Is salvation instantaneous?

[Guest Von Davidicus]

I do not believe salvation is instantaneous. I prayed for it more than 20 years ago, and I still do not believe I am saved. If I were, I'd be straight.

[sweetycakes]

I do not believe salvation is instantaneous. I prayed for it more than 20 years ago, and I still do not believe I am saved. If I were, I'd be straight.

Why do you put yourself down so? Just because you have homosexual feelings?

At least you acknowledge that you have a problem.

Ain't no problem I've ever known of that Christ can't handle.

Christ died for you.

[ayin jade]

Was Judas Iscariot saved? Yes. Was it instant? No. So at what point would he have been saved? Logically if he had remained faithful and at his death.

Jesus said Judas was not saved.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

[buckthesystem]

As for Judas Iscariot, if he was not saved, I find that really hard to understand! It seems unfair (maybe that's a bad choice of word, but I can't think of a better one right now). For Jesus to become one of us and then to be killed, sacrificed for our sins, was God's plan for a long time. Judas must have been a part of it, I mean somebody had to play his part in the plan. And it seems he was genuinely repentent and sorry for what he'd done.

However, to the original question: I really don't know the answer. I struggle with this question just about all the time. I suddenly came to the realisation that "it is all true" four and a half years ago and I still don't feel any different. I am sad, but at the same time overjoyed, (if you can believe all that) when I read someone saying ".... then I just knew that my life had changed for ever" and I think "what has this person done that I haven't done".

I have know people who were drug addicts/alcoholics or homosexuals ("prison conversions" I used to do a lot of prison visiting) some of whom were cured of their addictions instantaneously and some of who still had to struggle with breaking the chains of the addiction/lifestyle. This was explained to me as "well the Lord has his reasons, who are we to question them?" and I can accept that. Mainly because all the people who didn't get an "instant cure" "knew in their heart" that they had to change.

Sometimes I think that everybody who is saved knew at some point that their lives had changed for ever, but I'm still questioning it, so does that mean that I am not saved?

As for water Baptism: My mother attended the Apostolic Church for about two or three years before she died. She was very excited about Christianity and everything she did/read/listened to/thought (I presume) in that time, was about God. She was also quite sick and disabled so I don't think she would have been baptised. Yet I was baptised in the local river about eight months after I accepted Christ and it didn't seem to make any difference.

Any ideas?

[Guest shiloh357]

Being saved is not something we base on experiences. Some people have more dramatic experiences than others. It comes down to whether you believe the Bible. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, then you need to believe that according to the Bible you are saved.

There is no such thing as "feeling" saved, anymore than a person "feels" married. It is real and true whether you "feel" like it or not.

What if your spouse wakes up one morning and says, "Maybe we need to go over those wedding vows one more time, 'cause I don't feel married today." What would you say to something stupid like that? Yet, that is what we say to God, sometimes.

Salvation is instantaneous and it is by faith that we believe that we are saved, irrespecive of our feelings or experience. It is wrong to base theology on experience or emotions, either yours or someone else's.

[Guest]

I believe salvation is instantaneous and sanctification is progressive. But, at what moment does salvation occur. We use the "sinner's prayer" as evangelicals, is that when it happens? Is there an element of intellectual reasoning involved or is it an emotional surrender or are words unable to unlock this secret?

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved

Acts 2:21

[Ovedya]

Being saved is not something we base on experiences. Some people have more dramatic experiences than others. It comes down to whether you believe the Bible. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, then you need to believe that according to the Bible you are saved.

There is no such thing as "feeling" saved, anymore than a person "feels" married. It is real and true whether you "feel" like it or not.

What if your spouse wakes up one morning and says, "Maybe we need to go over those wedding vows one more time, 'cause I don't feel married today." What would you say to something stupid like that? Yet, that is what we say to God, sometimes.

Salvation is instantaneous and it is by faith that we believe that we are saved, irrespecive of our feelings or experience. It is wrong to base theology on experience or emotions, either yours or someone else's.

Amen!

]This is exaclty true. Salvation is based upon fact, not superficial and fickle feelings.

[Ovedya]

Was Judas Iscariot saved? Yes. Was it instant? No. So at what point would he have been saved? Logically if he had remained faithful and at his death.

Jesus said Judas was not saved.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Right.

Being in physical proximity to Jesus was not a guarantee of salvation. The apostles attained eternal life when they breathed in the Holy Spirit. Judas was (obviously) not present there.

[ayin jade]

Being saved is not something we base on experiences. Some people have more dramatic experiences than others. It comes down to whether you believe the Bible. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, then you need to believe that according to the Bible you are saved.

There is no such thing as "feeling" saved, anymore than a person "feels" married. It is real and true whether you "feel" like it or not.

What if your spouse wakes up one morning and says, "Maybe we need to go over those wedding vows one more time, 'cause I don't feel married today." What would you say to something stupid like that? Yet, that is what we say to God, sometimes.

Salvation is instantaneous and it is by faith that we believe that we are saved, irrespecive of our feelings or experience. It is wrong to base theology on experience or emotions, either yours or someone else's.

You know, that is one of the best analogies Ive seen. Im going to use that in chat whenever I encounter someone who questions their salvation based on feelings.

[Richard_yaash]

I do not believe salvation is instantaneous. I prayed for it more than 20 years ago, and I still do not believe I am saved. If I were, I'd be straight.

Hi Von Davidicus,

I do not know you, your situation and I have never walked in your shoes. I will not offer you the usual obligatory comments, for I know you heard them all too often. I will not point you to the Scriptures, for I know you know them better than I.

All I can do, is share with you from my own knowledge/experience. And of that, I will offer only a little, for it may be of no or little value.

Salvation, does not always remove/take away our problems/tendencies in life as you already know. It does however, give us the strength to cease, which you have testified that you have. Like yourself, I still have "issues" that will always be and remain in life. They will always be a temptation for me, I may perhaps never overcome those temptations. What counts, is that we do not give in to them.

In the little that I know of and about you: I commend and tip my hat to you.