Can you want to be saved and not be?

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Dec 30, 2020
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#41
When Jehovah's Witnesses come knocking on my door, I welcome them with open arms. Then I ask them about their success rate from intruding in people's lives. Not too good. They think that they can work themselves to heaven. I then explain the Gospel to them and that the best way to spread the Gospel is to your friends , family, and acquaintances. They will receive you much better than a stranger and be more receptive to what you have to say. They will be even more receptive when they observe the love that is in your heart for God and people (including yourself). Don't judge yourself by the trials you go through but by the degree of confidence you have that you are a child of God and He will always be there with you through trials and through them help you to grow. Do what God wants you to do which is to love Him and those He loves which is everyone else including you. If you have that love, you will know because you feel it. It's like God created humanity with a free will and the ability to reproduce like kind. Unfortunately , they proved a defective heart (which guided their behavior). All descendants of Adam and Eve are born with this defect.

Romans 5: 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

In the Father's kingdom there is perfect justice and mercy. The wages of sin is death and punishment. Since we are born with a defective heart that leads us to sin, we are all doomed. His choices are save everyone, save no one, or save a few. If He saved everyone, their would not be perfect Justice in His kingdom. If He saved no one, He would not be a merciful God. His only option is to save a few throughout the history of mankind.
The Father's plan was to have a human who was sinless to obediently expose himself to the punishment of death so that life will be owed to Him because of the perfect Justice which is demanded by the Father.
Jesus' death wipes out all our sins but our hearts are still defective. God takes care of that by reprogramming our hearts by filling it with love through His Holy Spirit. This is what perfects us and makes us acceptable to Him. We are no longer under the letter of the Law but under the Spirit of the Law. When you make choices with love in your heart, you will be obeying His commandments. If you have that love, you will know it because you can feel it. If you can't feel it, you don't have it and you need to pray to our Father that He will grant you His Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the same love that He shares with Jesus. It's a wonderful feeling having that love and knowing that being guided by His Holy Spirit in love means you are doing His will. It's not what you can do but what He can do through us.
 
M

MoonCresta

Guest
#42
I'm wondering, if its possible for God to ignore your pleas for salvation and willingness to be his? I know salvation isnt based on works but it still feels like I'm not doing enough or am enough to be saved, or the things I cant do are holding me back from it.
Kojikun - I think my brevity will be your friend here.

Salvation is a gift from God. Jesus paid the price when hanging on the cross - you don't have to want salvation - it's all yours sweetie when you repent of your sins and believe that Jesus will save you. Believe that and no matter what Satan tells you or the world or whatever questions pop into your head - always remember that. We could NEVER earn our salvation.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
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#43
Hey Koji,

I'm sorry to bump an older thread...

Was just wondering how you've been doing lately?

I hope your recovery is going well!
 

Kojikun

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2018
4,658
2,719
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#45
Hey Koji,

I'm sorry to bump an older thread...

Was just wondering how you've been doing lately?

I hope your recovery is going well!
Physically good, but mentally I'm spiralling into deep depression. Prayers please.
 

ankagirl

Active member
Feb 10, 2021
125
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#46
I am legitimately concerned about my salvation. Thankfully there are people here willing to help. I am grateful to them and I have no deceitful intentions if that's what you mean. I have very few places to turn to to discuss these type of questions. If I'm going to get heckled here I will find another Christian forum.
If you have put your trust in Christ as your Savior, them there is no doubt that you are saved. A good sermon to listen to is
. God bless you on your journey!
 

brighthouse98

Senior Member
Apr 16, 2015
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#47
Can you want to go into a candy store without going in?? hehe Your will decides your outcome.
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,162
2,380
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#49
I'm wondering, if its possible for God to ignore your pleas for salvation and willingness to be his? I know salvation isn't based on works but it still feels like I'm not doing enough or am enough to be saved, or the things I cant do are holding me back from it.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." - John 6:44

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

Neither you nor anyone else could come to Christ unless the Father is doing the drawing.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship c through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves"

"In him we were also chosen, e having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."

The word 'proorizo' translated as 'predestined' means to 'mark out before hand,' and that before the world began. The believer doesn't just decide one day that he/she is going to believe in Christ, but was chosen and marked out before the world began, to be holy and blameless in His sight. Not that we are holy and blameless in our own right, but when we believed we were credited with the Lord's righteousness and reconciled to God through Christ. As we continue from faith to faith, we are being transformed into the image of Christ. Furthermore, other scriptures state that those whom God chose, their names were written in the book of life before the world began. Likewise, there were names that weren't written.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

If you are already a believer, then spend time in His word and in prayer. Pray that God would bless you with the opportunity for good works. Just remember that we are not saved by them. Rather seek to do good works to glorify God in the name of our Lord Jesus. And He also says that by our good works, that we are building up our treasures in heaven.

And as another poster already said, you could never do enough good works to be saved. It is our faith in what Christ did that saves us.
 

Kojikun

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2018
4,658
2,719
113
#50
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." - John 6:44

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

Neither you nor anyone else could come to Christ unless the Father is doing the drawing.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship c through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves"

"In him we were also chosen, e having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."

The word 'proorizo' translated as 'predestined' means to 'mark out before hand,' and that before the world began. The believer doesn't just decide one day that he/she is going to believe in Christ, but was chosen and marked out before the world began, to be holy and blameless in His sight. Not that we are holy and blameless in our own right, but when we believed we were credited with the Lord's righteousness and reconciled to God through Christ. As we continue from faith to faith, we are being transformed into the image of Christ. Furthermore, other scriptures state that those whom God chose, their names were written in the book of life before the world began. Likewise, there were names that weren't written.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

If you are already a believer, then spend time in His word and in prayer. Pray that God would bless you with the opportunity for good works. Just remember that we are not saved by them. Rather seek to do good works to glorify God in the name of our Lord Jesus. And He also says that by our good works, that we are building up our treasures in heaven.

And as another poster already said, you could never do enough good works to be saved. It is our faith in what Christ did that saves us.
Well than I definitely pray that I'm one of the chosen :) I know I cant earn my way (which is a good thing) I'm just very emotional sometimes 😭
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,162
2,380
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#51
Well than I definitely pray that I'm one of the chosen :) I know I cant earn my way (which is a good thing) I'm just very emotional sometimes 😭
Believing that you are saved because it is the Lord's word, is part of having faith. After we receive Him as Lord, then we begin the life-long process of being transformed into His image. You can know that you are saved if you are trusting in Him as the one who shed His blood for you. And because the Lord was resurrected immortal and glorified, you can also have this hope and is what are believers are watching and waiting for.

"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast."
 

brighthouse98

Senior Member
Apr 16, 2015
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#53
What that means good Kojikun is Let us say I ask you to go with me to a store,you want to go to a store anyway then you will go with me is the point.What one wants badly enough to do,no matter what others say, you will do as you wish. And this dear brothers and sisters is the beginning of a leader,not a follower! I will make my own gain and mistakes,and never have to say I should never have listened to him or her! This is also the start of ones true character to me.
 

Kojikun

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2018
4,658
2,719
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#54
What that means good Kojikun is Let us say I ask you to go with me to a store,you want to go to a store anyway then you will go with me is the point.What one wants badly enough to do,no matter what others say, you will do as you wish. And this dear brothers and sisters is the beginning of a leader,not a follower! I will make my own gain and mistakes,and never have to say I should never have listened to him or her! This is also the start of ones true character to me.
Soo your saying if I want to be saved I will be? 🤔 (is a leader a good thing in this scenario? Because I believe we are called to be followers of God)
 

brighthouse98

Senior Member
Apr 16, 2015
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#55
Very Good Kojikun! As a King which our Good Lord is,he will appoint people to help guide others to him,that is us! As an ambassador to our King,we must first learn from him, and use his words not ours.( Rom 8:14-16) and ( 1 John 2:27) Remember Moses,he did not become a sheep,but rather a tender of the sheep. So it is with us,as the Lord leads!
 

brighthouse98

Senior Member
Apr 16, 2015
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#57
I know are feeling low at this time!! This is a test!! FEAR NOT!!!! ONLY BELIEVE!!!( Mark 5:36 and Luke 8:50!!)
 

EnglishChick

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2021
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England UK
#58
Koji,

My goodness. With all the medical challenges you have already been through and are going through now, it's no wonder why you feel so anxious and weary. I certainly would be, too.

There is actually a lot that you share in your posts that I can relate to. I grew up in, and am still part of, church denominations that believe someone can be of the faith, but choose to walk away. On the other hand, I have very dear friends whom I highly respect who believe in once saved, always saved, but after years of studying on my own, I have never been able to accept that for my own self. This is NOT a criticism to anyone who believes in once saved, always saved -- it's just something that for me, personally, has never "stuck." In all honesty, it's probably for my own protection because like you, I struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts.

I wish I could bring myself to believe in once saved, always saved, but if I truly did, I would then see suicide as a viable option. Instead, I was raised to believe that it is an immediate ticket to hell.

When I was in Lutheran school, we used to ask our pastors and teachers questions such as: If a Christian (let's raise the stakes and say it's a pastor,) is purposely speeding in his car (clearly sinning by breaking the law,) then gets into a crash and dies, will he still go to heaven?

If I could go back, I would give the story a modern-day twist -- If a married pastor was text flirting with his young secretary whom he had a crush on but had not committed a physical sin with (yet,) then got into a crash and died, would he still go to heaven?

The pastors and teachers could never give us a straight answer. All they could say was, "God knows your heart; God is sovereign; God will make a just judgment."

From what I understand, my friends who believe in once saved, always saved, would say that if either or both of the pastors were truly saved then nothing could keep them from entering into heaven; but if they didn't go to heaven, that just means they were never saved to begin with.

I try to understand, and I try to accept, but something holds me back, too. I'm not sure what that is.

Because of things like this, I struggle with the assurance of salvation constantly, just like you. And I would struggle even more so if I had been through half of what you've been through and was facing a life-threatening medical condition, especially at such ay oung age. You are extremely courageous, and my heart truly goes out to you. I'm sorry I can't offer much wisdom about the physical obstacles you are fighting, but I am very familiar with what you describe as your spiritual battle.

I'm sorry that this post might not be very helpful -- Cinder and Platosgirl gave you some excellent feedback, so I hope what they said helps.

I truly apologize for not being able to write something more upbeat, but what I really wanted to express is that you are not the only one who struggles with such thoughts -- not at all.

I will keep you in my prayers -- that God will give you peace, excellent medical care, healing, and reassurance that you are His child, because of your heart's desire to follow Him -- and nothing will keep you from His presence.

God bless you, Koji, and please keep us posted on how things are going.
I have been through this exact same struggle
 
M

MoonCresta

Guest
#59
I'm wondering, if its possible for God to ignore your pleas for salvation and willingness to be his? I know salvation isnt based on works but it still feels like I'm not doing enough or am enough to be saved, or the things I cant do are holding me back from it.

Hey Koji - ok, you've got three pages of conversation going on this topic and I don't think I've seen a direct answer to your question, which is what you probably need the most right now.

NO. No, God will not ignore your pleas for salvation, if you ask him to forgive you of your sins and live for him from this moment forward.

Any thoughts that tell you that God is not listening, that you've made him angry just one too many times - these thoughts come directly from Satan, who is trying desperately to discourage you. Pray continually/constantly to overcome these thoughts.

And I will pray for you in your illness right now. I pray that you do recover, and that God will use your recovery to be a great witness for his glory! Rest easy in the knowledge that he is in charge, no matter what happens and that your soul will be with him for eternity. Ten thousand years will not be long enough to praise him for what he has done for you. God bless you!