"Feeling saved"
A friend told me she didn't "feel saved" anymore. I told her salvation is a gift from God. You either accept it or you don't. There is no feeling saved. You either are or are not. I'm praying about how to further explain this to my friend. Any suggestions on scriptures or other advice I could give? Thanks in advance!
Perhaps she is coming to understand that "saved" is nonsense?
I don't believe that is her angle. She does believe in God and that Jesus died for our sins. I wouldn't say she thinks being saved is nonsense.
Well - she will soon work it out I think.
Hi Lynn. I use to help at our Church with the children volunteering in VBS. My favorite part is when they have Drama every Halloween weekend to lead others to Christ. I helped our Youth Pastor write the second to the last one I was in, but had to quit because of sickness. We lead almost 300 people to Christ .
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
When we become saved then baptized the Holy Spirit comes into our heart filling us. THIS is how we gain knowledge and likeness from God. You can feel God's presence and know that He is there so I think that is what people mean when they say they feel Saved. God does not leave us, people leave Him( known as backslide), and God forgives if we ask. In Romans 1:21-31 God tells that He will punish those whom are disobedient (in what manners).
In Ephesians 3 it tells that God has a reason for everything that happens. He allows things to happen to us so that we may develop a strong relationship with Him, and so that we can see His blessings and know that He is God.Yes Victoria.. Salvation is a gift. Thank God for salvation. I so hope and pray that people would come to know that and accept the gift! Thanks for posting. God bless
Guilting her into accepting an unnecessary gift is unlikely to work.
Yes, If she turns to an Atheistic belief, she will save her self in realizing that there is nothing to be saved from. It is an exhilarating feeling to finally understand that I am in charge of my own life, free of sin and guilt and of an insane threat of damnation from a narcissistic deity who relishes in and knowingly creates an inferior life form to torment. I think that sums it up. If you need any more advice be sure to ask.
Feeling safe or saved in the Christian faith.
One is correct to assume that 'salvation is a gift from God' but it also is ment for the few and not for all. Why?
'Many are called but few are chosen. No one comes to me accept the father draws or called him'.
Lord Jesus Christ.
A lot of people have today called themselves into christianity.
Though this is the grand design of God,
that many be called.
But the Lord is aware of the wolves in sheep clothings and the leaving of the weeds to grow among the wheats till harvest day.
If your repentance meets Gods acceptable standard or requirements,
if heaven accepts your bornagainism,
if God truelycalls you;
He will Seal you, ie,
give you a certificate.
A true seal. An i.d. Card,
A passport for your recognition by the people of this world, of your confirmation by Him God,
of what you re called into.
This is the seal that brings about the joy of salvation in the heart of His believers.
Honest discerning people like your friend Ms. L, honestly feels he or she is lacking in this.
He or she is yearning for it. That feeling is real my dear.
Blessed are those who yearn and thirst for his true righteousness (salvation)
for they shall be filled.
'And these signs shall accompany those who believe in me' (the seal) and they shall do more of the miracles i did on earth because as their high priest, i am now in heaven with the father.
They shall eat poisons and live. They shall pick up snakes and would walk free etc.
The joy of salvation is real.
The awareness of your invincibility 'll also be real.
The convinction of you being connected 2.4.7. With an omnipotent deity who created the material universe will be real. Is it not written also that 'He who watches over us does not slumber nor sleep.
That He is our store house of strenght. The lord most high is our place of refuge.
That though if war should rise against us, we will not fear. Though hosts should encamp against us, In that will our confidence even rise.
Go to and study your scriptures.
Men of God has been quoting pages and verses to no avail. Therefore i do it the old way, the Jesus way. Salvation is not compulsory. God can raise stones to worship Him if men refuses as sodomism now shows.
The reality in your convinction of those ancient and outdated facts above, (the realitity. Its true existence in your brain) is what brings about the vibrations in your heart of hearts, mind, spirit and soul, of 'the feeling of being safe' in or with a philosophy that many who are supposed to be in the know have come to question its rationale.
Your friend is struggling with a dilemma.
'Am i being reasonable or foolish in believing in just this crap of a belief or what?
God has chosen to confound the wisdom of the wise and reveal these things onto babes, so that the wise may claim to see, though in truth they re blind.
Though they claim to hear but in reality they re deaf.
So that the prophesies of isaiah might be fulfilled.
That 'The more they look.
The less they see'.
Mesmerism.
It was God who placed this curse on men because he does what pleases himself.
In the book of isaiah,
God reveals that he allows the growth of a certain type of fat or fats around the heart of men, in order to bring about this delusions, mesmerisms, lack of feeling safe or at home with his ways or philosophy, ignorance of spiritural concepts; so that they would not discover the truth about him and come to him in prayers and repentance or read his scriptures and get convinced about the truth of this life and be healed both in their bodies, spirit-life and finances. Till they re utterly destroyed.
The same thing he did when he ordered the chasing away of, by swords and Angels, Adam and Eve from Eden, so that they may not read..?
or eat of or from
the fruit of the 'tree of life' (the logos, which in the begining and ever is and has been) and live forever.
Man does not live by bread alone... (yes, the 'tree of life' is the name of a contraption by God, of a tool which held his words, which also is himself, complete auto biography and was fashioned, fabricated or invented from a tree. pulp etc trees.
which when eaten or consumed of any may reveal true life secretes.
It comes alive with a supernatural electricity that could cause the words to creat or make dead things come back to life especially in the hands and mouth of righteous or true believers.
The word of God is mysteriously God himself. The logos.)
He sent them to till the ground or to look for food or doing businesses or indulge in the fear of hunger. Physical food.
So that the fear may persist that He may remain the God He is and men the men they are because Men's minds are devious and froward.
The deviousness of our hearts was the reason God disorganised our unity and oneness of language at the gathering and construction site at Babel.
The secrete.
In the Bible times and or before the establishment of the new testament or era, ie before the death and resurrection of christ, it was not possible to please God without faith.
Jesus is now in heaven and his spirit which is holy is what we have on earth now.
The spirit of God now on earth says it is not possible to please him without 'Humility'.
Get this, (Humility) and the fear and the worship of God, which also is wisdom,
which also is God himself, knowledge and understanding 'll enter and teach you many more things. Amen.
Thanks. Sog@
Perhaps she means inadequate instead of 'saved'. Maybe she feels she's not 'measuring up' to what she feels God expects of her. Well, we all fall short and that's what grace (defined as undeserved kindness) is about - having God's approval when we don't deserve it. I believe God wants our best everyday and I'm finding that my best varies from day to day based on my circumstances. Ephesians 2:8-9 supports that salvation is a gift and nothing we can do can add or take away from it. I hope this is helpful to your friend.
Yes I think she does mean inadequate. She just recently accepted Jesus as her Saviour a few weeks ago! Somehow I believe she thought she can't ever sin again! I will show her that scripture in Ephesians. Thank you for posting..it was helpful.
That's right, let her know that doing bad things is not something one should feel bad about unless of course one hasn't been born again. Because if you are not born again and do bad things you will burn in hell for eternity. That's the most important thing to remember, it's not that causing harm to others is bad, it's that you don't want to burn in hell. If you're born again and do hurt others your completely off the hook, no guilt at all, who doesn't want be like that. You go teach her how to feel guilt no more for causing harm to others.
In response to Rad Man...I did not say that one should not feel bad or guilty for causing harm to others. I believe if one does cause harm to another they should seek forgiveness from that person and from God. No Christian is "off the hook" for their actions. Our actions have consequences as well. I was not talking about harming others. I was talking about how some people receive salvation then one day feel like their "not saved". As if one could cause God not to love them or not to forgive us.
Since posting my question I have spoken to my friend. I found out that she had a plan to study her bible everyday. She had kept her studying up until she got busy and missed two days of bible study! She said she felt guilty. I have been going over scriptures with her and encouraging her. God loves her. God loves you Rad Man. As I was telling my friend, salvation is a gift from God that we choose to accept or not. Salvation is not determined by our everyday action. Now how we live our lives after salvation another story! As I said before, we do have consequences for our actions as everyone else! Once again I want to be clear...there is no feeling saved. You either are or are not. Have you accepted God's gift to you Rad Man. It is no accident you read my question and replied. Here is an opportunity to let God give you a new life. Jesus says he stands at the door and knocks. If anyone hears his voice He will come in.. (Revelations 3:20) You have a great day Rad Man. Thank you for posting.Hmmm, I take it your not able to understand. Are you helping your friend by causing her to feel guilt? That's really all you've done for her. She could be a great person without the guilt, why would you do that to her?
I am the cause of her guilt. Her guilt was coming from a misunderstanding that salvation has something to do with works.
Who was it who told her to read her bible a few hours a day? You seem to think she is back on the track to doing just that. Isn't reading the bible a "work"?
Salvation is a free gift, but a person who is saved begins to change and lives a life pleasing to God. It says In James 2 that faith without works is dead. That doesn't mean that you have to work to get saved or continue to be saved. Rather James was talking about the fruit that comes from salvation. An apple tree that is alive and healthy will produce apples. A fire in the fireplace will produce smoke coming out of the chimney. A Christian will naturally produce good works because he is saved and is a new creation in Christ Jesus. The good works don't save any more than smoke produces fire or apples give life to the tree they are on. Rather good works are the result or fruit of salvation. Jesus said of believers that by their fruit you shall know them (Matthew 7:16).
Yeah - because Christians are so much better than the rest of us.
No, because Christians realize that we aren't better than anyone else. In fact, to be a Christian you first have to realize that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks for your input.
Owe what exactly? That you are worse than the rest of us? Great.
No, not worse. We are all equally sinners. But you just don't realize it.
No - I am not a sinner. You just don't understand that.
You've been told that by a few goat herders that lived a few thousand years ago. They made laws for people to live by that are horrible for their own gain and you still think they should apply today? Today secular countries have laws to live to preventing us from harming each other rather than keeping slaves and stoning girls thought not to be virgins on their wedding nights. So please don't pretend to know what a sin is.
As I've said, we will get no place by arguing. God defines sin. I don't. But I'm sure you will have a clever quip for this or anything else that I will say. So I wish you well. I have other things to do today. Thanks for your thoughts.
No, those goat herders defined sin for you, that's why keeping slaves and stoning disobedient children is not allowed in secular nations. You do still find it in non-secular nations however.
May you someday wake up to reality and see how you have been manipulated. Would you like to see the goat herders laws about slavery, disobedient children and non-virgin girls? If after reading them you still feel they are from the God you worship I'll leave you alone.
Wow, your religion teaches you to have very low self esteem. Learn to take credit for your accomplishments and blame for your mistakes and you'll be much better off.
On the contrary, I have a very high self-esteem. But thank you for your concern.
And your 'fruit' is that you are asking us what your friend means, not asking your friend.
I didn't ask what my friend meant. I asked for scripture or advice on how to explain to my friend that salvation is a gift. We either accept it or not. If we do accept Jesus as our Savior we are made new. Life after is a process of growing and becoming the person God created us to be.
God Talk is right and has given all the verses. Salvation is a Gift. No Works we can do brings us Salvation. Why? It is only by accepting and having Faith in Christ we are Saved. God tells us to witness for Him, but that doesn't even Save us. Christ did mention it is bad to backslide if you do not live with Him. Go to BIBLEGATEWAY. Com and look up backslide
LOL - Did he ask you to come post some more drivel for him?
No, I did it all on my own. Thanks for asking.
Interesting. God didn't make you post it? ;
It doesn't give me anything because it doesn't exist.
Oh sorry, I just realized you were talking to someone else. Thanks anyway.
Lol yep. Atheist are the ones who I get cracked up about. But it's not funny to joke about God.
Right, she gave her work to do and then said she didn't. She missed a few days of the work she gave her which caused her to feel guilty. Nice job.
I on the other hand help others when I can and do it for no gain of my own.Good for you. I hope that is true. We will not get anywhere arguing here. There is enough evidence for God out there for those who care to look. It would appear that you don't. Let me know if you ever have any doubts about your faith. I will be glad to talk with you further.
There is no evidence at all. Let me know if you have any doubts about what "evidence" means. I will be happy to explain the English language to you.
Please let me know if you have any doubt about your faith, I'd be glad to help you see reality, It's a journey I went through rather young and I've been a much happier person since.
There are so many verses that show that salvation is eternal. Along with Ephesians 2:8,9 that was stated earlier, there is Titus 3:5:6. This states: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He has saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Also, in I John 5:13, it says that if we believe on the name of the Son of God we can know that we have eternal life. Romans 8:38,39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. In John 10:27-29 Jesus tells us that His sheep will never perish, and no man can pluck them out of His hand. Hebrews 10:14 says that by one offering Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Philippians 1:6 shows us that salvation is a work of God and that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures also teach that when we are saved we become the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells (I Corinthians 6:19,20) And we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and He is the earnest, or down payment given by God, telling us that He will complete the transaction of saving us (Ephesians 1:13,14). I could go on but you get the picture. The truth is, feeling saved has nothing to do with it. It is just like feeling married. You either are or you aren't. You may not always feel married when you are away from your spouse. But you are nonetheless.
Thank you for your reply. I will go over some of those scriptures with her and I will feed on them as well! Some I hadn't thought of which is why I reached out to you all! Thank God for salvation! My heart is full of joy thinking about how God loves us and even after we accept Jesus there is nothing that can separate us from that love. Yet God is patient with us. He knows we fall short sometimes. There is no feeling saved. I truly believe you either are or not! Thanks again for your post. God Bless you.
First of all Rad man, who said anything about causing harm to others. We talked about feeling saved. Secondly, there are consequences to sin. It is true that Hell is no longer in the picture because Christ has saved us and placed us in the family of God for eternity, but Scripture teaches that God judges the things we have done on this earth, whether Christian or non-Christian and talks about suffering loss which is a loss of rewards. The Scripture says that a person might be saved so as by fire, meaning the fire of judgment. It is possible to have your whole life be wasted when it could have been used to the glory of God (I Corinthians 3:11-15; II Corinthians 5:10). There are also the natural consequences of sin that cause a person to suffer. For instance, if you were to get drunk and drive a car, leading to an accident that caused you to be in a wheelchair, that would be a natural consequence that you would deal with the rest of your life. Or if you commit a crime and go to jail, you don't suddenly get sprung by God because you are a Christian.
Also, you don't understand what salvation entails if you think that it is simply a get out of Hell free card. Salvation, changes a person and makes them a new creature in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17). Not that you suddenly become perfect and never sin. As long as we are on this earth, we still have the fleshly body that can still sin. Rather, it is a process whereby God uses the circumstances in our life to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. And those who are truly Christians want to please the one who gave them the priceless gift of eternal life, so they follow the commandments given in the New Testament as the Holy Spirit, who lives in them shows them what they are to do and gives them the power to obey Scripture. This is known in theology as progressive sanctification. Just like salvation, sanctification or holiness, is by the grace of God so that we ultimately become what we were originally created to be.Perhaps instead of leaping to a response that invalidates her feelings, you should have asked her. It is not really in the spirit of friendship to try and "fix" your friend while making no real effort to understand her.
I did not leap into a response...! She is my friend and sister in Christ. I did understand where she was coming from and why she felt the way she did. I wouldn't be a good friend if I knowingly let her linger on this thought of " not feeling saved". It is my duty as a child of God to help my brothers and sisters.
You said here that you just responded 'there is no feeling saved'.
To her there is. Respect her experience. Ask her about it.
- Rad Manposted 9 years ago
0It's painful to see such incredibly shallow thinking resulting in someone causing harm onto someone else for one's own benefit (so they may feel good about themselves).
Someone brought up how drinking and driving can result in the harm of the driver ending up in a wheel chair, without any regard to the harm to others that drinking and driving may cause. You see, ones actions may cause harm to others which is really a "sin" isn't it? Tell her she needs to open up and see the world through your eyes cause obviously she have been cruising through life with her eyes shut as you kept yours open. See the world around you. See life as it happens. Feel the breeze through your face and hair as it whips it up blowing new life into your body if only you really gave it a chance to show you that life is more than complaining how you missed "all" of his life vest he threw for you to grasp onto as you float lifelessly through the stream of your own pity. Just open an eye and see the person who suffers more than you but he does not complain, instead he thanked God for giving him a chance to appreciate life instead of waisting it away. Tell her to go help someone, that's how you open her eyes so she can help herself. ❤️
I could answer your questions, but I can tell you are not honestly seeking to know why we believe as we do. And no matter what I say, you will counter it with another attack. You are simply baiting me to continue the argument. It is interesting how every atheist I have talked with uses the same type of rhetoric, and wants to argue. I am just wondering why you feel a need to attack people and make fun of their beliefs when you have never even met them? Has someone with religious belief hurt you in some way and you are getting back at all that have belief? The question that was originally posed was an honest person obviously seeking guidance from other people of faith. And you, from the beginning, have attacked her and others who have posted here. If you want to express your opinions, no one is stopping you from writing a Hub on it. Why do you and other atheists feel a need to go to war with anyone who disagrees with you in the area of religion? For your information I have studied why I believe what I believe for most of my adult life and have come to the conclusion that the God I worship is worthy of my time and life. I truly am sorry if you don't agree and wish that it were possible to persuade you otherwise. But I know from experience in talking to others of similar belief to yours that apart from a miracle of God's grace, it is a lost cause. I do believe in miracles but don't think that this back and forth bantering will bring one about.
I really do want to understand why you think as you do, that's why I have asked questions. Why do you have no answers to those questions?
How funny. You propose nonsense and when you get called on it you lie about being "attacked".
I will continue to hope that one day you will understand reality, but I don't believe in miracles and don't think my reasonable and rational questions and explanations will turn you away from your fear of reality. It is interesting that every Christian goes on the attack when faced with a non believer. I suspect this is caused by massive cognitive dissonance. Why do you Christians feel the need to attack anyone who does not believe your claims? Why do you need to push the claims in the first place? Can you not see the conflict your religion causes? Why do you need to argue all the time?
What have you "studied" exactly?You guys are relentlessly sad. I asked you why you feel a need to attack and make fun of others beliefs on a forum to talk about an honest question one believer has, rather than starting a forum of your own. And you respond by continuing the same old thing and making fun of people and calling them a liar. Well, the only thing that I have lied about is that I continue to engage people who obviously don't have any respect for others, when I said I wouldn't. For that I am sorry. This truly is the last time that I am talking. I know that you will respond with something insulting. Well go ahead. I have wasted enough of my time writing. We have not made any progress in understanding each other and never will as long as you think that insulting people is a way to get them to see your point of view. But I'm not sure that was your intent in the first place. Take care.
I am not attacking anyone. Please stop bearing false witness against me. I suggested that the girl in question might be coming to understand that the idea of salvation is nonsense. How odd that you think I am insulting you when I point out the irrational nature of your beliefs, when any honest believer will admit there is no rational basis for them instead of claiming to have evidence and have studied. Now - ask yourself who is attacking whom when you make these accusations.
Let me get this straight - you think claiming that you are saved and I am damned because you believe something I do not is aimed at understanding and respecting me? Be honest - you are not interested in understanding - you have the majick answer and claim to feel sorry for anyone that doesn't agree with your claims. You have no respect for anyone who does not believe as you do, yet some how you manage to make it me who is not showing respect. You call me sad and claim to feel sorry for me and you don't think this is offensive? My point of view is that your beliefs are divisive and nonsensical. If you choose to take that as a personal insult that is your choice.
Tell you what - give me one good reason to respect the fact that you think you are saved and I am damned because you believe as you do, and I will start doing so. Fair enough?As difficult as it is to do, ignore what you perceive as asinine questions or foolish attacks. You can't counter with an attempt to be reasonable against someone who you believe works diligently to be unreasonable.
Share your beliefs and don't worry that others believe differently or appear to refuse to attempt to understand you.Thank you GodTalk! I've found what I was looking for. The scriptures you shared have helped. There have been a lot of posts on here that had nothing to do with my original question. You're right...my question was to people who shared my same belief. To the ones with the insulting posts...may God bless you to see Him for who He is. I'm open to hear from other people, but the way you all have went about it is ridiculous. It lets me know that there is definitely more witnessing to do for the Kingdom. Its one thing encouraging new believers and its another dealing with someone who had no desire to even believe that God is real. You chose to post to my forum...for what? To insult? To attack? To belittle? If you don't believe.. Why respond? I really had an honest question. Believers knew what I was talking about. God is real. Jesus is real. The Holy Spirit is real. There is a parable about a sower and the seeds. The seed us the Word of God. Those seeds that fell by the wayside are the ones who hear then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who when they hear receive the word with joy; but they have no root. They believe for awhile and in time of temptation they fall away. The ones that fell among thornes; when thry hear, are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life. They bring no fruit to maturity. The ones that fell in the good ground are those who having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:11-15). My prayer is that you will come to know God and let Jesus in your heart. This will be my last post. Thx again to the ones who honestly tried to help me. God Bless
You should have said you were not looking for reasonable and rational responses. Here is hoping you learn to deal with reality one day.
Good bye.
Lynn77, bless you for your concern.
I hope the following will help.
Perhaps she is only feeling the distance between herself and God. This is a good thing. Feeling this distance means she is becoming more aware of the spiritual.
If she can merely turn her attention away from self-concern (ego, or what Christ called "first"), and turn it toward loving others and caring about them and that they are receiving all that they desire, then she will be walking with God. Remember, God is Love. The more we love others, as God does, then the closer we will be to Him.
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