Help a (new)? christian

In interpreting scripture always go from what is quite clear first. 1 John 5:11-13 is quite clear. You will find that salvation is gained through faith in Christ. Those who believe one can lose their salvation believe that salvation is lost by works. If one can only gain salvation through faith in Christ then how could it be lost by works.

Titus 3:5 is another good passage.

The historical background of Hebrews is that they were new believers going back and forth from Judaism to Christianity to whatever avoided persecution. The basic message is to live out the Christian life. It has nothing to do with salvation and being saved.

 

lewiski,

You keep saying I did this, I gave, up, I accepted God, etc.
You never say that God has done anything to you, or the Spirit convicted you of sin.

You said this;

Actually, in the bible a backslider is always an apostate who ends up in perdition. Hebrews 6 show sthe contrast;

Romans 8 puts it this way;

which realm are you in sin unto death/ or obediance unto righteousness?

Ps, all christians sin, but no longer are bound by it.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

John 5:14
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more,
lest a worse thing come unto thee.​

 

Not so, you took it the wrong way because you are so distraught.

Read the passage again, you are back in the "temple". You are the sheep that went astray and He has returned you to the flock.

Don't try to figure out whether you are backslidden , or whatever.

Leave your old life behind you. Serve Him.

HankD

 

Hi again Lewiski,

Just so you will know, I went through a similar crash.
To make shipwreck of the faith is not to be lost but wounded in action.

For me it was so bad that I couldn't even look at a Bible for fear and this was years after I had been saved.

Then one morning like John Bunyan in Pilgrim's Progress, I awoke and realized it was a dream. A bad dream but a dream. He had been there all along.

Sometime He hides Himself for a season to make us call upon Him so we can appreciate His presence all the more. But He's never really gone.

Lamentations 3

32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.​

HankD

 

Hey Lewiski!

Good to have you on Board! I have been a member here since 2004. However, I have not stayed involved for that whole time. When my circumstance etc., allow, I pop back in. It is a good source for info, how others believe, and why. It will take time tho to get a good sampling. I know that you have been wrestling on your own for a while - but my advice is to relax. The holiness of God is serious business -- but so is His unfathomable Love, Patience, and Forgiveness!

You asked for scriptural examples of this. I think of 3 off the top of my head.

1) Moses. God said go and lead my people. After many other excuses and attempts to evade God's purpose for his life, essentially Moses response was, 'I sure wish you the best in what you are trying to do - I hope you find the right man for that.' He did this while staring at, and talking to, the Almighty God in a burning bush - mind you! God was not amused - yet He still loved Moses, forgave him, and used him greatly. (Exodus 3 & 4)

2) Jonah. Jonah hated the Ninevites. He did not care what God thought of them, or whatever God's purpose was - Jonah wanted no part in helping God to bless or help the Ninevites. Jonah ran from God for as far and as long as he could. When it was over, and 120,000 people saved, Jonah was so angry that he would rather die than observe and be a part of this! God loved, forgave, and used Jonah thru it all.

3) David. David is called - by God - 'a man after God's own heart.' Yet we see David the adulterer with Bath-sheba, the murderer of Uriah, and the abandoner of his fatherly obligations. His sons, for the most part, turned out badly - apparently due to his lack in their lives. These things were AFTER David had found great success in loving & serving the Lord. Still, David repented, sought, and received forgiveness. God loved him and granted all of the above.

I know you know these stories. They are true examples of God's great love & forgiveness. Embrace them. Confidently seek the same from God. None of this diminishes the great harm you may have done to yourself and others in the meantime - and especially the hurt to God. Neither does God's loving embrace, forgiveness, and acceptance of you back into His fold, in any way diminish Him. It amplifies just how awesome he really is.

There are consequences to our actions, and you may experience negative consequences from yours for years to come. Fully embracing God now will none-the-less absolutely offer you the chance for true fulfillment and peace in Him the rest of your days. Only God, and you, know the reality and sincerity of your decisions and requests toward Him. It is ultimately for you to accept, embrace, and move on based on these decisions/conclusions. We can only help be guides. Always keep Him in your sights - and He will not fail to see you in His.

Many, most, all(?) of us can share similar stories, to one degree or another, of our relationship with the Lord - both prior to and/or after being saved. I hope this helps!

 

You're welcome bro'!

And praise the Lord! J. Vernon Mcgee is a wonderful, folksy preacher who helped me immensely in my formative years as a Christian, thru his radio ministry. I am glad he was a blessing to you today. Maybe we'll bump into each other here else wheres - or bump heads with each other? Time will tell!

 

Lewiski,

I was just re-reading your original post. Let me re-examine some of your concerns ; you said;

Your first statement is correct.Jesus seeks and saves his lost sheep.Nothing can seperate us from the love of God.

The real question is.....has God made himself known to you? Are you born of God? If you are trusting God by a God given faith....he will keep you.

Your second statement if not biblically accurate. You cannot be "saved" and lost at the same time. SAVED means SAVED.
Salvation is eternal. Jn.17:3.....it is eternal life.

The struggle comes with what is called assurance of salvation, or assurance of faith. We all are called to examine ourselves as to if we are in the faith!

Some pastors explain it this way...continuance in the faith,is evidence of the faith. God works obediance in His sheep.We do those good works that he has commanded us to do.
Are you a member of a solid bible teaching church now?
Have you searched for good sermons on www.sermonaudio.com on this topic.?
In the bible the term backslider was used of apostates. Some make a false profession in the strength of their own flesh.[as opposed to a God given faith} In time they fall away,as the flesh wears out.

They went out,,,vs 19 is the key.

 

My .02 is that you not use a website discussion forum in order to help you grow as a Christian. My advice is that you find a church with a bible study, and participate, or else begin some formal education with a doctrinally sound school.

 

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

Just the Israelite's would sin and repent again and again, we too have Jesus as our advocate for God knew we would fail at times. We are still fallen creatures that have weaknesses. Being saved doesn't make one perfect and unable to sin, however we are perfectly redeemed for eternity by His grace.

 

Here's one verse that I appeal to:
Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."

What God gives you he does not take back. He can make your life miserable (which seems to have happened to you), but once you are his child, you can never stop being his child. I think that sinning without feeling condemnation is evidence one is lost. If you can sin and God leaves you alone, that's when you ought to be very afraid. God disciplines his children.

Being out of fellowship is not the same as being lost.

 

Lewisky...

I highly...highly...HIGHLY...recommend brother J. Vernon McGee to you. His teaching ministry is top notch.

God bless you as you grow in the Lord.