Assurance of Salvation

I'm not sure if this the right place to post this, but I wanted to give this a shot.

I grew up in a Christian family. I was supposedly saved when I was young. I don't remember that, but I do remember being baptized. Regardless, I am trusting in Jesus, but I can't put a date on when I was really saved and I hate that. I have prayed the sinners prayer many times (I know it's not the prayer that saves). I know I am a sinner in need of Jesus for salvation and I am trusting in Him as Lord and Savior and am following Him. And yet, I can't get a sense of assurance of salvation.

I truly feel like God has been working in my life lately. A certain event happened about a year ago that I feel was God getting my attention. And get my attention He did and since then I feel He has been working in my life. I've gotten more involved in church: I attend most services, participate in our prayer services and meetings, go out on our evangelism events, made myself pray out loud and lead in prayer because I felt He was leading me to do that. And I know none of these works save me. It's what Jesus did. I feel He has been working in my life, and I have been putting in a real effort to seek Him. And yet, I can't get an assurance of salvation.

Instead I have this constant anxiety. At one moment, I feel like I'm not saved and feel anxious about that. Another moment I feel I'm saved but am anxious because I feel I've sinned by saying some like, "today was a great day" to someone when in reality it was a good day, so I feel I lied and need to ask for forgiveness and go to that person and be like, "yeah I lied when I said it was a great day, it was actually a good day" and that will eat at me and eat at me. In all this, I don't know if this is God prompting me, or if the enemy at work, or if it's my own heart condemning me. And it's just wearing on me to the point I feel I can't do this Christian walk. But I refuse to turn away.

I know a big part of my questioning of salvation is the fact I don't have a date to my salvation and don't have the, "I realized I wasn't saved and then trusted in the Lord and then my life was transformed" story. And I feel other Christians are so much more spiritual than me so that makes me question things.

I'm just very exhausted and am reaching out to fellow believers for encouragement and advice, and to see if any of you have struggled too. I apologize if this is posted in the wrong place.

Wrote this awhile back, maybe it will help you

1 Peter, Chapter 1:



Reading this Chapter earlier (pain woke me up about midnight) I was smiling quite a lot. There are so many points of interest in this one Chapter that touch on so many different arguments/theologies, that it took me by surprise. I won't go into great detail on all of them, just highlight the points of interest, and maybe a short reference/comment. That way, y'all can read and decide for yourselves if the verses I highlighted are actually relevant to the arguments/theologies suggested.
1 .) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 .) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

[speaks of "foreknowledge, not predestined]

3 .) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

[reveals, in fact, that Jesus was resurrected, and thus defeated death and the grave]

4 .) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

[says that our "inheritance" is reserved in "heaven" for us]

5 .) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

[Matthew 24:13)But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

6 .) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 .) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


[confirms that we will face temptations and trials in this life but we should still praise and honor Jesus Christ]

8 .) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

[Jesus also mentions us in His prayer found in John 17: 20) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

9 .) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

[salvation comes by grace through faith]

10 .) Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 .) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

[confirms why the Old Testament is relevant today, and should be studied, for even back then, long before Jesus took upon Himself the image of man, Gods salvation plan was in motion, and it was being prophesied of]

12 .) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

[confirms the existence of the Holy Ghost who was sent by God]

13 .) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 .) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 .) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 .) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

[confirms that it is possible for Christians to be holy]

17 .) And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

[just gonna say this one will have some here "running for the Rolaids ]

18 .) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 .) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

[confirms we were, in fact, redeemed]

20 .) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 .) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 .) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

[confirms it is important to obey and to love one another with a pure love]

23 .) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

[confirms we are, in fact, born again, of incorruptible seed]

24 .) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 .) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

[confirms that Gods Word will endure forever, so don't worry so much about which Translation you read, Gods Word will endure]

Salvation happens in your spirit so its expected that you cannot feel your own salvation, since feeling is in the realm of the soul.

But you can be rest assured that, as long as you followed 1 Cor 15:1-4, you believed that Jesus died for your sins and rose again from the dead 3 days later, your spirit is now reborn and the Holy Spirit has now taken residence with your own spirit.

You cannot "feel" it, but you will be glad to know that your spirit always believes the Word of God.

Yeah.. I know what you are feeling. My anxieties get the better of me. Sometimes I think.. am I really saved?

Like you say.. I've prayed the sinners prayer. But yeah it's up to God whether I was saved at that point.

Assurance though I see in Roman's 10, 9-10 ..

John 3:16, 5:24 among many verses

Gods truth.. the comfort of the scriptures needs to get into the heart to settle the anxieties.

Blessings

Satan wants us to doubt, if he can get us to doubt, he prety much takes us out of the war (spiritual)because we will be in effective. If we are doubting, we can not go deep into battle,

it’s because of this he tears down assurance, tears down the thought that we can “know we have eternal life” as John said and because of this, be empowered to continue to have faith, he tears down the thought that he will never leave or forsake us for any reason, he will put in our heads thoughts like, but we can leave him, and turn is to performance based salvation, get us to look at our life and say look what you have done, you think God will save you, ha! Your fooling yourself .

he has done this to me, still does it. We must look to Grace and keep pushing, because our salvation is based on Gods promise, not on how good we are (we can never be good enough) and in pushing and seeking to love others and seek after the spirit, we can be used mightily of God and perform our purpose, which is to reach thenworld.

Jesus says whoever believes has eternal life. You would not be able to believe in any true sense had he not saved you. Faith is proof you have the Holy Spirit. Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22 (KJV 1900)

Look at your faith as evidence God saved you.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV 1900)

I have very good news for you, my friend. Jesus loves you and He did it all. Salvation is so drop dead simple... Just surrender completely to Him. Any child can do this. Jesus wants all of us to just come as we are.

There is one thing that people forget about that greatly hinders their peace and assurance; Satan is REAL. He can steal your peace. He cannot steal you salvation, but he can steal your peace.

1 Peter 5
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
5:11 To him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Godspeed, my brother.

Salvation is based upon two conditions: (1) repentance toward God and (2) faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. So ask yourself some questions (not for public consumption):

1. Have I fully turned away from my sins and idols?

2. Have I believed with my whole heart that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed God who became sinless Man to die for my sins?

3. Have I believed with my whole heart that all my sins were laid on Christ and that He paid the full penalty for my sins at the cross?

4. Have I believed with my whole heart that Christ rose again the third day for my justification, and that God has justified me by His grace because I have believed on His Son?

5. Have I received Christ into my heart as BOTH Lord and Savior?

6. Have I been baptized as a believer, and made a public profession of my faith in Christ?

7. Have I fully surrendered my life to God and Christ, and always seek to do God's will?

8. Do I know that I have been born again, and that my life reflects that I am a new creature in Christ?

9. Do I know without the shadow of a doubt that when I repented God forgave all my past sins?

10. Am I walking in the Spirit and not doing the works of the flesh (the sin nature)?

CC Forums is a glass house. That is a good thing. That is what makes it so useful. Accountability is a good thing. This IS for public consumption.

I do believe this is a weakness of mine: not having God's word in my heart. I do read my pray and read my Bible every day (I'm on a 1 year reading plan). I am trying to dedicate myself to memorizing scripture verse/verses every week as well.

The enemy is strong. I have wondered if this is him attacking me. Not liking the fact that God has been at work in my life and I have been responding.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it.

Well, seeing that the LORD is a God of truth then you do yourself no service by lying.

However, to answer your question regarding your question inability to hold on to the assurance of salvation.

Based upon what you said my diagnosis is that you are suffering from what is called DM affliction. There is a simple test which is freely given and can be administered that can rule out the diagnosis.

Simply hold your left arm out in front of you with your bare hand palm side up. Then turn your left hand palm side down. And then turn your left hand with your palm facing upward. And relax.

Based upon the description of your symptoms then I think you will see that I had not written you because you don't know the truth but because you know the truth and no lie is of the truth. And in such, you see in your hand what those who aren't saved can't see in theirs. Script

One either believes Jesus and trusts in the Atonement He secured by His death on the cross to pay the penalty for their sins... Or they don't..

There are a lot of people who base their assurance of salvation on how worthy of salvation they are currently feeling.. This in spirit is an expression of the works salvation mindset..

Best thing is to focus on the Awesome perfection of the Gospel of the LORD Jesus and trust that it is HIS Righteousness that determines the effectiveness of His Atonement for us.. The more we place our hopes in Jesus the more assurance we shall Have of Salvation.. The more we place it on our performance in life, thus our worthiness then without a doubt our assurance will evaporate into the either...

Believe in Jesus..
Not in yourself..

A thing I read recently.. people sort of have 'lizard' brain.. where emotions and feelings can be too much..flight or fight..and then the other side is more nous.. logical.. reasoned.

People tend to go into the lizard brain mode more than the other side.

Gods Word engages both sides of the brain.. emotion and reason.. to settle, calm and assure us.

But yeah in that anxious state.. it takes a while to calm. The lizard brain flight or flight mode puts adrenalin thru our system

If you want assurance about your salvation. begin from the beginning. First of all take a look at the gospel of Christ. I will post it here.
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Paul received this gospel from Christ himself.
(Gal 1:11) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
(Gal 1:12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
So Paul is not the focus, he was only chosen by God to be an apostle and preach the gospel of God.
You need to ask yourself one question. When have I believed this gospel for my salvation?

When sinners hear the gospel and believe it they get saved and sealed as in Paul's day and its the same for today.
(Eph 1:13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
You need to believe this gospel alone for your salvation. the assurance comes when you believe and get saved.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

All the assurance of salvation that we need is found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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. (NKJV)

What verse in the scriptures did you read about the 'lizard' brain?

True, the Word engages both sides of the conscious brain, but double minded is not result of man being conscious of his having the mind of Christ but when man believes his conscious mind is the mind of Christ.

Yeah just something I read.. lizard brain isn't in scripture..just a tendency in some to be in that mode more than think things thru. Happens to some with anxious thoughts

Anyway.. it's the comfort of the scriptures to go to for assurance