How to deal with self doubt about your faith?

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Jul 28, 2021
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#42
I believe in Jesus. The doubts that have often come up is a questioning of the genuineness of my own faith. I’ve had the question of could I think I believe but be deceived about believing.

It says in Jeremiah 17:9:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/jer.17.9.esv
I’m not sure how I should interpret this verse from Jeremiah.

The book of 1 John I don’t understand fully. Some verses feel reassuring but other verses are not so comforting.

I want to know Jesus love for me. I have trouble with trusting him fully. I get worried he may turn me away . Still I never seen Jesus in the gospels reject or turn away a person who came to him sincerely which I have found comfort in.
Have you repented been born again?
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
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#43
I completely understand the golf reference. I am a golfer. :)

Regarding worthiness, as long as we always keep in mind that we are only worthy because God sees us in Christ. We have nothing to offer on our own.

.
I used to play golf.
Love it.
Played in a few charity games hosted by pro's.
I wasn't great. On my day I was very good, not on my day very bad.
Played in one with a pro who had played with Tiger and Faldo.
It was so funny. Maybe one day will tell you.
Alas I had to stop.
ACL/PCL injuries in both knees and cartilage removals as a youngster caught up with me. Wrecked my chance of a professional career in football.

Anyway I totally agree and I hope that point came accross from my post.

We are only worthy because God sees us in Christ and it has nothing to do with what we can offer. We have nothing to offer and if think we can then it's gonna blight our walk with Jesus. As I said a couple of posts in this thread seems to indicate we know we have if our works show it.

The focus should always be on Jesus and what he has done for us.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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#46
I was speaking of myself however when hearing that people who stop being Christian never were believers, the question of how would a Christian know they really believe came to mind. I think my own OCD likely contributes to questioning if I truly believe.
maybe they just meant they stopped going to church...lots of people go to church and dont really believe. eg they just go cos their family goes or their spouse goes.

I mean you know YOU believe right? lol you cant fake faith...God knows when you being dishonest
 

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
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#47
maybe they just meant they stopped going to church...lots of people go to church and dont really believe. eg they just go cos their family goes or their spouse goes.

I mean you know YOU believe right? lol you cant fake faith...God knows when you being dishonest
I’m not faking faith. I’m not sure why you said lol.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#48
I’m not faking faith. I’m not sure why you said lol.
well if you not faking faith then you have it

so why are you torturing yourself??? Be singleminded, not doubleminded.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#49
Faith can grow, sometimes it seems we dont have enough faith, but Jesus said we can have faith the size of a mustard seed and it could still move mountains. Faith is a living thing, faith is a gift.

If its not being used, then ask Him how to use it.
 

Rockson

Active member
Jul 24, 2021
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#50
How do you know you have faith in Jesus? This is a question that has often bothered me. I understand the Bible speaks on the importance of believing on Jesus. Does the Bible tell us how we know we believe?

In my own life I can see my faith in Christ. I’m not sure how I should respond when I have self doubt about the genuineness of my faith.
I'm not sure what you mean by asking how do you know your faith in genuine.

Are you meaning doubting that Jesus is even real?

Are you meaning you're not sure your commitment to him is strong enough?

Are you meaning you're not sure if Jesus has even received you?
 
Jul 28, 2021
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#51
I’ve asked Jesus to save me.
What have you asked Jesus to save you from? It sounds to me like your doubt may be due to the fact that you haven't actually repented and been born again. Are you born again?
 

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,266
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#53
I'm not sure what you mean by asking how do you know your faith in genuine.

Are you meaning doubting that Jesus is even real?

Are you meaning you're not sure your commitment to him is strong enough?

Are you meaning you're not sure if Jesus has even received you?
Mostly the last one.
 
Jul 28, 2021
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#54
From hell and to forgive me of my sins.
If you chief motivator is to be saved from hell, then I'm not surprised you are questioning if your faith is genuine.
 

Rockson

Active member
Jul 24, 2021
217
84
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#56
I was speaking of myself however when hearing that people who stop being Christian never were believers, the question of how would a Christian know they really believe came to mind. I think my own OCD likely contributes to questioning if I truly believe.
This way of saying, that people who stop being Christian never were believers, comes from a certain type of theology of once saved always saved. They have to give answer as to why some backslide away from the Christian life so they say they weren't believers to begin with. Mark 4 however states the seed of the word of God fell on different types of ground and Jesus said himself,

Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Mk 4:16

So if they received the word with joy and remained for a season that to mean to me that they did believe. But it's standing steadfast and enduring which needs to be understood. Now if you were to ask how do I know I'll do that? I'd think every day we just have to make that decision ourselves. So it's not do you have genuine faith? Well you do right now the word is in you and you're remaining in it. But are you going to make the decision tomorrow and the next day and the next day after that....to endure? The leads one into asking then what does it take to endure? Worship, praise, prayer, feeding one's spirit with the word of God daily and seeking to do his will. You do that now. It's up to you if you do that tomorrow, so yes....I'd say right now YOU HAVE, genuine faith and I wouldn't allow any thought that comes to my mind tell me anything different.
 
Jul 28, 2021
1,226
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#58
This way of saying, that people who stop being Christian never were believers, comes from a certain type of theology of once saved always saved. They have to give answer as to why some backslide away from the Christian life so they say they weren't believers to begin with. Mark 4 however states the seed of the word of God fell on different types of ground and Jesus said himself,

Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Mk 4:16

So if they received the word with joy and remained for a season that to mean to me that they did believe. But it's standing steadfast and enduring which needs to be understood. Now if you were to ask how do I know I'll do that? I'd think every day we just have to make that decision ourselves. So it's not do you have genuine faith? Well you do right now the word is in you and you're remaining in it. But are you going to make the decision tomorrow and the next day and the next day after that....to endure? The leads one into asking then what does it take to endure? Worship, praise, prayer, feeding one's spirit with the word of God daily and seeking to do his will. You do that now. It's up to you if you do that tomorrow, so yes....I'd say right now YOU HAVE, genuine faith and I wouldn't allow any thought that comes to my mind tell me anything different.
How many times can a person be saved?

.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,177
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#59
More importantly, is she born again? Baptism doesn't save.
no but baptism means shes watered in

eg you dont put a seed in bone dry ground and expect it to grow.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,177
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#60
do you guys actually know anything about gardening?

ok read the parable of the sower again