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[Forever Girl]

Wow, that's really awsome, ladies! Thank you Jesus, thank you.

Rebekah

[its_me518]

Wow! I thought I was the only one who is being tormented by this doubting thing!!! Could someone help me out? I have repented, I have been baptised. How come I do not feel saved? I never had the tears of joy of freedom or the feelings of being Born again. What's wrong with me? Everytime (what is it in English?) our church does the "Remembrance" with the wine and the bread I don't know if I should do it or not. I'm SOOO confused! I don't think I sin too much.. nothing that I can really pin point. I really truly WANT to want love Jesus and do His will.... How come I don't? What's stopping me? I keep hearing "Just Believe". Ok. What's the difference between "knowing" and "believeing"? When someone tries to tell me that I am saved, I always say " I know Jesus is the Son of God and He died for me."  But I don't feel all the feelings that are supposed to go along with it. Please help!!! I want to KNOW that I am saved! I want to live for Christ!! Sometimes, I don't see the point of reading the Bible. I want to want to read it. It seems pointless. How can I study the Bible so that it has meaning to me? Would Devotions help? Can anyone help me out!? I want to be FREE and to feel the JOY of being God's child!!!! I WANT to be saved!!! Please hear my cry and help me!!!!!!

[MommaK]

Hi Its_me518!

Its great you were so honest in your post.
There are a couple things I want to tell you:
1. I believed the bible (head belief) before I was saved (read more below). This doesn't mean anything about you, but I believe it's possible. There is no way to know another person's salvation.
2. Satan can give believers doubts IF WE LET HIM. Satan only has the power you give him. When he gives me doubts I say immediately "You are defeated. I believe Jesus!" It goes away, and the doubt has not taken root in my life.

I'll share my story below: 
It's quite relevant to this forum. 

My Salvation Story

I was born April 1984 to married parents. They separated about 4 months after I was born and I went to live with my mother, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Each family unit was in a different home, but all on the same property. My loving grandparents and great-grandmother raised me; the memories I have include having a BLAST with them.

My grandparents took me to a baptist church meeting most Sundays, then my dad would pick me up and take me to a Catholic Mass. I remember feeling odd in BOTH of these services, never feeling right about what went on around me. My main memory of the baptist teachings is: LOVE, “You must love God and put Jesus in your heart”. I didn’t get it. I remember thinking “How can I love someone/something I didn’t even know?”
During catholic mass I plain didn’t pay attention. I would read my own books inside the bulletins and play strange games with myself like: How long can I spit out my saliva in a cup without swallowing? Weird I know. *laughing!* Can you tell I was an only child?

Life went on and through my teens I didn’t ponder God so much and I no longer lived near my grandparents. I went to public school, was a very good student, accomplished at sports, very busy, and mostly happy.  I was pretty good according to the World’s standards, but did not even remotely stick to God’s boundaries.

Soon after graduating from High School I met my (now) husband, ‘J’. After meeting J, I continued with college and we married a year later. I was 19, J was 23. Married life was fun, but I was totally unprepared for the selflessness I would need to have a happy/successful marriage. ☺ I started Graduate school the fall of 2004 and completed my Bachelor’s in December 2004. 

In the fall of 2004 J and I decided to join a large Presbyterian Church we had been attending. In order to join you had to take a 6-week class. In the 3rd or 4th class the instructor passed out a questionnaire. The two questions were:
1.   Are you sure you are going to heaven?
2.   How does someone go to heaven?

My answer for #1: No
My answer for #2: Umm… Be a good person. Do the best that you can do?

See, even though I wasn’t a believer I knew deep down that I could never be good enough for God and that I was not doing my best (can anyone???); which is why I was not sure I was going to heaven.

Then, the instructor told us the truth! She told us “No one is good enough for God, we are all sinners. God sent Jesus, the son of man to earth. Jesus was born to a virgin. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross and paid for your sins with His blood. Then he rose again! Believing and being cleansed by His Blood is THE ONLY way to God (and heaven).”
I was shocked! All the pieces fell together! That was why Jesus was such a big deal!

See, I knew all the stories of Jesus. I just didn’t know that He is the only way. I thought you just had to believe in God. Public schools and the world had taught me that ALL religions were good and to be accepted. That must mean that having “a relationship” with God is the way, right? How wrong I was!

Life went on and I still was the same. I knew the truth, but didn’t believe and live by it. Well, I believed the story but I think it was just a surface head belief. There’s no salvation in that!

Later in 2004 J and I conceived “E” (our two-year-old)!!!

Now, remember, I started grad school in 2004. In this program I met a Christian named Beth (who is still one of my best friends). I had E in July 2005 and continued with school part-time. I took a couple night classes and had a babysitter once a week for a few hours. I think seeing me leave my husband and child annoyed Beth *wink*, so she gave me the book Created To Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl. This book teaches Biblical Wifehood, and certainly does NOT coincide with the World’s teachings of “equalness” and the need for selfishness in marriage. Needless to say, I did NOT like this book at the beginning. But, thankfully I am a pretty stubborn gal and thought I needed to teach Beth the truth. We actually had one Bible at our house, so I flipped through it and found some scriptures that seemed to show the verses Debi Pearl used were for women of “those” times and “those” cultures….certainly not relevant to Today’s Woman. When I presented the arguments, Beth smiled at me and said, “Kristen, it’s scripture and I believe it.” Hmmm. Beth was going to be a harder sell then I thought! I realized I needed to check all the scripture Debi Pearl used, fully expecting to find ALL contradictions within the Bible.
To my shock I realized she wasn’t perverting scripture! What she claimed IS what the Bible taught. That made me REALLY interested in what the Bible said. I mean I did consider myself a Christian…. I’m supposed to believe the whole Bible, not just the parts that suited my own beliefs, right?!?

Think I’m saved by now? Nope!!

For about 6-7 months J and I read the Bible together, and J would teach me when I had questions….or even when I didn’t. ☺
I believed the Bible was right, but I didn’t understand being Born Again, becoming a different person, and loving God. I focused a lot of the passages that have to do with “What it means to be a Christian. What does one have to DO?”
Then, in the summer of 2006 I came across 2 forums: www.welltellme.com and www.7xsunday.net/forum.
In these forums I read from people who seemed to love God and have that LIGHT the Bible talks about. I read one post from a lady who was describing her husband. She wrote, “He’s crazy about Jesus.” It hit me hard. I knew I didn’t have it.
Later that day I prayed like crazy. I said, “God I believe you! I want you! I know you can give me what those people have. I want to know what it means to LOVE you. I am totally lost without Christ. ”

And BOYdid God give it to me! In that moment I was born again. I was cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. I was bought with a price and my life no longer belonged to me, it was all His.
I didn’t understand everything in that moment or become perfect (still not perfect  ). But I had that Spirit that led me, and is leading me more every day. NOTHING looked the same to me anymore. I saw God (or Satan) in EVERYTHING. I see God in the trees, herbs, light, water, and friendships, basically everything. Nothing was neutral anymore.

That was a little over a year ago and my love for God and everyone else has only intensified.

I know many people don’t have the emotional or black and white experience I did. But, everyone who is saved does have a moment when they are born again and believe (even if they don't know for sure when it was). I also think people have different experiences with Salvation. Mine centered around Love and putting ALL my trust in HIM. 

Thoughts I often have:
I wonder how many people would have answered at the church class, “Yes, I’m sure I’m going to heaven” just to keep their life comfortable feeling?

I wonder how many people who have grown up in the Christian Religion still don’t know or believe that Jesus IS the only way? On that note… I wonder how many people trust in religion (something that is man made) rather than Jesus?

I wonder how many people believe being “a good person” is enough for God?

I wonder how many people believe they have to DO something for salvation? Like, “making their own way to heaven” rather than resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ?

It scares me to wonder those things……..

If you have any questions about what I wrote….Pray and check the Bible. It’s amazing how many answers you’ll find in the Old Book.

Love,
Someone who is crazy about Jesus! ☺

See, 7xS and WTM women.... You do make a difference just being happy and living for God! You made all the difference for me. 

[its_me518]

Thank you so much!!!

[Gabriel Anast]

Wow! I thought I was the only one who is being tormented by this doubting thing!!! Could someone help me out? I have repented, I have been baptised. How come I do not feel saved? I never had the tears of joy of freedom or the feelings of being Born again. What's wrong with me? Everytime (what is it in English?) our church does the "Remembrance" with the wine and the bread I don't know if I should do it or not. I'm SOOO confused! I don't think I sin too much.. nothing that I can really pin point. I really truly WANT to want love Jesus and do His will.... How come I don't? What's stopping me? I keep hearing "Just Believe". Ok. What's the difference between "knowing" and "believeing"? [...]

It think your situation is like that of a small girl loving her parents. The love is pure and sincere, but it is not complete. As a child, she is simple and unstable in many ways. The parent makes up for that lack. The child loves the parent in a sort of general way, but cannot understand the sacrifices that the parent is making or the great investment that is being made on her behalf. As that girl grows out of her immaturities one by one, she realizes exactly what her parents did, and what her duties are to her children, to her parents, and to people around her... Many Christians, or people who would like to be "in Christ" find themselves in this place... with a lot of people around them telling them, "Just believe" or whatever... but giving them no knowledge.

This is like a parent who tries to keep his child "innocent" by retarding the development of the child... I have known more than one such parent. They believe that if somehow the child never reaches adulthood, the child will never have to face the moral decisions that adulthood requires... which moral decisions that parent probably failed and does not know how to guide the child around them.

In your case, your sincerity is perfect and necessary, however you need truth as well (as you mentioned... 'What's the difference between "knowing" and "believeing"?'... Oh how I wish so many more people would ask that very question). In my opinion what you lack is a simple understanding of WHO Jesus was / is, and why he did what He did. I can try to explain it all to you, but its much better if you investigate it for yourself.

If I could recommend an approach, I would say that you should start by reading through the book of John, and the follow it with the book of 1st John... they are different books.

Read them in the King James (of, if English is not your first language, use the KJV as a reference to the Bible in your preferred language), and keep in mind that if they are difficult to understand it is because they were written by a Jewish writer, writing in Greek (not his first language)... which was then translated into English... It looks like English, but it still has very predominant Hebrew structure. If you can "get a feel" for the Hebrewness of the book(s), it becomes much easier to understand.

Once you have read those two, and understood them... is is important to begin to read about the people of Israel (Israel is a man, also called Jacob, that is talked about in Genesis 25 - 50), who those people were / are, and what they have to do with God and with you.

Salvation is a man. Salvation is Christ Jesus... this man, this Messiah from the Israelite tribe of Judah is who you need to know, and just like knowing any man, it is helpful to read his biography. Well, the Old Testament is the "biography" of the people that He was born of, and it is laced with prophesy... prophesy of this man, Jesus Christ. Prophesy of all the events of history with specific relation to the Messiah, and his people... the children of Israel.

Soak all this in. Find out who your Salvation is, then begin again to seek your assurance of Salvation... your assurance being found in Him. It will be some work, but it will be sweet, wonderful work.

I too will pray for you. God speed your discovery of His Messiah.

--gabe

[ForeverGirl]

Okay... Gabe wanted me to move this topic because it is mostly women talking/sharing. It is really in a "gray" area and we had a hard time deciding where this topic really belongs. So, for now anyway, it is here.
Gabe feels it is alright for us to share our personal testimonies and faith as long as we don't get into debating the doctrines of salvation. If you have a question about something like "what is faith" or "what is repentance" then we suggest you post it in the Bible Questions forum and wait for a studied answer.

The new forum rules may take a little getting used to since we ladies have been dominating this forum for quite some time. But it's time to establish some order. 
 Pray for the men to have wisdom and discernment in studying and teaching the Scriptures!

God bless and keep you all,

Rebekah Anast

[its_me518]

Hi! Sorry it took a while to get back. I think it is going good. Better, anyways. Still a little confused, but having more faith. Thank for being caring. Gabe, I will take your advice & start reading the book of John. Please keep me in your prayers. I need to KNOW that I am saved! Thank you!!!

[Sarahsboys]

I have found this thread very interesting to read.  I would like to share my experiences in hopes that it may help some of you.  This is my experience and understanding of the Scriptures presented.

#1 - John 3:1-5

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and  said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.   (emphasis mine)

#2 - Matthew 16:18- 19 (speaking to Peter)

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.


#3 - Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

#4 – Acts 4:12 – (Speaking of Jesus)

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.


#5 – Luke 24:49

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.


#6– Acts 2:1 –

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

#7 – Acts 2:37-39

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.


#8 – Acts 10: 45-46a (Peter was sent to preach the Gospel to Cornelius, and the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentlies)

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.


#9 – Acts 10:47 –

Can any man forbid water , that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

#10 -Acts 8: 15-18 -

Who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost;  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,…..

#11 -Acts 10:44 –

While Peter yet  spake  these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

#12 -Acts 5:32 –

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.


#13 - Acts 19:1 –6 -

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed: And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, Unto John’s baptism.  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.




#14 –Romans 6:3 –5 -

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death:  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

#15  Colossians 2:12 –
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

#16  1 Peter 3:21 –

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:


#17  James 2:20 –

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:  and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

   

In the verse #1, Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born of “water and of the Spirit”.  Verse #2  shows Jesus giving Peter authority.  Verse #3 -   the disciples are commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  What is that name?  Verse #4 tells us the name is Jesus.  Jesus is the name that saves us.  Jesus is the name that we are baptized in.   Verses #5 and #6 show us that Jesus told the disciples to tarry and wait for the promise.  The promise came – they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.  There was an outward sign of this infilling – they all spoke with tongues (other languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Verse #7  What must we do?  Peter speaks with authority - Be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ which will wash away our sins and then we will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost just like the disciples did in the Upper Room.  This verse also tells us that this same promise is for EVERYONE – as many as the Lord our God shall call.  Verse #8 – Peter was sent to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.  The Holy Ghost fell – again there was an outward sign of this infilling – they spoke in tongues again.  Verse 9 – the Gentiles who received the Holy Ghost were baptized.   #10 verse – believers who had been baptized were prayed for that they might receive the Holy Ghost.  It was important that they receive the gift.  Verses #11 -13 – more examples of the pattern of water baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  Verse #15 – baptism is our burial.  When we receive the Holy Ghost it is our resurrection.  We must be buried with Christ so we can die to sin.  The Holy Ghost gives us new life.  Verse 16 and 17 show how that we must put action behind our belief.  It is not enough to simply believe, we must act on it.  If Abraham had believed, but not obeyed in offering Isaac, or if Rahab and not acted and helped the spies, their faith would not have been justified.  So too, we must act on our faith.  Faith without works is dead.  Works do not save us, but our faith, combined with acting on that faith in Jesus is what saves us.  So we follow the pattern given in Acts 2:38 – baptism in Jesus’ name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.  I have met many people who say this is not for us today.  Acts 2:39 says it is for as many as the Lord our God shall call.  I have experienced this new birth of water and spirit.  I have seen it in action with my own eyes.  This is how we are saved.  Repentance, water baptism, being filled with the Holy Ghost.  Jesus’ blood washes our sins away when we are baptized in His name.  Just as a bride takes her husband’s name and becomes his, so we take on Jesus’ name.  The Holy Ghost fills us with His spirit and we are marked as God’s children.  There is an outward sign – tongues.  It is active and alive today, just as it was in the book of Acts. Thank God for His salvation and that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  His word is not confusing.  It is alive and active.  We can know we are saved.  It is for everyone!

[ForeverGirl]

Hi Sarahsboys,
This thread is kind of a "gray area" that happened before the new rules of the forum came into effect. Your post contains doctrine (the last paragraph) which is now no longer "kosher" for women to post. I say this with some embarrassment because I also posted earlier in this thread a very doctrinal post which, according to current forum rules, is inappropriate. You can change the post or not... I just need to bring it to light.

If you want to share your personal testimony of salvation, and why you are assured of your salvation, that would be fine, and appreciated.  Thanks, and sorry for the contradiction of this thread versus forum rules! It's part of the growing pains of 7xSunday.

Rebekah

[freshisbest]

2Cor 10:5
"Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
Fear, doubt and unbelief come from our #1 enemy Satan. He's causing you to get stuck , question, have second thoughts when you should be walking out your salvation . Keep it simple. Go to God to change your heart, don't let Satan reinforce your doubts and fears...give him NO place !!

[CAndy]

Hi, I don't think that your problem is anything like mine, but who knows.  I was asked when I was 8 or 9 if I believed Jesus is the son of God.  'Course I did. Then I was told I was saved and that the next step was to be baptised.  Well, I wasn't going to do that!  I didn't even know what baptism was, and my mom wasn't there.  I was raised that salvation was  the end, not the beginning and salvation was a vague sort of thing.  Needless to say this caused a lot of problems when I got older.  I openly rebelled against God, fought him, when I was 16, 17 years old.  Didn't care about much of anything till I was 19.  When I was 19/20 (sometime that summer), I found myself a new wife, pregnant, lost in my sin.  Needing SOMETHING!  The one really good thing my mom taught me was that all of life's answers are in the Bible, and so there I looked.    I read the gospels, there on my living room floor, crying as I read what Jesus went through for me, knowing that he didn't deserve it, and I certainly did.  I wasn't in church, I had only been in a church a handfull of times in my life, I knew nothing!  I didn't even then totally understand salvation, I prayed right there, not knowing for sure if I was already saved or not, but knowing that I was going to be when I was done.  This may not be doctrinally correct in some circles, but I didn't know any doctrine then.  Later on because of some false teaching in churches, I began to doubt my salvation, and I couldn't explain my salvation in the light of their doctrine, but I couldn't deny the Lord in me!  Praise God he saved me from all my sin!  All that and heaven too!

[txseawater]

Always take it back to the cross.... Paul said, "I die daily." We are also risen with Him! From glory to glory He changes us!" "And when we shall see Him, we will be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is!"  Do we see Jesus every day...changing us? Transforming us into His image? "I must decrease, and He must increase!"  Daily, hourly, minute by minute sometimes.     

[pillowsvista]

Jenny’s Doubt.

I have always doubted my faith. I’m sure I can’t remember all the times I was “saved” or “rededicated” myself to God. And every time things would be nice for a while. I would feel like I had finally caught on. This time I really was saved. Then, doubt. I would doubt, mainly, my own heart. I just never changed myself enough to suit myself. I never “felt” enough. The fuzzies wore off and I was back in the dark…alone with a locked door. I knew the key was there somewhere, there in the dark with me. I just couldn’t find it.

This went on for most of my life. I was a “good” girl. Home schooled, "churchy"... I even taught Sunday School. I’m sure that some of my friends saw right through me and that my family saw my flaws all too well, but mainly I had people fooled. I think I even fooled myself. I didn’t want to be a hypocrite, but I was. I was a miserable faker, meaning I was good at it, but it made me miserable. I shudder at the person I was then.

I met Scott when I was twenty. We both attended a new young adults Bible study group. He had been brought up in a Christian home. He had a rough bit that ended in a great deal of trouble for him. I met him just has he was coming out of it. He was so different from any guy I had ever met. He had a way that captured me. He seemed like a bit of a “bad boy” with this incredible vulnerability and sweetness underneath. He was so smart. He loved books as much as I did.  I think I loved him immediately.

Scott didn’t care how Christian I was. He hated “church”.  I could be myself around him. He would never judge me. It was a very freeing feeling and it made me realize how much of a hypocrite I really was. A person observing from the outside might tell you that Scott lead me away from the Lord, from church, from my family. I will tell you that Scott did not change what or who I was in any way. He simply gave me a reason and the will to be honest with myself.

I didn’t decide to cut my ties with the church I was in until I became pregnant. Truthfully, it was such a relief when I realized that I couldn’t trick any one any more.  The hardest person to disappoint was my mom. I dreaded telling her. My mother is a wise woman. She guessed. I was surprised at the amazing response my parents had. I expected them to disown me. But they didn’t. They were very upset. My mom lectured me. My dad didn’t speak to me for three days.  Then, they loved me. Dad never said one unkind or harsh word to me. If you knew my dad you would understand how amazing that was.  After his silent bit he simply began teasing me about morning sickness. I am so thankful to them for their love in that time. They are the most incredible people I know.

 Scott and I were no where near ready to have a child. We both still lived with our parents. Neither of us had a good job or a higher education. We decided to get married as soon as we could. I wanted to go right to the court house and tie that knot right tight. Our parents grabbed the reigns that we had taken from them and slowed us down a bit. They wanted us to have a wedding. It took a while but I finally was finally talked into a small ceremony. Just immediate family. Well, just family. Well, just family and a few close friends. It ended up being quite a bit bigger than we had hoped. If you ever need a quick, cheap, amazingly beautiful wedding, call my mom. She made that day! It was so beautiful. I was humbled and heartbroken at the kindness and beauty of that day.

Ok, so. Scott and I are married. We have our son, Lazarus. God decided that we should be the parents of the sweetest, best baby ever created. My parents move to Texas. While we were visiting there we went to church with them and Scott went forward at the alter call. I went with him, more as support than anything else. Since we had gotten together Scott had done nothing but grow closer to the Lord. I, on the other had simply stagnated. Sat there in my “honesty” with no motivation for striving after God. I had a desire for a relationship with God but  I had no love for him and I didn’t know how to generate it. While were up there in front of this body of believers we didn’t know, I began to cry. I just sobbed. My heart was completely broken and I was in despair of ever knowing anything about God other than the fact that he was. Scott gave himself to the Lord that day. I don’t know if he was ever saved before that. All I did was cry.

So here I was. I had a Christian husband. I had a son whose soul was partially in my care. My family had moved into a wonderful area and was growing in their new church. And I had a big problem. Every time in my life I had ever tried to get saved, it failed. I failed. God failed me! I was angry and frustrated. If all the times before hadn’t been the “way” to get saved then I just didn’t know how. I never would and I couldn’t do anything about it. I didn’t know the secret. No one would tell me. No one could. God wouldn’t reveal this abstract pattern, this perfect frame of mind. I convinced myself that I was simply not “predestined”.  I was out of the loop and there was no hope for me. I gave up.

I never doubted that God was real. I never doubted Christ. I did doubt my own dedication. I did doubt God’s love for me. I knew he was there but I did not believe his promises.

At some point I prayed that God would give me love for him. And he did. After I gave up trying an illogical, tiny love began growing in my heart. I barely noticed it. I suddenly had this longing to do what God wanted me to do. To do his will. That had never happened to me before. And I hadn’t even done anything.

A few weeks ago I read the little thing that Rebekah Anast wrote about assurance of salvation. It was like a balm. I don’t have to struggle. I don’t have to find the abstract pattern. There is no key. All I have to do is let my amazing Lord open the door for me. How did I miss that? I don’t think that I did. I just didn’t let myself believe it. I am such a proud person. I wanted to be my own savior! Praise God that I gave up on my own strength! That little bit of love the Lord gave me for himself allowed me to believe him and it is growing daily.

I need so much prayer. I am a sinner and so weak. Please pray that the Lord will keep me close and safe in him. I long to do his will now and I know I can’t do it on my own.

[txseawater]

Thank you so much for sharing !!  Ya know , we are all sinners "BUT GOD ! who is RICH in Mercy, even WHILE we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly." "For by GRACE we are saved through faith and that NOT of ourselves, it is the free GIFT of God, not of (our own ) works  unless anyone should boast." "I WILL MAKE MY BOAST IN THE LORD!" He loved us and made a way for us when there was no way. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by hearing the WORD of GOD." Jesus said "BELIEVE in ME!" He also said "I AM the Good Shepherd and YOU are my Sheep. My sheep know my voice and the voice of the stranger  ( DOUBT ) YOU WILL NOT FOLLOW." Learn to recognize voices. Because one is the enemy and one is The Lord. One voice brings LIFE to your soul, one voice brings death. It's ALWAYS that way. Accusing words bring death to your soul.  Even if the accusation is true, just agree quickly with your adversary, "Yeah, I did that...Yeah, I said that...Yeah, I thought that"... BUT! and remind him that you are "covered in The BLOOD of the living lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" Eventually, he will know what he's going to get out of you and he'll tend to leave you more and more alone about it. Mostly, he just lies! Jesus IS TRUTH! If chastening or correction is a voice you are hearing, though it may not be pleasant at the moment, in the end it bears the peaceable fruit of righteousness (or rightness) in your life, it is a transforming life changing word and you know you must obey...you can KNOW that that is God's voice and when you have even a small mustard seed of faith or belief to just pray "God I want to do YOUR will...I want to obey YOUR will and not my own"... Then He will flood your heart with LOVE and THAT gives you the assurance of your salvation AT THAT MOMENT, once again. "Because The  Lord LOVES whom He chastens." Even if you can only pray," I don't want to obey Lord, but I WANT to want to. Please, give me the "want to"."   It's a daily walk. Daily we are saved from these sins that so easily beset us. Or feel like they set us back. Daily, we die to self. "The STEPS of a good man are ordered by The Lord...and though he fall, he will not be utterly cast down for The Lord upholds Him with his hand." "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." ...ONE STEP AT A TIME! Get your bible and lay it around the house all day wherever you are. If you are in the kitchen, and you stop for a drink of water, open it up and read. If you have to go to the bathroom, take it with you. If you are resting on the couch a minute,  open it up and read. "Thy WORDS were found, I did EAT them (chew well!) and Thy WORD was to me the JOY and REJOICING of my heart FOR I AM CALLED BY THY NAME!" What does God say about you? BELIEVE THAT! Come as a little child and TRUST HIM! and He will take care of the rest.     I'll be praying for you and your sweet family... - your SIS (hugs)           

[pillowsvista]

Thank you so much for sharing !!  Ya know , we are all sinners "BUT GOD ! who is RICH in Mercy, even WHILE we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly." "For by GRACE we are saved through faith and that NOT of ourselves, it is the free GIFT of God, not of (our own ) works  unless anyone should boast." "I WILL MAKE MY BOAST IN THE LORD!" He loved us and made a way for us when there was no way. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by hearing the WORD of GOD." Jesus said "BELIEVE in ME!" He also said "I AM the Good Shepherd and YOU are my Sheep. My sheep know my voice and the voice of the stranger  ( DOUBT ) YOU WILL NOT FOLLOW." Learn to recognize voices. Because one is the enemy and one is The Lord. One voice brings LIFE to your soul, one voice brings death. It's ALWAYS that way. Accusing words bring death to your soul.  Even if the accusation is true, just agree quickly with your adversary, "Yeah, I did that...Yeah, I said that...Yeah, I thought that"... BUT! and remind him that you are "covered in The BLOOD of the living lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" Eventually, he will know what he's going to get out of you and he'll tend to leave you more and more alone about it. Mostly, he just lies! Jesus IS TRUTH! If chastening or correction is a voice you are hearing, though it may not be pleasant at the moment, in the end it bears the peaceable fruit of righteousness (or rightness) in your life, it is a transforming life changing word and you know you must obey...you can KNOW that that is God's voice and when you have even a small mustard seed of faith or belief to just pray "God I want to do YOUR will...I want to obey YOUR will and not my own"... Then He will flood your heart with LOVE and THAT gives you the assurance of your salvation AT THAT MOMENT, once again. "Because The  Lord LOVES whom He chastens." Even if you can only pray," I don't want to obey Lord, but I WANT to want to. Please, give me the "want to"."   It's a daily walk. Daily we are saved from these sins that so easily beset us. Or feel like they set us back. Daily, we die to self. "The STEPS of a good man are ordered by The Lord...and though he fall, he will not be utterly cast down for The Lord upholds Him with his hand." "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." ...ONE STEP AT A TIME! Get your bible and lay it around the house all day wherever you are. If you are in the kitchen, and you stop for a drink of water, open it up and read. If you have to go to the bathroom, take it with you. If you are resting on the couch a minute,  open it up and read. "Thy WORDS were found, I did EAT them (chew well!) and Thy WORD was to me the JOY and REJOICING of my heart FOR I AM CALLED BY THY NAME!" What does God say about you? BELIEVE THAT! Come as a little child and TRUST HIM! and He will take care of the rest.     I'll be praying for you and your sweet family... - your SIS (hugs)           

Thank you so much. I really appreciate all the prayer I can get...and all the advice/encouragement. I really struggle recognizing the Devil's lies. That is a very specific thing I would ask for prayer about. Discernment.

[bigpoppa]

I think THE most important thing in the world is to know who you are IN Christ. I used to struggle and doubt, but no more.

The person you used to be (the old man) is now dead, crucified with Christ. You have been buried with Jesus and raised again a BRAND NEW creature. All the old things are passed away, behold ALL things have become new. ALL your sins been forgiven (past, present and future). Not only have you been justified, but in God's reckoning you have already been glorified and you are RIGHT NOW seated with Christ in heavenly places. How? It's because you are (RIGHT NOW) a part of Christ's body. The Bible says that you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. This is who you are right now. You are no longer some filthy sinner who needs to die to self everyday. God already killed you when He crucified you with Christ. And you are now a child of God, a part of Christ's body, His bride. When you start to believe this you will walk in this reality. You won't doubt any longer who you are in Him.

[txseawater]

You are no longer some filthy sinner who needs to die to self everyday. God already killed you when He crucified you with Christ.

I agree and I dis-agree. But not for contention at all! Just for clarity. Because I believe what Paul said, that "I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives but Christ lives in me. And the life that I NOW live in the FLESH, I live by faith in the one who LOVES me and gave Himself up for me. " He also talked about "sins that so easily beset us" Who am I in Christ? LOVED! A Child of God. A Daughter  of the Lord. "Also RISEN WITH CHRIST!" " JOINT HEIRS with Jesus"... YES!!! But even after walking with Jesus for 33 yrs solid,  and having less and less outward and visible sins, I find that sin thoughts still exist. In fact, I am much more aware of them than I ever was before!  "And taking every thought captive under the Lordship of Jesus" is a daily thing! And what never occurred to me as sin in my life 7 yrs ago, or 5 yrs ago, or last week...now comes into focus, and wow! The Lord reveals something in my life, heart, or mind that is now clear to me as sin. That's why I think the walk is a daily walk. That we are in process...I know I am! How The Father sees me is THROUGH the BLOOD of JESUS! Glory to God!! "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another. And The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses ( wording isn't past tense "cleansed", but is in the present tense "cleanses" ) every sin." "Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God" "If you confess your sins one to another, you will be healed." This is my understanding, and has been for me year after year a daily process of transformation by The Holy Spirit as I obey and pray, and read the Word, and mess up, and repent, and obey again in the "new thing" that was revealed to me. ..until the next "new thing". Else, what is the need for this life? When once Jesus shed His Blood for the whole world that God loved, and He purchased us and made us to be  sons and daughters of God and joint heirs with Him, why didn't we all get to go Home then at that moment?! He said "IT IS FINISHED!" and that realization has given me so much strength in overcoming sins and warring lies of the enemy.  "And He learned obedience through the things that He suffered." And Jesus said "In this life you shall have tribulation...but be of good cheer for I have overcome..." If I am "risen with Christ" an overcomer through His life in me, that seems to be ...a daily, hourly, minute by thing. It is what I call "the walk.             

[bigpoppa]

I agree, but our walk is about us building moral character and becoming as Christ in a practical way not about earning favor with God or earning salvation. We are also earning rewards for eternity (the Bible's words, not mine). You are right about God seeing you through the blood of Jesus. Right now your natural drives of the body are as alive as before you were saved, but in God's reckoning your body is dead. And you have all the resources needed to 'sin no more'. I guess I choose to focus on the reality as God sees it (body dead, freed from sin, dead to sin/alive unto God) as opposed to what my experience seems to be in the natural. And my believing God's reality (by faith) helps me to walk everyday without struggle. Do I mess up? Sure. Do I struggle with it? NO. I simply tell God I am sorry for doing something He already killed, put away and forgave me for and I move on.

[ForeverGirl]

Thank you, Pillowsvista, for that very simply-put but well-written story!  Your candor is of value to us all. May you find all of God's promises true; as you seek Him, you will find Him, and as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. I had to smile when I read that you prayed that God would give you love for Him. How could He resist a prayer like that!

txseawater and bigpoppa, I appreciate your zeal! Remember that this particular thread is not in the Bible discussion area, so this means it is not a place where Bible doctrines are debated, but rather a place where testimonies are shared, and simple PERSONAL understanding of Christ is related. This is just a heads-up to stay with topic/forum structure, so as to make this thread an easy place for a seeking soul to read multiple testimonies, and not get lost in a doctrinal debate.

Thanks!

Rebekah

[txseawater]

I prayed that as I expressed my understanding of salvation, nothing would sound debative at all. I only wanted to clarify some thought processes based on scripture with the hope that anyone doubting their salvation, or unable to grasp something about their salvation, would be encouraged in some way to press into relationship with The Lord . I have several close friends who have gone through some major doubts that they were truly loved by God, or that they were really His child after going to church and walking as a Christian for years. Doctrines of men seem to be their #1 problem! I just keep on trying to encourage them to simply come to The Lord as a little child.  When The Lord revealed Himself to me as a child, I felt such a real touch from Him, that I have never doubted His love for me, or His forgiveness, or His power to change me. I am so sad for my friends who struggle and doubt so much and my heart, I believe it is God's heart, really goes out to them. When I read scripture, over and over, I do become zealous especially to share with someone else who does not know, or quite know for sure, because scripture speaks so much LIFE to me! I often write scriptures down for people because to me, it is the highest and best gift I could ever give someone. If anyone ever received the LIVING WORD OF LIFE into their spirit from any scripture I share with them, then The Holy Spirit Himself  would be revealing that LIFE to them.  I often think , " Oh, what would I do without The Lord's presence in my life?!" I so desire that others can know Him too. How much more must The Lord desire for people to believe in Him, and come to Him?  Doctrinal debates can be confusing, and even detrimental to a person's relationship with God.  I would write volumes  over and over if it helped someone to understand how much God loves them and that He really does desire a vibrant, daily relationship with them. Everything I have shared is straight from  my heart - and I believe it is straight from God's heart. I pray that I would be able to share  about salvation and point someone to Jesus.  "For without Him, we can do nothing."                

[SC lady]

When I focused on how well I studied scripture, how often I prayed, how well I repented, how humble I was able to become, how well I managed to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit, how well I  met my standard for right living in any number of areas -- when I focused on these things, I felt unsteady and unsure regarding my salvation. None of these things brought me assurance or peace. I knew the mistakes I'd made. I wrestled with my shortcomings.

Oh! But when I focused on what HE had done to secure my salvation.
When I saw the promises He had made.
When I realized what He had done on my behalf . . .
 . . . and I finally realized that He required that I believe He was/is enough
-- without anything more from me --
THEN I was able to KNOW
I am HIS and He is mine!
Behold, all things became NEW

A man that had wasted his life with hate-filled activities once said to me,
"You don't realize what I've done."
My reply to him was, "No, you don't realize what HE has done."

[its_me518]

If I could recommend an approach, I would say that you should start by reading through the book of John, and the follow it with the book of 1st John... they are different books.

Wow! Gabe, Thank you so much!! I have read through these books before... but that's all I did.. just read them. This time, I actually read them knowing that I needed to learn something.. It was like I was reading something from GOD himself!!! Which it is, but I never felt that way before!!! These books are amazing!!! I'm none done w/ my problem yet, but I am going to re-read these books a few more times... try to soak in as much as I can!!!!! Thank you soo much!!! Please continue to pray for me!!!

This site is truly a blessing!!! Thank you for it!

[southsanjuan]

Hi,
This one really hit home to me b/c I always believed I was saved b/c I believed what the bible told me about Christ, but mid life, I really messed up bad.  In coming back, so to speak, I began to have the same doubts/fears about my salvation.  One day I was reading the bible about belief in God and who He is and I knew that is exactly what I had to do: believe His word.  That's it. 
Beeyouteful stated it BEST in her reply.  Jesus fulfilled the law on your behalf.  He already did it.  It IS finished.  All He asks you to do is to  believe.  Doubt about what He had done is WAY sin, total lies from the heart and soul of hell. 
You must believe.  It is that simple.  It works miracles.
BELIEVE.

[SC lady]

Duke was taking us through a study in Hebrews, and he brought out our Bible study tapes on Hebrews by Michael Pearl. We were listening to the 7th tape, side 1 and Duke said, 'Our friend needs -- really NEEDS -- to listen to this!'

I thought of this thread and thought it may be a help to some reading here. You'll have to listen to the tapes for a more in-depth study.  Duke and I recommend the entire album as it comes with notes for you to follow along. (http://shop.nogreaterjoy.org/product_info.php/cPath/4_22/products_id/154)

Forgive my transcription skills. They are rusty, but here is a transcript of a portion of the 7th tape.

What follows is an introduction to Hebrews chapter 10:

In other words, Hebrews keeps pounding home the same point each time adding something else to it, and opening the subject up bigger.

But it’s got one theme, and that is that:
The sacrifice of Christ is a better sacrifice,
based on better promises,
producing a better covenant,
based on better blood,
with a better hope,
with a better promise,
with a better High Priest,
with better things to come,
with a better city.

And, uh, So it’s better all the way around!
And he is assuring the Hebrews of the better-ness of the Lord Jesus Christ compared to the Old Testament. So he’s just introducing the subject, reminding us once again where we are:
[Hebrews 10:1,2]
For the law having a shadow of good things to come,
That is the things, notice that things again? Good THINGS to come.

This is not some kind of spiritual reality.
This is a PROMISE of good things to come.
and not the very image of the things, . . .
There was nothing in the law that was reality. It was all an image a shadow, a pointing.
can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year. . .
. . . because the sacrifices came in yearly cycles.
continually . . .
. . . that is without interruption.
make the comers . . .
. . . those who came to the sacrifice, to the temple
. . . make the comers thereunto perfect. . . .
Simply said what we’ve pointed out many times.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered?

Now, it’s plain reasoning.
If those sacrifices had been permanent, they would have stopped offering them.
If they had entered into any kind of an eternal salvation, they wouldn’t keep repeating the process.

Now, there’s a little bit of an application there:
People that are trying to get saved over and over again, as Paul said, ‘Need to go on unto perfection.’ [cf. Hebrews 6:1]

But you know what some people need to do that are trying to get saved over and over again? They need to get saved!

And once they really understand salvation, and what it is, they’ll quit trying to get saved over and over again.

Now, I used to be an evangelist, and it was my job as an evangelist to convince people they weren’t saved. Sometimes, I convinced people that were saved that they weren’t saved.

And sometimes I had the same people every year come back, you know, and . . . to get saved all over again. And that began to disturb me.

And I realized after a period of time, that the people that would come back to get saved over again -- or the people that would respond to a really strong message, and want to come down to the altar and pray – were the ones that were really closest to the Lord. They were the ones who really loved the Lord and were very sensitive in conscience and walked with the Lord, and if you preached a scary message, they’d want to get saved all over again. They just didn’t want to miss out on anything. They just wanted to make sure they knew the Lord, and if they weren’t saved they were ready to get saved again.

And . . . ah . . . They were baby Christians. They were not maturing. But BOY they were just hanging onto the Lord like an old dog hangs onto a bone. I mean, they didn’t want to turn loose!

And . . . So I began to be embarrassed and ashamed – as a young preacher – to keep getting that same sensitive crowd down praying for their salvation. . . uh . . .’Cause I was still preaching the milk over and over again – as a young evangelist, and a young pastor, a young preacher. But . . .

Let me tell you this. I said that to say this: When you DO really get saved, and you understand the Lord well, you stop trying to get saved again. That’s behind you and you DO go on unto perfection.

And if you’re one of those people who lays down at nighttime and says, ‘Lord, if I’m not saved, you know I wanna be,’ then you probably DO need to get saved. That’s the best, safest thing for you to think – that you really do need to get saved.

If you’re one of those people who says, ‘You know, the Lord knows my heart. I’ve TRIED to be saved. I ASK Him to forgive me all the time. If I’m not saved, He knows I wanna be, and I PRAY to Him,’ then you probably do really need to get saved.

You know what’s standing in your way?

It’s your prayers. It is your repentance. It’s your sorrow and begging that’s standing in your way.

What you’re not doing while you’re doing all of that is you’re not believing God.
What you’re doing while you’re DESPERATELY seeking to be SAVED is you’re not believing what God said.

See?
Salvation doesn’t come when you ask for it.
Salvation doesn’t come because you get desperate and cry.
Salvation doesn’t come because you get broken.

EVERY sinner ought to be broken.
Ought to STAY broken.
Got no reason to be anything ELSE.
But THAT’S no reason for you to be saved either . . . just ‘cause you’re broken.
Just because you’re sorry for your sin and you cry and you beg God to forgive you: There’s NO SALVATION in that.

Salvation is in what Jesus did when He went to the cross, paid for our sins, took blood into heaven, deposited it before the Father, and announced that our sins were forgiven FREELY without any effort on our part.

And it is in BELIEVING THAT that you are saved, that you are born again, that you have eternal life. And that need not be a dynamic, climactic experience – although with many people it is, especially those who’ve put it off or wrestled with it for years and years and then when they finally get saved they just have this big experience because with them it’s such a relief. But others – there’s been some of you saved this week.

There’s been some saved right here this week listening to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You HAVE been born again. It started off like this: You’re sitting there in your seat, saying, ‘You know, I’m not really sure I’m saved. I always thought that it was kind of . . . I had to be good. I’ve always tried to be a good Christian, and NOW I’m hearing it’s not based on what I do or the prayers I pray. I’m hearing that it’s based on what Jesus did for me. And, you know, I’m THANKFUL to hear that. That just THRILLS me. I’m so GLAD it’s Jesus and Jesus only. I sure do feel better about my eternal salvation, now.’

You know what happened to you? You really got saved when you BELIEVED the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the peace of God came into you and the JOY that what He did was sufficient, and you laid back, trusting THAT, that’s when you got saved.

All that struggle that it was before. All that attempt of the flesh, and the struggle of the spirit to humble yourself and break yourself and deny yourself and all that attempt to get your prayers answered so you could be saved . . . All THAT was dead works!

And the Lord Jesus’ blood cleanses your conscience from dead works, so you can serve the Living God.

So he said [Hebrews 10:2]:
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? . . .
. . . That is, if the sacrifices had worked, they’d stop trying to offer new ones.
because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
The mark of being truly born of God is the consciousness of sin is removed.
Now, that doesn’t mean that – as I tell the guys in the prison – if you were a child molester, any time you think about that, you’re not going to shudder. You’re going to shudder and you ought to! You ought to shudder the rest of your life!

You ought to shudder when you’ve been in heaven 10 million years, when you remember what you did.

But, when it comes to standing before God, know one thing: He’s forgiven you.

But, See? The consciousness of sins doesn’t mean you can’t remember them and be ashamed of them. It means that you are not prevented from coming BOLDLY into the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in time of need. That means that when the SQUEEZE gets on your soul – your conscience squeezing you and making you feel guilty – when the squeeze gets on it, it squeezes you into God’s presence. It squeezes you right back to the cross. It squeezes you right back to the place of mercy. And PRESSES you close to Christ. Like a child who’s scared runs and buries his face in Mama’s dress and wraps it around his head, you’ll flee to the Lord Jesus Christ and bury yourself there and thank Him for His BLOOD.

That’s because it WORKS for you.

But those of you – when conscience grieves you and you start trying to reach for God and there’s nothing but darkness – you start trying to please Him more and you start working harder, HOPING that somehow you can purge yourself of guilt. You may go out and WITNESS hoping to remove it. You may go read your Bible or pray or try to stir your emotions up so you can feel something.

You see, you’re not finding your salvation in Jesus.
You’re finding it in working for Him, in pleasing Him, and there’s no salvation there.
‘Cause you’re work will never be sufficient. You’ll never even please your own conscience. How do you expect to please Him?

Only through the BLOOD can you be saved.

[Hebrews 10:3,4] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Words & Music: Robert Lowry, in Gospel Music, by Howard Doane and Robert Lowry (New York: Biglow & Main, 1876)

[MommaK]

Here is Hebrews Chapter 10 (as SC mentioned above):

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/podcasts/view-podcast/archive/2008/october/13/hebrews-chapter-10/

[Beth]

that's just so good! It really is Good News isn't it?!

[Whiterock]

In relation to what he said about the consciousness of sin and taking it to the cross, I learned that lesson from a repairman one day when he came to the house to fix somethingerother. We got into a conversation about the faith after he tried to witness to me and found that I was already born again.

At some point he was talking about trying to find a church and of being too critical of the pastor at the church he was visiting. He said that on the way home he was berating the pastor (not out loud, just in his head) and then he started berating himself for berating the pastor.... and then it turned into something he recognized as being from the accuser of the brethren.

He looked at me and said, "Ya' know the Lord said to agree with your accuser quickly. So I've learned to agree with the devil when he starts tellin' me I'm no good for nothing and reminding me of all my sins. I say, 'Yeah, you're right... I'm a wretched sinner that's why Christ had to die for me. PRAISE THE LORD! Christ died for my sins and I'm forgiven, born again, and free!"

Sure, he was taking a verse out of context, but I learned to take things to the cross instead of letting the devil get a foothold.

WR

[MommyChurch]

Thank you SC for posting that! I have the Hebrews tapes, and I remember hearing it. But something about *seeing* it writing helps me so much more. I guess, I don't miss any detail that I might miss when I am listening.

 Salvation really is simple! Amen! The Lord has really been making things clear to me the past few weeks. I am blessed beyond blessed!

Thank you!

[Suchender]

Well I will just say what happened to me.
In early 2003 my boyfriend (now he is my husband) and i wanted to get baptized, so we joined the baptism classes.
And the pastor told the Gosple story, he told the story very well and i believed it. That night when i went to bed i asked God for
forgiveness and asked Jesus into my heart and that was the begining of my new life.
It was repentance and believeing that saved me, not the prayer.
People started making coments on how i had changed, at that time wasn't sure what they were talking about but i knew somthing was differant. It was the Holy Spirit in me that made me differant. Thats my story, hope it helps.
     

[sarajane]

About a week ago I was getting frustrated at myself because I felt far away from God. I was going down the doubting path again and fighting it. I wasn't really doubting like I had in the past. I knew I believed and was very frustrated at the fact that I had promised I would never doubt the Lord again, (a promise I made at the hospital when we found out Neveah was dead, can't really explain what made me promise that) and I seemed to be doing just that.

Anyway, so I told myself and the Lord I wasn't doubting Him or what he did but myself really.  Which was true.  I told my husband this and at first he was frustrated too but he quickly calmed himself and after a few minutes of talking to me said something that really truly made me feel all better. (husbands are good for that)

He said, "The point is you chose to serve Him, would you ever serve any other master? Can you see yourself EVER choosing to serve anybody else?" I looked away and thought, wow, no of course not, never. I could never, ever worship or serve any other master. Even if I think I am doing an awful job, and I'm sure I do quite often, the fact is whether it is cooking or cleaning or praying or reading the bible, helping others, no matter how rotten of a job I am doing I am doing it for and because of Jesus Christ. That is my choice.

Salvation is so simple. My husband is brilliant. Lots of people have helped me in the past (including many of you here) and I don't know if what my husband said will help anyone else but at that moment, it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear and I will never forget it. I didn't even have to ask God for that, he just gave me a husband 7 years ago that was capable of taking care of me in this way.

I just felt I should share that experience even though I haven't been a part of this discussion for a long time. Thanks for listening.

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