gdemoss

To understand salvation for myself, I first needed to understand that I was already condemned. That I was lost in the vanity of my own mind doing things which were not good for me. And that I was a servant of Sin. I first turned to God because someone told me about God. That God IS. And that God is Salvation from ALL things. From there I developed a better relationship with God working to create a true partnership with him. I was led to work out some character issues that I had that put me in a place where I was ready to hear about Christ and the work on the cross. Since then, I have been a student learning about God and his plan for creation. I do believe that I will be resurrected unto eternal life. I have long since been delivered from the hopelessness and futility of life as I knew it being separated from God through the lens my own understanding. I don't miss the torcher of seeking to play God in my own life and the lives of others only to find out that it fails over and over. Can I lose the salvation I have? I suppose it is possible for me to stop continuing being patient in well doing and become contemptuous not obeying the truth any longer and receive the reward of that. Adams sin guaranteed that death passed to all mankind. Christs work guarantees all will be made alive again. My obedience to the truth decides my position in the kingdom after the resurrection. Though my obedience to the truth has also paid handsomely in this life already. God willing, I will continue to seek to learn about and obey the truth as the truth is revealed to me. Continuing to grow from faith to faith.

I had to learn that God is not some tool that I pull out when I want to fix something about me. No, I arrogantly dishonored God when I knew God and therefore God gave me over to a mind of doing things that made my life tough. I was a self-righteous, self-appointed judge who took pleasure from judging and criticizing everyone and everything. This act of disrespecting God by playing God earned me isolation from others and an increasing dependence upon alcohol and drugs to medicate the emptiness and vanity of my pointless existence... Though he be the Great Physician I couldn't come to Jesus and pay to be given a remedy, I tried but it didn't work. One day I finally saw the truth about myself. I was completely lost without God. I had ruined my life. I wanted and needed God in my life. There was a humble willingness to have him with me and he came. I threw myself in his car without reservation and sought to follow him in every area of my life. I took a good look at my sins and confessed them to my fellows and set out to right whatever ones I could. I dedicated a good portion of my time to helping others learn of God and begin gaining practical experience interacting with God. I have not needed to drink or use drugs for years. Patient continuance in well doing and faith in God being God has brought about the leveling out of my emotions. The psychopathic and sociopathic tendencies I exhibited have be removed. I have been free from psych meds for years. My life has stabilized. The truth has set me free. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, who showed me that the way to life and peace was to abandon myself unto God. Trusting that the One True God is Salvation from all things. Jesus offered up prayers with strong crying to the one who was able to save him from death and was heard because he feared. He did not trust in himself but God the Father. He was given all authority. When I called upon him I received the a measure of the Holy Spirit but it wasn't an instant cure all. It was power to do the will of God in my current situation. Continued persistence in living in the way has caused me to grow in wisdom and stature. It is open to anyone with ears to hear. If you will hear his voice do not harden your heart but follow the calling. Peace be upon you.

I have believed in God since 2002 and Christ since 2008 yet I have at times questioned why things happen and have been vehemently angry with God even to the point of accusing him out of my pain (I am no Job). I did not know anything about the principle of reaping what I sew. Nor did I understand that how I treated others would come back upon me or that I could be afflicted with disease by my behavior or what I said. I was ignorant of many things through intellectual pride and prejudice combined with a boatload of arrogance. I met a man once who had cut his wrists and lay dying in a pool of his own blood just two days before. I listened to him talk and everything he spoke of was judgement and criticisms of others as well as self. It was easy for me to see how this perverse way of making himself feel better through judgement of others had turned on him and made him judge himself unworthy of life. I worked with him on the issue which for him was rooted in his atheism. Within two weeks he came to me preaching Christ. He was a free man. I continue to work with him when he comes to me. I share the story because many times I have found that I lack understanding what is wrong with me because it looks like something is wrong with everyone else and my judgement of them is hurting me mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Jesus said that I needed to remove the beam out of my eye in order to see how to remove the speck in my brother's eye. The ability to help others is rooted in being healed myself through obedience to biblical principles. James said that if I only hear the word but not follow it then my life is a lie and I walk deceived. I cannot help another see if I am blind. Instead we both fall into a pit. Therefore, I continue daily to work toward believing and walking in the way Jesus teaches and over time I mature in the faith and see clearer but first the scales of judgement must fall from my eyes, I have to quit weighing everyone in the balance for that is Gods job not mine. Peace upon all who are in your house!

Jesus told me that my problem was that I was selfish and self-centered. That though I believed in God and had come to Christ I based all my life decisions on how they affected me. I was told that the only way I would truly live was if I died to self and followed what he said. I testify that I knew a young woman in distress. She was living with a man and they were always physically fighting and getting loaded on booze and drugs. I was married at the time but separated from my wife 18 months. When the young lady approached me looking for a way out I selfishly took her for myself without regard for my wife or my children or her boyfriend or her children. I saw an opportunity not to be alone and seized upon it. I took the woman and sobered her up and moved her into my home. The act was so offensive that the very man who brought me to Christ abandoned me. I brought the woman to my mentor and he said "ok, it isn't ideal. It is adultery but who am I to say God can't work in it? You can do this but you will have to pay for her sins too. And when she starts to offend you cannot cast her away". I agreed. Needless to say, I suffered many grievous sins at her hand including infidelity which hurt terrifically yet I obeyed what I was told and kept her still. I learned so much over the following six years about Gods love, power and way of life. My wife and I agreed to divorce and I worked to right the wrongs committed against her. The woman has been sober 6 years and seeks to surrender her life to God as she has come to know him. We married and she is my wife. My former wife receives adequate support and also baby sits for my now wife and I while we work which allows her to support herself. When I suffered the infidelity I sought counsel from my mentor and the scriptures about what I should do. My mentor said "you will do nothing". The scriptures told me to pray for her and the man. I began praying for them everytime a thought of them came up without ceasing. I asked God to bless them and keep them. I asked that God put them together and make them happy if they were supposed to be together. I honestly meant it though it hurt to think that would mean I was to be alone again. That didn't happen though. The opposite did. I have faced many challenges because of the decisions based on self, my sins if you will, but I have grown immeasurably through it all. Each of us is challenged in this world to make the decision of being trapped in self and concern ourselves with our resentments, our desires, hurts etc or we can deny ourselves and seek to do whatever God says is best. Jesus was a radical madman as it pertains to life in the flesh as his ways have not been in anyway satisfying to my flesh but as it pertains to my spirit I have found peace and rest for my soul. I still make poor decisions and am beset by sin. My grosser handicaps have been healed. I no longer am an adulterer. I keep proper boundaries with women to avoid temptation. I know today that my sin will find me out and I don't want to pay that price again. I pray that you can use all of this your experiencing to draw closer to God. I hope you chose to pray for all involved except yourself in hopes that you might see God do mighty works. Gods ways are above mine for certain. They work wonders! May God bless you and keep you through these trials and afflictions.

The good news...God is and God is salvation from all things including being poor. I don't listen to tv preachers but I do what I believe God has told me to do. I was a thief. I had a very hard time making ends meet after salvation but the scripture said to stop stealing and work with my hands so that I could give to them that had nothing. I did. It felt like a death sentence. Like I would never have anything in life because it was my penance to give it all away! Gradually I began to notice something peculiar. The more I gave away the more kept coming back. Jesus said give to all that ask of me or want to borrow. I did. It kept coming back plus interest. He said if I gave that men would give into my hands the more. They did. I lost my fear of financial insecurity by doing what he said to do. What I learned was that I was poor because I was greedy and used every cent to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. I am no longer poor. I live in a modest home. I drive a modest vehicle. I sat in a church and listen to the minister justify why he didn't buy someone a $15 fan who asked for a fan during one hot summer because the person wasn't there on Sunday. The church had $750,000 in the bank. I walked away knowing that I did not belong there. I was not of them. I couldn't be happier with that decision. I just got off the phone with a man who is broken like I was. Unable to understand why life is so hard for him. He thinks that getting a job will solve all his problems. He has gotten many jobs and none have solved his problems. He doesn't understand that his problem is that he is separated from God by sin and that only God can save him. We don't realize that when a man sheds man's blood and the ground opens up to receive it that the punishment is the ground not producing food for that man any longer. Cain had it hard but he turned away not toward God. He blamed God for his misfortune. The thief who has made it ok to steal from him by stealing himself etc...it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God but turn to God for help and follow his teaching then all sorts of remarkable things happen. God can restore the years the locust have eaten. I have seen miracles upon miracles. I do not believe that the love of money is the root of all evil though it is translated that way in the KJV. There was no money in the garden of Eden. I would prefer the translation covetousness like was translated elsewhere for very similar word. Satan coveted Gods place and that is why the original sinner fell not money. Nor did Cain kill his brother for money. Nor did David kill Uriah for money. Covetousness... Many a man has lived godly without covetousness and been rich. The good news includes prosperity but many have come to think that to be wealthy is to be greedy. I now know many wealthy people and have found none of them to be greedy. Quite the opposite really. To them money is a tool used to exchange love and service. Funny thing is now that Christ has me I don't want their money like I used too when I was poor and greedy! Thank God for helping me see my error.

Yes! I'll get my rod n reel...

Hi unworthyservant, I believe you are on to something when you seek to look at words for the truth they contain. After all words were what framed and uphold all things. About 6 years ago I had an experience while praying for the gift of interpretation of tongues that I found to be intriguing and amazing. I believe I was led of the spirit to see the 'twist' of the tongue created at Babel where one language became many. That said, look at the words in our modern English we use as well as those of old. One who sources would be a sorcerer. Source denotes choice. Witch or which? Also a choice. Witches use spells so please don't get caught up on spelling...from the beginning of time the problem has always been one of choice. The Serpent showed up and beguiled, deceived, fooled, tricked or whatever word you want to use to describe his pulling the wool over Eve's eyes was and presented a choice, albeit a lie. Since then we have always been offered new lies with every truth. So let's talk about the spirit for a minute since the spirit is what is contrasted with the flesh when it comes to these things. The spirit produces an 'effect' that brings forth fruit. The power needed to bring love, bring joy, bring peace etc. Then we have the lies of the flesh and their products the produce such as sorcery or witchcraft. The spirit of God is the real deal. The alternative source is a lie. Earthy, sensual...devilish! Let's look at alcohol and its Bacchus effect or the God like effect produced by alcohol. Under normal circumstances people celebrate and drink alcohol but others, known as drunkards, abuse the substance and become given to the stuff seeking to feel its god like effects instead of seeking after God. Same with form-a-suit-i-kills...drugs, for some are a necessary solution to an ailment but others go further and seek to substitute drugs as a god that gives them the feeling they desire. Something that lies to them and tells them they are not separated from God (break on thru to the other side anyone?). I believe anything can be used or abused. The law can be used to discover God or abused and thought to make one righteous by adhering to what one perceives the law to be saying. An interesting correlation I have found is in how alcohol and many drugs are cleansing agents and the people who abuse them are many times in need of confession to rid themselves of the dirty secrets that plague them at night as they try to sleep. I don't care for scholarly or long winded debates about root words of ancient languages from those who profess themselves to be wise in them. I am glad to remain a fool. A devil is nothing more than a defiled spirit. Care for a demonstration? Boil some eggs, remove the yokes, add mayo, salt, yellow mustard and vinegar mix then return contents back into boiled egg white halves and wa-la! Defiled eggs!!! Or deviled if you will. Either way, they are no longer purely eggs...therefore we are careful not to take what God has said and add to it then mix it up and serve it to others lest we and they become defiled (or devils if you will). I perceive the long answer is always seen over the length of the scriptures. In the simple testimony of the written stories. Without God and following what his son said we are left to turn to substitutes. Substitutes that leave us wanting more. Those scholarly types can succumb to worshiping the intellect (I did) and the thirst for knowledge only grows and every new discovery brings yet more questions. I must keep it simple. The Self Existent One Is Salvation from all things and I dare not turn to the weak and beggarly elements as a substitute seeking absolution in a bottle, a joint, a potion or lotion or pill. Instead he said I should confess my sins to my fellow laborers and they should pray that I be healed. Jesus said I should stop making decisions based upon self (like Eve did when she was fooled) and start living a wholesome life where I would not only love them who love me but also love them who hate me and use me etc. James said that if I didn't then I was doomed to live in self-delusion where I would be lost (I didn't and was left to my own devices and ended up in the mental institution). Most everything I believe today is not because I sat down and studied the scriptures alone but rather study, prayer and most important practical application through living it combined with hands on ministry seeking to save the lost. In the beginning was the word (logos) and today we build with Legos how fun! Words are where it all happens!!! God called things that were not as if they were and they became. Dig deeper into language and you will not be disappointed. I remember once asking why they are called letters? Do they let? Yes, they do! Have fun on your journey of discovery!

Thanks Steven. Yes he is awesome in his transformation of us!

Yes, God calls things that aren't as if they are and they become. Therefore if I call upon the name of the LORD and he answer in the affirmative then he will bring it to pass... Hi Steven!

Bless everyone always. Thank you, I have been lifted up by your sharing today!

As I grow as a Christian, I find that I can no longer do things I used too. It used to be easy to lightly lay with a woman or to take a woman from another man if I judged him unworthy of her. Through progressive sanctification I cannot do that which I used too. There is a new consciousness within that continues to grow. I love what I am becomming and despise what I am being delivered from being. God is potter and I am the clay. He who began a good work in me is continuing to refine me day by day. I am far from perfect. I can still do some things that I find to be shameful but God be praised that my grosser handicaps have been washed and I am clean of them!

There is none good except God.

Why does God allow Antichrist to conquer the world? Because His strength is made perfect in weakness.

Just because I professed Christ didn't mean I knew him. It only meant that I heard, believed and began to start following. Consider those who believed yet had not received the spirit yet. They needed the gospel of God preached to them to its fullness. We live in sorely troubled times. People are lovers of their own selves. I can be guilty if not careful. I go about my day seeking to do the will of God. I ask him to fill me with the spirit because Jesus said the Father gives the spirit to them that ask him. Then I seek to pour out his spirit upon the lost, sick and the dying. According to Paul these can be Christians. Those who take the Lords supper in an unworthy manner become sick or even die. I have watched God bring athiests to faith then begin his work of progressive sanctification in them. Truly amazing transformations. When I first was saved, I was a Romans 1 reprobate. Next, as a Christian, I became a Romans 2 self righteous man who despised the grace of God. I later transformed into the Romans 3 teacher of the word who touched not one of the very virtues I taught! By tge grace of God I was brought to a higher level of sanctification and have repented of those sinful ways. If I am looking at them and how their behaviors affect me then 'self' is alive and well. I need to pray that God will help me pick up my cross, die to myself and follow Jesus for even today sometimes I become 'alive' and sin revives then I become one of the walking dead hurt by everything that another does that affects my 'self'. Come Lord Jesus!

Being human has nothing to do with sinning. Jesus was human. Adam was a sinless human being before he sinned. A human being can be free from sin but as it is written they must have power over sin and that power greater than sin is Christ. I know who I serve by who I give myself unto. I cannot serve two masters. What I do must be held up to the light to be discerned whether it be works wroght in God or sin.