Salvation and how to "know" when you receive it.

[Grace777x70]

Hebrews 10:26 can be a stumbling block if we don't take the context in which this passage was written.

Some times well intentioned people take Hebrews 10:26-29 out of context with the book of Hebrews.

Anyone can take an isolated scripture out of it's context and say anything they want. Here is an example in the scripture below - Ex 32:33. Anyone who has ever sinned is blotted out of God's book.

Exodus 32:33 (NASB)
[SUP]33 [/SUP] The LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.

This is truly stated in the OT but it is not the ultimate statement of truth. The work of Jesus's finished work on the cross trumps what is said in Ex. 32:33.

Obviously we need to view all scripture through the finished work of Christ. We don't take obscure verses and discount the abundance of clear scriptures on what our Lord has done for us.

Hebrews 10 is talking about Jewish people after hearing about Christ for the only sacrifice for sins and rejecting it to go back to the temple sacrifices for their sins.

Hebrews was written a few years before the temple system came crashing down in 70AD when it was trampled by the Roman army.

The "willful sinning" is after hearing the "knowledge" of the truth of Christ's sacrifice - those that go back to the temple sacrifices and do not receive Christ's work by faith - this is the wilful sinning being talked about - the rejection of Christ's sacrifice and blood for the forgiveness of all sins.

This is insulting the Spirit of grace. The Holy Spirit's work is to convict/convince/expose the world of their sin - which is unbelief in Christ's work. John 16:8-9

There is a vast difference between receiving the "knowledge" of the truth and "receiving the truth" which is Christ Himself.

 

[BillG]

I think the main issue for me as well was that whatever ever I did even when it was right was never gonna be good enough.

 

[BillG]

Indeed. "Let every man be a liar and God be right." If I can be biblically proven wrong, I will change instantly and thank the person for showing me the truth- which has happened. I am not out to be right, I'm out to be righteous by obeying God and sharing the truth as I know it. It is only Him I aim to please. I work for Him, not for myself. Pleasing my Master is my pleasure- not pride.

Good post.
When we are secure in the love that God has for us and all it that means as his children, pleasing him is not a burden (by which I mean working to earn his love) but is an act of love.

Whats even more amazing is that he trusts us to go about our business for him and through him to show that love he has for us to others.

Mind boggling, well to me anyway.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I remember as a kid spending night after night praying to God and asking him to forgive me and save me, (sinners prayer so to speak)

then one day, my mother talks me into walking up the aisle and asking for help, a deacon took me to a back room and gave me the gospel using scripture.

I then got on my knees, Probably like the tax collector in tears, ask God to have mercy on me, I wanted to be his son, I wanted his gift, I wanted restored to him, but I knew I did not deserve it,

when i I walked out, I knew I was saved, that was 30 years ago, yet it feels like yesterday, I can vividly remember it,

 

[mailmandan]

I came to receive Jesus Christ through faith several years ago on a late Saturday night. About a month prior to that, my mother in law had passed away and I was thinking very seriously about the afterlife. Soon after she had passed away, I remember asking Jesus Christ that whatever it takes to get me to heaven, just put the answer right in front of my face so that I will know with absolute assurance here is the answer and now it's up to me to accept the truth.

I had no assurance of salvation prior to my conversion because I was trusting in works for salvation and not in Christ alone. Also, just prior to my conversion, I had read through a gospel tract that really caught my attention which led me to thoroughly search through the Scriptures. I knew the Lord was drawing me. Finally, after reading through the book of Romans and eventually the book of Ephesians, I came to Ephesians 2:8,9 and that's when the light came on! I had then placed my faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Christ alone for salvation and knew without a doubt that I had become born again! Praise the Lord!

I remember over the years how several people had tried to explain the gospel to me, but at that time the truth just went right over my head, but right after my conversion, I could look back and say, "that's what he meant, that's what she meant, that's what they meant!"

On Sunday morning, I was water baptized at a Baptist church where some friends of ours attended and I gave about a 5-10 minute testimony just before I was baptized on how I had finally come to receive Christ through faith, but in the past had been trusting in works for salvation and had previously attended churches that falsely taught salvation by works.

*1 John 5:11 - And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

 

[Jackson123]

I came to receive Jesus Christ through faith several years ago on a late Saturday night. About a month prior to that, my mother in law had passed away and I was thinking very seriously about the afterlife. Soon after she had passed away, I remember asking Jesus Christ that whatever it takes to get me to heaven, just put the answer right in front of my face so that I will know with absolute assurance here is the answer and now it's up to me to accept the truth.

I had no assurance of salvation prior to my conversion because I was trusting in works for salvation and not in Christ alone. Also, just prior to my conversion, I had read through a gospel tract that really caught my attention which led me to thoroughly search through the Scriptures. I knew the Lord was drawing me. Finally, after reading through the book of Romans and eventually the book of Ephesians, I came to Ephesians 2:8,9 and that's when the light came on! I had then placed my faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Christ alone for salvation and knew without a doubt that I had become born again! Praise the Lord!

I remember over the years how several people had tried to explain the gospel to me, but at that time the truth just went right over my head, but right after my conversion, I could look back and say, "that's what he meant, that's what she meant, that's what they meant!"

On Sunday morning, I was water baptized at a Baptist church where some friends of ours attended and I gave about a 5-10 minute testimony just before I was baptized on how I had finally come to receive Christ through faith, but in the past had been trusting in works for salvation and had previously attended churches that falsely taught salvation by works.

*1 John 5:11 - And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

In the contrary, I was think salvation by faith alone mean It doesn't matter If you kill or rape every day, you save, you only lose your reward, but save AS long AS you believe that Jesus is God.

After read matt 7, matt 25 And what my close friend did, I think there is correlation between salvation and work.

Indonesian have a culture, for wedding party, people invite 300 people or more, the rich may invite more than a thousand. It cost money. My friend is children sunday school teacher, he need money for his wedding party, he intendly rob the credit card more than 5000 dollar to make a big party, because he believe robing is Nothing to do with salvation. Only adfect oN reward

But the bible Said

Rev 21:8

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."


Not only affect oN reward, but salvation
Let me repeat, not that salvation, by work, but salvation change our work

 

[eternally-gratefull]

In the contrary, I was think salvation by faith alone mean It doesn't matter If you kill or rape every day, you save, you only lose your reward, but save AS long AS you believe that Jesus is God.
Let me repeat, not that salvation, by work, but salvation change our work

These contradict each other.

If salvation changes our work. Then a person who is saved will not live as he did before.

Either savation changes you or it does not. you can;t have it both ways.

 

[mailmandan]

In the contrary, I was think salvation by faith alone mean It doesn't matter If you kill or rape every day, you save, you only lose your reward, but save AS long AS you believe that Jesus is God.

Killing and raping everyday is not descriptive of someone who is born of God (1 John 3:7-10). Even the demons believe that Jesus is God, yet they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ; have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation. In other words, they do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are not saved (Acts 16:31). Their trust and reliance is in satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works.

After read matt 7, matt 25 And what my close friend did, I think there is correlation between salvation and work.

Works are the fruit of salvation, but not the root of it.

Indonesian have a culture, for wedding party, people invite 300 people or more, the rich may invite more than a thousand. It cost money. My friend is children sunday school teacher, he need money for his wedding party, he intendly rob the credit card more than 5000 dollar to make a big party, because he believe robing is Nothing to do with salvation. Only adfect oN reward

Does robbing the credit card of more that $5,000 sound like fruit of the Spirit to you? Just because someone is a sunday school teacher does not necessarily mean they are saved.

But the bible Said

Rev 21:8

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

This is descriptive of those who are lost (the unrighteous) and were never saved, not people who are saved. Also see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21).

Not only affect oN reward, but salvation
Let me repeat, not that salvation, by work, but salvation change our work

Unbelievers have no rewards to be affected. We are not saved by good works, but FOR good works.

 

[Jackson123]

These contradict each other.

If salvation changes our work. Then a person who is saved will not live as he did before.

Either savation changes you or it does not. you can;t have it both ways.

l

salvation does change work, but work not couse salvation

salvation produce good work, but good work not produce salvation

 

[Meggido]

Rev 21:8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."...........This is descriptive of those who are lost (the unrighteous) and were never saved, not people who are saved. Also see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21).

Dan,
Honest question....if all the descriptions in Rev 21.8 are lost and were never saved why does it single out: the unbelieving from the rest of the descriptions?

The Kingdom of God is within you.....Jesus says so in Luke 17.21.....So Gal 5.19-21 cannot be used in terms of the end of the age, but now.

Luke 17.20-21

[SUP]20 [/SUP]And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
[SUP]21 [/SUP]Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

l

salvation does change work, but work not couse salvation

salvation produce good work, but good work not produce salvation

Then salvation is by faith alone, that's all that's left.

Thank you.

 

[Jackson123]

Killing and raping everyday is not descriptive of someone who is born of God (1 John 3:7-10). Even the demons believe that Jesus is God, yet they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ; have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation. In other words, they do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are not saved (Acts 16:31). Their trust and reliance is in satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works.

Works are the fruit of salvation, but not the root of it.

Does robbing the credit card of more that $5,000 sound like fruit of the Spirit to you? Just because someone is a sunday school teacher does not necessarily mean they are saved.

This is descriptive of those who are lost (the unrighteous) and were never saved, not people who are saved. Also see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21).

Unbelievers have no rewards to be affected. We are not saved by good works, but FOR good works.

yep I agree, salvation by faith and produce good work. But I heard a Lot of people believe bad work is not affect salvation.
they believe It is possible killer and Rober are save without repentance.

I believe If you kill every day for a years, you are forgiven AS long AS you fell Sorry and repent. If you not repent, thoug you was baptize and Deacon, you not forgiven

 

[posthuman]

He first created, then opened my eyes to the fact that He has been there ever since my beginning, patiently perfecting His work - and none of the steps i took and the beliefs i came to embrace over time thus far either accomplished or ratified the work, but were the product & result of the work, His work. my own knowledge and assurance of my own salvation is as sure as His own faithfulness and power

 

[Jackson123]

Then salvation is by faith alone, that's all that's left.

Thank you.

Yep, I just remind to some people think faith is believe Jesus AS God, than robing is not effect the salvation.

I believe salvation by faith and produce good work.

last time in the discussion in my church, most people believe, salvation by faith mean event If you kill every day, you save, because It is not change your status AS the child of God, but you lose your intimacy with God, and intimacy with God is wonderfull. These people believe there is No correlation between salvation and work

 

[mailmandan]

yep I agree, salvation by faith and produce good work. But I heard a Lot of people believe bad work is not affect salvation.
they believe It is possible killer and Rober are save without repentance.

I believe If you kill every day for a years, you are forgiven AS long AS you fell Sorry and repent. If you not repent, thoug you was baptize and Deacon, you not forgiven

1 John 3:7-10 sums it up.

 

[mailmandan]

Dan,
Honest question....if all the descriptions in Rev 21.8 are lost and were never saved why does it single out: the unbelieving from the rest of the descriptions?

The Kingdom of God is within you.....Jesus says so in Luke 17.21.....So Gal 5.19-21 cannot be used in terms of the end of the age, but now.

Luke 17.20-21

[SUP]20 [/SUP]And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
[SUP]21 [/SUP]Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

So you believe that since unbelieving is singled out that "cowardly, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars" is descriptive of those who are born of God? What do we read in 1 John 3:7-10?

Galatians 5:21 points out that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Do children of God or children of the devil practice (willful, habitual lifestyle, no repentance just bring it on) such things?

1 John 3:9 - No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Yep, I just remind to some people think faith is believe Jesus AS God, than robing is not effect the salvation.

I believe salvation by faith and produce good work.

last time in the discussion in my church, most people believe, salvation by faith mean event If you kill every day, you save, because It is not change your status AS the child of God, but you lose your intimacy with God, and intimacy with God is wonderfull. These people believe there is No correlation between salvation and work

What is the difference between killing every day and lieing every day, or coveting every day.or having a bout of pride every day.

The fact is, there is no difference. And a child of God will not continue to do those things every day, The HS will not let them.

 

[Depleted]

For a long time in my life I didn't "know" about how to go about being saved,because my "First" Church didn't mention how to be saved,primarily focusing on "Water Baptism" as the only accepting of eternal life,years later I finally went to ironically my other side of the family and went to a church and the members there explained that "being saved" is a "knowing thing"it threw me for a loop,because I hadn't been told a "way" to do so,so I inquired further with members about if it's a "knowing thing" then how do I know if I'm saved when I don't know any process of being saved?
And they explained that "Salvation" is through Jesus and Given by God,when one humbly and sincerely,asks God to save their soul "And" accepts Jesus as saviour,then one can receive the holy spirit.
After some time of thinking on their words and thinking on what they meant,I eventually realized what they meant,they didn't tell me some "ceremony" or "task" to do to be saved because it wasn't about doing something to get "saved" it was about believing upon that Jesus died for my sin and that he is my saviour,alongside that I was to humble my heart to God asking for him to save my soul,realizing that I needed his guidance to not die in my sins,and that through Jesus I could be saved,ultimately coming to realize that God had been waiting on "Me" to ask for salvation humbly then accept it through accepting Jesus as saviour,and now I am holy spirit filled doing what I can for God through Chat sites,and simply doing what he asks of me!
That is how I know I am "Saved".
For "All" whom can "affirm" how to know if one is saved because you"know" you are saved,please share your own personal experience,or if one retorts this share your retort,either way please share "All" posts in an "unhateful" and "mature" way,God bless you!

When I was saved and when I knew I was saved are two completely different decades. (Um, centuries. lol) The knowing part takes some time for the dull-wits like me.

I was saved April 4, 1972. It was really obvious for the next three and a half months that I was saved, because I changed so drastically.

But the knowing part had a very rough start, because I was saved after watching Jesus Christ Superstar. I had no idea what to do next. (No one around to tell you, how do you know?) But I told a friend, who knew about a teen ministry before school started, so I went to my first bible study the next morning. The man running it was a good guy, and a Christian, but he really had no training on how to do that kind of work. He was a missionary for teenagers and young adults at the ripe old age of 24.

And he was Pentecostal -- the kind who believes proof of salvation is speaking in tongues. Guess who didn't get that gift. (Me.) So he taught that not speaking in tongues means you're not filled with the Holy Spirit -- aka not saved.

Also, some of the people he discipled were also interns to become doctors. (They were the same age.) They laid hands on Mom to be healed from cancer. The kind of cancer guaranteed would kill her. (45 years later and advancements have only gotten it up to 25% chance of surviving it. That kind of cancer.) And they assured me God did heal her. (Sadly, all she got out of that visit was those kids were cute for trying. She didn't even get saved.)

If life had been normal for me, I'm sure I would have landed in church that taught all of the Bible and would have figured it out relatively soon that those things were simply not true. But Mom died, I moved back in with Dad, and lived too far away to go to any fellowship. (No license or car, 15 miles away from the city, and Dad's not the kind of guy to give rides.)

Four years later, I figured out I don't have to speak in tongues to be saved. I was back to pretty-sure-I-was-saved, but never completely sure for even more time.

What changed? Well, I got really mad at God for letting Mom die after promising me she wouldn't. (Took four years to realize God never promised me she wouldn't too.) So, I walked. And, I was drawn back to him, not by my efforts.

A year after that, I walked again. (My excuse then was "What kind of god would let me be raped?") And returned by his strength.

And 23 years later, I walked again. ("What kind of god would let me and then hubby become disabled? How do we live if neither one of us can work?") He brought me back in a mere three years of effort. (I was very angry.)

And a year and a half ago, I tried, ever so briefly, to walk again. Ever so briefly because frankly David's experience sums up what God taught me through the years:
Psalms 139:[FONT=&quot]Where shall I go from your Spirit?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Or where shall I flee from your presence?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]9 If I take the wings of the morning[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]10 even there your hand shall lead me,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] and your right hand shall hold me.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] and the light about me be night,”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]12 even the darkness is not dark to you;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] the night is bright as the day,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] for darkness is as light with you.[/FONT]

Since I can't walk away, I'm saved. Yay, God!!!

 

[Jackson123]

1 John 3:7-10 sums it up.

You talking about born again and It is Impossible for real Christian to kill every day?

 

[mailmandan]

You talking about born again and It is Impossible for real Christian to kill every day?

Kill as in murder everyday? Does that sound like practice righteousness to you? (1 John 3:10)