Not sure if I was truely saved

[bduke08]

Alright, I'm going to try to keep this as short as I can...but I have a serious question and was up all night trying to find solutions and comfort and decided to register here. Well, I remember being a young kid and being in youth class. I came to my youth leader one day and asked to be saved and he helped me ask Jesus into my heart. I remember feeling good but also I was young. Many years later (I'm now 23 years of age) I've sinned a lot and those sins have prevented me from building my relationship with God. Every once in a while, I start to feel terrible and question if I believe there is a God....but I want to believe in God. And Almost everyday I do think about him and I know in my heart that there is a Jesus. But something is always in my head making me question if he is real (the devil I suppose). So I'm constantly asking for forgiveness and asking Jesus come into my heart again...but days later it seems as though I am back at sinning and don't build my relationship with Jesus. I just hang out and continue to stay lost until I feel guilty again. Then the cycle starts all over again.

Well a few days ago, I was so upset, being confused about things, that I prayed to God and asked him to please help me...that I am always questioning my faith and need some reassurance. I asked him to please give me a sigh through this fortune cookie I was about to open (I was getting desperate). But nothing on the fortune cookie had any comfort. However, the following day I had a voice mail on my phone...when I checked it, it was one of those advertisement calls or whatever, but on the voice mail the guy was telling me he knows that I am lost and that I need to find prayer. This is the first time I've ever received a advertisement call on my cell...so it was surely the first for a religious call. I feel that God had spoke to me in a way...and that is what I need..I need to pray and find him again. So here I am. So I'm wondering if I was every really born again? I don't feel that I could have been sincere about it since I continued to live without him only a few days after being saved. And the process continued for years of sinning...then asking to be saved again. I am kindhearted though..and though I'm always questioning my faith..I think about him everyday. I just want a new start..but don't know if I need to be saved again. So basically what I'm trying to ask is..was I truly born again and saved if I feel like I may have not been sincere about it all those years? I know people backslid, but I don't know if I was backsliding or just never even gave Jesus a chance and believed. But I truly want to now. What should be my next step. Thanks to all that helps and takes the time to read this.

 

[brakelite]

Hi. First off, the scriptures must be the basis for all your understanding and insight as to whether you are saved, or not. Your feelings or emotions can not be trusted, nor should you rely on the judgements of others. The word of God is our only sure foundation.
So, what does the word say?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Heb. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

As can be seen from the above verses, (and they are by no means exhaustive) Jesus died for every single member of the human race...there is not one person, alive or dead, for which Jesus has not already paid the rpice for transgression. That includes you. Jesus is therefore already the Saviour of all men. No-one should have any doubt that they are now accepted by God in Christ. However, Jesus is 'especially' the Saviour of those who believe, (1 Timothy 4:10). Our salvation therefore does not depend on our initiating a relationship with Him; it depends on our believing/responding to the relationship He has already initiated with us.
By His uplifted cross and the on-going priestly ministry in heaven, Christ is drawing all men to repentance. His gracious love is so strong and persistent that the sinner must resist it in order to be lost. Since4 He has already paid the price for all our sins, the only reason anyone can be lost is refusal to believe, to appreciate, the gift already given "in Him". (John 3:16-18) God does not put us in double jeopardy, for "the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). How can He then lay that iniquity upon us again? The lost must take it back on themselves.
God does the loving and the giving...our part is to do the believing. "If you can believe, all things are possible" (Mark 9:23, Romans 10:10)
Let me presume that right now you do not believe, and therefore are not saved. If you want Jesus as your Saviour, if you want provision for your sins to be forgiven, and salvation made from all of them, does Christ need to do anything for you now, in order for your salvation to be accomplished? No, not at all, for it has already all been done. All that remains to be done is for you to believe, and turn away from your sins.

To live a life of victory over sin all you need to do is surrender your life to Christ. Abiding in the Spirit or walking in the Spirit, the flesh with all its lusts has no power over you, no more power than if you were actually dead and in your grave (Romans 6:1-14)
the flesh is still corruptible, still full of lusts, still ready to rebel against the Spirit, but so long as you yield yourself to the Spirit, so long as you desire righteousness, and your will is yielded to God, the Spirit will hold the flesh in check. This Spirit of life which is in Christ is given freely to all...the very life of Christ Himself...."whomsoever will, let him take the water of life freely".

Christ is a Good Shepherd who is seeking His lost sheep even though we have not sought Him, and some not even knowing they are lost. Do not misunderstand the scriptures...God is not hiding from you....there is no parable of a lost sheep that must seek and find its shepherd.

Just believe and accept the free gift...and surrender your life in return that He may make you a new creature.

 

[bduke08]

Thanks for the response! It really shed some light on the matter. I should not be looking for an initiation with God...but instead trust in him and follow his word and he shall take care of the rest.

 

[Truehearts]

I accepted Jesus Christ several times when I was a kid, as a Sunday school attendee. I never really knew what it meant, till I was in highschool and our church pianist shared to me. Then and there I knew that it'll be the last time I'll say 'Yes Lord, you are my Savior, its all clear to me, from now on I will give my life to you.". I believe you did have that time. I don't recall the exact date I did mine, I used to think it was important to remember the exact date. But what God made me realize is that serious moment separated all those other "just-nod-and-say-yes" times. That's the important thing. And yes, I did have the hard times, backsliding, doubting my faith, do I have to re-accept Christ? Am I still saved after I've done this sin... etc. But its all the work of our enemy. You don't need a fortune cookie or any sign to know, the Word pretty says it clear, I want to share one of my favorite verse, simple but rocks.
"John 3:15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

Keep your life straight and inline with the Word. Open communication with Christ and constant growth with brethren fellowships.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Sounds like you found other things that were more pleasurable to you (sin), following the filling of the Holy Spirit. You are young and the world beckons to you in a myriad of ways. Just keep in mind that new growth doesn't always occur quickly or in a fashion that we who are growing can see. By the very fact that you are aware of what you're doing and are looking, means that the Holy Spirit is still working in and on you. Backsliding when it happens because you are now his will get corrected Hosea 14:4, Proverbs 3:12, and yet you will limit your growth in Christ by this Psalm 78:41.

However, you are His, but as you've come to realize it's a two way street. You can't keep doing what you want and expect God to accept this behavior. Psalm 119:11 says "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." What does that say to you? More than likely this has been lacking in your life. Reading the Word of God daily is a must to any growth in and by you. Set a time everyday to pray & read the Word. This will start instilling a good habit. Its habits bad (currently) and good (today/hopefully) that you must seek out and instill in your life if you are to have peace. Seek those things that will promote growth and if it doesn't, hard as it may be at first, cast them aside. Now is the time to begin to truly grow in Christ Jesus. You have many brothers & sisters in Christ Jesus who will talk, pray, cry, laugh with you here at TJ. Take advantage of them they really do want to help. Praying for you little brother, that God may continue to show you the path He wants you to walk and that your heart and mind will accept them with the Love that it is given with. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
YBIC
C4E