I got saved!

[convicted1]

RE:Buck Creek ORB

Brother Bob, I went to Buck Creek on the third saturday for their business meeting and I can truly say I have always felt most welcomed there. I was wanting to go to a Union Bethlehem church that sunday but it came the ice storm, so I decided to stay home. It is located at Radnor, Wva, about 20 minutes past Cabwaylingo Park on RT 152. Carter Williamson is the Moderator of that church. It is also the home church of Ted Asbury. This side of Union Bethlehem is in correspondence with the Tri-State Zion, Paint Union and Old Paint Union Assoc. of United Baptists. If you were to take them and the ORBs and put them in a jug and pour them out, you couldn't tell them apart. BTW, aren't there 4 Union Bethlehem churches looking into lettering up with the Sardis Assoc?? I am pretty sure that is what Tom Dials said when I went to Buck Creek. He said that he and Albert Cable were going that evening to Mt. Sterling and sitting in on their service. If they are those churches, it is probably the same ones that were in Union Bethelm when they split a few years back. Six are still in correspondance with the Tri-States and Paint and Old Paint Union. I don't know how many broke away, but I would guess that the four churches talking with Sardis were once together with the other six. Please clarify this for me if you have any info. I am thinking about attending the ORBs again, as well. I truly love the Tri-States, but for the last few weeks, the ORBs have been on my mind. I love the ORBs for what they stand for. I don't agree with all of the doctrine they have, but there is no one man-established church that has it all right. But, I do believe they live as close, if not closer, than some places I have been before....not casting stones, just my honest opinion. Salem, especially, has been on my mind lately. That is one church I can say, that I feel as much love, if not more, than any church I have attended in any denomination. I've been to the Freewills, both sides of the United Baptists, I went to a Church of Christ for a funeral(uncle), went to a Methodist church(funeral), and I feel that the ORBs are HOME!! I also love the Tri-States, but I guess not as much. Pray for me Brother Bob. I love you!! May God Bless!! John 3:16 :1_grouphug:

 

[Brother Bob]

Yes, they are talking with those four churches and have asked me to go next time but don't know if I will go or not.

 

[chickenlady]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to try to get the video online. If not the video, definitely the audio. You're so right, you cannot "grow" into salvation. I came from an IFB church but they did not preach like they do at my husband's (and now mine) church. The pastor, Pastor Hammett, his own wife was lost after 30yrs in the ministry...and she's now discipling me. It's great! My biggest burden since salvation has been reaching my family, who I always before thought were saved, and my church back in Jersey, which I think about 50% of them are lost.

 

[Spoudazo]

Great news! The Lord is still in the saving business.

As for those who asked why it's so difficult for some it seems, or how can someone not be saved?

Well, basically, the Holy Spirit has to convict the sinner that he/she is lost and is a sinner, and that person has to come to CHRIST as a sinner. The Spirit of God doesn't want you to confess your SINS to be saved, but just confess to Jesus that you ARE a sinner and Jesus will do the saving.

God doesn't save, the Holy Spirit doesn't save, JESUS saves.

God sent Jesus to die for us, and rise again so we could be justified, and the Holy Spirit points us to Christ so we can call upon Him and be saved.

 

[John I Morris]

WAHOO!!! :thumbs:

 

[Christlifter]

just wanted to throw this in here!

http://www.momof9splace.com/childsalvation.html

Look at the website first, and then read the commentary - God Bless!

Friends and Family,

Believe it or not, what is said about children, is also the process for adults.

HOW God brings people to conviction (convinced by THE EVIDENCE) of sin and "sinnerdom" or being a sinner, and puts the Gospel in their life, to cause repentance (change of mind) and faith (trust/belief) is as varied as there are created individuals.

BUT, there are GENERAL PRINCIPLES to be kept in mind on how a genuine salvation actually occurs.

In the general principle mindset I make the following statements:

No one is ever truly born again without trusting Christ as their Saviour that trust being based upon the FACT that He shed His Blood and died for their sin.

However, no one ever truly trusts Christ in this manner, until they are shown BY GOD (however He brings it about) that they are in fact, LOST, SINNERS, and ON THE WAY TO HELL due to their condition.

This (Conviction and Repentance) is called an "awakening" by the "old-schoolers", and whether it is for 30 seconds, or 30 years, it always precedes salvation.

We adults also, must be "awakened" convicted/convinced (cause to see - convinced by the evidence) our sins and sinfulness by the Holy Ghost. This will cause us to acknowledge that God is JUST to send us to Hell, for our rebellion.

Only strong preaching against sin, OR using the 10 Commandments to show sinners their sins, OR/AND the Holy Ghost of God can cause conviction.

The Holy Ghost is the Author of Biblical Conviction, and He uses the Conscience OR the Law, or His Own Power to convict.

Only these can "convince one as to the evidence against their hopes of Heaven" Any singular one or ALL of these can do it.

Holy Ghost Conviction (sin, righteousness and judgment in a real salvation experience) causes us to REPENT (change our mind), about our sins as ok, and our sinfulness as excusable. This will generate a TRUE desire to be free from sin (aka lifestyle) and receive Christ.

I AM NOT SAYING WE ARE SAVED OR PROVE OUR SALVATION BY WORKS. What this is all (Conviction of the Holy Ghost and Repentance) is referring to is the HEART-ATTITUDE, of the individual towards God, Sin, and Self.

Implied in this however is that we would also stop TRUSTING anything else (including a past profession of "faith" or false supernatural "experience" from Satan AND THOSE ABOUND IN THE LAST DAYS) and turn from our own way.

Salvation is not received by "asking Jesus into your heart", or merely "praying a sinners prayer" when one is not convicted of being a sinner. When you are convicted, you desire to repent.

There is nothing in Scripture about "asking Jesus in your heart", or any of those other pithy sayings that come to mind, when dealing with cruddy and wicked "mass evangelism" tactics. That is not to say the Holy Spirit does not indwell the heart of the believer (REGENERATION), and bring assurance, but He is not allowed to come in this way. The way of the cross leads home!

Once one is convicted and desires to repent, then they must TRUST the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, based on The Gospel that He has DONE for all sinners.

The Gospel: Christ shed His Blood for all sinners, to wash their sins away/blot them out, Died for all sinners-taking their Hell and punishment upon Himself, was buried, and Rose again (as the Perfect God-Man who never sinned) for all sinners, to give out eternal life, to those who repent from their sin (as convicted by the Holy Ghost) and trust Christ as their Saviour. They then receive eternal life, justification, righteousness, and assurance, by this simple act of faith. (YOU NEED TO LOOK UP THESE BIG WORDS!)

That, in turn leads us to truly trust Christ as Our LORD and SAVIOUR. This does not mean the Christian in now sinless, but He/She does "sin-less" than before CONVICTION AND REPENTANCE, and desires (though is not perfect in completing) to do God's Will, not the self's. Desires (heart-attitudes) change!

This ACTUAL AND ORIGINAL LEGITIMATE SALVATION EXPERIENCE is evidenced to the heart of an individual by I John...Read the Book of 1st John to see the portrait of a believer.

Some of the subjective experiences, mixed in with Biblical truth could be experienced as follows:

The indwelling Holy Ghost in the heart, the "lifted load" of sins, heart-belief that Jesus Christ is God, the awareness of the nearness of God, the desire to know God from His Word, the desire to pray, the Scripture opened and understandable, the desire to hear preaching, the desire to be around other saved people, the desire to see others saved, the hunger and thirst for righteousness, sin becomes painful and "icky" and once done, causes unalleviable grief until dealt with biblically, God using the person to reach others as he/she was reached, and he/she slowly changed (or changing) personality traits, where as things that were once acceptable, are no longer are.

Also, the heart of the person will no longer be "empty", and there won't be a "void" in the heart/life like "something’s missing", because the Holy Spirit will have taken up residence in that persons body, soul, and spirit. Sin will no longer satisfy, ONLY JESUS CHRIST!
There is such a "thing" as a carnal Christian. Conviction and Repentance, Faith and Salvation, continue in the life from point of origin (salvation), until death. Also the Christian will be absolutely miserable in acts of sin, and will have "stuff happen" in their life, even maybe death, to cause them to "get right". A real Christian, when walking in the flesh, for days or weeks or any indeterminate period of time will be the most miserable person on Earth.

Regardless of how deep (not as in a period of time, but actions/attitudes) into sin a real believer may go, they have always been convicted and repented in the beginning, and will always come back to the Lord Jesus Christ in humility and contrition, desiring to make it right, and have His pardon. They don't "leave and never come back". In the South they say "Well, if he is really saved, he'll be back." In the South too, it's said a lot, "You gotta get lost before you can get saved!"

HOWEVER, 75%-90% of people who think they fall into this category, or define themselves as that (and are for months and years), have never gone through these general salvation principles and Holy Ghost led experiences in their own life, and have merely a false "faith" or a simple head-knowledge about salvation. THEY NEVER FORWARD-SLID TO BACKSLIDE! They have never been convicted, repented, and trusted Christ. John 3:17-21 states that. Read it!

Only God knows (and that individual) if a "carnal" Christian is really saved or not.

Search the scripture about the purpose-work of the Law and Conscience in Paul's Epistles (Romans 2:14 - 8:30; The Book of Galatians) and read the Law (10 Commandments) in Exodus 20

Read up about the Holy Spirit and his work in John (14-17) regarding the lost and sinners, and read up on repentance and faith in Luke and Acts (Various verses).

Also, when reading about people being saved by faith in Christ, in the Scripture (The Gospels and Acts), notice their attitude (not work - I am not a hyper-Calvinist, faith and repentance are heart attitudes, not works) of Repentance when they come to Christ.

Remember, once a person is genuinely saved, they are no longer slaves to sin, or the Law. That's why we don't use the 10 commandments on true Christians, or anything else out of the Decalogue.

Try out what has been said here in dealing with yourself, your adult friends and family, and your children. Salvation is too serious to play games with, or get wrong. Eternity depends on it. Salvation is not complicated, but it does require some understanding of these things, IN THE HEART!

Too many people have grown up in Bible-Preaching churches, or been "evangelized" and are worse for it, because of the various reasons listed here and in the article submitted.

God Bless you all, and Jesus Saves sinners (like me/us!)

The Tomlin Family

 

[TBLADY]

Emily - I never did trust Christ. Wanting God to change me, doesn't save me. Saying a prayer doesn't save me also. Believing in Jesus & God doesn't save me. The bible says that the devils also believe and tremble. It doesn't mean that a person has to understand every bit of doctorine for salvation, but repentance and faith go along with salvation. It is together at one point in your life, and if you are unsure you are saved, you cannot keep "getting saved again" or rededicate yourself when you were never His. The truth is, Christians don't have to rededicate themselves to Christ, God knows His sheep, and he calls them back. If you're having doubts, listen to those sermons at the end of my testimony, and make sure you outline the one on "repentance and faith" and look in your bible afterwards. My salvation experience did not line up with the bible way to heaven. Let me know your thoughts. Til then I'm praying for you.

Kara

This too me is why making Jesus Lord and Master is more important than just wanting him to be your saviour. If you don't truly repent of your sins and turn away from self to God (which means making him your God and nothing else) how can one really get saved. And how can Jesus be your saviour. Again the Bible doesn't say "Lord and saviour" in that order for nothing.

The Bible also says to die to SELF daily...again meaning he needs to be Lord of all not you or anything else.