Assurance of salvation

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Sep 3, 2016
6,337
527
113
#41
It is a very small remnant in the earth today that carries the testimony of the cross of Jesus Christ in their daily lives. Luke 1:74-75, 1 Peter 5:10, Romans 8:16
 

Truth7t7

Well-known member
May 19, 2020
7,685
2,492
113
#42
Hello again Truth7t7, there can be no doubt that lying to the HS is a HORRIBLE idea for any believer/at any time (of course, no one except a believer would lie to Him because unbelievers have nothing to do with Him), but I think that this business with Ananias and Sapphire was particularly concerning and heinous because it happened during the earliest days of church (when it was still being established).

As for the two of them not being able to repent before the Lord took their lives, we cannot know that they did not (that God did not give them the chance to do so), but even if He didn't, as believers, they still had Jesus as their Advocate (as you just pointed out for us above).

Question, if a true believer sins, but then dies suddenly (of a heart attack or in a car crash, for instance), and they had not yet repented of their most recent sin, do you believe that God will judge and condemn them to the Lake of Fire as a result :unsure:

Thanks :)

God bless you!

~Deut
I believe if God intended for it to be a temporal punishment, he could have blinded them, or some other thing.for a couple months?

Immediately after they spoke, they gave up the ghost?

It's a mystery indeed, I see a judgement for lying to God, and liars go to the lake not filled with cool water.

Thanks for the response, I'm out (y)
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,659
589
113
#43
I always wonder how some can say "most" as a statement. Now saying the people I have talked to MOST of them give John 3 16/Rom 10 9-10 Rev 3 20 as to why they are saved.. I can say is true. Then the doctrines of man come into play about always saved or you can lose your salvation etc. Yet it keeps going. We then hear.. how we all care what the bible only says not some *ism. Yet some of these bible only (which I agree YES) posts can also fit some *ism group :)

Most, some, all, few ect. This just gets silly. There are over 7 billion people in the world and what something like 29+ million Churches and then believers in Jesus Christ will say "most, all, some, few" and not blink a eye. For me how is that lol not lying? My point is some talk about dying and not repenting. We do know that if God tells us to do something and we don't equals sin right? Not sure how far "I didn't believe that" will take you with God but.. you can try.

The the predestination. Awesome that even Christ presented a choice to His believers. The call to repentance is universal. Limiting this call to a predetermined elect seem to conflict with many scriptures. I have these books that brake down Hebrew Greek. And with Rom 8 here.. they explain all the views on this verse. This is one of those verses you just can't simple speak and.. clear huh! haha.

We know God is GOD because He is the only one that tells you whats coming. That does not mean everything that happens He did. Remember no one here can save you/me. Not sure how Calvin could read the word tell you what he believed is false. Yet others can read the same and state something different is the real truth. Not saying Calvin was right or wrong or any other.

In this post is why I always pray "Father forgive me for all the things I did that I don't remember and hold them not to my charge/account in Jesus name". Because I know I am sure I thought something said something didn't pray when He asked or just praying always and praying about all things as we are told to. In the end all we will see is EVERYONE fallen before Him and HE alone is standing. He alone is righteous and true. Can't wait
 

Truth7t7

Well-known member
May 19, 2020
7,685
2,492
113
#44
Hello again Truth7t7, there can be no doubt that lying to the HS is a HORRIBLE idea for any believer/at any time (of course, no one except a believer would lie to Him because unbelievers have nothing to do with Him), but I think that this business with Ananias and Sapphire was particularly concerning and heinous because it happened during the earliest days of church (when it was still being established).

As for the two of them not being able to repent before the Lord took their lives, we cannot know that they did not (that God did not give them the chance to do so), but even if He didn't, as believers, they still had Jesus as their Advocate (as you just pointed out for us above).

Question, if a true believer sins, but then dies suddenly (of a heart attack or in a car crash, for instance), and they had not yet repented of their most recent sin, do you believe that God will judge and condemn them to the Lake of Fire as a result :unsure:

Thanks :)

God bless you!

~Deut
Got under my skin, and the verse below came to mind, I believe it directly applies to Ananias, with Sapphira, from the mouth of God Almighty, Jesus Christ (y)

Luke 12:10KJV
10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
 

Truth7t7

Well-known member
May 19, 2020
7,685
2,492
113
#45
It is a very small remnant in the earth today that carries the testimony of the cross of Jesus Christ in their daily lives. Luke 1:74-75, 1 Peter 5:10, Romans 8:16
Do you believe one specific group holds this testimony?

Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, Mormons, Lutheran's, Baptist, Other?
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
3,246
3,579
113
67
#46
Got under my skin, and the verse below came to mind, I believe it directly applies to Ananias, with Sapphira, from the mouth of God Almighty, Jesus Christ (y)

Luke 12:10KJV
10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
Hi Truth7t7, I don't believe that lying ~to~ the HS is quite the same thing as intentionally lying ~about~ the HS (speaking against Him/blasphemy against Him, etc.). We should all be thankful that the unpardonable sin has been so narrowly & precisely defined for us (though many still try to expand its definition anyway :oops:), and lying, even to the HS, is not it .. as lying is a sin which can be forgiven.

Finally, I'm not arguing about the fate of Ananias and Sapphire in an attempt to change anyone's mind, I'm just pointing out what I've come to understand/believe about them and why (realizing that I could be wrong, because we simply do not have enough information about them).

~Deut

Mark 3
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness*, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” ... (or as Matthew 12:32b puts it):
*"...whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#47
Once again, you need to go by what is in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Therefore your understanding is dangerously flawed. Calvinists believe in the absolute assurance of salvation (as do many other Christians).

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation

I. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation (which hope of theirs shall perish): yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.

II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God,which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.

III. This infallible assurance does not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties, before he be partaker of it: yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; so far is it from inclining men to looseness.

IV. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light: yet are they never so utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may, in due time, be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
We should all see the issue when we have a ' confession' that some are posting as a response . We would all have an issue with this if we were talking to a Jehovah witness and they kept responding with their magazine articles or they just showed you there statement of their beliefs from the watchtower. Why have we accepted this in Christianity as if its not a problem.?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,636
13,035
113
#48
We should all see the issue when we have a ' confession' that some are posting as a response . We would all have an issue with this if we were talking to a Jehovah witness and they kept responding with their magazine articles or they just showed you there statement of their beliefs from the watchtower. Why have we accepted this in Christianity as if its not a problem.?
What kind of gobbledygook is that? You have claimed that Calvinists do not believe in assurance of salvation. The Westminster Confession TOTALLY REFUTES that. Which means that you do not have a leg to stand on.

And to bring the Watchtower into this discussion simply adds insult to injury. Clearly I am not a Calvinist. By the same token I will not misrepresent what they teach. Also a "Confession of Faith" is simply a Statement of Faith. All churches need a statement of faith, and Reformed and Presbyterian churches have this Statement of Faith.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#49
Keep crying out for repentance and faith, if given you'll know. For whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Yes another glaring gaff in Calvinism . God demands , commands and calls for man to repent and believe ,to obey the Gospel . But withholds the very means for some to be able to do so . In any other system this blunder would be exposed and the whole thing rejected upon first hearing as nonsense . But here we are today. Men parroting other men who are parroting other men ,all the way back to Augustine.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#50
What kind of gobbledygook is that? You have claimed that Calvinists do not believe in assurance of salvation. The Westminster Confession TOTALLY REFUTES that. Which means that you do not have a leg to stand on.

And to bring the Watchtower into this discussion simply adds insult to injury. Clearly I am not a Calvinist. By the same token I will not misrepresent what they teach. Also a "Confession of Faith" is simply a Statement of Faith. All churches need a statement of faith, and Reformed and Presbyterian churches have this Statement of Faith.
You don't have to be a calvinist to have absorbed calvnistic presups . Its permeated its way not just into reformed traditions . Its seaped into most traditions unwittingly.
I see a lot of folks have given up their sense making to a system .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#51
What kind of gobbledygook is that? You have claimed that Calvinists do not believe in assurance of salvation. The Westminster Confession TOTALLY REFUTES that. Which means that you do not have a leg to stand on.

And to bring the Watchtower into this discussion simply adds insult to injury. Clearly I am not a Calvinist. By the same token I will not misrepresent what they teach. Also a "Confession of Faith" is simply a Statement of Faith. All churches need a statement of faith, and Reformed and Presbyterian churches have this Statement of Faith.
Sure someone can point to a confession and ' say ' , " see we believe in assurance of salvation ,it says in paragraph such and such ,that we do "
But my point is more about how can they have assurance in reality according to the logical conclusion of the system . I think the Op shows they cannot. Thats my point .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#52
What kind of gobbledygook is that? You have claimed that Calvinists do not believe in assurance of salvation. The Westminster Confession TOTALLY REFUTES that. Which means that you do not have a leg to stand on.

And to bring the Watchtower into this discussion simply adds insult to injury. Clearly I am not a Calvinist. By the same token I will not misrepresent what they teach. Also a "Confession of Faith" is simply a Statement of Faith. All churches need a statement of faith, and Reformed and Presbyterian churches have this Statement of Faith.
As an aside, similarly Calvinists do this with the problem of ' is God the Author of sin ' . The response is " no hes not ,look in this confession ,it says ' God is not the Author of sin ' " . Ok that cleared that up then .
 

DiscipleA

Active member
Apr 17, 2020
160
39
28
Northeast Pennsylvania USA
#53
What kind of gobbledygook is that? You have claimed that Calvinists do not believe in assurance of salvation. The Westminster Confession TOTALLY REFUTES that. Which means that you do not have a leg to stand on.

And to bring the Watchtower into this discussion simply adds insult to injury. Clearly I am not a Calvinist. By the same token I will not misrepresent what they teach. Also a "Confession of Faith" is simply a Statement of Faith. All churches need a statement of faith, and Reformed and Presbyterian churches have this Statement of Faith.
First of all, please dial it down on the gobbledygook. Please be respectful.

Also, if you're not part of a certain group (example Calvinist) how can you say what they believe or don't believe? Besides, even within a group not everyone believes the entire doctrine of their own group down to the letter as you find the supposed doctrine spelled out on some website or in some book or whatever. There were even different ideas and beliefs among the early Christians:

Acts 15:1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

We all have different beliefs. Some heavier than others. There is no need to bring up the entire doctrine of any certain group. If you want to discuss a certain topic, it can be done in a more general sense that can benefit everyone.

you need to go by what is in the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Yeah....um...no. Don't we need to go by what is in the Bible?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#54
Keep crying out for repentance and faith, if given you'll know. For whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
I'll await to hear what your answer to what are we predestined for ?,from what the bible says please ?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#56
Only a saved person can persevere.
I think this makes my point, if I understand you. But why do you HAVE to persevere ? I understand the 'no true Scotsmen fallacy ' all good godly Christian s will do good and Godly things and those that don't are not real christians ,otherwise they would do good godly things. So as long as I do good Godly things I can be assured I'm Godly ,therefore once this changes I must not be good and Godly . Therefore proving I wasn't good and Godly from the beginning . Darn it ! I thought I was ' elect '. Hey ho , what can you do .let's eat ,drink tomorrow we die .
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,189
113
#57
I think this makes my point, if I understand you. But why do you HAVE to persevere ? I understand the 'no true Scotsmen fallacy ' all good godly Christian s will do good and Godly things and those that don't are not real christians ,otherwise they would do good godly things. So as long as I do good Godly things I can be assured I'm Godly ,therefore once this changes I must not be good and Godly . Therefore proving I wasn't good and Godly from the beginning . Darn it ! I thought I was ' elect '. Hey ho , what can you do .let's eat ,drink tomorrow we die .
I don't know why you would need to add anything to what I said. You obviously don't understand.

Only a saved person perseveres.

This doesn't have ANYTHING to do with performance. I do good things. I do not so good things.

God is in charge of Salvation from start to finish. God doesn't start things that He doesn't finish.


I don't need to try and prove that God has saved me by doing some thing that is defined by YOU. I KNOW God has Saved me. I KNOW that He is the One who will Keep me in His Hands.

Even if I tried to do something to prove to you or myself that I am saved it would be a farce. Only God can prove to someone if they are Saved.



Like I said earlier, though, Not sure if you could apply this to all Calvinists. I'm different and I depart from some of their stuff.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#58
I don't know why you would need to add anything to what I said. You obviously don't understand.

Only a saved person perseveres.

This doesn't have ANYTHING to do with performance. I do good things. I do not so good things.

God is in charge of Salvation from start to finish. God doesn't start things that He doesn't finish.


I don't need to try and prove that God has saved me by doing some thing that is defined by YOU. I KNOW God has Saved me. I KNOW that He is the One who will Keep me in His Hands.

Even if I tried to do something to prove to you or myself that I am saved it would be a farce. Only God can prove to someone if they are Saved.



Like I said earlier, though, Not sure if you could apply this to all Calvinists. I'm different and I depart from some of their stuff.
If you'd asked me why do I have to persevere ? . I would answer I dont need to , Because My persevering has no bearing on me being glorified.
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,189
113
#59
If you'd asked me why do I have to persevere ? . I would answer I dont need to , Because My persevering has no bearing on me being glorified.
If your will and understanding is what caused your salvation to begin with then how is it possible that your will and understanding can't mess it up?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#60
If your will and understanding is what caused your salvation to begin with then how is it possible that your will and understanding can't mess it up?
My will and and understanding was not the cause of my salvation . See I think i see the issue again . You've been sold a bill of faulty goods . Some logical problems with what your saying . Do you understand cause and effect? salvation is God giving someone a Gift . And to recieve the gift GOD is pleased to give the gift to anyone Who believes . Faith is the access to the grace in which we stand .