Struggling with salvation

[Eleknar]

Currently, I am not a Christian. At one point in my life I thought I was but I've fallen so far from God that I'm not even sure I was ever serious about Christianity to begin with. I want to be a Christian but I'm not sure how I believe in the Bible, I believe that it is innerant, I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, I believe that Jesus suffered and died on a cross to defeat sin so that we may all be saved IF we choose to die to ourselves and live for him, I believe that he was miraculously resurrected and ascended to His Kingdom where he now sits at the right hand of God the Father, I believe that we should want to be saved not just so that we can go to Heaven when we die but so that we can have a real, close, personal, intimate relationship with our Creator, I believe that all of my sins can be forgiven and that God wants to have a relationship with me too, etc. I believe all of this, I know all of it is true and that I need to do this because I want to and because it's right, but I don't know how. Probably sounds weird, huh? I know It all looks/sounds/seems so easy but something is keeping my from taking the leap and just giving myself to him. Maybe I'm feeling like the post-salvation lifestyle is too difficult? Maybe I'm afraid that, like every time I THOUGHT I was a Christian in the past and failed, I'm just going to go with the motions or think that I'm saved and then back off or fall away again after a few months? I don't know. I really don't know what it is. All I know is that the Bible and all that it contains is absolutely undeniably true and that I want to live my life as a child, servant, and friend of the God of this universe. I don't want to waste anymore time. I just feel so detached, like my heart is so hard. I'm afraid that I won't be able to take this step and just do what I have/want to do. How do I overcome whatever is keeping me from giving myself to God?

 

[miamited]

Hi Elaknar,

Do you really believe all that is written in the bible? I'm not asking if you believe in 'the' bible. Anybody who has been in a bookstore believes in 'the' bible. You can just walk over to the religious section and you'll find at least a dozen. How can anyone not believe in 'the' bible? However, the question God wants to know is do you believe what He has revealed to you in it.

Let's just try some examples.
1. Do you believe that God spoke this entire existence into being in 6 evenings and mornings? Every star in the universe and every molecule in and on the earth?

2. Do you really believe that you are going to live an existence of suffering and sorrow for all eternity?

God bless you.
In Christ, Ted

 

[stelow]

Its all about our faith in Christ Jesus, if you have faith in Him you are an overcomer. His grace is extended to everyone, but it's up to each individual to have faith in that grace. I pray you will know for sure beyond a shadow of a doubt, you are a child of God.

 

[file13]

Hey brother! These are great questions about a very serious issue. It seems a bit tangled, so maybe we can clear some things up a bit. If you don't mind, I'll just respond to a few key points you bring up.

I want to be a Christian but I'm not sure how

I hope this dosen't sound like a dumb question, but why do you want to be a Christian? What do you mean by that? What about being a Christian is appealing to you?

I believe that Jesus suffered and died on a cross to defeat sin so that we may all be saved IF we choose to die to ourselves and live for him

What do you mean by this? Are you saying that Jesus Christ dosen't save people, but rather that He makes it possible for you to save yourself if you work hard enough?

I believe that we should want to be saved not just so that we can go to Heaven when we die but so that we can have a real, close, personal, intimate relationship with our Creator

Awesome and amen!

I believe that all of my sins can be forgiven and that God wants to have a relationship with me too, etc.

How do you feel about your sins?

Probably sounds weird, huh? I know

Yeah, a bit. That's why I ask your pardon in me asking what might seem like silly questions. They do have a purpose, namely to figure out where you're at beyond the list of evangelical dogmas you're on board with intellectually.

It all looks/sounds/seems so easy but something is keeping my from taking the leap and just giving myself to him.

What makes you think there's a leap involved? You mentioned sins above and I must again ask, how do you feel about your sins? Are you saying that you recognize that you're a sinner who needs to be saved? I know I was; a wretched diabolical one! So I can relate if that's what you mean!

I don't know. I really don't know what it is. All I know is that the Bible and all that it contains is absolutely undeniably true and that I want to live my life as a child, servant, and friend of the God of this universe. I don't want to waste anymore time. I just feel so detached, like my heart is so hard. I'm afraid that I won't be able to take this step and just do what I have/want to do. How do I overcome whatever is keeping me from giving myself to God?

What makes you think you give yourself to God?

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
(John 15:16 ESV)
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Do you think that God might have something to do with this being drawn to Him sort of thing you might be describing?