If we're already saved, why are we "tested"?

[Ugly]

Do you mean to say that God is persecuting people, making them kill each other to push them towards churches? And that some how he doesn't like other countries as much as the U.S., therefore, he persecutes (tests) them more?
Maybe churches are growing especially in China, because they are likely going to lead the world to a global currency or a one-world system that works like it? Just a thought.
May Jehovah lead your way, thru his word and son, Christ Jesus.

You seem to be taking peoples comments, and finding the most extreme interpretation of these comments and putting it back on them. You're not taking things as stated. Stop looking to take every statement to the farthest extreme interpretation and just listen to what they are ACTUALLY saying.

 

[2Tim3vs16]

It's good to learn that, you went through that process for your own salvation. God will reward us for our faith and forgiveness. He'll keep his promise to do away with all the wickedness that is destroying us and the earth today. The devil and his rebellious angel brothers will soon (in God's time frame) be done away with forever.

Then we'll have peace. We won't even recall to our minds, the ugliness that is in the world now, not even a memory. Can you imagine a time when people don't even know what a "devil" or "evil" or "sin" is? If that's not a wonderful hope to keep us on the straight and narrow, I don't know what is.

Peace be with you.

 

[2Tim3vs16]

Ugly, I don't believe that God causes bad things to happen to us. I believe that we do that to ourselves with the help of Satan's influence on our imperfect minds. After all, the world is lying in the power of the wicked one. (1 John 5:19)

I'm aware that God will help us endure hard times, but I don't believe he is intentionally "testing" us. Matter of fact, he has sympathy for us and doesn't want us to be plagued by the negative and pain that originates with Satan.

I don't think I'm being extreme, I'm taking the meaning of the scriptures and seeing how they apply to what I'm seeing and/or hearing. I would totally appreciate it if you or anyone else use the scriptures to support your own connections with what you're seeing and hearing in the world and here on the internet. I ask questions like; How do the scriptures apply to who we are, how we live and what we are doing in our times? What does God want from us? How are other people interpreting and applying the Bible principles and living according to God's Laws? I use the Bible as it was intended, a guide or manual. It's also kind of a map, because not all people who claim to be Christian really know what that means. We can only identify them and know what to look for if we have read and studied in the Bible ourselves. Jesus said there would be many confused ones, there will be people who follow men who claim to represent him, but who will actually mislead the sheep, because the devise their own teachings based loosely on the Bible. We can only know if someone is teaching their own interpretations or the truths of the Bible, if we ourselves know what the Bible says. You think I go too deep or extreme? Isn't that what God wants us to do? To get deeper into the meaning of what his words mean for us? I get what other people are saying. Do they get how they might be understood by someone else? I ask questions if I see a possible connection with my own understanding of the Bible and what someone might be saying.

I apologize if you are offended by my method of picking the scriptures apart, but that's how I was taught to learn the Bible. Whenever there is a question or situation, I go to the Bible and find every scripture and story that may apply or use the same language and get the sense of the importance of it. To learn how it could apply to my own attitude, behavior, choices, the way I treat others, how I speak, even how I develop my conscience so that I'm not so likely to give into wrongdoing. For instance, I know that if I willingly and repeatedly (practice) have sex with anyone that I'm not married to, then that would make me a fornicator and there is no sacrifice left for me if I apply the sense of the scripture at (Heb 10:26). All "Christians" should know that. Yet, sex is the #1 subject on this so-called "Christian" country's mind.


Once we come to know the God of the Bible, Jehovah God, and his son, Christ Jesus, we can't afford to make foolish mistakes, believing that 'once saved always saved'. We are supposed to, expected to learn and grow to get away from the weak and harmful thinking of the world. To stop being part of it. I'm just looking for conversation with people who appreciate God and seek to serve him in the same way I do.

 

[FORHISGLORY]

We are tested ! James chapter 1 is a good passage on this topic. Our faith is tested. Our conforming to the image of Christ(Romans 8:29)is what is important. Paul would say our purpose is: to know Him ! (Phil.)

 

[BlessedLovedByGod]

God allows trials in our lives for our own good. I thank God for every trial. Its another opportunity for God to show another miracle in my life. There is a hidden blessing in every trial. I was diagnosed with slipped disc last year. It was very painful I couldnt sleep for days. I was crawling in pain just to reach the bathroom. But God did not leave me.
My sickness brought back my good relationship with my mom and my brother. He created a miracle when he healed me. I feel so blessed and loved by all the people who came to visit me. To bring me food, meds, financial support, free services, inspirational stories, bible verses and more. I was only in the hospital for a day last years easter sunday but it didnt matter. My room is filled with 20 visitors. I feel so loved and blessed.

We are saved, we are tested to be Blessed.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

- unknown



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New International Version (©2011)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."[/TD]
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It seems that if someone that has come to know (understand who he is) God and living "good" and "right" according to God, that he wouldn't need to test them further, partly, because he's not a sadist, and because He already saved them.

Is it unreasonable for me to be thinking like this?

 

[mudgeon]

Some - especially non-believers - consider a God who for his own pleasure frequently "tests" his followers as a sadists, and they're right for doing so. When apostle James talks of one's faith being tried, we should read here that life itself is the one doing the 'trying.' I mean, you're not going to tell me that every infection that leads to disease, every physical injury, every job loss and other mishaps are God's means to test our faith, will you?

I'm all for serving God, but believe we shouldn't see His Hand everywhere in our lives. The Bible, I believe, has it that He intervenes more in extraordinary situations than otherwise. See Job's story: he was alright until God decided to test him, at the devil's suggestion. Methinks He would have allowed Job to life a pleasant life until his death were it not for Old Nick!

Also, no one is saved until his earthly life is over. Saved people dwell in heaven. You can't be breathing and pretend you're saved.

 

[Sweetpea20]

Its normal to ask this. Why are we being tested.. Well Jesus was tested many times. In the end he gave his Testimony. Its important to be tested and tried. its not easy at all. Our faith gets tested to see if we can overcome it.