Is it normal to have doubts about your salvation?

[Grommit]

nevermind...

 

[Knight]

Is there anything specific you're confused about? Why do you think you may not be saved?

You say you have doubts. What kind of doubts?

 

[kimber1]

grommit i think it's perfectly natural to have doubts. as Christians God says we will have a life full of trials and tribulations. i don't know that it says you will NEVER doubt your salvation in the Bible. and as a new Christian, you can be assured that satan is going to do his best to confuse you adn try to get you back.

your best defense is to pray IMO. whenever you feel that doubt creeping in...pray. ask God for strength and for guidance. read His word daily. get out there and get involved in Bible study or whatever your church has to offer.

and i will be praying for you!

 

[geocajun]

Sure it is normal, even Saint Paul had doubts about his own salvation. (1 Cor 9:27)

Salvation is something to be hoped for, not a forgone conclusion.

 

[Blessed-one]

is it normal to have doubts? um, many christians have doubt on their salvation, does that kind of answer the question?

but the bible clearly tells us that once we believe in Christ, we are saved, i think we doubt is because our lives aren't as holy yet. We still do many things that we know are not what God wanted. Pray more about it, and see what God teaches in the bible (as well as how people like David and Job got over their doubts). He will answer eitherway, in his own timing. Just don't give up because of the seed of doubt; always seek from the Lord, that's the key.

 

[geocajun]

but the bible clearly tells us that once we believe in Christ, we are saved,

Do you agree one can lose their salvation? even if they continue to believe? like satan and how he believes?

 

[Quiet Storm]

Yes and no.

Yes in that it's normal for satan to try and use that trick on new Christians to tell them that they're not saved anymore because they don't feel a certain feeling or because they forgot to read the Bible, missed a quiet time, or stumbled.

No in that you don't lose your salvation unless you just completely turn away from God knowing full well what you're doing. Other than that, then for all practical purposes, there's no possible way you can lose your salvation. No one can snatch us out of the Father's hand.

 

[geocajun]

No in that you don't lose your salvation unless you just completely turn away from God knowing full well what you're doing. Other than that, then for all practical purposes, there's no possible way you can lose your salvation. No one can snatch us out of the Father's hand.

OK, so lets say I just "got saved" and then intentionally I kill someone. I never stopped believing that God existed so am I still "saved" ?

 

[oneiric]

I just got baptized...and it seems like everyday after that is just filled with doubts and temptation to sin.

 

[cyberwing]

OK, so lets say I just "got saved" and then intentionally I kill someone. I never stopped believing that God existed so am I still "saved" ?

The answer is simple and very clear....you never got saved. You may say you did, but you didn't. Unfortunately there are many IN this category. This process is when Jesus becomes the Lord of your life and it CHANGES you. When you get saved, or come to know Jesus, you no longer want to do anything that will hurt him. Intentionally committing murder would be against the 'new creature in Christ Jesus' that you became! You don't want to serve the devils purposes anymore, murder is just that, of the devil. No man can serve two masters.
It occurs to me you don't understand what 'being saved' is all about. You have referred to it as if 'it is the moment you recognize God exists'. If that were true then indeed Satan would be saved, for he KNOWS God exists! However, there is much more to it than that. It is TOTAL surrender of your life to Jesus and making Him the Lord of all. This is why so many people experience complete 180 turn arounds in their lives. When Jesus comes to live in your heart, everything is different! It is the establishment of Jesus on the throne of your heart. Hope this helps you understand your Brothers and Sisters who are not of the Catholic denomination.
~DJ

 

[cyberwing]

To all those unsure,
Make no mistake, your enemy is real! Satan is always trying to steal, kill and destroy. The minute you get saved, get healed, get the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the devils will begin whispering trying to steal it from you. That didn't really happen, it was just in your head....all the same old lines used for centuries on all of us!
Stand firm on His Holy Word. As has already been stated, No one can pluck you from the Fathers hand. Isn't that a wonderful promise? Also know this, you have no testimony without the TEST! We must be prepared for these times by studying His Word. God is so good, He thought of EVERYTHING! All your answers are in His Word.
Jesus told us, "My sheep know my voice." Do you know why? because he refers to the ancient hebrew shepherd. When a lamb was rebellious and would not listen to the shepherd, the shepherd broke the lambs legs. He wanted all his precious lambs because he needed each one! He then carried the rebellious lamb around his shoulders. The lamb depended on the shepherd for everything! Also, being carried about his shoulders, the lamb learned sound of the good shepherds voice! When the lamb was finally healed, the shepherd set him loose and the lamb would follow the shepherd with pure adoration in its eyes! From that time on it would not stray and would remain with the flock, for if it didn't, it was eaten by wild predators!
~DJ (a once rebellious lamb who now adores her Good Shepherd!)

 

[oneiric]

What cyberwing says is true. when you are saved, you shouldn't feel that it is a license to sin...no. instead, you don't want to sin!

Satan has been tempting me with sin very much so this past week. I have almost fallen a couple times. And maybe i inadvertantly did so once or twice. it's not easty...it's hard. but stay true to the Lord.

 

[geocajun]

so when you are saved, you lose your free will?
(btw, I am Catholic and think what your saying is illogical and inconsistant with the gospel)

 

[oneiric]

No ,we didnt say anything of the kind. When you are saved, you WANT to do good...it's the fruit your produce from salvation. Of course you don't lose your free will/

 

[water_ripple]

The answer is simple and very clear....you never got saved. You may say you did, but you didn't. Unfortunately there are many IN this category. This process is when Jesus becomes the Lord of your life and it CHANGES you. When you get saved, or come to know Jesus, you no longer want to do anything that will hurt him. Intentionally committing murder would be against the 'new creature in Christ Jesus' that you became! You don't want to serve the devils purposes anymore, murder is just that, of the devil. No man can serve two masters.
It occurs to me you don't understand what 'being saved' is all about. You have referred to it as if 'it is the moment you recognize God exists'. If that were true then indeed Satan would be saved, for he KNOWS God exists! However, there is much more to it than that. It is TOTAL surrender of your life to Jesus and making Him the Lord of all. This is why so many people experience complete 180 turn arounds in their lives. When Jesus comes to live in your heart, everything is different! It is the establishment of Jesus on the throne of your heart. Hope this helps you understand your Brothers and Sisters who are not of the Catholic denomination.
~DJ

Well, I am not Catholic but hergoes a short testimony:
I pray like mad. I have now begun to realize sins that I never considered sins before

It seems the closer I get to God the more He expects of me. Cursing was a BIG one. I didn't see the harm. Well when I heard the slang for poo coming out of the mouth of my babe I was sickened and furious. I then realized how God must feel when His children use the terminology. Now this crux is almost completely gone from my life as well as taking the Lord's name in vain.

Quite embaressed about it. Quite ashamed actually of my life before I asked God to forgive my sins and come into my life.

I want to change my life around. I am making a conscience effort. I do not want to intentionally hurt God, but being imperfect I do. It is inheriant in human nature. I try to resist temptation but sometimes it grabs me up. I pray for the strength to resist more so I can avoid intentionally hurting God in the same manner. Prayer has helped immensly as well as studing the bible. I intend to follow God, and ignore the temptations of satan. I also pray that I will mature in faith, and walk in the light with Christ.

 

[Vitaly]

If your having doubts it could be largely because
1. Your not established in the Faith
2.Your conscience is not clear.
(There is more)

Hope this helps!

 

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

If your having doubts it could be largely because
1. Your not established in the Faith
2.Your conscience is not clear.
(There is more)

Hope this helps!

No. Mostly it's because you have a questioning and active mind.

 

[peteey]

The answer is simple and very clear....you never got saved. You may say you did, but you didn't. Unfortunately there are many IN this category. This process is when Jesus becomes the Lord of your life and it CHANGES you. When you get saved, or come to know Jesus, you no longer want to do anything that will hurt him. Intentionally committing murder would be against the 'new creature in Christ Jesus' that you became! You don't want to serve the devils purposes anymore, murder is just that, of the devil. No man can serve two masters.

~DJ

So can you say that David was not saved then when he had Bathsheba's husband murdered?

 

[Bonhoffer]

I think its perfectly normal to have doubts about salvation, especially in your 'baby faith' (i.e New Christians like myself).

Recently I've had thoughts were I've wondered if THAT really happened to me or if my mind was playing tricks. I have also gone through a whole night feeling that my salvation had been overturned. Two nights ago i had a dream that i had been sent to hell.

Now i know that this is all Satans lies and trickery. The Bible tells us that once we have felt the Holy Spirit we are saved and theres no undoing it. That means any doubts are coming from Satan who wants to freak us out.

He has a habit of targetting new beleivers. all you have to do is ignore him and tell him that you love the lord and he'll run a mile.