Featured How do you know with certainty that you are saved?

Well, I am the poster and I wish to correct you Dr Tom with the view of my own "experience" of doubt and fear.

The witness of the Spirit indicated in the Romans passage replaced the "feeling" that I was saved before my anguish of doubt with something better.

I now have not a shadow of doubt whatsoever because of the scriptural experiences of faith, fellowship, etc which were comparatively weak before my walk in the dry and water less places.

I disagree that "feelings" are not involved, they most certainly are (in my case anyway).

I do agree that these feelings, as strong as they are, take second place to the scripture which in and of itself is a witness to me personally of the Spirit of Christ (hidden from me for a season) speaking to me wordlessly of my sonship.

If joy is a feeling then I have an abundance of "feelings" over and above what I had before my experience in the wilderness and I certainly attribute that to Romans 8:16 as well as John 15:8.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

I don't know why all His children are not led through these dry and waterless places, neither does it make us or them any better than anyone else except perhaps in appreciation of having that blessed assurance and the joy of one's salvation restored/renewed in our spirits.

In fact, I believe (in my case) He saw a flaw in my sanctification and had to discipline me to get me to the proper place.

So any who have not had this horrible experience - thank Him for that blessing , stay close, don't wander.

Psalm 88 was my song for a year or so.

HankD

 

K. But there's no formula to work that out. So, stop talking about it. Go to the Source. Ask, and keep asking.

Mind your errand at the feet of Christ, and the matter will work itself out. Now if you have doubts about even that, then my advice is to leave the church and go live a life of sin. Do not deny yourself any pleasure until you get so miserable you'll seek despite the doubts. Be hot or cold dude. But if you're going to be lukewarm and halt between two opinoins, go away.

 

Very good. I would say the same thing with one caveat: feelings are involved, but they can't be trusted, and they're fickle.

 

Seeking help is good. The Bible Says that One's heart rejoices over the sweetness of his friend because of his hearty council.

 

Depends: what is the source of the "feeling"?

Jesus Himself had sorrowful and distraught feelings.

Mark 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Jesus had feelings of joy and wanted to share it with His own.

John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.


HankD

 

oops, my bad

Hopefully the expansion will help Stefan.

HankD

 

Stefan, the Book of Lamentations (a neglected book) was very helpful for me as I slowly came out of the darkness of fear and doubt.

The Psalms, the balm of Gilead to sooth the soul:

Psalm 103
...
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

HankD

 

I'll admit I was blunt, but I meant every word.

You have an answer for everything.

You don't owe me any apologies. I pointed you to the Source for help. If what is written in the Scriptures doesn't assure you, what do you think you will find in a BB post?

 

First of all, may I second Kyredneck's recommendation of the book Spiritual Depression by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The author trained as a doctor, but the chapters are actually sermons that he preached. I'm sure the book will be helpful and encouraging to you. You should be able to find it on Amazon easily enough.
Other than that, I would just repeat, your warrant to come to Christ is not that you think you are one of the 'elect' or anything like that, but that you are a sinner, and the Lord Jesus Christ promises to save such. What the Pharisees said of Him in derision, is glorious truth for us: 'This Man receives sinners!' (Luke 15:2). How great is that? Furthermore, He says, "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37). Who can come to Him? You can! He says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:29). Is that not you? Does that not speak directly to your condition? He calls you! He invites you! And He promises not under any circumstances to turn you away. So come to Him, with all your doubts, with whatever burdens you are carrying, and He will give you rest, and He will by no means cast you out. Lay hold of Him in faith and cry out like Jacob, "I will not let You go until You bless me," and He surely will.

 

OK Steve, so lets look at this from a completely objective position. We were born & we will eventually die.....it is something that happens to us all on planet earth. Some live in deplorable conditions & others live in the seeming lap of luxury & comfort. But what do we really have.....really nothing will comfort us through the bad times except a higher power that will teach us things like patience, love for humanity, faith .....and in that faith we "eventually" grasp our meaning. So I'm not going to preach to you anything, except what I perceive to be the real answer. That is Christ the Lord & it is upon Him that we all lay our burdens. And you know this mentally however you are carrying the burden physically of manic depression ....and I know brother that its a cross to bear but well here it is. Face the difficulty head on, pray to God for illumination & have faith. After all, you are not the only one struggling. BTW it is your struggling which is causing those doubts. See the world is often too much for us & we crumble under its pressures. We get too immersed in its problems. We need to look ahead, to anticipate, to look forward to the eternal glories gleaming afar. The Christian life is a tasting of the first fruits of the great harvest which is to come. The eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for then that love Him. Set your affection on things above & not on things on this earth. There is an abundant harvest ....look forward to it "You will reap"

God bless you....your in my prayers!

 

With regard to the OP I believe the most effective ways you can know that you are saved are:

1. Are you sin sensitive? Does sin bother you?

2. What do you believe Christ did for your sins? What did you trust him to do?

3. Has there been any change in your life since you professed salvation?

4. What is your diet? Do you have a daily diet of prayer and the word?

5. What do those you consider to be spiritual mature Christian friends think? There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors if they are mature spiritual Christians.

Salvation is not based on your feelings as you feel saved one moment and lost the next moment. Depression can be a medical problem or it can be self-inflicted by allowing sin in your life and/or not doing what you know you should be doing. It can be the result of your enviroment and what you allow in your life, who you hang with and what you expose yourself to.

Salvation is not based on your circumstances as Job's life was one of horror but yet God said there is none like him on earth.

 

On your day off, Lock yourself in a closet and pray to the Lord and Seek Him in His Word until you get assurance. it make take 5 minutes, it may take 5 hours. Wouldn't it be worth it?