets forth the mind of God for us. That is receiving the Lord Jesus into our heart as He said: John 14 in KJV.