Is there a way to know?

[krispar]

There is another thread going on right now about basically the similar subject, but mine has a "twist" .
So, here is my question- How do Christians know we believe what we believe? And How do we know we are accepted?

I would tell anyone that I believe Jesus came and died for his peoples sins. I would tell them I believe the Bible is truth, God created the universe, etc. I grew up in the church, so it is basically common knowledge to me. How do I know that I truly "believe" these things? I feel such a disconnect when it comes to deciphering feeling things and believing them. I don't understand, it's one of those parts of the Christian walk that I stumble on. Sometimes parts of it seem "too confusing" and my brain shuts down to that aspect, it's like I'm cursed to never understand!
When I was a little girl, a lone in my bedroom, numerous times (and still today), I pray for Jesus to come into my heart and tell him I am nothing without him. But do I really believe these things? Do I really think I'm nothing? Like most or all Christians a majority of the time is spent thinking I'm something. Something special, even. Are those prayers valid?

My main concern is that I have lived almost my entire life thinking I'm a Christian, but have I been kidding myself and am honestly just a "church go-er"? When I die are they going to look up my name and Jesus is going to say "I never knew you?"
Excuse the cursing but it scares the crap out of me. I am horrified that I will end up in hell.
I am always reminded of a hymn when I think this way. "I want to be a Christian in my heart". It's the only realy strong "emotion" i have along with my hopefully Chrsitian faith, is that I want SO BADLY to be a Christian.

So how do I know?

 

[ephraimanesti]

There is another thread going on right now about basically the similar subject, but mine has a "twist" .
So, here is my question- How do Christians know we believe what we believe? And How do we know we are accepted?

I would tell anyone that I believe Jesus came and died for his peoples sins. I would tell them I believe the Bible is truth, God created the universe, etc. I grew up in the church, so it is basically common knowledge to me. How do I know that I truly "believe" these things? I feel such a disconnect when it comes to deciphering feeling things and believing them. I don't understand, it's one of those parts of the Christian walk that I stumble on. Sometimes parts of it seem "too confusing" and my brain shuts down to that aspect, it's like I'm cursed to never understand!
When I was a little girl, a lone in my bedroom, numerous times (and still today), I pray for Jesus to come into my heart and tell him I am nothing without him. But do I really believe these things? Do I really think I'm nothing? Like most or all Christians a majority of the time is spent thinking I'm something. Something special, even. Are those prayers valid?

My main concern is that I have lived almost my entire life thinking I'm a Christian, but have I been kidding myself and am honestly just a "church go-er"? When I die are they going to look up my name and Jesus is going to say "I never knew you?"
Excuse the cursing but it scares the crap out of me. I am horrified that I will end up in hell.
I am always reminded of a hymn when I think this way. "I want to be a Christian in my heart". It's the only realy strong "emotion" i have along with my hopefully Chrsitian faith, is that I want SO BADLY to be a Christian.

So how do I know?

MY DEAR SISTER,

WOW! You surely complicate things for yourself alright.

The answer is: HAVE FAITH IN FAITH.

#1, Remember that FAITH is a decision, NOT a feeling!

#2. Decide once and for all to have ABSOLUTE FAITH in Scriptures as God's Love Letter to you.

#3. Have ABSOLUTE FAITH that you have ABSOLUTE FAITH in Scriptures--even when you have those Satan-induced illusionary feelings of doubt.

#4. Follow to the best of your ability--with the aid, guidance, and support of the Holy Spirit--God's teachings for you found in Scripture.

#5. Confess immediately any lapses in #4.

#6. By doing #'s 4 and 5, TRUST God's Word that you are accepted, saved, and dearly beloved of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

#7. Ignore any feelings contrary to the above which Satan may send your way in order to knock you off the narrow path God has laid out for you.

#8. As our Lord has commanded, remain a little child--keeping things simple and based on FAITH alone--and you are guaranteed to hear your Lord's "WELL DONE" when the time comes.

LOVE TO YA IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[Nottingham40]

Its not in the head, its in the heart.
By saying you want to be a Chirstain, and meaning it you are. "All who seek will find"

 

[Johnnz]

Of course you are. Somehow you seem to have missed out on some healthy teaching. I love Tennyson's words:

"For the love of God is broader than the limits of man's mind
And the heart of the Almighty is most wonderfully kind."

Bless you
John
NZ

 

[koban4max]

You know something. If you truely want to know if Jesus is the truth, you best need to read your bible because it contains factual stuff and NEVER contradicts anything like Ko'ran...or whatever.

 

[FenderElctrc]

There is another thread going on right now about basically the similar subject, but mine has a "twist" .
So, here is my question- How do Christians know we believe what we believe? And How do we know we are accepted?

I would tell anyone that I believe Jesus came and died for his peoples sins. I would tell them I believe the Bible is truth, God created the universe, etc. I grew up in the church, so it is basically common knowledge to me. How do I know that I truly "believe" these things? I feel such a disconnect when it comes to deciphering feeling things and believing them. I don't understand, it's one of those parts of the Christian walk that I stumble on. Sometimes parts of it seem "too confusing" and my brain shuts down to that aspect, it's like I'm cursed to never understand!
When I was a little girl, a lone in my bedroom, numerous times (and still today), I pray for Jesus to come into my heart and tell him I am nothing without him. But do I really believe these things? Do I really think I'm nothing? Like most or all Christians a majority of the time is spent thinking I'm something. Something special, even. Are those prayers valid?

My main concern is that I have lived almost my entire life thinking I'm a Christian, but have I been kidding myself and am honestly just a "church go-er"? When I die are they going to look up my name and Jesus is going to say "I never knew you?"
Excuse the cursing but it scares the crap out of me. I am horrified that I will end up in hell.
I am always reminded of a hymn when I think this way. "I want to be a Christian in my heart". It's the only realy strong "emotion" i have along with my hopefully Chrsitian faith, is that I want SO BADLY to be a Christian.

So how do I know?

The Holy Spirit. That's how I know. I hear God's voice in my spirit and I know for a fact the God's realer than a lot of people think. If we hold on to our sins and we refuse to leave them, God's presence leaves us. Pray, and have Faith. Keep calling on Jesus. Don't give up and be weak. You are a Christian. If you turn to God and you give Him your life, He will not say He did not know you. You must gain a relationship with Him. Don't listen to the ones who say God doesn't answer prayers and that there's no proof or anything. No, that's satan. Have Faith! Remember that. Things don't happen on our time, they happen on God's time. We obey Him, not Him obey us.

 

[Rage4Christ]

You should listen to these emotions.
These are good questions.
Your next step: Critical investigation. Keep these questions on your mind all the time; think. Get books on the issue. Read the web on the issue. Talk to people about it.

Your faith will get stronger in the long run.

Doubting is not a weakness.
One need not fear doubt.
Embrace doubt.

Christ is Truth and any quest for the truth will ultimately lead to HIM.

 

[krispar]

Thanks for the replies. koban, I know Jesus is truth, it's whether I'm saved or not that I was asking, and I read my bible regularly, so thank you for your reply but read the post first. Thanks everybody, I appreciate the responses. Rage, that's exactly what I'm doing by talking on here , can't afford books though, but I got a bible and I'm a reading. Ephraim, I love that you said have faith in faith (though my goofy brain tries to make that even more complicated!), and nottingham and john thank you for your encouraging replies. I certainly hope you are right! Thank you!

 

[mushowani]

Jesus is real.. so real and He can be real to your life.
God loves you more than you know imagine or even expect. the thing about God is not emotional... it is a matter of the heart and of the spirit. a time will come when God will really convince, convict and convert you. it is simple... Look for the source of life? for you to be full of life whilst others are perishing is because God doesn't want you to die before you know Him fully.

read Genesis 1v26- to chapter three
read Jeremiah 29v11, Isaiah 53, John 3v16, John 10v8-10

 

[mushowani]

Life is all about you making choices. God gave us a free will and from that we either choose life or death. Jesus came that we may have life in abundance. this is not the life we live today, it is the life of yonder, after the physical death.
God loves mankind to such an extent that He gave all that He had...Jesus. Jesus left His heavenly dwelling place and became resident on earth just for you and for me. He was here to red em man and to restore back to him that which was stolen from him in the garden of eden. so it was for you and for me that he gave his life as a ransom so as to redeem us from the jaws of death that came out of adam and eve's disobedience.
Jesus came to bridge the gap that had been caused by the sin. to this end He laid down His life such that the chastisement that was meant for us was upon Him. All this was done out of love such that when the Father is looking at us, He does not see our sins, shortcomings nor unrighteousnesses, all He will see is Jesus and His blood pleading for mercy on our behalf for none is fit to stand before Him for He is holy.
'ope you'll come to the comprehension of His love, glory and mercy
mushowani

'ope the story below is going to touch some heart

Learning to Serve
​

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would
like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."

The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man
looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the
table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth
water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be
famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their
arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful,
but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back
into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said,
"You have seen Hell." They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly
the same as the first one.

There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's
mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here
the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, "I don't understand."

"It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have
learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

With thanks to Munyaradzi Mupatsi

For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat." Richard Eastman
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

 

[krispar]

mushowani, I liked your story but don't understand why you put it here. I have a comprehension of heaven and hell.. again, I read the Bible frequently, was just curious if there was a way to know that I was really saved. I mean, does the fact that I said the prayer and want to be mean I'm saved? My wanting to please him because if I am saved I'm extremely grateful, does that prove anything?

I guess I don't quite understand (at least mentally, maybe spiritually and I just have a disconnect in that area) the meanings of faith and belief...

 

[mushowani]

mushowani, I liked your story but don't understand why you put it here. I have a comprehension of heaven and hell.. again, I read the Bible frequently, was just curious if there was a way to know that I was really saved. I mean, does the fact that I said the prayer and want to be mean I'm saved? My wanting to please him because if I am saved I'm extremely grateful, does that prove anything?

I guess I don't quite understand (at least mentally, maybe spiritually and I just have a disconnect in that area) the meanings of faith and belief...

as I clearly put it, it was meant to inspire someone else. what I had addressed to you was in green font

 

[krispar]

ok, lol thanks for clearing that up. I was racking my brain for an hour trying to connect the two. sorry

 

[koban4max]

Thanks for the replies. koban, I know Jesus is truth, it's whether I'm saved or not that I was asking, and I read my bible regularly, so thank you for your reply but read the post first. Thanks everybody, I appreciate the responses. Rage, that's exactly what I'm doing by talking on here , can't afford books though, but I got a bible and I'm a reading. Ephraim, I love that you said have faith in faith (though my goofy brain tries to make that even more complicated!), and nottingham and john thank you for your encouraging replies. I certainly hope you are right! Thank you!

Once you're saved, you're saved.

 

[koban4max]

There is another thread going on right now about basically the similar subject, but mine has a "twist" .
So, here is my question- How do Christians know we believe what we believe? And How do we know we are accepted?

I would tell anyone that I believe Jesus came and died for his peoples sins. I would tell them I believe the Bible is truth, God created the universe, etc. I grew up in the church, so it is basically common knowledge to me. How do I know that I truly "believe" these things? I feel such a disconnect when it comes to deciphering feeling things and believing them. I don't understand, it's one of those parts of the Christian walk that I stumble on. Sometimes parts of it seem "too confusing" and my brain shuts down to that aspect, it's like I'm cursed to never understand!
When I was a little girl, a lone in my bedroom, numerous times (and still today), I pray for Jesus to come into my heart and tell him I am nothing without him. But do I really believe these things? Do I really think I'm nothing? Like most or all Christians a majority of the time is spent thinking I'm something. Something special, even. Are those prayers valid?

My main concern is that I have lived almost my entire life thinking I'm a Christian, but have I been kidding myself and am honestly just a "church go-er"? When I die are they going to look up my name and Jesus is going to say "I never knew you?"
Excuse the cursing but it scares the crap out of me. I am horrified that I will end up in hell.
I am always reminded of a hymn when I think this way. "I want to be a Christian in my heart". It's the only realy strong "emotion" i have along with my hopefully Chrsitian faith, is that I want SO BADLY to be a Christian.

So how do I know?

Chuch going isn't gonna make u "christian." You just got to understand Jesus and accept his salvation..and have faith.

Are you born again?

 

[Johnnz]

Many struggle with this. Not many people have a bells and whistles experience of conversion. I wondered for quite a while. Then, I came to the point where I had to choose between Jesus being a liar (if anyone comes to me I will never cast them away) of I could take Him at His word. I chose the latter, and have never regretted it.

John
NZ

 

[mushowani]

ok, lol thanks for clearing that up. I was racking my brain for an hour trying to connect the two. sorry

sorry for cozing confusion.

I only pray that the love of Jesus may be made real in your life that you may be able to be born again. Jesus loves you more & more with each day......

 

[Wordgazer]

It's in Romans, I believe, Krispar. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved.

"Confess the Lord Jesus" -- that is that you have made Him your Lord, turned your life over to Him, and have acted on that by speaking it.

"Believe in your heart that God raised Him"-- that is that you place the whole weight of your trust in His death and resurrection for your salvation. Not in your ability to feel like a Christian-- in His death and resurrection.

Remember "He who is able to keep you from falling and present you unstained at His glorious throne." Just trust Him. That's really all there is to it. He's the one who saves you and keeps you saved, not you.

(hugs)

 

[mushowani]

It's in Romans, I believe, Krispar. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved.

"Confess the Lord Jesus" -- that is that you have made Him your Lord, turned your life over to Him, and have acted on that by speaking it.

"Believe in your heart that God raised Him"-- that is that you place the whole weight of your trust in His death and resurrection for your salvation. Not in your ability to feel like a Christian-- in His death and resurrection.

Remember "He who is able to keep you from falling and present you unstained at His glorious throne." Just trust Him. That's really all there is to it. He's the one who saves you and keeps you saved, not you.

(hugs)

thank u for highlighting this

 

[heron]

What a wonderful search process you're in. It appears that the Holy Spirit is helping you make sure you're on the right track, just by these convictions. He doesn't want you to perish, so He will help you along with this.

If God is the one who makes the decisions, then it's important that we continue to read and believe what His terms are. It's tempting to imagine all sorts of "not good enough" things to worry about, but He said what He said.

That is part of the challenge of faith -- to trust that His plan was good enough to get us there. It seems too simple, but belief in the name of Jesus, in His sacrifice, in the Father's plan for salvation -- our faith counts to us as righteousness, in the steps of Abraham.

Keep exploring and pursuing. He is there beside you to help you make sure the desires of your heart are met.

2Pe 3:9
The Lord is ... not wishing for any to perish