What if I am not pre-destined?

[ByGrace]

I placed this as a response to another thread but thought I would make a post out of it. I have been studying a little bit of Calvinism and have a question that haunts me.

If it is true that all that are saved are predestined for salvation, then what if I in fact was not chosen and am just asking God into my heart and believing He has saved me and it is not true?

This is such a terrible thought as I truly believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross. I believe that there is nothing I can do to recieve salvation and desire it above all else. Could I actually still be lost?

Thanks for responses.

 

[Drotar]

How do you know you're elect, is that what you're asking?

What fruits do you bear? Did you accept Jesus. If you truly came to accept Jesus, then you're saved. You should have unconditional faith. Whether or not you "lose" that faith would be a manifestation of this question.

For what it's worth, I know I'm elected because of the relationship I have with Jesus, and how I enjoy doing His good works. Paul said to make our election sure by good works. The good works aren't the saving factor, but an indicator. TTYL Jesus loves you!

 

[Ken]

There is no evidence of God turning someone away that comes to Him in repentance, so if you are drawn to Christ, and trust only in Him for your salvation, then you are already showing evidence of God's Spirit at work in your heart, and this activity (true repentance) is impossible if you are still in the flesh, a natural man.... so I think you have little to worry about, its probably kinda like the advice people have regarding whether or not they have committed the unpardonable sin, if you are concerned about it, then in all likelihood, you have not committed it... so too, if you are drawn to Christ, and bear fruit in keeping with repentance, in all likelihood, you are one IMHO, of the elect...

blessings

 

[Reformationist]

There is no evidence of God turning someone away that comes to Him in repentance, so if you are drawn to Christ, and trust only in Him for your salvation, then you are already showing evidence of God's Spirit at work in your heart, and this activity (true repentance) is impossible if you are still in the flesh, a natural man.... so I think you have little to worry about, its probably kinda like the advice people have regarding whether or not they have committed the unpardonable sin, if you are concerned about it, then in all likelihood, you have not committed it... so too, if you are drawn to Christ, and bear fruit in keeping with repentance, in all likelihood, you are one IMHO, of the elect...

blessings

I was going to respond to the OP but I'm not sure what I'd say that's different than this.

This is a very good answer.

God bless

 

[Filia Mariae]

St. Augustine says, "God is good. God is Just. He can save a person without good works, because He is good; but He cannot condemn anyone without evil works, because He is Just" (Contra. Jul. III, 18, 35).

 

[sracer]

How do you know you're elect, is that what you're asking?

What fruits do you bear? Did you accept Jesus. If you truly came to accept Jesus, then you're saved. You should have unconditional faith. Whether or not you "lose" that faith would be a manifestation of this question.

For what it's worth, I know I'm elected because of the relationship I have with Jesus, and how I enjoy doing His good works. Paul said to make our election sure by good works. The good works aren't the saving factor, but an indicator. TTYL Jesus loves you!

Well said Drotar.

ByGrace... if you have accepted and confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you are born-again and saved. You have God's assurance of that! You are saved by His grace (through your faith in Him)... from that point on, the Holy Spirit dwells within you and will help you.

Don't doubt it. You are meant to have that assurance. So that you can be free to serve Him. That is an important distinction that Drotar makes. As born-again Christians we serve and love others not because we "have to" (because we don't)... but because we "get to". How can we not want to?! We've been saved from our sins and will be with the Lord one day.

Unfortunately, there are many brothers and sisters who are never given that assurance. They must toil endlessly, performing rituals, following rules in the hopes that God will be merciful. They believe that if God does decide for them to go to Heaven, they then have to worry about how long they will have to spend in a place they call "purgatory" before getting into Heaven. They even worry if unbaptized infants will go to Heaven.

We born-again Christians should have no such uncertainty, fear, of doubt. So don't sweat it... just go out and love others.

 

[Drotar]

Good works themselves bear no part in salvation.

They are an indicator to others that what you say is real. Check James 2:18. GREAT verse. It's in the "faith without works is dead" part.