Feelings and Salvation

As a soulwinner I have learned to ask the person who has just said the sinner's prayer, what do you feel like? I do this not because it will help the Lord, not because it will help me, but because it will help the person saying the prayer to remember what their reaction was. And I have heard many different emotions described. Just recently I had a man in prison say, I do not feel anything, okay I said and continued on talking to other people when suddenly this man interrupts me and says, oh my goodness I feel something now kind of like a kotting in my stomach. Also recently my friend who was witnessing with me at a fair had a couple approached him and after he asked the question, the man said I am saved I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. But when my friend turn to the lady she said, I do not think I am saved and I need to hear what you have to say. After witnessing to her and asking her did she want to pray, at which time she said yes, after leading her in a sinner's prayer the lady began to weep, then begin to weep uncontrollably and fell to her knees after recovering somewhat, being helped by her husband. She's then begin to hug my friend, and after that she came and begin to hug me, she was literally beside herself with joy, and her husband was very happy also.
And so you can see we didn't ask her how she felt!!
I have seen many strong conversions similar to this and you always is a little different to see what the Lord is doing with these people. Do those feelings play a part? NO ! They do not. But they offer a fitting description of what has taken place.

 

I've heard so many stories now that I have learned not to make any generalizations. Like you, I did not have any rush of 'feelings' when I finally turned to the Lord and turned my life over to Him (if He wanted me, which I wasn't at all sure of at that moment!). I know others who have stories of almost hysteria, but they are fine Christian brothers and sisters.

I know I can look back on the 30+ years of the Lord in my life and see such an incredible difference in myself that I am in awe of Him and totally grateful. But yes, like you, I have my ups and downs through the days, and a good sleep, or at least a decent meal, usually seems to even things out! In the long run, there is simply too much to be done on any given day to worry about feelings! But I do like the feeling at the end of the day when I know the work has been accomplished, whatever that work that the Lord had in front of me to do was.

 

Taking these verses into account, I'd say it depends on how the person said they got saved.
The Bible has very little good to say about feelings. In fact I don't know of anywhere in the Bible where feelings are good.

Also, in

Not saying we should be fruit inspectors. But, the Bible gives us this list for a reason.


MHO.:type: David

 

I think you are exatly right when you say

Lots of people who follow verious gods have good feelings that let them know they are saved. Feelings are the main test for Mormons to know they are saved. They will tell you to pray about the book of Mormon until you have a "burning of the bosom" that will let you know it is true.

Our feelings are a poor test of what is right and true. I much prefer to put my trust in the Word of God to decide what is right and true.

 

I never "feel" saved at 3:30 in the morning or after I stub by pinkie toe or after changing a baby's diaper....but luckily, my salvation has nothing to do with how I feel.

In fact, it has nothing to do with anything that I've done.

My salvation is the result of what HE did...and that alone.