goodbye 2021, hello 2022 *long winded*

[GaryAnderson]

I’m a bit like you @Lifelong_sinner , where I’m dying to have some sort of experience and after years of asking I got two things.

1. I was once at a church and saw angels and orbs. These were the answers to some prayers I’ve been praying for months. It was a surreal experience.
2. Another time was when I was anointed with a miraculous oil from a priest and it had a sweet smell. Then I continued to prayed for healing. Months after, my prayers were answered because I could smell that exact smell seemingly out of nowhere and I was healed.

Glory to God !

 

[Hidden In Him]

to the heart of the issue, 2021 has been a huge loss in that goal. But I have learned some principles about it. For instance, three things have to happen in order for sin to take place; opportunity, temptation, and desire. Desire is the most dangerous of the three. Take away any one of the three and sin wont happen. An example would be shoplifting. Everytime you go into a store, you are tempted and have the opportunity to carry out your desire to steal something, if that's your "besetting" sin. I don't steal, not because i'm worried about getting caught and going to jail, I don't steal because I recognize that its wrong. I know I don't like it when something I own gets stolen. so I have no desire to steal anything. keep that in your mind for now.

the two most dangerous questions I could get asked are 1. why do you want to be a Christian? my completely honest answer is, because I don't want to goto hell. that's it. no other reason.

I read through your post, and it's an interesting read. Very candid and up front, which is refreshing.

Let me return the favor from where I stand: You are still in the earliest stages of Christian growth (which is not a knock. We all start from the same place). But your primary focus is on 1. Your sins, and 2. Not going to Hell. This is what scripture calls the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).

I would recommend two things:

1. Study visions on Hell. There are several, but two of the best testimonies are A Divine Revelation of Hell, by Kathryn Baxter, and 23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese. Such accounts will all the more strengthen your fear of Hell, and keep you pointed in the right direction until you are eventually delivered from your sin (and ignore anyone on this forum who tells you there is no Hell. They are teaching heresy).

2. Start praying that the Holy Spirit led you into all truth, and teach you the scriptures Himself. You posted this:

I study theology because I genuinely want to learn how to find salvation.

This is good, and I suggest you dedicate to this all the more now, but NOT in the flesh. If you try figuring things out solely with the power of your intellect you will bomb and bomb miserably. The right approach to studying God's word is by asking the One who wrote it to explain it to you. So devote increasing time to prayer, asking God Himself through the Holy Spirit to give you an accurate understanding of His word. He will do so if you keep seeking, keep knocking, and keep asking.

 

[Enoch111]

I study theology because I genuinely want to learn how to find salvation.

One does not find salvation through theology. Since the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our salvation, what you do is simply this: (1) believe on Him and (2) receive Him as Lord and Savior: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

One does not find salvation through theology. Since the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our salvation, what you do is simply this: (1) believe on Him and (2) receive Him as Lord and Savior: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

you need to explain that second part. Belief alone wont save you as james told us.

 

[Enoch111]

you need to explain that second part. Belief alone wont save you as james told us.

Well Christ Himself said that belief alone would save you (John 11:25,26):
Jesus said unto her [Martha the sister of Lazarus], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Well Christ Himself said that belief alone would save you (John 11:25,26):
Jesus said unto her [Martha the sister of Lazarus], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

James 2:14-26. Belief without works is dead. Works done cheerful are a sign of faith. Works done only because “you’re supposed to” is legalism and not saving faith. I have no works, therefore no faith, no salvation, no regeneration.

 

[Enoch111]

I have no works, therefore no faith, no salvation, no regeneration.

So if you have no works, then get moving and do something beneficial for others. So you could start by sending $100 bills to each one on CB. Just kidding.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

So if you have no works, then get moving and do something beneficial for others. So you could start by sending $100 bills to each one on CB. Just kidding.

most have me on ignore so they wouldnt know if i did. ;)

 

[Enoch111]

most have me on ignore so they wouldnt know if i did. ;)

And that's the whole idea. Your left hand should not know what generosity your right hand has shown. It should all be in secret, and then your heavenly Father will reward you openly.

 

[Lambano]

Well Christ Himself said that belief alone would save you (John 11:25,26):
Jesus said unto her [Martha the sister of Lazarus], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

James 2:14-26. Belief without works is dead. Works done cheerful are a sign of faith. Works done only because “you’re supposed to” is legalism and not saving faith. I have no works, therefore no faith, no salvation, no regeneration.

"Believeth in Me" should be translated "Trusts in Me" (translating from King James' English to the actual language I speak). Which with all my heart I still encourage you to do.

 

[Rudometkin]

@Lifelong_sinner Friend, you speak of unrest and fear.

Since I can relate, I will share a part of my testimony with you. It begins with me being sinful and hungry for God's Grace, and ends with me resting as I look away from myself and instead unto Jesus.

One day I found myself realizing I had a head knowledge of Jesus, but no experience. No conversion. I didn't even have conviction of sin. I knew I was missing *something*, and I knew that something was Jesus.

By God's Grace, I prayed for Him to bring me to Jesus, and that I would see my sinfulness. So He answered my prayer and put me in my place, but it wasn't easy for me. Some people speak of having a wonderful, easy conversion. That wasn't the case for me. In my case, it is as if God Himself grabbed my heart with a clenched fist and drug it through the deepest torment imaginable, in order to build me up on the firm foundation which is Christ. I have been greatly blessed in many ways, but I'll keep this short and share the basic structure.

First, I was shown my sinfulness...and I was tormented for years. I was frustrated, doubtful and fearful. This ruled my mind. But my doubt wasn't in the Diety of Christ, it was in my Salvation.

I couldn't accept not knowing if I was saved. So I convinced myself that I needed to make something work within my mind to convince me that I was saved. I was trying to grasp something. I needed to grasp something. A N Y T H I N G. I was searching for a phrase from the Bible that would undeniably assure me I was saved. So I studied and studied and studied, and I considered these verses and those verses. I will say, there are many wonderful verses for all of our problems! But doubt always crept in my mind. In my heart, I was always able to say, "Perhaps my heart deceives me, and I don't genuinely believe on Jesus." I knew if this was the case, then I wasn't saved. I was in a vicious cycle. Who can stand the thought of burning in hell for eternity?

I worked at it for years, but my hands would never bring me peace. In fact, my hands will never bring me peace. Neither will yours, or any of ours.

Finally, I heard a dear preacher say he wasn't going to do try to do anything for his salvation. He was going to simply trust in Jesus Christ, that He did the necessary work for his salvation.

Boom. It clicked in my head at that moment. I'm going to trust Jesus. No longer will I try to rest in my understanding. Now all of my hope rests in Him. I have peace. Christ is all. Done.

 

[Rudometkin]

When I focus on myself, I find unrest and fear. When I focus on Jesus, I find salvation and peace. Hopefully anyone here without rest contemplates this and focuses on Jesus.

As @farouk mentioned, Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

[farouk]

When I focus on myself, I find unrest and fear. When I focus on Jesus, I find salvation and peace. Hopefully anyone here without rest contemplates this and focuses on Jesus.

As @farouk mentioned, Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

@Rudometkin A very quotable, memorable verse......

Easy to quote; but by God's grace, a blessing to follow diligently....

 

[farouk]

@Lifelong_sinner Friend, you speak of unrest and fear.

Since I can relate, I will share a part of my testimony with you. It begins with me being sinful and hungry for God's Grace, and ends with me resting as I look away from myself and instead unto Jesus.

One day I found myself realizing I had a head knowledge of Jesus, but no experience. No conversion. I didn't even have conviction of sin. I knew I was missing *something*, and I knew that something was Jesus.

By God's Grace, I prayed for Him to bring me to Jesus, and that I would see my sinfulness. So He answered my prayer and put me in my place, but it wasn't easy for me. Some people speak of having a wonderful, easy conversion. That wasn't the case for me. In my case, it is as if God Himself grabbed my heart with a clenched fist and drug it through the deepest torment imaginable, in order to build me up on the firm foundation which is Christ. I have been greatly blessed in many ways, but I'll keep this short and share the basic structure.

First, I was shown my sinfulness...and I was tormented for years. I was frustrated, doubtful and fearful. This ruled my mind. But my doubt wasn't in the Diety of Christ, it was in my Salvation.

I couldn't accept not knowing if I was saved. So I convinced myself that I needed to make something work within my mind to convince me that I was saved. I was trying to grasp something. I needed to grasp something. A N Y T H I N G. I was searching for a phrase from the Bible that would undeniably assure me I was saved. So I studied and studied and studied, and I considered these verses and those verses. I will say, there are many wonderful verses for all of our problems! But doubt always crept in my mind. In my heart, I was always able to say, "Perhaps my heart deceives me, and I don't genuinely believe on Jesus." I knew if this was the case, then I wasn't saved. I was in a vicious cycle. Who can stand the thought of burning in hell for eternity?

I worked at it for years, but my hands would never bring me peace. In fact, my hands will never bring me peace. Neither will yours, or any of ours.

Finally, I heard a dear preacher say he wasn't going to do try to do anything for his salvation. He was going to simply trust in Jesus Christ, that He did the necessary work for his salvation.

Boom. It clicked in my head at that moment. I'm going to trust Jesus. No longer will I try to rest in my understanding. Now all of my hope rests in Him. I have peace. Christ is all. Done.

@Rudometkin Sounds like in a sense you had something of a Psalm 40 experience, by way of your testimony:


pinterest

 

[farouk]

I have peace. Christ is all. Done.

@Rudometkin

Saw this also which seems to relate to your testimony: