Reprobate?

[stanshall]

Am I of the reprobate? Am I one of the "goats" instead of "sheep" that Jesus talks about? I read His word, I was baptized in His name, but I don't feel His Holy Spirit. I don't feel His love & peace. Do I fear Him? Yes. He has the keys to heaven and hell. Do I fear hell? Yes. I've always wanted to feel His presence but can't honestly say I've ever felt it happen. Instead of feeling saved, I feel dead inside and depressed. Naturally some of the responses are going to be, "It's on you". I don't intentionally go out to sin against anyone. I've repented from a dark period a couple of months ago and was doing fine, asking Him to help me, and ended up backsliding allowing the fleshy thoughts to overwhelm me since I am isolated and have no friends. It must be nice to really be saved.

 

[B-A-C]

Salvation isn't always a "feeling". I've been married over half my life. Somedays I "feel" loved by my wife. Somedays not so much. But even though she doesn't always tell me.
I know she does. Sometimes I tell her anyway, even if she doesn't tell me. I think sometimes God wants us to tell Him, better yet... show Him we love Him.

This may be hard to take.... but the longer I am a Christian, it seems more true to me....
God isn't here to make us feel good, or even necessarily loved. On the contrary we are here to to love Him and obey Him.

I don't know where you are in your walk with Jesus, but I can tell you.. sometimes sheep wander. Sometimes coins get lost. Continuing to live in sin affects
our relationship with Jesus (I'm not saying this is you, I don't know... but it is something to watch for).

Back-sliding doesn't mean you have to give up. God doesn't give up when we fall down.

Prov 24:16; For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

Jas 3:2; For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

But even when we fall down...

2 Tim 2:13; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

The very fact that you are here worried about it, tells me that God and Holy Spirit are working on you. Sometimes it isn't easy.
But just keep on.. keeping on.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Am I of the reprobate? Am I one of the "goats" instead of "sheep" that Jesus talks about? I read His word, I was baptized in His name, but I don't feel His Holy Spirit. I don't feel His love & peace. Do I fear Him? Yes. He has the keys to heaven and hell. Do I fear hell? Yes. I've always wanted to feel His presence but can't honestly say I've ever felt it happen. Instead of feeling saved, I feel dead inside and depressed. Naturally some of the responses are going to be, "It's on you". I don't intentionally go out to sin against anyone. I've repented from a dark period a couple of months ago and was doing fine, asking Him to help me, and ended up backsliding allowing the fleshy thoughts to overwhelm me since I am isolated and have no friends. It must be nice to really be saved.

Greetings @stanshall

Welcome to Talk Jesus

If God knows you are looking for feelings or an experience, He won't give them you.

He wants your Trust, He wants your Faith, He wants your all.

The Holy Spirit is live and active as a double edge sword, He can cut through to your bone marrow without you feeling a thing.

God works through you my friend, give yourself to Him through Jesus and abide in His Love, in His Peace, in His Grace, in His Mercy and give Him the Glory.

The words of the hymn come to mind my friend, may your heart be glad, He doesn't want it to be sad.

I came to Jesus,
weary, worn, and sad.
He took my sins away,
He took my sins away.
And now His love
has made my heart so glad,
He took my sins away.

He took my sins away,
He took my sins away,
And keeps me singing every day!
I’m so glad He took my sins away,
He took my sins away.


The load of sin was
more than I could bear.
He took my sins away,
He took my sins away.
And now on Him
I roll my ev’ry care,
He took my sins away.

He took my sins away,
He took my sins away,
And keeps me singing every day!
I’m so glad He took my sins away,
He took my sins away.


No condemnation have
I in my heart,
He took my sins away,
He took my sins away.
His perfect peace
He did to me impart,
He took my sins away.

He took my sins away,
He took my sins away,
And keeps me singing every day!
I’m so glad He took my sins away,
He took my sins away.


If you will come
to Jesus Christ today,
He’ll take your sins away,
He’ll take your sins away,
And keep you happy
in His love each day,
He’ll take your sins away.

He took my sins away,
He took my sins away,
And keeps me singing every day!
I’m so glad He took my sins away,
He took my sins away

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Jesus loves you we do too.

 

[Chad]

I read His word, I was baptized in His name, but I don't feel His Holy Spirit.

Welcome to the forums.

In the spiritual walk, it's about faith not feelings. The more you read the Word, the more you'll see this. We operate in faith and the rest is up to God.