One can always rely on a thread in BDF to go way off track. Lol
The other day I wrote a lengthy post but lost it and it was to late to
re write it. i cant remember it all now but one thing, we often forget the
work of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spiri who convicts, who brings us to a point of faith and who
opens our spiritual eyes. We then have a choice to accept or reject that knowledge.
Once born again he is our seal, if we just get saved then have to rely on our own
strength, our own faith, our own knowledge, then we would fail.
But Jesus promised us He would send another the comforter.
I think the reason so many Christians lack assurance is because the work of the
Holy Spirit is not given its right place. Sometimes it can be because of a lack
of knowledge, but I think other times it can be because people are afraid of being
labelled happy clappy hyper spiritual or just plain weird.
Its a a pity that, it's like avoiding all things which taste good in case you put on weight. Lol
I think also that the assurance of knowing you are saved comes with experience and as
we mature in the faith. The more we go through the more you value answers to prayer and
when God speaks etc.
Its to a shame really that this thread cannot be used to encourage each other and helpe each
other to have that assurance. But then I suppose it is in the big debate forum.
John 14:16-18 NKJV
[16] And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide
with you forever- [17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it
neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will
be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NKJV
[20] For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God
through us. [21] Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is
God, [22] who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 NKJV
[1] For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, [3] if indeed,
having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. [4] For we who are in this tent groan,
being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality
may be swallowed up by life.
[5] Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the
Spirit as a guarantee. [6] So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at
home in the body we are absent from the Lord. [7] For we walk by faith, not by sight.
[8] We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be
present with the Lord.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV
[13] In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
[14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, to the praise of His glory.
