Pulled to be ripped apart

[jjust19]

Where do I begin? How many of you have ever doubted your salvation? Your denomination? Your faith, love, care, interest, obedience, understanding or even worth in Jesus? Who among you is anxious about whether the Sabbath must be kept, or specific feasts must be attended, or prayers that can only be said on certain days or times? Do you think knowing Jesus is just praying to him, or actually hearing him audibly? Is baptism only valid after you've heard Jesus, or only valid when done by "true" Christians? Does God want us to be in a certain place, or do certain things that aren't mentioned? Does he not want us to touch pork, shrimp, women on periods, to cut our hair or to touch what is unclean? Does being saved involve knowing both the Bible and the Torah? How do you feel the Holy Spirit and know it's him? How do you know you've never blasphemed him? Some say he's a feeling, some rebuke that claim and say he's a voice, and some say he's just energy. Some say praying in tongues no longer applies, others say you're not saved without it. Those you turn to say to turn to Jesus in faith. Even in faith no answer is given.

So as you can see, I have a couple of things to think about. This is just an excerpt of what I have trouble with. I'm burning out fast. I'm losing faith in the one person that's never left me. How can I conquer the king of giants?

 

[Jeshu]

Where do I begin? How many of you have ever doubted your salvation? Your denomination? Your faith, love, care, interest, obedience, understanding or even worth in Jesus? Who among you is anxious about whether the Sabbath must be kept, or specific feasts must be attended, or prayers that can only be said on certain days or times? Do you think knowing Jesus is just praying to him, or actually hearing him audibly? Is baptism only valid after you've heard Jesus, or only valid when done by "true" Christians? Does God want us to be in a certain place, or do certain things that aren't mentioned? Does he not want us to touch pork, shrimp, women on periods, to cut our hair or to touch what is unclean? Does being saved involve knowing both the Bible and the Torah? How do you feel the Holy Spirit and know it's him? How do you know you've never blasphemed him? Some say he's a feeling, some rebuke that claim and say he's a voice, and some say he's just energy. Some say praying in tongues no longer applies, others say you're not saved without it. Those you turn to say to turn to Jesus in faith. Even in faith no answer is given.

So as you can see, I have a couple of things to think about. This is just an excerpt of what I have trouble with. I'm burning out fast. I'm losing faith in the one person that's never left me. How can I conquer the king of giants?

I relate to a lot of the things you mention here - I certainly have had my struggles grasping God and coming to grips with Christian rules, values and morals.

The things that really helped me in my faith was seeing God the Father as Life Itself and sin as a transgression against Life. Understanding Jesus as God's loving truth and the bible as a spiritual book that accurately describes what takes place in our hearts at any given moment in time. And knowing that lies generate fear, shame and guilt and cause spiritual death.

Faith in God's loving truth - Jesus Christ - knows but a few laws - and they have all to do with loving God and neighbour - setting us wholly free to love God and neighbour and allows us to be truthfully ourselves.

The Holy Spirit brings faith, love and truth into our being and is known as the (spiritual) life giver.

God is great, awesome and wonderful, it is a delight to serve Him and to know Him and be known by Him.

 

[Bobby64]

Remember, Jesus's grace and faith in him is the New Covenant. Old Testament laws you referenced (e.g. not eating shrimp) for Israel at that specific time. We're under love now, not just a written code.

 

[Criada]

There are a lot of details that people will always debate - and I think that when we finally get to heaven all of us will be surprised at the things we got wrong!
But reall, the important part is summed up here:

“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:8-10)

Believe and confess - the rest is detail
Praying for guidance and clarity as you wrestle with this.
And don't worry - any Christian who tells you that they have never doubted is almost certainly not telling the truth!!

 

[Krissy Cakes]

How many of you have ever doubted your salvation?

Thats a big one for me. With my health problems and mental problems it can get really hard at times.

I'm praying for you.