Bible Highlighter said:
The person who is born of God also does righteousness (
1 John 2:29).
The person who is born of God also loves one another (
1 John 4:7).
So it’s more than just a belief alone to show one has been born again.
That's fine for you, but I have been down that road and reject it. Once any teaching, ritual, works, certain words other than Jesus is Lord, is attached to my faith in Jesus, then what I believe no longer matters.
So you have been down the road of believing verses like 1 John 2:29, and 1 John 4:7 and now you reject them?
That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
You cannot pick and choose to believe what parts of the Bible you like to believe in.
You said:
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1.6-8)
First, i don’t believe you are applying James 1:6-8 correctly. The context is falling into various trials of our faith (James 1:3) whereby the testing of our faith works patience (endurance) whereby we will have our perfect work (perfect endurance) in lacking nothing (James 1:4). This is to overcome sin. But if we lack wisdom on this matter, let them ask of God for help. But if they doubt when they ask in faith (in that they can overcome sin or God will help them) then they should not expect to receive anything from the Lord on this matter. They are double minded. Meaning, they will just keep on sinning even though they keep asking (with them doubting that they can overcome).
Second, if you were to also keep reading in James, it actually refutes your false Belief Alone Salvationist viewpoint.
James 1:12 says,
“Blessed
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
Do you really believe this above verse? Do you believe that if you endure temptation (sin), that you will receive the crown of life as a result?
I don’t think you really believe this verse because you have expressed that you hold to the popular candy land fantasy of Protestant Belief Alone Salvationism.
Then there is James 1:21, as well.
James 1:21 says,
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Do you believe in laying apart (or aside) naughtiness as a part of receiving the engrafted Word (NT Scripture) which is able to your soul? Do you really believe this verse by James? I really don’t see how.
You said:
I have learned to always believe I am saved, because I believe Jesus is the Christ, and I tell myself that at all times.
Jeremiah 17:9 says,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Meaning, you should not let your heart or thoughts guide you, but only the Word of God.
You said:
I have learned to always believe Jesus is my Savior all the time, whether going to bed or waking up, it is the first, middle, and last thing I always keep in mind throughout the day. I have found this to be the simplest thing to do, without worrying about all the teaching and doing of things in life.
But what do you with verses like John 8:51, and 1 John 3:10, and 1 Timothy 5:8? Do you just rip these verses out of your Bible and throw them out the window?
You said:
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Cor 11.3)
It says pure devotion to Christ. Do you believe in pure devotion to Christ? That would involve doing more than just believing in the Lord, my friend. Jesus said, “…whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50).
You said:
I no longer worry nor care about anything else. I believe things about being a Christian, and I read the Bible to learn them, but it has nothing to do with believing Jesus is my Savior and I am saved. It matters what we do in life, because we do reap what we sow, which is nature's law, but it has nothing to do with what I believe. What I believe is all that matters to me, and it matters always while I am awake: Jesus is the Christ, and He is my Savior, and I am saved.
Again, this salvation is more than believing in Jesus. What do you make of Matthew 25:31-46? What about Revelation 22:14-15 that says,
“Blessed
are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without
are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:14-15).