A Question about Doubting Salvation

[kittylover0991]

What purpose does it serve the devil to work in one's life that they would consider doubting their salvation? I know that when I doubted my salvationin about 2003, it led to me trying to find someone to talk to, talking to a couple different pastors at my church at the time. It also involved talking to my 8th grade Sunday school teacher who went through the plan of salvation with me... sure, that led to a little confusion about baptism, etc, and about when I really got saved, but I knew as of August 17, 2003 that I was saved, and it was also part of rededicating my life to Christ, and being on fire for the Lord! It was from that time that I can mark where I have learned and grown the most, while the five years before that were mostly just coming to church, putting on an act of being the "goody tooshoes".

What good is it to the devil to convince one that they might not be saved? If someone has a large knowledge of the bible and knows about the bible adn hell, and I woudl assume that it woudl cause a fear that they might not be saved and they woudl want to get it taken care of! What good does it do?

One more question, if someone were to come up to you and tell you that they can look back on a day that they accepted Christ and know that they are saved, but there are days when it becomes a really big question in their mind but not sure why, what would you say? What would you tell them if they say that there is no unrepented sin in their life- they did have unrepentent sin in their life, but now it is taken care of?

Coudl it be that doubting one's salvation, if not taking on completely out of service for Christ becuase of sin, could it take one for a time and make them unable to serve the Lord to that full "potential" becuase they are worrying about their salvation?

[Vickilynn]

What purpose does it serve the devil to work in one's life that they would consider doubting their salvation? <snip>

Coudl it be that doubting one's salvation, if not taking on completely out of service for Christ becuase of sin, could it take one for a time and make them unable to serve the Lord to that full "potential" becuase they are worrying about their salvation?

Shalom Kittylover,

The enemy works to make Christians ineffective if he can't make them renounce their faith. Yes, by doubting our salvation, we could become ineffective or even walk away from Jesus. There have been people who have walked away from Jesus because they doubted they were truly saved.

If someone came to me and doubted that they were truly saved, I would take them back to square one, - who is G-d, who is Jesus and how is one saved. Then, we would go over Scriptures about being saved and what that means. Then we would pray and ask Jesus to come into this person's heart (that is IF they wanted to pray) and that they would know it was for real.

[zecha51]

This is from a pamphlet I have... it says, "the devil can not take away one's salvation, he can only worry him" (who is saved)

I have doubted some also but have also found myself feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit etc..

Read the book of first John! The devil DOES want to worry us. He does want us more lukewarm becuase of doubt. Say, "God, help me not to rely on feelings and other people but in you Christ and help me with this doubt."

He will.

[MeCajunboy]

What purpose does it serve the devil to work in one's life that they would consider doubting their salvation? I know that when I doubted my salvationin about 2003, it led to me trying to find someone to talk to, talking to a couple different pastors at my church at the time. It also involved talking to my 8th grade Sunday school teacher who went through the plan of salvation with me... sure, that led to a little confusion about baptism, etc, and about when I really got saved, but I knew as of August 17, 2003 that I was saved, and it was also part of rededicating my life to Christ, and being on fire for the Lord! It was from that time that I can mark where I have learned and grown the most, while the five years before that were mostly just coming to church, putting on an act of being the "goody tooshoes".

What good is it to the devil to convince one that they might not be saved? If someone has a large knowledge of the bible and knows about the bible adn hell, and I woudl assume that it woudl cause a fear that they might not be saved and they woudl want to get it taken care of! What good does it do?

One more question, if someone were to come up to you and tell you that they can look back on a day that they accepted Christ and know that they are saved, but there are days when it becomes a really big question in their mind but not sure why, what would you say? What would you tell them if they say that there is no unrepented sin in their life- they did have unrepentent sin in their life, but now it is taken care of?

Coudl it be that doubting one's salvation, if not taking on completely out of service for Christ becuase of sin, could it take one for a time and make them unable to serve the Lord to that full "potential" becuase they are worrying about their salvation?

Cajunboy:::: It's very conceiveable to imagine that everyone "doubts" or at least questions salvation or at least the process or outcome of salvation. If that were not the case and we all (Christians) understood what salvation actually intails, I'd have to believe that we would have absolutely no reason for grave sins in our lives. The very fact that we sin, tells me that most of us don't truly have a full understanding of God's Word and/or HIS Salvation promised to us. True, most sins will not keep us from salvation that is promised to us, but I know of a few grave ones that detest God and HE even says they are an abomination to HIM !

I don't even think that most of the questions we have about salvation are of such a sinful nature that they would direct us to Hell. I think that many of us are mainly curious or unsure of what we think we understand and let's face it, how much do we really understand when we read God's word. Actually, until God is ready to feed us what HE needs us to know, we really have very little concept of what HE is truly trying to convey in many areas. Many people don't even get most of it until very late in life and they have ventured through life's pitfalls and experienced much confusion and sin anyway. The problem I have always had with doubt for many who question it is , "If they are in severe doubt about whether God is REAL and can be in their lives, and they die in the inturrum, I can see that being a concern for many! Take the time to get to know the TRUE and Personal God who wants so badly to live within YOU!

Be Blessed

Cajunboy

[Mediotic]

[ ]

"What purpose does it serve the devil "

the words "purpose" and "serve" are your key words here ... he comes as a ... ~you fill in the blanks~ ... he is a liar thief and a .... ~you know the rest~ .... so there is his purpose ...

as far as serving him.. well ... I refuse ..

I think the hard part is we tend to serve ourselves ~and thats his forte~ .. giving us the desires of our flesh if we are not being led by the Spirit...

we are at war.

[Guest shiloh357]

One more question, if someone were to come up to you and tell you that they can look back on a day that they accepted Christ and know that they are saved, but there are days when it becomes a really big question in their mind but not sure why, what would you say? What would you tell them if they say that there is no unrepented sin in their life- they did have unrepentent sin in their life, but now it is taken care of?

Salvation is based solely on the promise of God to those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. According the Bible, salvation or eternal life is something we have today, not something we are waiting on.

When someone has doubts I take them to John 5: 24 where Jesus says that anyone hears His words and believes upon He who sent Him, has (present tense) eternal life.

Also 1John 5:11-13 also say that all those who believe on Jesus have eternal life today. It is not something we are waiting on, but something we have today. The Bible teaches that we have a "know-so" salvation.

Renewing one's mind in the Word of God is the only sure way to defeat doubt.

As for unrepentant sin, that is a nonissue. I do not remember every sin I have ever committed. If salvation is dependent on being able to remember and repent of every sin you ever committed no one would be saved. Salvation is not based upon my performance or lack thereof. It is not based on how many sins I have confessed. It is the grace of God in spite of my performance that saves me.

[kittylover0991]

One more question, if someone were to come up to you and tell you that they can look back on a day that they accepted Christ and know that they are saved, but there are days when it becomes a really big question in their mind but not sure why, what would you say? What would you tell them if they say that there is no unrepented sin in their life- they did have unrepentent sin in their life, but now it is taken care of?

Salvation is based solely on the promise of God to those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. According the Bible, salvation or eternal life is something we have today, not something we are waiting on.

When someone has doubts I take them to John 5: 24 where Jesus says that anyone hears His words and believes upon He who sent Him, has (present tense) eternal life.

Also 1John 5:11-13 also say that all those who believe on Jesus have eternal life today. It is not something we are waiting on, but something we have today. The Bible teaches that we have a "know-so" salvation.

Renewing one's mind in the Word of God is the only sure way to defeat doubt.

As for unrepentant sin, that is a nonissue. I do not remember every sin I have ever committed. If salvation is dependent on being able to remember and repent of every sin you ever committed no one would be saved. Salvation is not based upon my performance or lack thereof. It is not based on how many sins I have confessed. It is the grace of God in spite of my performance that saves me.

Thanks everyone!

Um, about the "unrepentent sin", I mentioned this becuase this is a question that I asked them about becuase I remember asking my own youth pastor about doubting salvation, and he asked me if I had sin in my life! At that point, I thought it just meant that I was a sinner, whichI knew I was, so I said "yeah" (oh goodness lol ) ... I wanted to say "duh", but he told me that when we have sin in our life, or rather, sin that we haven't confessed over to God, then many times it can hide God's will from our lives, and it can basically hide His face from us! With that, many doubt their salvation because of sin. I can actually say that I'm pretty sure that that is a large part of the reason that I doubted back then was because I had sin in my life that I wasn't giving over to God, a particular sin, and God couldn't use me... I also wasn't in prayer, or devotions, and basically dazed into another world during church so I wasn't growing! I couldnt' see the evidence of God working my life, though my youth pastor at the time said I had fruit.

That is really the reason I mentioned about the unrepentent sin, not because your salvaiton depends on it (Eph 2:8-9 says otherwise), but because many come to question their salvation because of it.

Well, since I had church tonight, I spent a good five or so minutes attempting to talk to spanish to someone at my church (spanish linguist) about it, but we never quite finished the conversaiton. He mentioned going to God, and also maybe to the pastor... but then his wife needed some help with something and we never quite finished. Hopefully I'll see him Wednesday and can maybe bring up some of the things that were said on here.

So the bible says in John that the devil wants us to doubt???

[Guest shiloh357]

With that, many doubt their salvation because of sin. I can actually say that I'm pretty sure that that is a large part of the reason that I doubted back then was because I had sin in my life that I wasn't giving over to God, a particular sin, and God couldn't use me... I also wasn't in prayer, or devotions, and basically dazed into another world during church so I wasn't growing! I couldnt' see the evidence of God working my life, though my youth pastor at the time said I had fruit.

That is really the reason I mentioned about the unrepentent sin, not because your salvaiton depends on it (Eph 2:8-9 says otherwise), but because many come to question their salvation because of it.

Yeah, that is why renewing one's mind in the Word of God, especially in the area where salvation is concerned is so important. If Satan gets us away from regular study of the Bible, we are more susceptable to the temptation to doubt.

[terter]

Yeah as long as we doubt, we can't really begin to establish a relationship with Him. It's like when you're dating, you're not going to get to - is this the special person I want to spend the rest of my life with if you're doubting if you really love them or if they really love you.

But God's Word says "1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie..."

[None]

If someone has a large knowledge of the bible and knows about the bible adn hell, and I woudl assume that it woudl cause a fear that they might not be saved and they woudl want to get it taken care of! What good does it do?

Knowledge has never saved anyone from going to Hell. Knowledge is often directly proportional to the ego. They increase together. Eventually people begin to believe they have no need for Jesus, that they themselves can walk into Heaven with all their years of studies to prove they're "worthy" to enter.

Increased Biblical knowledge can also be fooled, if not lead completely by the Holy Spirit. Satan has thousands of centuries of practice in twisting what we think we know and creating illusionous versions of the truths we've learned from God.

So, your own knowledge of God and the truths of the Bible alone will not protect you from the "wiles of the devil".

What good is it to the devil to convince one that they might not be saved?

1)When you doubt, it often renders you paralyzed until your strength is back and your faith is increased again.

2)The devil hopes to kick you as much as possible before you can get back up, hoping to make you do or say something that will keep you from any further effective ministry. That is his greater hope in causing doubt. I don't believe it's as much you he's worried about, it's your effective discipleship he's worried about and in constant battle with from your point of salvation on.

One more question, if someone were to come up to you and tell you that they can look back on a day that they accepted Christ and know that they are saved, but there are days when it becomes a really big question in their mind but not sure why, what would you say? What would you tell them if they say that there is no unrepented sin in their life- they did have unrepentent sin in their life, but now it is taken care of?

I would explain to them the spiritual warfare we, as Christians, battle everyday, nonstop, until we die. It's a fact. It's not a pretty fact, but it's still a fact. And doubt is just one more tool satan uses against us.

Coudl it be that doubting one's salvation, if not taking on completely out of service for Christ becuase of sin, could it take one for a time and make them unable to serve the Lord to that full "potential" becuase they are worrying about their salvation?

That about says it all.