Why were you baptized at age 33, if you were so confident of age 10?
Billy Graham did not say 'you must be baptized in water and Jesus will save you'. He said pray to God and confess you are a sinner in need of Jesus and He will save you and take you to be with Him in heaven when you die.
I was unchurched and undiscipled. I knew nothing about any water baptism. It had nothing to do with any self confidence, i simply believed I was a sinner and called on Jesus like Graham said to.
Do you believe God heard me but said in His heart "you are too young for me to give you My Spirit, maybe later when you learn how to serve Me"?
Seems to me you have your doubts. If you are asking me or anyone to tell you for sure you are saved, I would never attempt that.
I also said....
The Spirit has always been with me since age ten. I cannot ever remember a time when He was not. If this is not regeneration then tell me how I can know what regeneration is that i can pinpoint a place in time that I surely received the Holy Spirit. Shouldn't i know? Can I know?
The doubts I have is on your theology. This is why I have questioned you with the example of my life. But you seem baffled to give clear answer.
I know, I will never commit adultery. Do you know that now after the new baptism??
What "new" baptism? No, I do not know that I will never commit adultery. I pray to God I will not stray from His side so far as to commit adultrey again in my life.
I think you have things turned around. Your knowledge does not come from another person, it comes from God. It is silly for you to ask another if "you are saved".
No, I am not asking for you to give me a :thumbs: that I am saved. I am seeking your understanding of salvation and using my own life as an example to evaluate.
In one post you say you don't know if I was saved at age ten. Then in another post you say I couldn't have been. I am just trying to understand what you truly believe. Here is what you said...
I don't believe a truly born of God person can fall, and to break the commandments, would be to fall. I believe Hebrews 6 is just telling us really that it is impossible for God Children to fall.
I do not believe a person who has Christ inside of him, can commit these sins unto death. Just using one of the Commandments, how could a saved person commit adultery with his neighbor, while Jesus was on the inside of him. How could someone led by the Spirit of God commit such actions?
And then....
Let me end with this. I can judge no man, it belongs to God and I will not judge whether you were saved or not at 10, I just give what I believe. Every man will stand before God for his self and not another. Your salvation is between you and the Lord and if you are willing to die on it, then how much more surer could you make it.
I still would like your thoughts on these questions....
"What would be your counsel to me in light of your view? I was never born-again at age ten? If I wasn't, then when? How do i know when regeneration has happened?"
You are a pastor, correct? Are you telling me that you cannot explain to people how they become born-again and how they can know they have been born-again? AND apply this to real life senarios?
God Bless!