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salvation anxiety question


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On 1/24/2020 at 6:24 PM, F_Ivan said:

Im really having these strong anxieties that are trying to drown my faith. About losing my salvation and/or losing the faith and falling away. Someone said all anxiety is a form of unbelief and im wondering if this is a form of unbelief in God's love to keep me and protect me or if its just a fear? 

Ivan, as I've said before, I'm a believer some 40 years. Based on myself and other believers I've known, if your faith wasn't real you wouldn't be worried. So even though anxiety is unpleasant feeling I see your anxiety as proof of your faith. Let me ask you this, are you the kind of person who likes to be very sure of what you believe? I bet you are, and I'm like that too. It's difficult to be this way but this makes us the kind of people others can count on. God likes this too. I also want to tell you that you can't lose your salvation unless you let it go. God won't take it away from you, He doesn't do things like that. In 40 years from now you'll be making the kinds of posts I do now. Never let go of Jesus, that's all.

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On 1/4/2020 at 9:11 PM, F_Ivan said:

Did anyone of you struggle with salvation anxiety for a long time before you were assured?

I gave my life to Jesus in August. I used to be a God hating agnostic/athiest. Then I started letting go of the God hate (and the Holy Spirit started speaking to my heart I believe) and I started watching testimony clips. And I was convinced there was a good and evil side and that God is the good side and that Jesus is God in the flesh sent to die for all of our sins and to save us. I had a meeting with my pastor and we prayed and then I got baptized. I believe I ment all I said in prayer and I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life and I trusted/trust him with my life. I felt mildly peaceful and warm if that means anything, and also after being born again horror movies absolutley petrified me, I was watching a movie called Ouija (dont watch it) before I was saved and I thought it was creepy, watched it again after my converison and was absolutley petrified. I had some times were I backslid really bad and I still had a porn habit, but overall there was a stable increase in my peace and mood and people and parents were telling me I had improved my behavior (even though i wasnt really trying to) and some people who hadnt seen me in a while tell me im different. Of course Im not saying this is infallible proof im saved but just food for thought, I know im a different person since before I was saved.

The question is though I dont know if im really saved, the only part that kind of makes me doubt my salvation is that I still had a really bad porn habit before and after (sometimes cared and sometimes didnt really) (I dont have it anymore though) and Im not sure I really understood what true repentance was. I prayed the salvation prayer together with my pastor at my conversion, I knew I was a sinner and tried making myself feel mentally sorry for my sins and knew sin is wrong before God, I did and still do believe in Jesus Christ and want and still want him in my life. I guess im doubting my salvation because I wasnt falling on my knees crying for my sins (Have prayed in anguish to God before) like some conversion stories. I really want assurance in my salvation, I pray the salvation prayer sometimes in anguish/despair of thinking im not really saved but it doesnt really do anything, atleast nothing ive really felt. I dont know whats wrong, I think I felt assured of my salvation when I first became born again but now I really dont know. I do believe the hand of God has been evident in my life since being born again (I'm not "dead certain beyond any doubt" but I do believe)  I try to relax and trust in my salvation, and try to follow God daily and try to avoid sin. But looking up doomsday/revelation related anything gives me so much anguish.

What was the mechanism of your salvation/true salvation?

For me, it was realizing that by a one-time act, I could trust Jesus, not me, for salvation--then I was saved when I trusted Him.

If you struggle with anxiety AFTER salvation, you need to mend some fences from your youth, most likely, so that you can receive the love of Christ and realize all those wonderful verses really apply to YOU!

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9 hours ago, Billiards Ball said:

What was the mechanism of your salvation/true salvation?

For me, it was realizing that by a one-time act, I could trust Jesus, not me, for salvation--then I was saved when I trusted Him.

If you struggle with anxiety AFTER salvation, you need to mend some fences from your youth, most likely, so that you can receive the love of Christ and realize all those wonderful verses really apply to YOU!

I know my good works dont save me nor add to my salvation. I believe its kind of up to me to maintain close relationship with God though (prayer, bible reading, trying to avoid things I know are sinful) I think bible reading and prayer is good and of course obviously avoiding things you're clearly convicted "no" to. I think ive been having too much of a legalistic attitude towards the last one though, like i feel like ive been having too much over emphasis on it.

 

9 hours ago, JTC said:

Ivan, as I've said before, I'm a believer some 40 years. Based on myself and other believers I've known, if your faith wasn't real you wouldn't be worried. So even though anxiety is unpleasant feeling I see your anxiety as proof of your faith. Let me ask you this, are you the kind of person who likes to be very sure of what you believe? I bet you are, and I'm like that too. It's difficult to be this way but this makes us the kind of people others can count on. God likes this too. I also want to tell you that you can't lose your salvation unless you let it go. God won't take it away from you, He doesn't do things like that. In 40 years from now you'll be making the kinds of posts I do now. Never let go of Jesus, that's all.

I like to be very sure of what I believe in the main things. And I really like to feel secure/close to God emotionally

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I don't think I've been trusting in Jesus enough lately truthfully. I've been overthinking it and getting lost in too much salvation theology/becoming confused. relying on my own strength to stay close to god. Somebody basically told me this a few weeks ago at church.

This sermon basically described me.

 

 

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5 hours ago, F_Ivan said:

I don't think I've been trusting in Jesus enough lately truthfully. I've been overthinking it and getting lost in too much salvation theology/becoming confused. relying on my own strength to stay close to god. Somebody basically told me this a few weeks ago at church.

This sermon basically described me.

 

 

Hi Ivan,

You, & all of us need to grow and that means learning more about Jesus, who He is, His character and His purposes. He is changing us, daily so just trust Him to do what only He can do. As you grow you will see highlighted more things in your life that need changing - attitudes & behaviours that are not like Christ. So you/we repent and be thankful that that has been highlighted and with the Holy Spirit`s help we change, step by step. The old ways of thinking need to be renewed and they will as we read God`s word to find out what is life giving and not dead ways.

Hope that is helpful, bro, Marilyn. 

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12 hours ago, F_Ivan said:

I know my good works dont save me nor add to my salvation. I believe its kind of up to me to maintain close relationship with God though (prayer, bible reading, trying to avoid things I know are sinful) I think bible reading and prayer is good and of course obviously avoiding things you're clearly convicted "no" to. I think ive been having too much of a legalistic attitude towards the last one though, like i feel like ive been having too much over emphasis on it.

 

I like to be very sure of what I believe in the main things. And I really like to feel secure/close to God emotionally

It's only partially up to you to "stay close". It has to do with whether you are in shame or in blessing, and if you understand you can pray to God right NOW and be CLOSE even if you've sinned lately!

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Works in faith like practical things are good for spiritual health and thus assurance to:

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
1 John 3:18‭-‬20 ESV
 

So invent something practical e.g. bake a cake for an elderly person or pickup some litter with a litter picker.

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On 1/24/2020 at 11:24 PM, F_Ivan said:

Im really having these strong anxieties that are trying to drown my faith. About losing my salvation and/or losing the faith and falling away. Someone said all anxiety is a form of unbelief and im wondering if this is a form of unbelief in God's love to keep me and protect me or if its just a fear? 

hey that is interesting as i have been doing some research regarding salvation and want to start a thread on it that you might find interesting. i certainly have more peace about it now. please dont loose hope it is out there. i have realised that i have been struggling with the very same issue.

and this chain of events which led to the study of Salvation was started by a random video that explained that the person i was 'following' on Youtube was a works based oh and a lot more i discovered.

i also realised that i need to sharpen my discernment. as there are a lot of wolf's out there and very convincing they are. have to know the bible is the bottom line.

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On 1/27/2020 at 7:32 PM, F_Ivan said:

I think ive been having too much of a legalistic attitude towards the last one though, like i feel like ive been having too much over emphasis on it.

Perhaps you are. It is good that you're aware of sins when you do them because God doesn't like sin. If you read my posts you probably know I'm very aware of sin, I work at doing my best to not sin. But I'm not legalistic about it and you shouldn't be neither. For example, just yesterday I was talking with a local store owner who suddenly started using the F word in his conversation to seem like he was a big tough man. That made me feel tempted to also use the F word but I didn't. First of all because it's a sin against our God but also because others notice when we don't cuss along with them. This probably makes them uncomfortable but it the long run they realize there's something special about us because we don't use foul language. But I was tempted and I'm saved 40 yrs. 20 yrs ago I probably would felt anxious because I didn't use the F word but that anxiety no longer happens to me. It doesn't help young people, such as yourself, that some supposed Christians think sins don't matter to God and that He takes no notice of them. This is not true and both Jesus and all His apostles say so in the Bible. The worst sin of these people are not their typical sins but rather that they think God doesn't care, of course He cares. As you know Jesus died a horrible death so we can be forgiven but God/Jesus didn't die so we could sin without a care in the world. Jesus is more concerned with whether or not we are trying not to sin. He's less concerned with how successful we are at it. You are clearly concerned with your failures at living sin free and that's what matters to the Lord. God gives high grades for effort. In fact I believe effort counts more than results. My guess is you're under 30 and I'm almost 70. If you live to my age and beyond you probably won't sin much at all compared to now. Trust me, Jesus doesn't want you having anxiety attacks over the fact that you can't live sin free. As you live as a Christian you will undoubtedly run into supposed Christians who live like the rest of the world, meaning they cuss quite freely, they have sex with any person willing to do it with them, they lie & cheat daily, they probably even check their horoscope all the time and may even play with Ouija Boards. Plus they consult psychics from time to time. The worst part is they think nothing is wrong with this and they certainly aren't have anxiety over it. People like this were probably never really saved in the first place but even if they meant it when they asked Jesus to be their Lord they aren't living up to it. I don't think this describes you because those people aren't worried about their salvation. You are. I think it's great that you want to be very sure of what you believe. You have a strong conscience and while part of the conscience is part of the human mind a strong diligent conscience usually comes from the Holy Spirit. And it's only logical that if you have the Holy Spirit functioning in you then you are saved. And always remember that God doesn't let go of His people it's only us who ever let go of God.

  Here's another thing I learned in the past year. I'm sure you know that God allowed His people, ancient Israel & Judea, to be conquered and taken in exile by Babylonia. That may seem like God was mean and very harsh, but not so. I've been reading through 1 Samuel to 2 Chronicles over & over this past year. This was a period of several hundred years and many different kings. With the exception of King David almost every king worshiped pagan gods even if they acknowledged the 1 true God, our God. He gave Israel & Judea more chances to repent and amend their ways than I can count. God even warned His people many times of what He'd do to them if they didn't change. God finally had no choice but to punish them. But even in the exile God reserved some people for Himself. Daniel was probably the most well known one. God never let go of anyone who wanted Him.

God will do no different with you Ivan. In our crazy world anxiety disorders are one of the biggest problems we have. I'm 67 and I still suffer from some forms of anxiety. But I no longer worry about being saved. I look at how other people, my age, live and I know I'm saved. I'm not perfect nor sin free but compared to only 20 yrs ago I have many less sins. I listen to the Bible 1 - 3 hours every morning, I actively avoid every sin can, I talk (pray) to God throughout the day, and I think about Him a lot. That's all I do. I don't think this makes me super Holy but it does make me feel certain I'm saved. I think you can become like this too. Just remember, it took me decades to get here.

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@JTC. Thanks  Brother, I have been struggling with this issue myself. Im 52 and asked Jesus to save me about 6 months ago, I finally understand what it means "to rest in Gods grace and salvation" I finally understand that is what I should have done first, Rest. then I wouldnt have wrestled with the thought of "am I saved or not" so much . Jesus will not turn me away, he will not turn anyone away who truly wants Him in their life. Your post has helped me tremendously in understanding that. Thank you Jesus for leading me to this post. Thanks again JTC.

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