Once Saved, Always Saved?

[JesusxIsxAlive]

Hello beautiful ones,

I'm still on milk trying to get to meat and I'm actually crying typing this because I've asked this question so many times to so many people over a period of years and I feel like I'm doomed and forever trapped in my own mind so I'm sorry for the rambling:

I'm 19, I've been raised to be a Christian, I'm not sure how old I was but I think between 14-17 I became born again and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, Saviour and one true God and have been water baptised BUT I have a problem with addiction, backsliding over and over again and then confessing over and over again, and I slip back into my old ways... I pray to God to soften my heart so I can stop being so sinful, I pray for God to help me because every time I say sorry to God, I can't FEEL the apology within me and I'm aware of this so I'm scared that I haven't been forgiven. When I call Him, I know He hears but it's as if He doesn't want me to go to Heaven because He doesn't help me to stop sinning. I KNOW this is not the case and it's all on my part and I feel ridiculous for even typing that, but I'm SO confused in this walk that I have no idea what conclusion to come to.

If I (God forbid) die today, will I go to His kingdom or to hell? I don't know what to do anymore, I just want to WANT to praise God and have Him be a big part of my life and not sin and it's so hard because it's like I can feel God calling me and calling me every day of my life but I can't reach Him and I can't reach Jesus. I have maybe 1% of mental clarity and the rest of the time I'm on autopilot so it's hard for me to actually think.

Thank you all and Jesus bless you!

 

[dalconn]

Welcome to the plight of all born-again believers Sounds like you are a serious student of the Holy Spirit University! Just messing with you a bit but on a more serious note the only hell a child of the King will ever see will be here on this earth

 

[thecreationtutor]

Gotta keep this thread alive i guess

 

[JesusxIsxAlive]

But brother, what about in Matthew? I've always been worried that applies to me

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

[Ugly]

This should help. A link to some of the already existing threads on this subject. I think about once a week a new thread is created on this topic.

http://christianchat.com/search.php?searchid=1472102

 

[Stephen63]

Matthew 13:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP]"And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

JIA, this is you. Because you won't let go of the desires & friends of the world, you're riding a spiritual roller coaster. Unless you forsake those people that you sin with & the sins themselves, one day you'll quit caring & won't even realize you did. When that happens, it's over.

Luke 14:28-30 (KJV)
[SUP]28 [/SUP]For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? [SUP]29 [/SUP]Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, [SUP]30 [/SUP]Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

You're not counting the cost either way..... Not committing to the Lord, & not realizing how close to Hell you are while playing in sin.

True repentance means forsaking the sin you confess to God.

 

[dalconn]

But brother, what about in Matthew? I've always been worried that applies to me

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Meditate on who you are in Christ

JOHN 10:27-28
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.[SUP] [/SUP]I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

 

[JesusIsAll]

No, you will not go to hell if you are born again, and I believe you are, as you're strongly struggling, under the influence of spiritual conscience, the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, and interesting your thread comes along, with another about sin unto death, you need to also think consequences, that, being born again, the Lord can really take you to the woodshed. Maybe it can help, the view to look upon this like a set of scales: is the temporary reward of the sin worth what are, possibly, bad consequences, permanent consequences possibly, possibly death? Adrian Rogers once said that, "First sin fascinates, then it assassinates."

You're very young and struggling, though, and this is normal, growing in sanctification a lifelong process, like learning to walk, falling down, but repenting and getting back up, until maybe the day comes when you say, "Hey! I'm sick of repenting, sick of guilt, sick of tears, and, you know, all it really takes is to walk away from what's self-inflicted torture, junk of the Godless world, and get on with feeling good and clean for a change!"

But, as you walk in faith, don't question your salvation, as part of faith is to trust in God has saved you, and maybe another view that He suffered a hard world and the torture of the cross for you. Maybe think, next time you're tempted by sin, that He deserves a better thank you, that we respect His love by loving Him back, respecting Him, being what He would want us to be. In comparison, He's not asking that much, really. Do you love the Lord? If so, you want to strive to make somebody you also love happy, especially the One who has already loved you more than anybody else you'll ever find, the only One who can give you eternal life, in the joys of heaven. This is the biggest thing in our lives, bar none!

In any case, my prayers are with you, and you are not alone. I was young and pretty dumb, while yet Christian, likely at least as bad as you. It did get better, much better, as I learned to skip on the things of the world that were only dragging me down. It's like a drunk who gets sober, realizes how glorious it can be, to wake up without a hangover, regretting they ever even bothered with the stuff that was just wrecking their life and robbing their joy in the Lord. Once you're walking in the light, it gets easier, as you don't want to look back. Above all, you keep that faith alive, always!

The Lord bless and keep you in His tender mercies. And He will.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

[JesusxIsxAlive]

This is so true. Thank you so much. X

 

[Blain]

The fact that you want to change and are worried about sinning says that you are not in danger of hell. People in danger of hell have no concern of their sins and have no regard to God and many of them like to judge others for their sins putting themselves on a holy pedestal.

 

[JesusIsAll]

But brother, what about in Matthew? I've always been worried that applies to me

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These people are not born again Christians. They are like the Laodicean church, of the world, bragging on themselves, pride of life and works proud, not standing on Christ's merit, rather their own, virgins without oil [the Holy Spirit] in the lamps. I've always seen a lot of charlatan ministers you see on TV, money grubbing, especially owning those verses you quote.

A church congregation is actually a combination of save and unsaved, wheat and tares, lip service Christians who've never really repented and repentant Christians, born of Christ's Spirit. This is why there are so many warnings like this in Bible teachings, as the audience is mixed. You don't sound like a person going about life a fake! Those not born again aren't really even struggling with the things you are, as they're sure they're just fine, as they are, "Lord, Lord, aren't we just the cat's meow? You should be thanking us!"

 

[Angela53510]

This comes down the difference between justification and sanctification.

God justifies us. All we do is believe, and God calls us his own. Only God can save us, we do not save ourselves by our behaviour. That means we can NOT lose our salvation.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

The word in Greek is Δικαιωθέντες or dikaiothentes. That word also means "righteousness." In other words, we are made right with God, through the blood of Jesus.

" But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:" Romans 3:21-22

As for sanctification, that is the life long journey we take with Christ. Through the Holy Spirit we are transformed and become closer to Christ.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 5:2

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18

"Be transformed" is [FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]μεταμορφοῦσθε[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif] in the Greek. It is a verb in the passive imperative, which means we are commanded to cooperate with God as the Holy Spirit transforms us.[/FONT]

"Being transformed" in 2 Cor. 3:18 is μεταμορφούμεθα[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif] in the Greek. It is also in the passive imperative and means that we are commanded to let God transform us.
[/FONT]
This whole process of transformation is sanctification. God makes us holy. Of course, we are not perfect till the day we see Jesus face to face, which is glorification, the final stage of our salvation. In the Greek, the word is ἁγιασμὸς or hagiasmos, which means that we are being made into the saints of Christ.

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." Romans 6:22

"And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption," 1 Cor. 1:30

 

[crossnote]

But brother, what about in Matthew? I've always been worried that applies to me

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The problem with this group is that they are hoping in their own good works rather than trusting in Christ's perfect Work.

 

[Grace777x70]

Mediate ( think about, ponder, speak to yourself ) on the Lord Jesus and what He has done for you...it will strengthen you. Listen to teachings that exalt Jesus and this will feed your new creation in Christ that is in your heart.

Colossians 3:16 (NASB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Hello beautiful ones,

I'm still on milk trying to get to meat and I'm actually crying typing this because I've asked this question so many times to so many people over a period of years and I feel like I'm doomed and forever trapped in my own mind so I'm sorry for the rambling:

I'm 19, I've been raised to be a Christian, I'm not sure how old I was but I think between 14-17 I became born again and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, Saviour and one true God and have been water baptised BUT I have a problem with addiction, backsliding over and over again and then confessing over and over again, and I slip back into my old ways... I pray to God to soften my heart so I can stop being so sinful, I pray for God to help me because every time I say sorry to God, I can't FEEL the apology within me and I'm aware of this so I'm scared that I haven't been forgiven. When I call Him, I know He hears but it's as if He doesn't want me to go to Heaven because He doesn't help me to stop sinning. I KNOW this is not the case and it's all on my part and I feel ridiculous for even typing that, but I'm SO confused in this walk that I have no idea what conclusion to come to.

If I (God forbid) die today, will I go to His kingdom or to hell? I don't know what to do anymore, I just want to WANT to praise God and have Him be a big part of my life and not sin and it's so hard because it's like I can feel God calling me and calling me every day of my life but I can't reach Him and I can't reach Jesus. I have maybe 1% of mental clarity and the rest of the time I'm on autopilot so it's hard for me to actually think.

Thank you all and Jesus bless you!

 

[crossnote]

One of my more favorite security verses...

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

He is our Savior from beginning to end

 

[Budman]

Hello beautiful ones,

I'm still on milk trying to get to meat and I'm actually crying typing this because I've asked this question so many times to so many people over a period of years and I feel like I'm doomed and forever trapped in my own mind so I'm sorry for the rambling:

I'm 19, I've been raised to be a Christian, I'm not sure how old I was but I think between 14-17 I became born again and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, Saviour and one true God and have been water baptised BUT I have a problem with addiction, backsliding over and over again and then confessing over and over again, and I slip back into my old ways... I pray to God to soften my heart so I can stop being so sinful, I pray for God to help me because every time I say sorry to God, I can't FEEL the apology within me and I'm aware of this so I'm scared that I haven't been forgiven. When I call Him, I know He hears but it's as if He doesn't want me to go to Heaven because He doesn't help me to stop sinning. I KNOW this is not the case and it's all on my part and I feel ridiculous for even typing that, but I'm SO confused in this walk that I have no idea what conclusion to come to.

If I (God forbid) die today, will I go to His kingdom or to hell? I don't know what to do anymore, I just want to WANT to praise God and have Him be a big part of my life and not sin and it's so hard because it's like I can feel God calling me and calling me every day of my life but I can't reach Him and I can't reach Jesus. I have maybe 1% of mental clarity and the rest of the time I'm on autopilot so it's hard for me to actually think.

Thank you all and Jesus bless you!

This may help:

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A Christian is not simply an “improved” version of a person; a Christian is an entirely new creature. He is “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be destroyed.

A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18–19). The word redeemed refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. We were purchased at the cost of Christ’s death. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase of the individual for whom He paid with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To justify is to declare righteous. All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared. Those absolved of guilt would have to be tried again and found guilty. God would have to reverse the sentence handed down from the divine bench.

A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is the promise of spending forever in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be redefined. The Christian is promised to live forever. Does eternalnot mean “eternal”?

A Christian is marked by God and sealed by the Spirit. “You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13–14). At the moment of faith, the new Christian is marked and sealed with the Spirit, who was promised to act as a deposit to guarantee the heavenly inheritance. The end result is that God’s glory is praised. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to erase the mark, withdraw the Spirit, cancel the deposit, break His promise, revoke the guarantee, keep the inheritance, forego the praise, and lessen His glory.

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “Those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). According to Romans 5:1, justification is ours at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification comes with justification. All those whom God justifies are promised to be glorified. This promise will be fulfilled when Christians receive their perfect resurrection bodies in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

A Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Christ would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation is the gift of God, and God’s gifts are “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). A Christian cannot be un-newly created. The redeemed cannot be unpurchased. Eternal life cannot be temporary. God cannot renege on His Word. Scripture says that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Nothing can separate a child of God from the Father’s love (Romans 8:38–39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28–29). God guarantees eternal life and maintains the salvation He has given us. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep, and, “when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home” (Luke 15:5–6). The lamb is found, and the Shepherd gladly bears the burden; our Lord takes full responsibility for bringing the lost one safely home.

Jude 24–25 further emphasizes the goodness and faithfulness of our Savior: “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” -gotquestions.org

http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-lose-salvation.htm

The site has other questions and answers about Eternal Security that, I'm certain, will help you greatly.

 

[Dan58]

Everyone sins over and over again, but just keep repenting over and over again. God isn't going to make you stop sinning, its always our choice. Just keep praying for the strength to overcome. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

 

[Brother_Don]

[h=1]John 17King James Version (KJV) A prayer of Jesus[/h] 17 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
[SUP]2 [/SUP]As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
[SUP]21 [/SUP]That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
[SUP]23 [/SUP]I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

[Goodnewsman]

fall in love with Jesus and you will fall out of love with this world. once saved always saved is a damnable doctrine that has sent a many of people to hell from a church pew while the pastor who doesn't have the backbone of an earth worm pats them on the back.

Love God with all your heart but hate the world/sin with an equal hatred. if any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.

ask yourself this question: "if the bible really teaches this, why are we in a spiritual warfare with the devil?"

what is the devil after? Jesus told peter "satan hath desired to have thee, that he may sift you as wheat"

 

[rashardy]

Hey.. I know exactly how you feel because I find my self in the position alot too and am young am 22. If your reading this I want you to be encourage because I can see you love the lord and want right. You are blessed we all go through things it makes us stronger and you have to believe and just push any thought that discourage you. sometimes I pray and still be depressed maybe its because I haven't pray to God long enough and didn't put my all because God said "call on my name in times of trouble and I will deliver you and you will glorify me". Keep talking to him lists to positive music that will uplift you.. Talk to people who will encourage you. You will make it in heaven Jesus love you.