how to know you're really saved?

What is faith?
Faith is confidence, confidence in the word of another. Biblical faith is confidence in the Word of God, or ultimately in God Himself. I have confidence, complete confidence, (faith) that if I should die right now I will go straight to Heaven. My confidence (faith) is based on the promises of the Word of God, which I already have quoted to you. If I can trust the word of my wife, my father or mother, how much more can I trust the word of the loving infinite Almighty Father?
DHK

 

DHK,

in the other post you were asked: "Do you believe that when you die you are automatically holy and don't have to face judgment?"

Your answer was: "I can tell you right now that in my standing before God, I am perfectly holy and righteous, without sin. And I will continue to be that way, so that when I stand before God I will still be perfectly holy and righteous and without sin."

You don't get the fact that it's God not you who will have to tell if you are holy or not.

It's interesting. You stick to some parts of the Bible and that's it.
But Luke 18 has also this:
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

This fits you so nicely

 

Jasonik,
Everything I have explained to you has been on the basis of the Bible. It is apparent that when you have nothing to offer you resort to name-calling--a poor tactic for debate or any kind of discussion. I had hoped that you were above that.

The Pharisees were hypocritical unbelievers that followed a hierarchal religion of works based on a system of priests and offerings.

The Catholic Church is an organization composed of hypocritical unbelievers that follow a hierarchal religion of works based on a system of priests and the offering of a daily sacrifice (the sacrifice of the mass)

Christ condemned them both.
Now, who is the Pharisee?
DHK

 

I am using Bible as well and I am trying to point out that the same Bible has an example for people who are "confident of their own righteousness". It appears that you are overconfident. You used word 'confidence' six times in the previous post.

My example is a parable. I wanted to point out that you are overconfident not that you are like a Pharisee. I am sorry if you took it that way. Please, forgive me.

I don't know what issues you've got with Catholic Church but the difference between two of us is that I believe we both can be saved even though I am heretic and unbeliever in your eyes.

 

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

For a number of pages we have been discussing faith. I was defining faith as confidence. The Bible defines faith as confidence. It is confidence in the Word of another. I am sorry if you don't like that word, but that is one of the best words in the English language to use in defining faith.

Romans 4:20-21 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

The definition of faith: Abraham was fully persuaded. In other words Abraham was completely confident in what God was going to do. Faith is confidence.

I have faith in God--confidence based on God's word. I am fully confident that He has forgiven all my sins, given me eternal life, and I have no fear at all about goint to Heaven. I am confident that when I die I will go straight to Heaven. 1John 5:12,13 is God's promise to me, and God doesn't lie.
I don't know whether or not you are really saved. The Catholic Church doesn't teach the way of salvation. They teach that salvation is by works, which is not what the Bible teaches. I don't condemn you personally. It is the teachings of the Catholic Church that I speak out against and condemn as heresy, not individuals as yourself.
DHK

 

This is from Vatican website: "By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."

Is there something wrong what it says?

I was a Catholic, and I got saved. Then I saw the contradictions between the Bible and the Catholic religion. I had a choice to make. Either obey God and leave the Catholic Church, or disobey God and remain in the Catholic Church. Continual disobedience is a mark of an unbeliever.
</font>[/QUOTE]If you do not condemn me so how I am suppose to understand this?
Please, show me in the Bible where it says that to obey God means to leave the Catholic Church.

 

Yes, it is deceitful and doesn't mean what it says. It redefines Biblical terms, and most dangerously it is what it doesn't say that is the problem.
It is a lie. The Catholic Church does not believe that "salvation is by grace alone in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part."
That is a lie. Baptism is a work of man. Man does it. Man receives it. It is a work. As long as baptism is a part of salvation, salvation is by works and not by grace alone in faith in Christ. Salvation, they say is through the 7 sacraments. That is not through grace alone in faith in Christ. So there is another lie. Salvation is through the Church they say. There is another contradicion and lie if salvation is through grace alone in faith in Christ.
The Catholic Church teachees that salvation is by works not through grace alone in faith in Christ. That statement you quoted is a lie as far as the Catholic Church is concerned. You cannot believe both.
DHK

 

The same Vatican webpage:"Sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit in baptism, they are granted the gift of salvation, which lays the basis for the whole Christian life. They place their trust in God's gracious promise by justifying faith, which includes hope in God and love for him. Such a faith is active in love and thus the Christian cannot and should not remain without works. But whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it."

The Catholic Church believes the gift of salvation is passed to a sinner in baptism. You believe the gift of salvation is passed to you differently. Together we believe in the same gift of salvation, don't we?

Please, show me in the Bible where it says that to obey God means to leave the Catholic Church.

 

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Baptism as a part of salvation is not what Paul taught, is not what the apostles taught, is not what Jesus taught, is not what the Bible teaches, and is a heresy. We are told to mark it and avoid it.

Baptism gets you wet. That is all. It is purely symbolic, and done out of obedience to Christ, as a step of obedience in the Christian faith. It has no salvic properties. To include it as a part of salvation is heresy, and portrays one's complete lack of understanding of what Biblial salvation really is.

You need to be born again, not to be baptized.
DHK

 

What is your biggest objection against baptism? Is it that it is a work of man? It can not be!
Otherwise, till spreading/teaching kerygma (good work) and thinking, deciding, accepting the salvation (good work on your side) is part of salvation in baptist church it's a heresy.

So if you got saved either in the Catholic Church or in baptist church it's a heresy because it involves good works. True? NO! We both know that Christ's saving work saves not the way how you accept the free gift of salvation.


Please, show me in the Bible where it says that to obey God means to leave the Catholic Church.

 

If you were a Hindu and got saved would you not leaved Hinduism? Why or why not?
If you were a J.W., and got saved,would you not leave the J.W. movement? Why or why not?
I was a RC. I got saved. I left the RCC for the same reason I would have left Hinduism or the J.W. movement. All three believe in heresies. All three believe you can get to Heaven in some other way but by Christ alone.

Ephesians 2:8-9 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.

The Catholic Church does not believe these verses. You may as well cut them out of your Bible. Salvation is not of works. It is very plain. But the Catholic Church demands that it is. That is a heresy. They demand that baptism (a work) be part of salvation. They say that you cannot be saved without being baptized. Baptism is a work. No matter which way you look at it, baptism is a work and it takes away what Christ accomplished on the Cross for our sins. It is an insult to Christ. It is like saying to Christ: "Your atoning work was not good enough, I have to help you along by being baptized." Heresy! When Christ died on the cross he cried out in John 19:30 "It is finished." The "work" of Christ was finished. Fait accomplis. There is nothing that man can do to merit his own salvation, NOTHING. And that includes baptism. Baptism is a work of man. To say that it has a part in salvation is a heresy. Have nothing to do with such heresies. That is only one of many, many such heresies that the Catholic Church holds to.
DHK

 

Did you read my post at all? It looks like you didn't even bother.

The Catholic Church believes: "By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."

and this one as well: "Sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit in baptism, they are granted the gift of salvation, which lays the basis for the whole Christian life. They place their trust in God's gracious promise by justifying faith, which includes hope in God and love for him. Such a faith is active in love and thus the Christian cannot and should not remain without works. But whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it."

And let me repeat myself. The Catholic Church believes the gift of salvation is passed to a sinner in baptism. You believe the gift of salvation is passed to you differently but it's still through WORK. Together we believe in the same gift of salvation.


Please, show me in the Bible where it says that to obey God means to leave the Catholic Church.

 

Your above statement is so full of heresy, that it in itself is enough to leave the Catholic Church. "Can two walk together lest they be agreed"
"Come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing."
"Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers."

This is heresy. The Bible does not teach this. Baptism does not save. Baptism has nothing to do with salvation. Baptism only gets you wet. You have yet to demonstrate how baptism can save anyone. Use the Scriptures. It is a superstition to think that pouring water on someone will somehow wash away their sins. How ridiculous!
DHK

 

Evangelical Protestantism is gnostic because it redefines words in a way that only insiders can understand. When I read Catholic material I can get word meanings from a dictionary but Evangelical Protestant words are defined by the theology.

 

DHK,

your salvation as you described it a few pages back is through WORK. Are you going to deny it? How do you keep and grow your faith? Isn't it WORK?


Please, show me in the Bible where it says that to obey God means to leave the Catholic Church.

 

Almost any study is like that. If you want proper theological definitions then you need a theological dictionary. If you want proper biological definitions when studying biology you are not going to find them in Webster's. You need a good Biology text. If it is engineering terms that you want, guess where you have to go. A pre-med student doesn't carry around Webster's dictionary to class. Every discipline of study has its own vocabulary. That's the way it is in life. That is not gnosticism. It is the study of God, and His word.

THEOLOGY: = THEOS + OLOGY or GOD + THE STUDY OF
Theology is the study of God.

BIBLIOLOGY: = BIBLE + OLOGY or The study of the Bible.

There is nothing gnostic (secretive knowledge) about study. The Bible commands it.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
DHK

 

I have never described salvation as a work of man. It is entirely and wholly the work of Christ. Christ initiates it. Christ performs it. Christ ends it. That is what grace is--God's riches at Christ's expense. It is the grace of God that saves. We accept that grace that provides salvation through faith and faith alone. We are saved by grace through faith and not of works.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
--your good works mean nothing to God. That includes baptism. Only faith in the shed blood of Christ can save you.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
--You can't do good even if you try. You can do no more good than a leopard can change its spots. God doesn't look upon your so-called good. He looks to see if you have put your trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
--If you have not trusted Christ as your Saviour, even the most noblest cause, such as plowing your field, getting it ready for planting corn or wheat, then planting, then harvesting--it is all sin in God's sight. It is evil and wickedness because you know not Christ as Saviour. God does not look upon your works; he looks upon your heart to see if you have trusted in the shed blook of Christ to atone for the penalty of your sins.

Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
--God looks down and he sees none righteous, none good, no one seeking after God, absolutely no one that is profitable or good. Your works mean nothing to him. Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour? That is the question. Have you been born again? Not baptized, but born again--there is a difference.

It matters not at this point about church affiliation, about baptism, about any kind of church rite, ordinance, sacrament, etc. The only question that matters to God: Have you been born again by the Holy Spirit of God? Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour? If so when, and how?
DHK

 

Romans 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.


God Bless

Seth3

 

The day of Christ comes to all that are called and chosen. It occurs in their physical life and it commences by the identification of the carnal spirit within man.

when we understand that we are the beast that Christ has come to make war with.

all who are called will build their house on sand.

no man called of Christ experiences righteousnes without their house falling first.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

many are called. all called, every man called of Jesus must build their first house on sand to identify the beast within when the fall occurs.
of the many, few are chosen thereafter to rebuild their new home on the Rock.

all houses built on sand will fall. yet will it fall in ones lifetime? the day we discover that we have denied christ his rightful place on HIS Throne. When we discover that we are the son of peridition. the man of sin that resides within us and is sitting on the throne...within US!. he must be dethroned.

then Christ may rightfully sit on his throne within the temple which is ..our body.

2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

keep in mind everyone who is called and chosen has taken the mark of the beast in their lifetime.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

there are those who are called and not chosen...and there are those who are called AND chosen. those who have been called and chosen will experience their house built on sand fall. discover the son of peridition and be overthrown.

then can man know he is saved. when he knows who sits on the throne within his temple...which is his body. the true king sits on his rightful throne.

 

Absolutely Me2 I agree with THAT. Ever read L Ray Smith Me2? I have to thank God for that eye opener.

God Bless (I know you by the way)

Seth3