Is it haughty and arrogant to proclaim oneself saved?

[Not of the World]

48 minutes ago, Space_Karen said:

If we asked a question: what have you done to earn or deserve being saved in the last 5 years.

I wonder how many could name a single thing they've done to deserve it.

 

In applying terms like earn or deserve to modern day christians sometimes they get offended.

They've been groomed by liberal media, liberal educational system, liberal church and liberal state to believe they're entitled to have everything in life for free.

Which is a very liberal and left wing mentality.

Their prayers to God are full of requests for free stuff. They want wisdom for free. Knowledge for free. Health for free. They pray to God as if he were Karl Marx offering them free healthcare and free student loans. Which I find disrespectful in a "you only pray to God when you want free stuff" kind of way.

 

But I think it is unfair for people to be defined solely by their flaws. What really matters is how much effort they're putting into everything. Maybe they are doing the best they can. And if such is the case I don't mind them labeling themselves as saved. 

The reason the bible might cite God's endless love and mercy could be a remembrance that most of the saved aren't the most impressive or best people at first glance. We all fall short in ways.

Perhaps even so we are all improving and becoming better christians over time. Which can give us hope. That might be the most important thing. As it implies progress is being made. Circumstances are improving. Our conception of morality and faith are changing for the better. Bringing us all closer to God and Heaven.

 

 

This is a really great post.  Thank you!  

 

[Sower]

2 hours ago, Not of the World said:

I personally believe that telling others that they're saved is rather presumptuous.  I think it's fine to believe it but I think it's something that one should keep to themselves.  Thoughts?

Like yourself I was in the RCC, for thirty years, and I heard very little bible scripture, only catechism classes on the catholic dogma/doctrine. I noticed you said mortal sin, and you believed it is presumptuous to tell others you are saved.
Both of those terms are catholic dogma, and not in the bible.

A sin is a sin. You miss the mark, the target, when you sin. Doesn't matter how small the miss (venial sin-catholic term) or if you miss the mark big time (mortal sin-catholic term) The catholic church dogma says if you die with a mortal sin un-confessed to a priest for "absolution" you go to hell, not purgatory to suffer a few millennia. Unless you have a rich uncle to pay the priest to say Requiem masses for the dead, a "get out of jail/purgatory free card"

As far as presumption of salvation, the catholic dogma says, as you probably already know, that is the "sin of presumption", and probably why you still have that teaching within your thinking. It is false! I rechecked a recently as last year, and the RCC church still has as dogma that if you presume upon God Almighty that you are good enough and deserve to go to heaven, like as in "SAVED", that is a sin. The RCC does not believe in salvation by grace "alone" though they claimed they do in 1995 church resolution. They believe you must believe in salvation by grace, plus maintaining all seven of their sacraments, confessing sin to priest (Not God) and good works to maintain your salvation, or not.  Not good works because you already have been saved, as scripture proclaims.

To me this is the greatest evil the RCC is doing to their blind loyal members, denying opportunity to be saved, born again, as God has made known in the scriptures. When I sow seed, witness to the lost, I go to great lengths to let them know that God has changed my life of sin to a life of trusting in His word, which says salvation is a free gift, grace, and not anything I do, works, and by faith alone in his word, truth, that I am saved. I do not presume, I know, and I proclaim what God has told us in his word to us. I have been set free. Indeed!

[Not of the World]

15 minutes ago, Jayne said:

The scripture passage you used from Matthew 18 is not about telling others that you are a Christian, but it was about the disciples thinking that they were better than each other - trying to raise themselves above the other.

I understand, but Jesus was saying that people must humble themselves in order to enter Heaven.  If someone is bragging about being "saved" then I would infer that they are not humbling themselves.  I know that some will tell others that they are "saved" but are not doing so to brag.  That may be ok.  But someone getting up in front of a crowd and exalting themselves by saying "I am saved!" is, to me, not humbling themselves.  Perhaps I am mistaken.  

[Not of the World]

22 minutes ago, Jayne said:

I knew something was wrong yesterday in your thread about comparing the autistic girl to people who read the Bible. 

She was only 14.  Is it normal for 14-year-olds to be Bible scholars?  

[Not of the World]

23 minutes ago, Jayne said:

It's not rocket science dear one

Please excuse my stupidity.  

I will now use that "ignore" function that I heard about and so I won't be reading, let alone responding, to any more of your posts.  Good luck.  

[Not of the World]

25 minutes ago, Jayne said:

It's not rocket science dear one - and you can know that you have made this decision.  Call on God.  Call on Christ.  He will save you.

I would just like to add that you seem to assume the worst about the intentions of others and then are quick to judge and condemn.  I hope I never become like that.  Take care.  

[Not of the World]

16 minutes ago, Sower said:

They believe you must believe in salvation by grace, plus maintaining all seven of their sacraments

I was not previuosly aware of that.  Thank you for sharing that with me.  

[NCAP]

10 minutes ago, Not of the World said:

I understand, but Jesus was saying that people must humble themselves in order to enter Heaven.  If someone is bragging about being "saved" then I would infer that they are not humbling themselves.  I know that some will tell others that they are "saved" but are not doing so to brag.  That may be ok.  But someone getting up in front of a crowd and exalting themselves by saying "I am saved!" is, to me, not humbling themselves.  Perhaps I am mistaken.  

Person A: 
Hey! I'm saved. Are you saved? 

Person B: 
That's an interesting question, and I'm not sure if I can answer it.
Have you made funeral arrangements for yourself?

[Not of the World]

20 minutes ago, Sower said:

His word, which says salvation is a free gift, grace, and not anything I do, works, and by faith alone in his word, truth, that I am saved. I do not presume, I know, and I proclaim what God has told us in his word to us. I have been set free. Indeed!

I appreciate your feedback and I love your username, by the way.   

I have a slightly different perspective.  In keeping with Ephesian 2:8-9 I believe that I should be extremely thankful for my blessing of faith and that I should be obedient by striving to be humble about my (hopeful) redemption and not, as the verse says, "boast" about it. 

 

 

Ephesians 2:8-9

English Standard Version

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

[Not of the World]

I would just like to say to the readers of this thread that I enjoy sharing ideas and obtaining loving feedback.  I'm not here to sow discord or any hard feelings.  However, I am also human.  If anyone wants to ridicule or be otherwise derisive toward me, I will feel compelled to put them on "ignore".  As I said, I ENJOY reading alternative perspectives; if I didn't I wouldn't be here.  With that said, I'm not going to listen to abusive people.  I'm not here to learn hatred.  If I want to learn that there are countless forums "of the world" to teach hatred.  Thank you for reading.