Confusing, yet familiar

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GTW27

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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?
Blessings in Christ Jesus. And The Lord said, "when I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself." And so has been the case with you. The Lord is not made at you for what you have no power over. He has seen it all. It actually is designed this way. "and then Peter came up to Him and said, "Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." If this command was given to us to continually forgive others when they sin against us, how much more will God forgive you each time you do what you hate(and love) to do, against Him? What I would do if I were you, in the meantime, is confess it to Him in secret "Father please forgive me" I assure you He is there, and He will hear you. Any one who seeks after The Lord, finds. It has never been about what we can or can not do(as some would tell you), and thus the reason for the old testament. It has always been about what He came down to do for us, that we could not do for ourselves and later what He would do through us. That way it is clearly seen that all Glory Honor and Power belong to Him and Him alone. So continue building that relationship and realize it is not about our failures, it is about His Victory over sin and death and the devil. Grab hold of Jesus promises(for they are a sure foundation) and believe.
 
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Gospel Believer

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Do your best to be good and do good and that is all Christ asks......


...... sounds good, doesn’t it? If you are actually interested in what the “BIBLE” says , it would be this—— Jesus has left us with only two Commands......#1 Believe #2 Love

Beware of those that don’t really know their Bible....
 

Truman

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Jesus left 2 commandments, which are found in Mark 12:30-31:
Jesus responded by saying the greatest commandment was "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
 

David H.

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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.

That comes from my personal experience of victory over alcohol. for 20 years i drank (heavily) and was a Christian... When I recommited my life to Christ and wanted to serve him, He took the desire for alcohol away for good. I did not try and stop, He did the work in me via the Holy Ghost. Since then i have not even craved nor am i tempted when others drink, nor do I have to struggle with not drinking drink.... It is outright victory over sin.

Maybe this does not work for others but it did for me.
 
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David H.

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Jesus responded by saying the greatest commandment was "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

He also gave a new commandment that we should love one another as Christ loved us (John 13:34). This is Agape love. To love sacrificially and in a Godly way. Most legalists fall short in this regard.
 
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Gospel Believer

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Jesus left 2 commandments, which are found in Mark 12:30-31:
Jesus responded by saying the greatest commandment was "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."



In your example,Jesus is summing up the Law.....in 1John 3:23 , THIS SIDE of the Cross where we are no longer under the Law....

Jesus is describing the only two commands He Wants From New Covenant Believers.....”Believe and Love”
 

Heart2Soul

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If we must remain sinless then does that mean we no longer need His Mercy and Grace?
 

Ferris Bueller

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That comes from my personal experience of victory over alcohol. for 20 years i drank (heavily) and was a Christian... When I recommited my life to Christ and wanted to serve him, He took the desire for alcohol away for good. I did not try and stop, He did the work in me via the Holy Ghost. Since then i have not even craved nor am i tempted when others drink, nor do I have to struggle with not drinking drink.... It is outright victory over sin.

Maybe this does not work for others but it did for me.
I think there's a lot to say for God just letting sin wear us out (or get us in trouble). And when that happens he releases his grace for healing because you're ready for it.
 
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Lifelong_sinner

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How do i let God handle my sin? This is something i dont understand. I have asked the Lord to take it away more times than i can remember, yet here i am, sinning just the same.
 

Ferris Bueller

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How do i let God handle my sin? This is something i dont understand. I have asked the Lord to take it away more times than i can remember, yet here i am, sinning just the same.
That's a tough question considering the spiritual state you say you are in at this time. I'm going to wait and see if I can glean some inspiration from other posters. We're learning, too. The ultimate answer, of course, is that you be born again, when you're ready for that to happen. But what do you do in the meantime? Thinking out loud here.
 

Ferris Bueller

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@Lifelong_sinner, I have four unsaved adult children. I'm asking myself how I've been handling their situation in my mind and heart. I don't brow beat them (I did that with my wife to some extent). That's not the answer. I can't make them do what they are not equipped, yet, to do. I can't make them be born again. But I don't want them to live in sin, either. Honestly, I'm just letting their sin sickness take it's course, like you do with any sickness, and that God will protect them through it and eventually heal them. This is a God thing, not a man thing. I've been purposely avoiding the deep theological truths about this. I'm not sure that would be of any value to you(?)
 

Lifelong_sinner

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@Lifelong_sinner, I have four unsaved adult children. I'm asking myself how I've been handling their situation in my mind and heart. I don't brow beat them (I did that with my wife to some extent). That's not the answer. I can't make them do what they are not equipped, yet, to do. I can't make them be born again. But I don't want them to live in sin, either. Honestly, I'm just letting their sin sickness take it's course, like you do with any sickness, and that God will protect them through it and eventually heal them. This is a God thing, not a man thing. I've been purposely avoiding the deep theological truths about this. I'm not sure that would be of any value to you(?)

Wow, four. I gotta say, that would bother me as well. One of the things that has really brought all of this out in me, is that in the last 5 yrs, i have lost 10, 11 people in my life. 2 were friends, the rest were older family members. It changed me. To deal with that much death in such a short time, it showed me how everyday is closer to my own death. And i knew i needed to deal with my own salvation promptly. And i do feel like its a race now. Im 49, i dont have that much time left i figure, and so, thats why this is important to me. I do find it ironic how it takes the bad times to draw out salvation.
I hope your four dont have to experience tragedy to make them consider their salvation. And i hope they dont struggle as much as i have to find it.
 

K9Buck

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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?

I encourage you to listen to Pastor John MacArthur on YouTube. He gives many insightful sermons that helped me to better understand the bible and to learn the what and how of being saved.
 
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GTW27

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Have we truly made Him Lord? Picture for a moment a set of keys in our right hand. These keys represent everything we are, everything we have been, and everything we we will ever be. It also represents every thing we own, have owned, and will ever own. How many are truly willing to lay it all down, or in other words, hand Him the keys. There are many Christians today that still have these keys in their right hand. Yes there are many, that are about Christ Jesus, but few that be that are truly in Christ Jesus. Thus the reason for all the doctrines. There will come a time when many will be clothed in white, with their robes washed in the Blood of The Lamb, but to the others they will hear, "depart from Me, you workers of inequity, I never knew you".
Weather I live, or weather I die, matters not, handing Him the keys, and truly being in Christ Jesus has been more than can ever be imagined by the mind of man. He is so worth it, and yet many will never know it."Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will enter into him and sup with him."