to be a christian?

[bunnysfriend]

i have prayed to God for the holy spirit so that i can be saved, but how do i know it is in me? i believe that christ died so that my sins may be forgiven but sometimes i find my self doubting. how can i overcome this? is it bad that my main reason for wanting to be a chrisian is fear of dying? is this selfish of me?
i want to know how i can love God more than i love my family? i want to love God more than them but i find it hard. i feel bad because i know if it weren't for God i wouldnt even have them, its like i am loving the gift more than the giver.
how can i worship God? i pray, i read the bible, i try to be a good person, is that all it takes?
i get confused over what is a sin and what isnt. like should i stop eating food for pleasure, like chocolate? is it wrong to enjoy a big meal? can i still buy things to make myself happy and love god too? or are all material posseions bad? can i enjoy things that have nothing to do with god? if i am living for god does everything i do has to be for him? can i ever do anything that will make me happy or should all my happiness just be serving God? is it selfish for me to want to travell and see all the amazing places god has created, when the money i use could be given to the needy?
i fear i do not have the holy spirit yet and that i am a selfish wicked person. i ask God to forgive me but how do i know i am? if i truely was saved i would just be happy serving God, i wouldnt care about experiencing everything in this life and living it to the fullest, as i would know that the eternal life would be better. i keep questioning what if?
if i ask God for forgivness surely that is saying i wont do it again? but i do. does that mean i am not saved.
i want to be saved but i fear i am too selfish, though i do care deeply for others, i still want to be happy and fear suffering.
sorry this is kinda long, i appreciate your taking time to read.

 

[Robinsegg]

Welcome to the family, bunnysfriend! If you've done as you explained, you are a Christian!

Okay to answer some of your questions:
i believe that christ died so that my sins may be forgiven but sometimes i find my self doubting. how can i overcome this?
Everyone experiences doubts. Some of this is just that it's hard for us to accept He's made it so easy. In this case, you should just thank Him, and ask Him to give you confidence. Sometimes, it's because Satan wants to discredit and confuse you. When this is the case, you can send him away. Jesus gave his power to all believers, so you can do this.
i want to know how i can love god more than i love my family?
You will have difficulty with this until you know Him better. And there will be times throughout your life when this will be difficult. Just try to get to know Him better through prayer, the Bible and other believers, and ask Him to help you.
how can i worship god?
Your entire life can be an act of worship. Even when I'm simply caring for my children, it can be done in a way that will please Him. As for specific acts: go to worship services, go to Bible studies, read the Bible, pray.
like should i stop eating food for pleasure, like chocolate? is it wrong to enjoy a big meal? can i still buy things to make myself happy and love god too? or are all material posseions bad? can i enjoy things that have nothing to do with god?
God gives us life so that we can enjoy it. He gives us basic guidelines: Don't do anything illegal, Don't harm your body, Don't do things with sinful intent or in trying to cause others to sin. Can you still go mini-golfing or have ice cream? Absolutely!
is it selfish for me to want to travell and see all the amazing places god has created, when the money i use could be given to the needy?
Is your intent to spend as much money as possible, or is it to go and see? Psalm 34:8a says: "Taste and see that the LORD is good;" God intends for us to enjoy the life He gives us. Only you can decide if a certain trip is extravigant and selfish.
if i ask god for forgivness surely that is saying i wont do it again? but i do. does that mean i am not saved.
We all struggle with this. Actually, it doesn't mean you aren't saved. It means that you're a saved sinner. There are really only 2 kinds of people in this world: Lost Sinners and Saved Sinners. Until we're out of our bodies and out of this sin-sick world, we will all sin. The idea is to try with His help to sin as little as possible. To identify with temptation and run from it.

I hope I've answered some of your questions in a way you can understand. If you have more questions or need clarification, please ask.
Rachel

 

[bunnysfriend]

thank you very much for your reply! if i think of anything else i will be sure to ask.

 

[tapero]

Dear Bunnysfriend,

You have a wonderful testimony in how much you want to serve God and do what's right. I really liked reading your story. Thank you.

I just want to assure you that the Holy Spirit indeed indwells you:

Here is the verse:
Ephesians 1:13-14
13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Also, I didn't notice, but you asked about what is sin and sometimes you don't know what sin is. All wrongdoing is sin. In addition there may be sins that are specifically not wrong for someone else but is sin for us. God will convict you of these things as you grow in Him.

God bless you, Sincerely, Tapero

 

[starflyer59]

i have prayed to God for the holy spirit so that i can be saved, but how do i know it is in me? i believe that christ died so that my sins may be forgiven but sometimes i find my self doubting. how can i overcome this? is it bad that my main reason for wanting to be a chrisian is fear of dying? is this selfish of me?
i want to know how i can love God more than i love my family? i want to love God more than them but i find it hard. i feel bad because i know if it weren't for God i wouldnt even have them, its like i am loving the gift more than the giver.
how can i worship God? i pray, i read the bible, i try to be a good person, is that all it takes?
i get confused over what is a sin and what isnt. like should i stop eating food for pleasure, like chocolate? is it wrong to enjoy a big meal? can i still buy things to make myself happy and love god too? or are all material posseions bad? can i enjoy things that have nothing to do with god? if i am living for god does everything i do has to be for him? can i ever do anything that will make me happy or should all my happiness just be serving God? is it selfish for me to want to travell and see all the amazing places god has created, when the money i use could be given to the needy?
i fear i do not have the holy spirit yet and that i am a selfish wicked person. i ask God to forgive me but how do i know i am? if i truely was saved i would just be happy serving God, i wouldnt care about experiencing everything in this life and living it to the fullest, as i would know that the eternal life would be better. i keep questioning what if?
if i ask God for forgivness surely that is saying i wont do it again? but i do. does that mean i am not saved.
i want to be saved but i fear i am too selfish, though i do care deeply for others, i still want to be happy and fear suffering.
sorry this is kinda long, i appreciate your taking time to read.

Hi bunnysfriend, you have alot of questions! I'll try and respond my best.

As far as getting to know God better, remember that God is your father. Your true father. Think of how you would bond with your real father. If you were introduced to your father for the first time at the age of let's say 18, would you automatically have a close personal relationship with him? Of course not, but there is always a bond between parent and child. You would get close to him by spending time with him and learning about him. It's the same with God. When you accept Christ, God becomes your new father, embrace him as a father!

You seem to be very worried about doing the right thing and worried that you will slip up. this is normal and healthy for a new christian, or even a mature christian. If anything it just shows you have a desire to do his will, even if you haven't learned how to lean on Him completely to help you do it.

And that's the big thing. If you are obsessed with trying to win God's love and approval on your own good works you'll fail. It happens every time. God wants us to lean on him, because his strength is made perfect in our weakness. The areas you struggle the most with are the areas God wants you to give over to Him the most. Give your insecurities over to God in prayer and don't be afraid to be completely honest with Him, because being dishonest with God would be sinful. God knows your every thought so there is no point trying to hide from Him.

to worship God is to be obedient to God's will. That is the way to worship Him. Accept that you will stumble and when you do give it over to God, that's worshiping Him too. Listening for his voice and doing your best to do his will is worshiping God, it's not any specific ritual or thing you have to do.

You aren't perfect and God doesn't expect you to be. He just want's you to have faith in Him to let Him pick you up in the places where you can't do it on your own. you can still do things you enjoy, you will learn as you go which things God wants you to give up or not, and you'll make those decisions as they come. Don't worry too much, remember you are in God's hands now and nothing can snatch you out of them.

And any time you are unsure about salvation just remember this verse, I pray God will put it in your heart.

"The witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13).

 

[Annoula]

Christianity is not a one-day saving thing. it's a life long process.


blessed are the ones that believe without evidence but because our nature is weak it is not bad to pray for proof. we should always double check the "proof" that comes along because it is not always true.

for me the ultimate thing to have in mind is BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. because the Kingdom of Heavens lies within us.
find yourself and you will find God.

if you would like to discuss it further more you could pm me.

God bless you and guide you all your way.

 

[heron]

Bunnysfriend, it's good that you're asking these questions instead of letting them spin around in your mind. The answers above were great--I agree.

There are rules listed in the Old Testament, if you're curious--close to where the Ten Commandments are. Don't sleep with your neighbor's husband. Don't use false measures in business dealings. Don't overwork your animals. (Bunnies?) Pay your workers on time. Don't lie in court.

If it's blatant common sense, it's probably in there. If it's greyer areas like defiling your body with caffeine, then you could fall into as much sin in attitude (self-righteousness, fear, haughtiness, obsession) if you ate perfectly. Sin means missing the mark, separating yourself from God by doing something offensive. Chocolate isn't in the Bible.

Romans 13:7-10
Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

(Sorry about the caps--this is a copy-paste.)
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It's wonderful that you love your family! God made us with instincts to connect with our families, and support each other in that structure. He made us with desires to scout and hunt (travel and eat)...He knows our frame.

You have some thoughtful concerns, and I'd suggest you don't totally squelch altruism or play, but look around at your friends and see if there are any in need. What good would it be to give all your money to an organization if your great aunt needed meals brought to her? Or a friend needed help setting up an apartment?

I agree that it's normal to wonder if you're still saved. That's when we learn to cling to the promises of God, and start to stand on His Words to us instead of our own opinions. He said we're saved if we believe. We say internally "sure, that works for other people...."

We all tend to try to please, to scurry to do the right thing until we have someone's approval. God already approves of you.



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[AllTalkNoAction]

i have prayed to God for the holy spirit so that i can be saved, but how do i know it is in me?

Same way they knew in the bible !
" they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance . . . "
(Acts 2v4, 33, 39; 10v44-48, 11v14-18, 19v1-6; John 3b8, 14v20, Galatians 4v6)

i believe that christ died so that my sins may be forgiven but sometimes i find my self doubting. how can i overcome this?

God hasn't just said to man "I forgive your sin", man could just sin all the more !
God has given a better way, *power* over sin, get that and you will find you no longer need to fear, just as others have found they no longer want to smoke, drink, swear etc.
OK someone will claim they gave up say smoking without God, but God offers a whole new life, his nature, not just "don't do this & that".

is it bad that my main reason for wanting to be a chrisian is fear of dying? is this selfish of me?

The apostle Peter tells the crowd:-
"Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2v40)

Jesus said you CANNOT help others until you help yourself, you cannot remove something from someone else's eye if your vision is blurred.

i want to know how i can love God more than i love my family? i want to love God more than them but i find it hard.

"the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5v5)

love God by receiving His Spirit, don't worry about what other people *may* think.

how can i worship God? i pray, i read the bible, i try to be a good person, is that all it takes?

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4v34)

. . .receive the Holy Spirit

i get confused over what is a sin and what isnt.

Ro:3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Sin is NOT living according to God's nature.
We exist in weakness & blindness when you can have God's love & understanding ?

. . .receive the Holy Spirit