Is there hope for me ?

Hello everybody my name is Denis and im new to CC. I was raised Christian and i was baptized on a Christian summer camp as a child but when i turned 15 something changed and i started chasing a different lifestyle. This different lifestyle included substance abuse, sexual perversion and allot of blasphemy, i was talking against God while knowing the truth all along. Before not long ago i have turned to God again, started praying and i have seen positive changes in my life and myself but i have a hard time understanding what it means to be saved or how to love God. I have fear from him i know he is very alive but everything else feels very unknown to me. Im afraid that I'll be never saved and with that i wont be able to save anyone i love.Is it possible that the last 10 years that i was living in sin have broken me to a point of no return? Or am i just overthinking things like i tend to do?

"Is it possible that the last 10 years that i was living in sin have broken me to a point of no return?"

No! Nope!

It is amazing, it is true and it is hard to grasp with our minds, but no one is beyond the reach of our Lord.

There are people in the Bible who were in way deeper than you before being touched by God. The difficult part is forgiving yourself, our natures resist self-forgiveness for some reason and many of us have struggled with unnecessary guilt for years. Don't do that. YHWH gave us a way out of that trap through the blood of his Son. That is everything we need.

Hi, Denis.

First, let's determine what you need to be saved from.

Matthew 1

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Jesus came to save us from our sins, and that's what his name actually means.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2424/kjv/tr/0-1/

Jesus = "Jehovah is salvation"

How does he save us from our sins?

By becoming our scapegoat, or sin-bearer, or by taking our sins upon himself.

Isaiah 53

1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Do you believe this report that the prophet Isaiah prophesied in relation to Jesus Christ?

Do you believe that Jesus bore your griefs and carried your sorrows?

Do you believe that Jesus was wounded for your transgressions, was bruised for your iniquities, that the chastisement of your peace was upon him, and that by his stripes you are healed?

Do you believe that the LORD has laid upon Jesus your iniquities?

Do you believe that Jesus was stricken for your transgressions?

Do you believe that God made Jesus' soul an offering for your sin?

Do you believe that God was SATISFIED when he saw the travail of Jesus' soul in your place?

Do you believe that Jesus, God's righteous servant, has justified you by bearing your iniquities?

This is the only way that you can be saved.

If you believe these things, and if you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, then here's what you need to do to be saved:

Romans 10

6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

If you've done this, then you are saved by grace, through faith.

Seeker47 has given you some very good advice. For my 2 cents I'd just say to love the truth more than anything. His word, the Bible, is the ultimate truth. Make it a daily practice to be alone with God and read His word (especially the New Testament) and really listen to what He's saying to you. You won't find truth out there in the world. The world can never satisfy the deep-down longing for truth. Also make time to pray. Get honest and pour your heart out to Him. You'll discover His kindness and compassion toward you when you do this.

God bless, I'll be praying for you. It's never too late.

So i hope i got this right, bare with me please im having a bit of problem understanding the old English it says that : All of my sins were paid with the death of Jesus he was the ultimate sacrifice, i should believe this and preach it with words and actions and in return i will receive salvation. And 'Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)' means that i shouldn't ask myself who all is going (or if i am) to heaven but i should be asking myself when Christ is coming down ?

The doubt can be overwhelming and in that state i wrote this post, sometimes i feel close to God like after reading the Bible or having a really good prayer but sometimes doubt devours me and i think God has rejected me or he is unhappy with me. I will try and take your advice in bad times, i appreciate you taking the time of your day and replying. God bless you @Seeker47

Yes. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus shed his blood on the cross of Calvary that your sins might be remitted or forgiven. In other words, he took the punishment that you rightly deserved. You should definitely believe it and preach it. Your salvation was paid for on the cross of Calvary. If you have faith in that, then corresponding works or actions should follow what you believe. In other words, you should live a life that is in accordance with what you profess to believe in, but that is only possible by the grace of God which he supplies by the Holy Spirit. Nobody can live the way that God wants them to live in their own strength. Let me give you the full quote so that I might properly explain this to you.

Romans 10

5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

in this epistle, Paul was contrasting the Old Testament law and its form of righteousness with New Testament grace and its form of righteousness. In relation to the righteousness which is of the law, in verse 5, Paul quoted a verse from the Old Testament book of Leviticus.

Leviticus 18

5Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.

Under the Old Testament law, God required perfect obedience (the man who does these things, with the things being keeping his statutes and his judgments) in order for one to obtain righteousness, and nobody could live up to that standard other than Jesus himself when he came to this earth during his incarnation. For that reason, there was a priesthood instituted, with accompanying sacrifices for the sins that the people inevitably committed, and those sacrifices foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary which was later to come.

In relation to the New Testament and its form of righteousness, in verses 6-8, Paul quoted from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 30

11For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

When Moses said "Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it", Paul interpreted this to mean, in his parenthetical comment, "that is, to bring Christ down from above" (Romans 10:6). Similarly, when Moses said "Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us", Paul interpreted this to mean, in his parenthetical comment, "that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead" (Romans 10:7).

In other words, in order for you to obtain righteousness or right standing with God under the New Testament, you don't need to bring Christ down from heaven, nor do you need to bring up Christ again from the dead. However, you do need to believe in your heart that Christ came down from heaven to die for your sins, and that he was raised again from the dead. If you believe this in your heart, and if you confess it with your mouth, then you will be saved. Jesus has already paid the price for your sins, and he has already been raised from the dead that you might have eternal life with him in the kingdom to come. You need to believe this report, and your faith will be accounted unto you for righteousness or you'll be placed in right standing with God based upon your belief in what Christ has already accomplished for you on your behalf.

I hope this makes sense to you. If it doesn't, then please ask more questions.

I would say that you are in a spiritual battle that you must put on the whole armor of GOD. Eph.5.

I understand where you are, I have been through these battles many times. If you would like to read my testimony which you may relate to, it is under Testimonies- From the Clubs to Christ.

Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you. 1 Pet 4:12-13. All manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men...Matt12:31.

I would encourage you to build up the moments you have in the Word, where you are encouraged and let the LORD minister to you and grow you in His Grace. Cry out to Him each time you experience the weight on your mind. He has never failed me. In fact, He uses them to grow me and strengthen me for battle. Ps.18:39; Ps. 144.

I have been through much and hope that what I have shared may help you as it has helped me.

Remember that Satan has come down having great wrath, for he knows he has but a short time to deceive the unsuspecting and to try to destroy the True Children of GOD, that are completely trusting their Father to help and save them.

Don't think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you...

It's hard to kick against the goads. You wouldn't have any conviction if you were past some point of no return.
Yeah, open rebellion is surprisingly forgivable as stupid as it is (speaking from experience, not being critical of you).
Sweet.
I think I know what you mean. For me, it just came down to acknowledging a few things. God's goodness, and specifically, his good intentions and purpose toward me. There are people, and circumstances that challenge our faith- and it get's complicated sometimes; but at the end of the day, no matter what happens, or what anyone says or does- God wants to strengthen us spiritually.

Hello Denis, here are some Scriptures that I hope you will find encouraging



I hope to return later as I have a couple of things that I'd like to talk with you about, but for now I've gotta go.

May God bless you as you continue to seek to know Him as your Savior and Lord!!

~Deuteronomy

Hi again Denis.

When you signed in, I shared a short message on the subject in German since you were from Germany. My first pastor after I trusted Christ as my Savior became a missionary and started churches in Germany, so I am happy to continue praying for the German people, especially with you. We all need prayer and God's grace.
The following link is on the same subject, but might be easier to understand. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Good News about heaven

Here's one that's a little more thorough and might answer any questions with a little more details.

Bible Way to Heaven

Your story sounds a lot like this story in the Bible, do you know it?

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 15:11-32&version=KJV

The prodigal son, who left the comfort of home and ended up eating with the pigs. When he returned home to his father this is what his father said ;

Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

When his brother became jealous the father said "be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

The Bible says when we repent and ask forgiveness that God "remembers our sin no more" and throws our past in the "sea of forgetfulness". Have you asked God's forgiveness? He has already erased your sins and has forgotten them, now it's your turn. Don't let the devil use your past against you. And what God has done for you He will do for your family.

An old song says " It is no secret, what God can do. What He's done for others, He'll do for you. With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.

Don't let the devil get you down. Being saved is so simple a child can understand. Call on Jesus, ask Him to save you and forgive your sins. And that's it. Then read the Bible, try to find a good church, and follow Jesus as He leads you to reach out to others with the Good News. Blessings!

Actually i just read it yesterday and found allot of comfort in it. I have repented and im trying to have my alone time with God as much as possible.For now CC is my church and a fine church it is . Thank you for your reply God bless

Yes open rebellion is a really stupid thing to do, i thought it was the 1 unforgiving sin and had a good scare 😅. Its still hard for me to come out as Christian to my friends although i think they all know by now, i think thats why i carry this doubt around. Acknowledging Gods goodness is where im at. Im having a hard time to understand why he loves me (us) so much. Thank you for your reply

I feel the same way often. GOD is Love. It's amazing, He is going to show you day by day how true this is as you draw near to Him.

While prayer seems like the right thing to do in times of doubt idk why i haven't thought about doing it at that moment. Yes i will read your testimony i need all the help i can get and what is puting the whole suit of armour? Sorry for a late reply I didn't get notifications about the last posts

People who have hardened their heart to the point of not coming back have no interest in Spiritual things.

We love you and Jesus loves you too. You have nothing to lose by completely surrendering to, and trusting in, Jesus.

Thank you, i feel blessed for finding this forum.lots of love to you too and all the wonderful people here, i will continue working on my relationship with Jesus.

No problem. That is also happening to me some.

I understand what you mean about not thinking to pray when you get under that doubt. I have found that is usually a sure sign you are under attack. Also, an ambiguous sense of condemnation, like somehow, somewhere you have done something unforgivable. If you pray and the LORD does not show you anything, you are probably experiencing fiery darts from the wicked one. The enemy tries to keep us busy thinking on it and not to run to the Father quickly.

I often sing in my heart and talk to the LORD often in my heart and ask him questions about how to proceed in my day or anything that is on my heart, so I stay in constant contact with Him.

Ephesian 6:11-18 I would encourage you to prayerfully read it and then meditate often on it and apply what you know of it.

May the LORD keep you and richly bless your seeking of Him. Never forget what a privilege it is to be called His own peculiar treasure. Verily there is a reward for those that diligently seek Him. Love you Brother. We've all been there if we are truly His.