I don't know what to do

I wrestled with myself over whether I should be the one to answer you. But God said, "Who will go for us?" So I had to answer, "Here am I, send me."

So here I am. I am not the most learned you will find here, but by the grace of God I have been saved.

I can definitely tell you about that.

Do you mind if I draw out a little analogy here? It will make it easier for me to draw your attention to other things in a moment.

I have never been to China. I believe China is there. But I don't have a particular "feeling" about China. I could say my relationship with China isn't real because I don't "feel" a relationship with that nation.

But the fact is, I do have a relationship with China. I am roughly 9,000 miles away as a crow flies, whether I feel that relationship or not. See, from the relationship of distance, I am somehow connected with China. I don't have to "feel" it, it simply is.

Therefore, how I "feel" about my relationship with China becomes a moot point.

Now I know we all want to have a "feeling." Hey, at times, we do have a feeling. But it's a byproduct of a fact, and not the fact itself.

So don't seek a feeling when you are seeking Jesus Christ as Lord.

It's about a relationship. You don't have to feel a certain way about a parent. By inheritance, the fact is, they are your parents.

See, John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world that he gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Belief is a powerful word. It is much stronger than the word "feeling."

Belief is a word in the Bible that means I not only give intellectual assent to a fact, but I come to rely upon that fact for my sustenance. Therefore belief also includes repentance.

John 3:16 assumes something though. It assumes you are already perishing. Because verse 18 says, "He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Suppose you had been born on a boat going down an incredibly long river. You had never been off the boat, and the boat had never been to shore.

You have always been on this river. Many, many people all around you are on this same river. They have all been on this river as long as anyone can remember, along with you.

You don't have a feeling about the river, you don't have a feeling about the shore. They are just facts in the background of your mind.

One day, one of those "wierd" people from the shore starts yelling at you "waterfall! waterfall! You are going to perish!"

You think to yourself, "I have always been on this river, and those people that live on the shore are strange, anyhow. There is no waterfall. That is a myth."

Then the day comes that you get to the waterfall. You, and all the people around you go over its edge and die. Someone warned you, but you didn't feel it was necessary to leave the river.

Stay with me here. It won't be much longer.

See, Jesus said that he who doesn't believe is condemned ALREADY!

Why is this? It's because of where the river where the unbeliever lives is going!

Belief is a strong word, as we saw. In order to truly believe something, you have to listen to the word of the person who warns, leave the river, and step onto the land.

We don't have any strength to leave the river. God has to call us out of it.

The very fact that God has put this matter of you getting saved in your head is evidence of the fact that He is speaking to you!

Don't ignore it, ignoring the voice of God is a very risky thing.

So you say, "I'm on a river that has a really bad destination. I have to believe that the shore is the place to be. This belief is something that I not only acknowledge in my head, but it has to grow legs. Only I don't have the strength to do it, what gives?"

Is this close to what you wonder?

Belief is knowing that God has sent Jesus to die on the cross for your sins. He died your death for you. Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." This is a spiritual death right now, and physical later.

But the good news comes from Romans 5:8:
"For God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were YET sinners, Christ died for us."

Have you ever had to do company business? Suppose you had to perform a 60,000 dollar transaction for them, would you do it with your own money? No! You probably don't have that kind of money, and neither do I!

But when you put the company credit card down, or you use a company check that has been signed by one of the executives, the transaction is honored! Why is this? It's because you never owned the means to get it done, it was all done under the authority of someone else.

THEY PAID THE PRICE!

And you never had to FEEL a thing about it!

Hey how about that. You can be as dry as a bone and still get saved.

See, our price was death. Remember? The wages of sin? The only wages sin pays is death!

But Jesus hung on the cross for you, for me. He died the death that you and I deserved. It was a gift. I couldn't pay for it, and neither can you. He rose from the dead 3 days later. He had victory over hell and death, and was thus given the Power to grant eternal life to us all.

Ephesians 2:8,9 says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

So here we see that strong word belief, wrapped up in faith. God reaches down to you,He says "I have paid for this transaction." and you say, "I'll take it."

No feeling is required.

This is a transaction between you and God.
You believe and repent (which He gives you the grace to do Ephesians 2:8-9), and He saves you.

Period. Nothing more. Nothing less.

But you have to listen to the Voice that is telling you to get out of the river. You have to heed the warning from God that you need to repent. If you don't, the result is the foregone conclusion of condemnation. (John 3:16-18)
Jesus says in Luke 13:3 "Except ye repent, ye shall ALL likewise perish."

Repentance is also a strong word. It means to turn. It means to make your way toward shore. It means to reverse the direction in which you are going.

It means to trust God to pay the price, trust God to take your life, and LET God sit in the driver's seat of your entire being.

And He saves. He does. Ask anybody here.

So pray out loud to God.

Tell Him how you feel.

But, while you are there, tell Jesus that you know you are a sinner deserving of death, and thank Jesus for dying on the cross for your sins.

Tell Him that you want to give Him your life.

Tell Him that you know you cannot save yourself.

Tell Him that you cast yourself totally upon His mercy.

Don't forget Where you are. You are in the Presence of Almighty God. He made the Earth, the Universe, everything.

He is Nobody to be tinkered with.

I will be praying for you,CJL, right now, and all day.

Keep me posted on how you are.

Jesus Loves You. I know he does, because He loves ME. And I gotta tell you, THAT's a tall order.

In His Steps,

Alex Peterson
II Corinthians 10:5

 

Welcome to the family!!! You're saved. If you believe, you're saved. It's not about what you've done for your salvation, it's about what Jesus did for you. All you have to do is believe and recieve. That's it! Gods grace is wonderful! The bibles says the MINUTE you believe your sins are cast as far as the east is to the west. Know why it's east to west rather than north to south? Because East and West never meet.Nope never. When you believed, every one of your
sins..past, current, and future were placed on the cross with Christ Jesus. Know what else is there? The life saving, life changing blood of Christ. They are no more. You're forgiven, don't look for forgivness any longer. Faith is something that you do..you just allow yourself to trust in God. Know that he is charge of your life now. It comforts me to know that Jesus, who knows everything is leading my life. Stand Strong. Satin always trys to test your salvation. But the victory is won! IN CHIRST JESUS.

JOHN 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Paula

[ September 17, 2001: Message edited by: livin'intheword ]

 

CJL, Find a good Christian church and surrond yourself with other believers. Their love and commitment will assure you that you have changed and are a new creation in Christ. Satan wants you to "feel" like nothing is different because he doesn't want God to use you. Walk boldly into your new life and your assurance of Heaven!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by livin'intheword:
Welcome to the family!!! You're saved. If you believe, you're saved. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Please, please please, do not assure anyone who wants to be saved that they are saved. Assurance is a work of the Holy Spirit, not man. Salvation is much more than "asking Jesus in one's heart". It involves serious, heart-rending repentance and believing that Christ is Lord, and submitting all of oneself to Him.

CLJ, if you really are seeking after Him, you will find Him, for Christ has said "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (Jn 6:37;44).

Salvation is not a feeling; it is a movement by God of the dead into life. If you are sincere in your repentance and belief, and "you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." (Rom 10:9-11).

That's God's promise.

 

I suggest studying 1 John, especially the first two chapters. All Christians are children of God. Some of us are more mature than others. Some of us are less mature than others, it works both ways. Nobody is perfect! Maturity takes time. As the parable of the seeds says, God's truth grows in the heart of the believer. Don't expect to be a perfect Christian. Don't expect to be a perfect Christian ever. There is always room to grow.

Once you feel like you've got it all figured out and are doing it exactly right, then it is time to worry.

Go in peace, serve the Lord. All praise be to God.

 

Speaking from experience, I believe it's very dangerous to go by feelings. The enemy can use our feelings, or lack thereof, against us. We are saved through faith, and faith is not a feeling. Faith is, "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1, NIV).

Don't wait for a feeling. Instead, "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV). Remain in God's Holy Word and in prayer every day. Spiritual growth is am ongoing process. Trust that if you abide in Christ, He will bring you to maturity.

God bless you. Grace and peace to you.

 

The statement was, if you believe...then you are saved. That's what the bible says.

 

CJL,

I think I can speak for many christians when I say that many of us don't always "feel" saved sometimes. Being saved isn't a feeling its faith. If you meant it when you repented and confessed Jesus as Lord of your life then you are saved....nice having you in the family too

Sue

 

petersonalexw,

You had a perfect reply. Thank you.


CJL,

Your faith and love for Christ will grow. He is the Author and Finisher of your faith, (Heb 12:2).

The great Matthew Henry said in his commentary on Matthew 15:26, <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>When answers to prayer are deferred, God is threby teaching us to pray more, and pray better. It is then time to enquire wherein we have come short in our former prayers, that what has been amiss may be amended for the future. Disappointments in the success of prayer, must be excitements to the duty of prayer. Christ, in his agony, prayed more earnestly.

She waives the question, whether she was of those to whom Christ was sent or no; she will not argue that with him, though perhaps she might have claimed some kindred to the house of Israel; but, "Whether an Israelite or no, I come to the Son of David for mercy, and I will not let him go, except he bless me." Many weak Christians perplex themselves with questions and doubts about their election, whether they are of the house of Isreael or ; such had better mind their errand to God, and continue instant in prayer for mercy and grace; throw themselves by faith at the feet of Christ, and say, If I perish, I will perish here; and then that matter will by degrees clear itself. If we cannot reason down our unbelief, let us pray it down. A fervent, affectionate Lord, help me, will help us over many of the discouragements which are sometimes ready to bear us down and overwhelm us.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[ September 17, 2001: Message edited by: Aaron ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CJL:
I want to be saved, and I try to ask for forgiveness and for the lord to come into my life but I feel nothing. I don't know what to do. I truly want to the right thing. Iam starting to wonder if I truly believe because I don't feel like I have lord inmy heart, so I ask for faith and help but still I feel nothing. What can I do? Please somebody help.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Petersonalex was right on the mark! I was brought up in a christian home and so I guess since I grew up hearing and learning about God, so much so that I guess I developed a false sense of security regarding my own salvation. I can remember to this day the battle that went on in my heart! I kept thinking and rationalizing that I KNEW that God existed, and I knew and believed that he sent His son to die on the cross for my sins. I was satisfied with that and felt like that meant I was saved. Then I heard this one verse in the Bible, and I'll tell you...when this verse was read to me I felt like someone had pulled the carpet out from under me. That was the day it finally hit me that there WAS a difference between intellectual assent (agreeing that God exists), temporal faith, and saving faith. As stated above, I believed. I had the intellectual assent, When I heard James 2:19 that was my wake up call it says "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." OUCH! It was then that I realized that I was in the same category as the devils! Sure, satan believes in God, but does that mean he's going to heaven? No way! He's going down...and his only mission with this world is to take as many people as as he can with him....as the old saying goes 'misery loves company' Sadly, he's going to have plenty of company. It not only makes me angry, it scares me to death to think that I had been totally unaware, so easily deceived. I would never have expected that he would use something that seemed so innocent...I guess I had underestimated him! Don't let him fool you...he is the master of deceit!Let me share you with you one other thing that people mistake for saving faith. When you trust in the Lord for your finances, you can call that "financial faith" Or, maybe you've prayed and trusted the Lord to give you safety while traveling...call that "traveling faith" whatever you call it, the fact is, these things have one thing in common...they are TEMPORARY. Eventually, you reach your destination...the need for trust is gone. All the things of this world shall pass away. They are temporary. I think many people trust the Lord in all these temporary matters but SAVING FAITH is trusting in Christ alone to save you - eternally! One of the best examples (aside from PetersonAlex's) that I have heard is this: imagine for just a moment that I'm there with you now. I'm sitting in a chair and there is another chair beside me. You would believe that the other chair existed right? And, I'm sure that you would also believe that that chair would support me if I were to sit on it. For the sake of making my point, lets say the chair where I'm sitting represents me, and the empty chair represents Jesus Christ. For a long time I believed he existed and could help me. I didn't have eternal life though because I was trusting in my own good works to support me into heaven. If someone were to have asked me "Suppose you were to die tonight and you were to stand before Jesus at the gates of heaven and he were to say to you "Why should I let you into my heaven?" Without hesitation I would have said "Because I believe in God, I do my best to do the right thing, I try to live a good life. I've even told others about him." Well, who's the main person referred to in my answer? "I", I was trusting in myself. I may sit in the other chair every now and then when mine gets uncomfortable, maybe it even starts to cause me some pain. But as soon as things are back to normal and I'm feeling better...I go back to the comfort of MY chair...I mean, I LOVE that chair...I've had it a long time, should I be expected to just throw it out!? YES! To receive eternal life, you MUST transfer your trust from yourself to Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. You need to realize that "your" chair, even though it may appear to be able to support you, well, it has a trick leg, if keep sitting in it, it's going to fall. Don't get me wrong, it's not that you won't do good things, its just that the MOTIVE behind why you do them is different. The motive for Christian living is GRATITUDE for the gift of eternal life and faith, is like the hand of the beggar reaching out to accept the gift of the King. Twelve years ago, this beggar's writing this to you reached out an unworthy hand and received the gift of eternal life. I didn't deserve it then, I don't deserve it now - BUT I have it. The rest of life will be like a P.S. at the end of a letter to say thank you.

The Bible tells us in Rev 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with ME." Too many people hear that knock, hear that voice yet still don't answer it. Maybe they think that he'll wait...as soon as their finished with what they are doing, then they'll answer. Sadly enough,as we've just seen with this recent tragedy in our nation...we may not always be given another chance to get to the door!
I only write so much so as to urge you to not let this feeling of uncertainty go without thoroughly examining it. Maybe it IS the devil just trying to deceive..he'll do that, but just make sure it isn't God knocking at your door! It's bad enough how many people who have just totally rejected God are going to hell...and maybe it's wrong, but it saddens me so much more to think of all the people who believed in Him, who REALLY thought they were going to heaven are going to be shocked upon hearing the final judgement!
Once you are sure of your salvation, understand that Satan isn't done with you...although he can not take you away from God...he STILL doesn't want you out there displaying this LOVE Christ has...no way, makes him have to work harder!
WHen I was diagnosed with Brain cancer three years ago, my immediate response was doubt. Out of despair I cried out "WHY GOD! why would you allow this to happen! It didn't seem fair and it made me temporarily feel like God didn't care about me and that he wasn't taking care of me. Fortunatly, with alot of prayer and a very supportive church, full of people understanding that it would be easy for me to fall into that thinking, God opened my eyes. He made me see that His ways are not mine. Here I had thought he had abandoned me, when in fact, yes, satan I believe makes things like that happen, yes, GOD allowed it, but see, whatever he does allow to happen, he also supplies the grace needed to handle it! Satan's motive was to use this terrible thing to bring doubt, to make me bitter...I certainly wouldn't be out there proclaiming God's word if I myself felt like he didn't love me and he had turned his back on me. God however KNEW. He KNEW that it could be used for his glory. Little did I know, that through this, my husband was saved. My older son was saved. God made known to me what satan was trying to do and I am determined NOT to let that happen. Yes, I prayed at first for him to heal me. That hasn't happened yet. Now, my daily prayer is for Him to do his will in my life and to use me in what ever way he needs. I've been in the hospital a lot. Matter of fact...it a joke at our church that God has made the hospital my "mission field" (I always laugh with them and say "Why couldn't he have made it the mall!?)
But I've learned to rejoice through the trials. Satan sees that submission to God and what he's done in my life is just continue to heap more struggles, more sickness onto me. This is a war. A war that Satan declared on us a LONG time ago. We need to be soldiers for GOD. Yes, we want GOD to win the war....and HE will! But we also need to focus and fight the good fight with each individual battle (trial)

 

Good answers. Just remember something. The charismatic movements are based on emotion. If you don't get excited and feel the Spirit it is not working. The Bible mentions nothing of this. It simply talks of Jesus' grace, and our belief that he was God and turning our lives over to him and making him our Lord. Bottom line.