A Question about Doubting Salvation

[tsth]

Dear Eric,

We are in agreement on this. I just would point out the distinction between "blowing it", and a "sin lifestyle". There is an extreme difference that many don't seem to distinguish.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[EricH]

Dear Eric,

We are in agreement on this. I just would point out the distinction between "blowing it", and a "sin lifestyle". There is an extreme difference that many don't seem to distinguish.

In His Love,

Suzanne

An thank God I am not the one who needs to decipher that in people's lives. I just need to tell them the truth about Who God is and what He expects

[Guest]

[tsth]

An thank God I am not the one who needs to decipher that in people's lives. I just need to tell them the truth about Who God is and what He expects

This is very true, but be prepared, when preaching the whole counsel of God, from His Word, they will somehow attribute God's Word to the one who is reading it? They will do as they have always done to those before us, who preached Truth, they will get angry.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[kittylover0991]

Can I say I am thankful that I have pastors and teachers at my church who teach biblically how to get saved? They teach doctrine AND love, which is a huge blessing, and while they teach that you can not loose your salvation, they also teach that if you don't see a difference that God has made, working in your life... then maybe you should look at your salvation... "evaluate" it as I think someone on here said.. and on the other hand, it is also taught that many timse those that don't see God working in their life, it is because of some sin that is in their life, whatever it may be...

I can say that with this person, I have seen God work in her life over the past so many years, seen her grow in the Lord... from someone who used to just enjoy coming to church and singing the songs, to having a desire for the Lord, having a desire to work in her youth group and even knows that the Lord is calling her to full time Christian service. Yet, she says that every so often there is the slightest hint of doubt and not quite sure why...

I think the pastor has the same job as the rest of us to go out and preach the gospel, but along with that, he is looking over a group of sheep... God has, prayerfully, set that pastor over those sheep and he will answer to God for his dealings with them.. what he preaches.. how he councils, etc...the love that he shows and the doctrine he preaches.

Is it wrong for us to look at someone that we have seen, and someone we know and CARE so much about in our church... someoen we really love... it is wrong to love them and pray for them, and possibly even question if they are really saved because you can't see God working in their lives? The bible says there are fruits... spriritual fruits and a Christian is supposed to grow..... hmm.... This is going to come out wrong so please let me share this..

I remember my old youth pastor, SUCH a blessing in my life and how I miss him and his family so much as they are missionaries, but part of his testimony of the day he accepted Christ besides what Christ has saved him from, is that he went to church for about six months or so and he "played Christian"... he learned quickly what to say, how to say it, what to dress, and how to make people think that he was a Christian. A lady from the church was taking him home from church on one of the days and she pulled over to the side of the road. She told him that she knew that he wasn't a Christian... etc...

Let's just say that he knew that he wasn't saved and he accepted Christ that day! Not to mention, the one that pulled him over is now his wife, they are serving as missionaries, and are raising a family! I really think that we are too quick to judge pastors just becuase of their position....

Now, for sure, a pastor shoudln't tell some one NEVER to doubt their salvaiton, because a person might not be saved, but I think a pastor should follow God's guidance and if God leads them to talk to someone about salvaiton, who are we to quesiton that? What if they really are not saved and they were actually going to die that afternoon? The preacher at camp this past week has told us countless stories about people that said that they woudl accept Christ another day.... the next day the said "maybe later"... he woudl ask them and they'd say.. "Another day"... Unfrounately, the next day came and they were no longer alive. I specifically remembering one time they said that they woke up and found that the boy had managed himself intot he river and died....

I really think that many times we are way too hard on pastors for what they do, if they are really serving the Lord...

[tsth]

I agree kitty, and please understand, my husband is a preacher, so I DO understand the pastor's position.

(I'm sure my post wouldn't have reflected that I am understanding of the pastor's position, BUT, I believe a pastor is even much more obligated to tell someone the TRUTH, rather than assure them of something that a pastor has NO WAY of knowing, as you mentioned above. Anybody can SAY they're saved, but that doesn't necessarily make it so.)

In His Love,

Suzanne

[EricH]

An thank God I am not the one who needs to decipher that in people's lives. I just need to tell them the truth about Who God is and what He expects

This is very true, but be prepared, when preaching the whole counsel of God, from His Word, they will somehow attribute God's Word to the one who is reading it? They will do as they have always done to those before us, who preached Truth, they will get angry.

In His Love,

Suzanne

Thats why in ministry it is always good to remember that we really only play to an audience of "One"

[EricH]

I agree kitty, and please understand, my husband is a preacher, so I DO understand the pastor's position.

(I'm sure my post wouldn't have reflected that I am understanding of the pastor's position, BUT, I believe a pastor is even much more obligated to tell someone the TRUTH, rather than assure them of something that a pastor has NO WAY of knowing, as you mentioned above. Anybody can SAY they're saved, but that doesn't necessarily make it so.)

In His Love,

Suzanne

Thats right. It is not the pastor's job to give assurance of salvation. It is the pastor's job to tell people how they can have the assurance of salvation. It is the Holy Spirit's job to actually give that assurance.

The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children

Romans 8:16 HCSB