Doubts as a Born Again Christian

Lik3 Newbie

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How do I deal with doubts near being born again? I take doubts that have lasted years. I even talked to my therapist about it. I don't know what more to exercise. I even prayed about it. I read and studied scripture. I effort not to worry merely how tin anyone not worry. It is a nagging thought or serial of thoughts that won't get away. I wonder to this 24-hour interval if I am truly saved or lost.
AndrewK9 Regular Member

+14

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US-Libertarian

I cannot tell you lot whether or not you are saved. Neither me nor anyone else tin convince you that you are saved, simply, I can say that if you turn from your sins and trust in Christ solitary for your salvation, that he was the ane who bore your sins in your place, was cached and rose again so yous can accept that confidence in God's promise you are saved (look at Isaiah 55:7, John 3:xvi or Galatians iii:13), of class there are other things, for example-
Practise you lot desire deliverance from your sin? Do yous desire to serve God and yield yourself to him? Do you desire t yield yourself and be more like Christ? In that location are questions to ask.

Ultimately however, God is the only 1 who tin get y'all through this.

Last edited: December 13, 2012
Instead of wondering if yous're saved, you should consider if you are Messiah's true and faithful wife.
How does a bride know that her married man loves her? How can she demonstrate to her husband that she loves him?

It is the aforementioned way with Messiah.
It's comforting to hear that i'm not the only 1 in this situation. I would say i'm the same fashion sadly...
Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον - Jn 3:sixteen - For Elohim/the Begetter so loved the globe, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (present participle)continues-to-believeth/trusting/faithful/obey on Him should non (aorist subjunctive)possibly-perish, only (present-subjunctive)possibly-go on-to-have eternal life.
ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ υἱῷ οὐκ ὄψεται ζωήν ἀλλ᾽ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ μένει ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν - John 3:36 - He that (present participle)continues-to-believeth/trusting/faithful/obey on the Son (present indicative)at present-continually-hath eternal life; merely he that (present participle)continues-to-disobey the Son shall not (future indicative)see life, but the wrath of Elohim/the Father (present indicative)now-continually-abideth on him.

Οὐ πᾶς ὁ λέγων μοι, Κύριε κύριε εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς - Mt 7:21 - Not every 1 that (present participle)continues-to-saith unto me, Lord, Lord, (future indicative)shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that (present participle)continues-to-doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

In summary:
Whosoever continues to believe and remains faithful & obedient in the Son and His Father shall likely/possibly non perish. Why "likely"? I interpret this to hateful that other factors will exist taken into consideration, only faithfulness, conventionalities, trust, and obedience are the major factors.

Whosoever continues to disobey (e.thou. also showing a lack of faithfulness, belief, and trust) the Son and His Father will certainly non accept eternal life, but will continually (present indicative) experience the Father'south wrath.
It sure seems similar your just adding tenses to the verses.
present participle, past participle, present indicative, past indicative.

What does all that mean?
I've more fully expressed the tenses & moods of the Greek words of some of the most popularly quoted verses into English.
fm107 Psalm 19:1-4 and Romans 1:twenty

+129

Britain

Protestant

Married

Only believing in Jesus and what he has done will save y'all. So if you believe in him then and then you are saved and volition never lose your salvation.
John iii:16
"For God and so loved the world that he gave his one and simply Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish only take eternal life.

Only belief in him can save y'all.

John x:28
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

God gives us the Holy Spirit when we believe - he is our assurance and GUARANTEE of our salvation...

2 Corinthians 5:v
Now it is God who has made united states for this very purpose and has given united states of america the Spirit every bit a eolith, guaranteeing what is to come.

And he DOESN'T leave us...

Ephesians 4:30
Recall, he has identified you every bit his own, guaranteeing that you volition be saved on the day of redemption.

Considering we know nosotros are saved we know longer demand to have a fear of death, which is Satan'south tool...

Hebrews 2:14-xv
he [Jesus] as well shared in their [our] humanity so that past his death he might destroy him [Satan] who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery past their fear of death.

There is absolutely nix we can exercise to earn salvation, only Jesus, the sinless one who took your place and mine on that cantankerous, sacrificed himself to atone for our sins. It is through him and him lone that nosotros may have forgiveness and everlasting life. So trust in him who loved you plenty to suffer and die for you, sufferings which we tin never fathom, a dearest and so deep, who can know it? Ask God for more than religion considering religion is a gift from him and I'm certain he would be pleased to grant that request.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the souvenir of God

Last edited: Dec 13, 2012
singpeace Senior Member Supporter

+430

Christian

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CA-Conservatives

You should know you belong to Christ because you take believed in Jesus Christ as your only Savior and Redeemer. It'southward not the evidences of your life that are your ground for knowing that, simply the Word of God; If God said it, and then it is then.
1 John 5:11-xiii
11. And this is the testimony: God has given the states eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does non accept this eternal life. 13. I take written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

The Discussion of God is God's witness to the believer.Salvation in Christ is not just the gift of life, just of "the life," the one which comes only through religion in God's unique Son. The articulate declaration of Scripture is that the one who believes in Christ'due south person and work on the cantankerous equally God's provision for his sins has:

Eternal life

John 3:36
The ane who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son volition not see life, but God'due south wrath remains on him.
1 John 5:eleven-xiii
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The ane who has the Son has this eternal life; the i who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life. I take written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God and so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Forgiveness of all sin

Acts ten:43
About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Colossians 2:13
And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless fabricated you live with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

Freedom from condemnation

John v:24
"I tell y'all the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the i who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore at present no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Justification

Romans five:1
Therefore, since nosotros accept been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 4:ane-6
What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor co-ordinate to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? 2 For if Abraham was alleged righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about—but not before God. three For what does the scripture say? " Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him equally righteousness." 4 At present to the i who works, his pay is not credited due to grace simply due to obligation. 5 But to the one who does non work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness autonomously from works:

Romans four:25
He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.

Salvation

Ephesians two:8-9
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one tin boast.
A child of God by religion

John 1:12
But to all who have received him—those who believe in his proper name—he has given the right to get God'due south children

Romans viii:14-17
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading once more to fear, but yous received the Spirit of adoption, past whom we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God's children. 17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also beau heirs with Christ)—if indeed we endure with him and then we may also be glorified with him.
Tin I ask you a really simple question:
In looking at your life and the events within information technology, tin can you point to whatsoever bear witness, events, etc, that would crusade yous to recognize that you are born again ? What is/are those things ?
QUOTE=Lik3;61970967]How do I bargain with doubts well-nigh being born once again? I have doubts that have lasted years. I even talked to my therapist about it. I don't know what more to do. I even prayed about it. I read and studied scripture. I try not to worry but how can anyone not worry. It is a nagging thought or series of thoughts that won't go away. I wonder to this day if I am truly saved or lost.[/QUOTE]
Lol only ask yourself this. Do you lot call back God lies? God says if you believe and confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Son of God and rose from the expressionless, and so y'all're saved. So if your answer to that question is no then you're SAVED whether you like information technology or not, whether you feel it or not! If your answer to that question is yes, and then that's a whole other problem

Beingness saved doesn't come with feelings. Information technology's a matter of you lot deciding whether God is a liar or not.

Romans 10:nine NLT

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will exist saved.
"You accept not because you ask non..." including questions about conservancy. "Inquire and you shall receive..." "You need that no man should teach you, but the Holy Spirit will teach you." Only the Holy Spirit can reply that question for yous. Ask Him to reveal the trouble with the doubts you lot take.
Likewise, personally I do non believe in "in one case saved, always saved" because of all that Messiah says in Revelation for ex. For example where He says "Those that persevere to the end shall be saved," and where he warns different congregations that if they don't repent they volition have their Menorah/light taken away. I.e., they did have light, but they could loose it.

Therefore the Q seems to be an ongoing one, namely are we continuing in a saved status each twenty-four hour period and non beingness led down the wide path by the devil as time goes past. If we exercise devious, every bit long every bit we are alive, nosotros can come dorsum through prayer and repentance (which ways "teshuva" which means to turn back to Him) and go mercy unless we keep sinning and then much that our hearts get hardened and dead.

There is also not such the Q of salvation but of how much reward nosotros get in Heaven. We are told to heap it upwardly and that some of it tin be burned upwards by evil deeds.
For instance we are told that some make it to Heaven simply take no reward.

Praying that will never happen to you lot (or me!)
honey Lik3,
I had a sort-of-a similar experience a few months ago.

I had been a Christian for more than a decade (well, I thought I was already born again and then). Every time I talked to my friends and if our eternal destination was being discussed - I would say that I would definitely cease up in sky (with God) 110%.

A few months ago I had noted that whenever I read this 'ane verse' in the bible, my inner mind just could not accept that poesy, my mind goes on rebellion and information technology questioned angrily 'why???' do I have to do what that verse says. I could non take hated (inwardly) that bible poesy more than - this was a surprise to me.

I was puzzled and I said to myself that I was a Christian, I loved the Lord with my whole beingness. I did non know what information technology was well-nigh. The divergence with me was I never doubted that I was saved. I was positively 110% sure that I was.

Just to make my story short, about a couple of months later on the Lord saved me. This was when the Lord truly converted me, non by my own works but by His power.

Merely that is only a portion my story, I also do not know the whole of yours.

You see, this is something that y'all have to explore with the Lord Himself.

I pray that He will evidence you the mode.

Praise Him!
hedrick Senior Veteran Supporter

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Presbyterian

Single

This has become a ofttimes asked question. The only reply that I think makes any sense is that we're non supposed to be looking at ourselves, but at Christ. Our confidence is in what he did, and in God's promises. Information technology'southward not in anything about ourselves, whether our works, whether we're born again, or even our religion. Faith is by its nature something that points away from itself to God.
Some people have a dramatic feel and some don't. It'south non a particular kind of conversion experience that saves you lot. It's God.
We need to encourage people to ask questions that are significant to their lives.You meet, y'all have thoughts in how things makes sense to you. And others likewise take their own thoughts and experiences and are willing to share them to people who are going through like things.Absolutely. Information technology's all about Christ.This is where I depict the line. The bible clearly says that ane HAS TO Be BORN Once more to enter the kingdom of God.Naturally, religion in itself is a gift of God.So true, every 1's experience is different from the other.I agree, information technology does not matter what detail blazon of conversion one had. The thing that is very of import is that 1 is converted by God. It IS ALL well-nigh God. Goose egg from u.s.a..
But you run across, here is a person who is asking for help. I had a similar feel, shall I hide information technology just considering I had a radical experience that is not similar other people'due south? or practise I share my feel that can bless someone else.

You see I am talking from an bodily feel hither that may chronicle to the person's problem. This is something that I personally went through so I know what I am talking most when I offering my thoughts.

Last edited: December 14, 2012
AndrewK9 Regular Fellow member

+14

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Single

US-Libertarian

At the stop of the day, the just one whom the OP can become to for aid about whether or not they are saved is God and what is written down in his discussion. These forums are good for helping others besides, of class.
Sometimes information technology's a comforting thing to know that God sees and knows everything about someone. At least for me anyway.
Absolutely. Amen. He knows everything.
AndrewK9 Regular Member

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hedrick Senior Veteran Supporter

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Or born from above, which is a more than likely translation. But what is the implication of this for the OP? Existence built-in once more is similar repenting. Information technology'southward a reorientation, and change of focus. But the way ahead isn't to check to see whether our modify was skillful enough. This isn't figure-skating, where we'll exist judged on the manner of our turn. The goal of change is to get going in the right direction. So what we want to do is focus on going on the right direction, which is following Christ.
I retrieve people who aren't sure whether they've really turned well plenty would be ameliorate off to focus on Christ than to examine the quality of their turn or even the quality of their current religion. We get faith from Christ. It's non something nosotros tin go by gritting our teeth and trying to believe harder.
This is why it is called 'faith.' If yous have done what the Bible tells us to do - ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life, apologize sincerely of your sins, then you lot should look in the mirror and see yourself as God sees you lot - washed in the blood of Jesus, your sins in the lake of forgetfullness and your proper name in the Lambs Book of Life where no one can snatch you away from God.
Continue to read the Bible and believe that information technology was written past the guidance of the Holy Spirit and believe what God says and non what man says. Describe nearer with your hand in the hand of Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit. The Bible says Jesus is your friend, y'all can talk to Jesus equally you practise a friend. Call back he is ever there with yous closer than a heartbeat. You lot are covered by God's discussion and God does not lie.
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