Confusing, yet familiar

David H. · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Wow, even ferris got saved. Who knew.
Well, for starters, i am a sinner, and i have tried repenting quite a few times, i think i got close once, as this one time, i actually felt for like half a second that i hated one of my normal habitual sins. Ever since then though, its been nothing.
As far as what i know, i grew up in the church, i’ve always believed in God, and the story of His death, burial, and resurrection. I believe what the Bible says is truth, but i cant do as it says though. At this point, i do feel like i have given up. I dont know if i’ll ever be saved, and i told God last nite that i understood that i was an unchanged sinner and that hell is where i belong. I hate that im going to hell, but i do get its where i deserve to be.
I have one particular, willful, habitual sin that in the last couple of years i have been trying to fight, but i cant beat it so i just go along with it. I have to say, a habitual sin of over 30 yrs is difficult to beat. And it alone is why i dont believe i am saved. Untill i beat it, im guilty of practicing, planning my sin each day.

The More you try and stop a habitual sin, the more you will fail at it.... The way to victory over habitual sin is by not trying.... This is counter intuitive, and comes on the assumption that you are Saved and the Spirit of God is in you. The fact that this habitual sin bothers you tells me the Spirit of God is there, and the fact that this habitual sin keeps you separated from knowing his presence in your life should also be a sign to you. Trying to stop a sin by your own will and strength always leads to failure, and in many cases a more perverse form of the sin in your life.... (For example not only are you into watching porn, you start getting into watching more perverse form of porn and your satisfaction level grows to greater perversion) What you need to do is give this sin to God in your life to deal with, let Him do His work in your life. He will bring the victory over the sin then, But it may be hard for you to receive his discipline in this regard, but if you do receive it, you will be better off in your relationship with him.

In Psalm 51, David responds to being caught in a sin of killing a cohort so that he could marry his attractive wife. This was his response to this, and if you are a Christian this should be your response to the discipline the Lord Brings you in your life. Just remember discipline is not pleasant, But it is when he disciplines you, that is when you know he is your Father and loves you as a son.... this is a precious understanding that we as Christians come to in our walk with Him, By which we cry "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15)

If You truly are hungering and thirsting for His presence then this will help you get there.

God Bless

Ferris Bueller · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
but the question is, what is it exactly about your salvation that makes you put it first??

Excellent question.
The thing about my salvation that makes me put it first above everything else is the forgiveness of my sin. They joy of knowing my guilt is gone and that I am at peace with God.

And, by the way, this is the key to enduring in the faith and not falling away into unbelief. The forgiveness of your sin has to matter above all else, in spite of any feelings you have or trials you are suffering.

amadeus · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
This!!! Its funny you mention that because this past weekend i thought the same thing. The only joy in my life is when i sin, and since i cant stop it, i knew that the only way to beat that sin is by finding something else even more enjoyable to make me forget that sin.

but the question is, what is it exactly about your salvation that makes you put it first?? I know that sounds dumb, but, maybe a better way to ask it is how does salvation physically bring you joy??

Ah yes!

Salvation or Love! What is most important? Do we follow Jesus so as to be saved or do we follow Him because we love Him?

Early on in the ideal natural relationship of a child he is dependent upon his parents. He does not know what is harmful to himself or others. Without his parents he cannot live. To this point it was survival or life itself that seemed most important to the child. Then in time as dependence lessens... the love [which the parents always had for the child] is now expressed by the child toward the parents. Where as a child the parents provided all of his needs... everything, now as a maturing person, he should begin to give back more and more... to his parents. What does a child have that his parents want or need?

When a person first meets Jesus he is ignorant and innocent completely dependent on mercy because he does not know if he has done something displeasing. As the child of God grows out of his innocent ignorance he should be starting to understand love is [what God always had for him] and expressing it toward God. Similar to the natural child he has matured and similar to the natural child maturing should mean not only taking whatever he can get but now giving back... to God.

Salvation is so important to people. For a babe in Christ this is understandable, but God is expecting what natural parents expect from their children: Love. Then what is it we expect from our spouse or Spouse?

People get sometimes so hung up on the gifts of God, which really include salvation that they sometimes seem to forget the most important thing: Love. God does not forget it. As mature or at least maturing sons of God, do we love the promises of never ending life and untold blessings more than we do God? Are we a young Bride waiting breathlessly for her beloved Husband or are we more like children wanting some more gifts?

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." I Cor 13:13

We have faith that we may received the things hoped for but not seen: salvation, an unending Life.
We have a hope that we are, or are to be, saved... that we will receive unending life and all of the other blessings of God... but...?

But... the greatest thing is Love!

Do we look forward more to the rewards than to seeing and being with the One we love?

Consider the love of the Bride [the Church] toward the Bridegroom [Jesus]:

"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not." Song of Solomon 3:1

"I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." Song of Solomon 5:6

"I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love." Song of Solomon 5:8

"I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies." Song of Solomon 6:3

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me" Song of Solomon 7:1

Do we not too often and too strongly speak of our salvation, our unending Life, our 'heavenly' home, and expected/hoped for blessings... rather than our Love for Him? How much do we love our Spouse? How much does our Spouse Love us?

We are supposed to be one half of a Love story, not kids waiting to see what Santa Claus brought us!

Ferris Bueller · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
This!!! Its funny you mention that because this past weekend i thought the same thing. The only joy in my life is when i sin, and since i cant stop it, i knew that the only way to beat that sin is by finding something else even more enjoyable to make me forget that sin.

Years ago my pastor/father in the faith/mentor used to talk about having a 'holy discontentment'. It means God working in you a dislike and discontentment with things in your life. It's a work of God. When that work is complete you will long for peace with God and his will for you above any fascination with sin. I'll just leave that there for now. There's more to be said about that.

Thank you for your frank honesty and calmness. It usually doesn't go this way when talking to unsaved people (and many church folk, lol). That's a good sign to me. It tells me there is something genuine occurring in you and that's there's a lot of potential for growth in you. Defensiveness about sin is a bad sign and I don't sense that in you.

Grailhunter · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Hello all. Im the new guy, a true lifelong sinner, false convert, and cynic. I have been reading some of the old posts about how to get saved, and while its mostly what i grew up hearing, its still so confusing to me.
I am not saved. Im not even sure i can say im a false convert, as i have never truly thought that i was saved. What i dont get, is that even after doing what everyone has said about getting saved, why cant i find salvation?? Why is it so hard? I dont know why i cant make it happen. What am i missing?

Ferris is great but @Heart2Soul is your point person. Do not listen to false teachers and prophets. (Singling out a member is not allowed)

You are going to have to find a church...no harm in perusing. Find one that has a friendly spirit and worships the Lord with zeal. If you need to be baptized or perform the bread and wine ritual you will need a church and you will need a church with fellowship. Birds of a feather flock together....it is true....hang with Christians.

Do not give your past life a single thought....once you are saved....nothing that you did before exists....clear slate to start a new.
Look ahead, not behind. Start your walk with Christ and talk to Him everyday about how it is going. Salvation is a simple thing and it is secure. Do your best to be good and do good and that is all Christ asks. And if you are walking with Him everyday, you will feel that spirit.

Ferris Bueller · Sep 21, 2021

Grailhunter said:
Ferris is great but @Heart2Soul is your point person.

Well, I never!

Kidding. I will defer to anyone who can say just the right words that @Lifelong_sinner needs to hear.

Grailhunter said:
Do not listen to false teachers and prophets.

I have to agree with this. They will make you think you're saved when you may not really be saved at all. It's a very big problem in the church today.

Heart2Soul · Sep 21, 2021

Ferris Bueller said:
Well, I never!

Kidding. I will defer to anyone who can say just the right words that @Lifelong_sinner needs to hear.

I have to agree with this. They will make you think you're saved when you may not really be saved at all. It's a very big problem in the church today.

Well brothers, I have to say that I believe that we all must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling...so not knowing where you draw the line in your faith I simply trust that you are His child and He is the one who is raising you to be mature believers...
Philippians 2 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Addy · Sep 21, 2021

David H. said:
The More you try and stop a habitual sin, the more you will fail at it.... The way to victory over habitual sin is by not trying.... This is counter intuitive, and comes on the assumption that you are Saved and the Spirit of God is in you. The fact that this habitual sin bothers you tells me the Spirit of God is there, and the fact that this habitual sin keeps you separated from knowing his presence in your life should also be a sign to you. Trying to stop a sin by your own will and strength always leads to failure, and in many cases a more perverse form of the sin in your life.... (For example not only are you into watching porn, you start getting into watching more perverse form of porn and your satisfaction level grows to greater perversion) What you need to do is give this sin to God in your life to deal with, let Him do His work in your life. He will bring the victory over the sin then, But it may be hard for you to receive his discipline in this regard, but if you do receive it, you will be better off in your relationship with him.

In Psalm 51, David responds to being caught in a sin of killing a cohort so that he could marry his attractive wife. This was his response to this, and if you are a Christian this should be your response to the discipline the Lord Brings you in your life. Just remember discipline is not pleasant, But it is when he disciplines you, that is when you know he is your Father and loves you as a son.... this is a precious understanding that we as Christians come to in our walk with Him, By which we cry "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15)

If You truly are hungering and thirsting for His presence then this will help you get there.

THIS is beautiful!

Truman · Sep 21, 2021

For me, victories have come when, in godly sorrow, and with the Holy Spirit's help, I turn back to God 180%.

Ferris Bueller · Sep 21, 2021

Heart2Soul said:
...so not knowing where you draw the line in your faith

I draw it at purposely choosing to live in habitual sin without thought of conscience. When that happens you're already headed for the exit door of your faith.

Grailhunter · Sep 21, 2021

David H. said:
The way to victory over habitual sin is by not trying

If you do not try, it will never get done. Not trying is bad advise. Freewill makes this so. Do the best you can to be good and do good and ask Christ for help with that. Walk with Christ everyday. Talk with Christ everyday. Fellowship with Christians and praise the Lord.

bbyrd009 · Sep 21, 2021

Ferris Bueller said:
Read this with your battle against sin in mind...

Psalm 18:34-48

34He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35You have given me Your shield of salvation;

Your right hand upholds me,

and Your gentleness exalts me.c

36You broaden the path beneath me

so that my ankles do not give way.

37I pursued my enemies and overtook them;

I did not turn back until they were consumed.

38I crushed them so they could not rise;

they have fallen under my feet.

39You have armed me with strength for battle;

You have subdued my foes beneath me.

40You have made my enemies retreat before me;

I put an end to those who hated me.

41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—

to the LORD, but He did not answer.

42I ground them as dust in the face of the wind;

I trampled themd like mud in the streets.

43You have delivered me from the strife of the people;

You have made me the head of nations;

a people I had not known shall serve me.

44When they hear me, they obey me;

foreigners cower before me.

45Foreigners lose heart

and come trembling from their strongholds.

46The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock!

And may the God of my salvation be exalted—

47the God who avenges me

and subdues nations beneath me,

48who delivers me from my enemies.

You exalt me above my foes

Sin is the foe and the enemy that we subdue and make captive to us. It is the Lord who outfits us for such a battle and delivers that foe into our hands.

ok well i might point out that that is OT, and the battle has since “been won?”

bbyrd009 · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Wow, a lot of responses. Thanks all. But let me clarify a few things. There are some serious problems that i deal with. Problems that i cant sort out myself.
1. When asked, why do i want to be a christian, my response is, to get saved and not go to hell. I also was asked, if universal salvation were true, which i know its not, but if it were, would i still want to be a christian. My response was, if i already knew i was going to Heaven, no matter what i did, then no, i wouldnt give any thought to God. So the first problem is, i look at salvation and everything that goes with it merely as my “get out of hell for free” card. Thats probably not the best attitude to have.
2. I have a habitual sin that no matter how hard i try, i cant stop. On the outside, i know its a sin but only because the Bible says so. On the inside, i love it. And this is where my biggest problem is. I literally cannot stop this sin, i have tried, and fought, and always lose against it. And now, i have become tired of fighting a losing battle. I am a slave to that sin. And furthermore, it makes me confused/angry that this one thing i love to do is a sin and is sending me to hell. The one thing that actually brings me any joy in life, is also condemning me to hell.
3. Someone asked for a verse as to why im not saved. Too easy.
1 john 3:6
1 corinthians 6:9-10
Those are a couple of them.

1) so, a few vv for you, real quick,
All go to the same place
No one has ever gone up to heaven…
There is only One Immortal
and “hell” is (almost always) derived from Gehenna, which is on earth anyway!
2) i guess its about time to confess this “sin” that you are currently so worried about, and let’s see!
Anyone complaining aloud about this sin of yours, btw?
What law are you in transgression of?

Ferris Bueller · Sep 21, 2021

Grailhunter said:
If you do not try, it will never get done. Not trying is bad advise. Freewill makes this so. Do the best you can to be good and do good and ask Christ for help with that. Walk with Christ everyday. Talk with Christ everyday. Fellowship with Christians and praise the Lord.

I agree. Going ahead and just doing what you can't resist will get you no where...except, perhaps, in a worse place than you are at now. IMO, the very least resistance against sin God is looking for is sitting quietly in his presence in complete defeat.

Ferris Bueller · Sep 21, 2021

bbyrd009 said:
ok well i might point out that that is OT, and the battle has since “been won?”

It is won in that you are assured victory. Not in that you don't have to battle against sin.

Eternally Grateful · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Hello all. Im the new guy, a true lifelong sinner, false convert, and cynic. I have been reading some of the old posts about how to get saved, and while its mostly what i grew up hearing, its still so confusing to me.
I am not saved. Im not even sure i can say im a false convert, as i have never truly thought that i was saved. What i dont get, is that even after doing what everyone has said about getting saved, why cant i find salvation?? Why is it so hard? I dont know why i cant make it happen. What am i missing?

Salvation is not doing though

Salvation is about believing.

marks · Sep 21, 2021

amadeus said:
We are supposed to be one half of a Love story, not kids waiting to see what Santa Claus brought us!

To me the true joy is that our Creator loves us, and this truth fills all our lives.

Much love!

Curtis · Sep 21, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Wow, even ferris got saved. Who knew.
Well, for starters, i am a sinner, and i have tried repenting quite a few times, i think i got close once, as this one time, i actually felt for like half a second that i hated one of my normal habitual sins. Ever since then though, its been nothing.
As far as what i know, i grew up in the church, i’ve always believed in God, and the story of His death, burial, and resurrection. I believe what the Bible says is truth, but i cant do as it says though. At this point, i do feel like i have given up. I dont know if i’ll ever be saved, and i told God last nite that i understood that i was an unchanged sinner and that hell is where i belong. I hate that im going to hell, but i do get its where i deserve to be.
I have one particular, willful, habitual sin that in the last couple of years i have been trying to fight, but i cant beat it so i just go along with it. I have to say, a habitual sin of over 30 yrs is difficult to beat. And it alone is why i dont believe i am saved. Untill i beat it, im guilty of practicing, planning my sin each day.

Like a lot of people, you’ve got it backwards- you don’t clean yourself and get victory over sin, and then get saved - you pray and ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart, forgive your sins, save your soul, and make you a new creature, then your compulsion to sin changes, because you’re a different person.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jesus is also the deliverer- if after salvation you get in bondage to a sin, you pray and specifically ask Jesus to deliver you from that bondage , every time you fall in that area, until you get the victory.

Be blessed.

amigo de christo · Sep 21, 2021

Grailhunter said:
If you do not try, it will never get done. Not trying is bad advise. Freewill makes this so. Do the best you can to be good and do good and ask Christ for help with that. Walk with Christ everyday. Talk with Christ everyday. Fellowship with Christians and praise the Lord.

Yep . stir one another up . The same spirit that was in paul and others , is in lambs as well .
IF they warned and reminded by that spirit , we ought to as well .

amigo de christo · Sep 21, 2021

Eternally Grateful said:
Salvation is not doing though

Salvation is about believing.

Salvation is ALL about BELIEVING . SPOT ON RIGHT .
And i BELEIVE the AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH , JESUS , WHEN HE SAID HE who hears and does not , HAD NO FOUNDATION .
TRUSTING IN EVERY WORD OF JESUS . WHO IS OUR ONLY HOPE .
So i will leave us with the Words of the author of our faith , But he who endures unto the end the same shall be saved .
March onward . Cause IF JESUS said it , I BELEIVE IT .

Confusing, yet familiar

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