I grew up in church. Have read the Bible(not the whole Bible, yet.) I have read and listened to Joyce, Stanley and countless others. Attended Methodist, Protestant and "New Age" Evangelical services. Have been through forums. Have listened to many, opinions or versions of faith. Read books. I find MANY things to be confusing. I have faith in God,(nurturing and fostering growth)Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I was in a bad accident in which I had an experience very similar to the boy in the movie "Heaven Is Real." Have not spoken to but a few people about it. I believe 100% God is real and amazing. I am trying to pray better and more often, to remove sin(as much as possible), to find a church where I feel comfortable, etc.
Some of my questions are in regards to being saved and going to heaven.
-Some say simply BELIEVE in Jesus and you will be saved. The Bible specifically says very few will enter even for the believers who cry out "Lord, Lord" to him. Due to their sin he will say I never knew you. Some say you must be baptized to be saved. Some say in water some say by the Holy Spirit..through the love and grace of God only. Some say we will ALL be saved and enter Heaven because God is loving and forgiving. Personally, I believe we will be forgiven but still must suffer the consequences. I can keep going for quite some time here but hopefully you understand the matter of my questions here. I would also like to add that many who are "saved"(baptism) continue to be Sunday Christians and nothing more. Some say since saved they will go to heaven. Some say since saved but still sin will go to hell. This area of topic I find very confusing.
I have many more questions but for now I would like to start here!
Please forgive my ignorance as, again, I have not read or understood the entire Bible. Many versions of faith, many different groups. If your advice is to raise these questions to God please understand my "phone connection" isn't strong.GodBless
Also, after you read what I sent earlier: you need to remove anything from your home that could be considered an idol. The first thing the Holy Spirit did WITH me was to get rid of anything I had that was occult (because that is what I was delivered from).
Some had to be burned so no one else would read the books. Acts 19:19.
Most likely you'll do a walk through in your home and He will show you what has to go. Fire is dangerous & illegal, so I tell people to fill a box and purchase a can of paint and pour it over books, etc. You will feel Him helping you to be free from spirits of confusion. See... Satan is the author of confusion. That was his doorway into your mind.
I'll write again later. May God bless you with Mercy and Grace.
True, many who are 'saved & baptized' show no evidence of it except by an appearance on Sunday. But lest we fall into sin, we are not called to judge others in their behaviour, rather to judge ourselves in the matter of our faith & Christian walk ( Mt 7:1,2,24; Romans 14). No one can live in sin (i.e. make sin their way of life) & still get to Heaven. A life of sin proves that there is no regard for Jesus' Sacrifice & either they are kidding themselves or have a warped view of the Word if they believe that Heaven is their hope. Read 1 John 3 where the message is about those with God's Seed in them (the Holy Spirit) cannot sin (v 9), but in the flesh sin can occur but is dealt with & we are forgiven. Those who disregard sin & live careless lives believing that being saved means that they are secure in spite of anything they do, are in grave error.
I've kept this response lengthy, hoping to give you a firm basis on which to build your knowledge & faith. Keep your eyes affixed on your Saviour - in Him is joy & victory.
Regards to dealing with sin: purpose in your heart to hate that which keeps you lukewarm & estranged, repent & seek daily strength to gain victory over sin & the Enemy that fosters it.
Briefly: Salvation. Eph 2:8-10. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Few things in operation here: 1. it is only by God's Grace (i.e. His calling & drawing you to Himself) that you are where you are; 2. your salvation is wholly faith dependent (i.e. your trust in God that Jesus is the only Way to be forgiven & accepted); 3. and to make all this so special, is that the 'whole deal' is God's Gift to you (i.e. both His Grace & your Faith are gifts from God to someone specially selected to be His child). You could never earn what He has given - Man has tried over the eons through religion & self-effort, but to no avail since God's salvation can only be designed & given God's Way. Not even water baptism, partaking at the Lord's Table or any good works can help to secure that salvation: salvation is all of Grace through faith alone. Of course, spiritual works do follow a spiritual salvation but that comes from the indwelling Spirit of God.
Confused: I was in a slightly similar situation to yours, in that I too grew up in a Church but went away from the Lord completely: my sin knew no bounds. I was then saved by the Holy Spirit many years later in the late '70s, (by that I mean, no one shared the Gospel with me or made me recite a prayer of repentance, or guided me for my next steps, etc.). I had to go it alone: had to seek out a Church, listened to various messages (didn't have internet or much by way of Christian tapes (cassette variety), etc.) & try to put together all that was coming to me into a sound, meaningful, God-intended manner, just as you are trying to do now.
I was all over the place in my belief as to what took place (which in itself was quite dramatic, when one encounters the Spirit of God descend upon you in convicting power). My only answer from the Lord in all my personal struggles was: "attend ONLY to My Word". I had never read the Bible at all, except for the Gospels & the usual Bible stories children read, but after some years as a Christian, the Lord put it on my heart to study His Word. Giving up work for six months, I got down to it & learned much. Church teaching of course was necessary & helpful, but ultimately it was (and is) God's Word that spoke & interpreted itself to my heart.
Reading your testimony, I picked up on a lot of self-effort from you (trying to pray, trying remove sin). That might be a worthy desire to get closer to God, but the old Christian adage: "Let go & Let God" is applicable. This is not to say, that you remain stagnant & motionless in your faith, but when you are focussed on knowing God's Mind on matters, then in the study of His Word & prayer, God sees your sincerity & love, & His Spirit will teach you accordingly. In regard to prayer, remember prayer is simply talking to God; no need for special words or being in a special state of mind, just talk to the One Who hears the cry of your heart rather than the words.
First I want to tell you that just now, Jesus showed me you are much beloved. I thought of John 4, about his meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well. He is meek and humble of heart. He had this conversation (you read it too) and he gently dealt with her about her sin. He didn't rail on her. Just simply stated what she already knew. She was so overjoyed she ran to town and told friends, Come see a Man who told me all things! The whole town gets saved. The disciples tried to get him to eat & take a nap, but nothing doing. That's what he is Like.
I met Him; face to face, for seconds. You met him too. Never doubt what you know to be true. The wonderful part is that The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants you to be sure of your salvation and of what the Holy Spirits ministry is...for you. You have expressed some confusion and I will address that. In your Bible read John 3 where Jesus tells Nicodemus about being born again. You should see the links to press on to read those chapters on here now.
You can pray this prayer to be sure. "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That Jesus was born by Mary, a Virgin. I believe that Jesus lived a perfect sinless life on earth. I believe he was crucified for the sins of the whole world, throughout all time. On the 3rd Day, God raised Jesus from the dead. Where He ever lives to make intercession for all Saints."
John 3:18, 6
Acts 2:38 Hold up your arms and say: I receive the Promise of the Holy Spirit. I am born again.
Acts 2:1. You've been quickened and your spirit is alive to the Holy Spirit, and you are baptized.
How do you know that Jesus and the Holy Spirit just came into your life?
Because God promised it. God never Lies and never changes His mind. "I change not".
The Holy Spirit will help you understand your Bible. He's your Teacher. Your Helper. Your Comforter; He tells us when we are wrong: convicts us in the heart. He speaks through the heart.
I know what you are going through. Most of us were the same way. I don't know what you need to hear but I will say this, keep going forward, never backwards if that makes any sense. Sometime the answer you are looking for is in the next chapters of the bible.
Hello, you're asking good questions. Please note that you will get different answers on some of your questions depending on who you ask. The Bible does say believe and be saved, but it also says to repent, confess your sin, pray, to seek Jesus, proclaim that Jesus is Lord and the son of God, and be baptized and other things. Link
Some cherry pick one verse and say that's all you need, perhaps to justify doing the bare minimum. Others dedicate their life in pursuit of Jesus, do as much as possible, and strive to be like Jesus as much as possible. Yes, the Bible says most people will go to hell. I personally don't want to risk going there and I want to follow Jesus's teachings as much as possible. There's no downside and only upside. But satan likes deceiving people, even among Christians, so you will definitely find people who try to tell you that doing good works is 'bad'. So, I would watch out for that. It's grace that saves us and we can have confidence, but that assumes we're following Jesus, which is an active pursuit. If we do nothing to grow we will be like the parables that Jesus talked about- some have no root, wither and die, etc. Hope this opinion helps. There's also a link at the bottom of this website Become a Christian with more verses. God bless!
Adam - well said. repentance is becoming a dirty word among many so called preachers nowadays.
Yet John the baptist and Jesus preached it. Obedience and good works are almost a heresy to modern preachers it seems. As if being obedient is optional, just believe they say. Does not even Satan believe in God?
Matthew Chapter 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (we need to do the will of the Father)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This is a harsh reality.
Proverbs 1:24 - 33: Because I have called, and ye refused; I [The LORD] have stretched out my HAND, and no man regarded; But ye have set at [nothing] nought all my counsel, and would none of my [correction] reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the [respect] fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
I would sincerely like to thank each one of you for taking the time to provide insight and help in further understanding. I truly can feel God's love and encouragement through your responses! Thank you for the bible verses that correlate directly with the word of God to provide answers. I genuinely am appreciative from my heart and soul. It's time I devote myself further to God and begin "fighting" the "good fight." It is time I proclaim my love for God to my friends who don't believe and to put those aside who have no faith in our Lord and Saviour. (I will pray for the encouragement and word from God to later speak to them as an invitation to receive God's love and blessings.) After posting my questions last night I prayed and spoke to God. I then read some forums and verses that fit perfectly into this topic. I was overcome with peace and the desire to serve the Lord stronger through his commandments. There are things in my home to get rid of such as certain spiritual books, movies, music, art etc and I understand the reasoning to rid my life of those things. I have had a very difficult life. I believe there may be the possibility of a generational curse upon my family.(Boy could I talk about this in depth.) With that said it only makes me want to work Harder to follow the word of God. Also, in regards to a difficult life I blame noone but myself for living a life of the flesh. I feel more hope today. More faith. I feel that even though it seems the world doesn't care about me that through your comments I have been uplifted and today feel a bit renewed, if in anyway, through focus and intention.
Again, thank you sincerely to each person for taking the time to respond! I want you to know that it helped in many ways! Please pray for me and also for my dog who is showing illness. My dog and faith in God are the reasons I am alive today.
I grew up in church. Have read the Bible(not the whole Bible, yet.) I have read and listened to Joyce, Stanley and countless others. Attended Methodist, Protestant and "New Age" Evangelical services. Have been through forums. Have listened to many, opinions or versions of faith. Read books. I find MANY things to be confusing. I have faith in God,(nurturing and fostering growth)Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I was in a bad accident in which I had an experience very similar to the boy in the movie "Heaven Is Real." Have not spoken to but a few people about it. I believe 100% God is real and amazing. I am trying to pray better and more often, to remove sin(as much as possible), to find a church where I feel comfortable, etc.
Some of my questions are in regards to being saved and going to heaven.
-Some say simply BELIEVE in Jesus and you will be saved. The Bible specifically says very few will enter even for the believers who cry out "Lord, Lord" to him. Due to their sin he will say I never knew you. Some say you must be baptized to be saved. Some say in water some say by the Holy Spirit..through the love and grace of God only. Some say we will ALL be saved and enter Heaven because God is loving and forgiving. Personally, I believe we will be forgiven but still must suffer the consequences. I can keep going for quite some time here but hopefully you understand the matter of my questions here. I would also like to add that many who are "saved"(baptism) continue to be Sunday Christians and nothing more. Some say since saved they will go to heaven. Some say since saved but still sin will go to hell. This area of topic I find very confusing.
I have many more questions but for now I would like to start here!
Please forgive my ignorance as, again, I have not read or understood the entire Bible. Many versions of faith, many different groups. If your advice is to raise these questions to God please understand my "phone connection" isn't strong.GodBless
Some had to be burned so no one else would read the books. Acts 19:19.
Most likely you'll do a walk through in your home and He will show you what has to go. Fire is dangerous & illegal, so I tell people to fill a box and purchase a can of paint and pour it over books, etc. You will feel Him helping you to be free from spirits of confusion. See... Satan is the author of confusion. That was his doorway into your mind.
I'll write again later. May God bless you with Mercy and Grace.
True, many who are 'saved & baptized' show no evidence of it except by an appearance on Sunday. But lest we fall into sin, we are not called to judge others in their behaviour, rather to judge ourselves in the matter of our faith & Christian walk ( Mt 7:1,2,24; Romans 14). No one can live in sin (i.e. make sin their way of life) & still get to Heaven. A life of sin proves that there is no regard for Jesus' Sacrifice & either they are kidding themselves or have a warped view of the Word if they believe that Heaven is their hope. Read 1 John 3 where the message is about those with God's Seed in them (the Holy Spirit) cannot sin (v 9), but in the flesh sin can occur but is dealt with & we are forgiven. Those who disregard sin & live careless lives believing that being saved means that they are secure in spite of anything they do, are in grave error.
I've kept this response lengthy, hoping to give you a firm basis on which to build your knowledge & faith. Keep your eyes affixed on your Saviour - in Him is joy & victory.
Regards to dealing with sin: purpose in your heart to hate that which keeps you lukewarm & estranged, repent & seek daily strength to gain victory over sin & the Enemy that fosters it.
Briefly: Salvation. Eph 2:8-10. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Few things in operation here: 1. it is only by God's Grace (i.e. His calling & drawing you to Himself) that you are where you are; 2. your salvation is wholly faith dependent (i.e. your trust in God that Jesus is the only Way to be forgiven & accepted); 3. and to make all this so special, is that the 'whole deal' is God's Gift to you (i.e. both His Grace & your Faith are gifts from God to someone specially selected to be His child). You could never earn what He has given - Man has tried over the eons through religion & self-effort, but to no avail since God's salvation can only be designed & given God's Way. Not even water baptism, partaking at the Lord's Table or any good works can help to secure that salvation: salvation is all of Grace through faith alone. Of course, spiritual works do follow a spiritual salvation but that comes from the indwelling Spirit of God.
Confused: I was in a slightly similar situation to yours, in that I too grew up in a Church but went away from the Lord completely: my sin knew no bounds. I was then saved by the Holy Spirit many years later in the late '70s, (by that I mean, no one shared the Gospel with me or made me recite a prayer of repentance, or guided me for my next steps, etc.). I had to go it alone: had to seek out a Church, listened to various messages (didn't have internet or much by way of Christian tapes (cassette variety), etc.) & try to put together all that was coming to me into a sound, meaningful, God-intended manner, just as you are trying to do now.
I was all over the place in my belief as to what took place (which in itself was quite dramatic, when one encounters the Spirit of God descend upon you in convicting power). My only answer from the Lord in all my personal struggles was: "attend ONLY to My Word". I had never read the Bible at all, except for the Gospels & the usual Bible stories children read, but after some years as a Christian, the Lord put it on my heart to study His Word. Giving up work for six months, I got down to it & learned much. Church teaching of course was necessary & helpful, but ultimately it was (and is) God's Word that spoke & interpreted itself to my heart.
Reading your testimony, I picked up on a lot of self-effort from you (trying to pray, trying remove sin). That might be a worthy desire to get closer to God, but the old Christian adage: "Let go & Let God" is applicable. This is not to say, that you remain stagnant & motionless in your faith, but when you are focussed on knowing God's Mind on matters, then in the study of His Word & prayer, God sees your sincerity & love, & His Spirit will teach you accordingly. In regard to prayer, remember prayer is simply talking to God; no need for special words or being in a special state of mind, just talk to the One Who hears the cry of your heart rather than the words.
I met Him; face to face, for seconds. You met him too. Never doubt what you know to be true. The wonderful part is that The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants you to be sure of your salvation and of what the Holy Spirits ministry is...for you. You have expressed some confusion and I will address that. In your Bible read John 3 where Jesus tells Nicodemus about being born again. You should see the links to press on to read those chapters on here now.
You can pray this prayer to be sure. "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That Jesus was born by Mary, a Virgin. I believe that Jesus lived a perfect sinless life on earth. I believe he was crucified for the sins of the whole world, throughout all time. On the 3rd Day, God raised Jesus from the dead. Where He ever lives to make intercession for all Saints."
John 3:18, 6
Acts 2:38 Hold up your arms and say: I receive the Promise of the Holy Spirit. I am born again.
Acts 2:1. You've been quickened and your spirit is alive to the Holy Spirit, and you are baptized.
How do you know that Jesus and the Holy Spirit just came into your life?
Because God promised it. God never Lies and never changes His mind. "I change not".
The Holy Spirit will help you understand your Bible. He's your Teacher. Your Helper. Your Comforter; He tells us when we are wrong: convicts us in the heart. He speaks through the heart.
Some cherry pick one verse and say that's all you need, perhaps to justify doing the bare minimum. Others dedicate their life in pursuit of Jesus, do as much as possible, and strive to be like Jesus as much as possible. Yes, the Bible says most people will go to hell. I personally don't want to risk going there and I want to follow Jesus's teachings as much as possible. There's no downside and only upside. But satan likes deceiving people, even among Christians, so you will definitely find people who try to tell you that doing good works is 'bad'. So, I would watch out for that. It's grace that saves us and we can have confidence, but that assumes we're following Jesus, which is an active pursuit. If we do nothing to grow we will be like the parables that Jesus talked about- some have no root, wither and die, etc. Hope this opinion helps. There's also a link at the bottom of this website Become a Christian with more verses. God bless!
Yet John the baptist and Jesus preached it. Obedience and good works are almost a heresy to modern preachers it seems. As if being obedient is optional, just believe they say. Does not even Satan believe in God?
Matthew Chapter 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (we need to do the will of the Father)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This is a harsh reality.
Proverbs 1:24 - 33: Because I have called, and ye refused; I [The LORD] have stretched out my HAND, and no man regarded; But ye have set at [nothing] nought all my counsel, and would none of my [correction] reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the [respect] fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Again, thank you sincerely to each person for taking the time to respond! I want you to know that it helped in many ways! Please pray for me and also for my dog who is showing illness. My dog and faith in God are the reasons I am alive today.
God Bless each of you! Thank You
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