Question your salvation?

[Alice]

I'm just starting this thread to see what percentage of people on here question their salvation.

I used to a lot, but haven't for a long time. I wonder how many of you guys ever worry about it, or worry that you've lost your salvation. (When I was a teen, I worried about that a lot at night when I had trouble sleeping.)

[Slater]

gonna say no... I know that I'm saved and the Bible makes it clear that I can't fall away from salvation.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Oh yes. Definetly. I believe that the Bible says that once you are saved you need to keep working at your faith and growing in him so you don't become complacent and turn from God (consequence = Hell).

I think its important to just trust that God knows your heart. And that if you've dedicated your life to him there is no reason to fear. It can be a wake up call but much of the time its possibly Satan planting thoughts of doubt in our minds so we worry so much and forget about Jesus.

I used to worry about this so much. So many sleepless nights, crying, screaming at God but then I realised he is a God of Grace and its us accepting his salvation that does it. We just have to put our faith and trust in him. Situations like this can also strengthen ones faith because it can be spiritually draining and we often focus more on God because of it.

God is in control!

[starfire]

I used to worry about this all of the time. Whenever I'd go to church and feel the Spirit, it was great. I was sure of my salvation. But then, when the atmosphere fades and the warm fuzzy feelings go with it, it's easy to doubt. I heard a preacher say once, that true faith is still praying and believing, even when it seems like God isn't there. So, I guess sometimes I still have doubts, but that's a comfort. And, in the end, He's always there when I REALLY need Him.

[Slater]

I agree that we need to keep working at our salvation (ie, good works are the fruit of salvation) and that we shouldn't take it for granted.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

We are saved through Grace but we show our gratitude to him by doing his will and telling others about him, serrving people etc.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I am sure at one point we all will, it's part of being a Christian ^^

[edochick]

Oh yes, during the 7th grade I used to stay awake at night and just cry because I was so scared of falling away from God. It was tough, but I managed to pull through with God's help. Knowing that he was always there, and that I could never really "lose" my salvation (even though it feels like it at times), made it a lot better. I remembered how the bible said that God promised us sweet sleep and soon after that I had no more trouble. He really is an awsome God! ^__^

[Eriana]

I don't question God but I question my faith sometimes, I feel I could improve a lot more than what my level is now. I never question the Lord's salvation though, never. And good for you Edochick!

[CDLviking]

Without turning this into a theological discussion, I would just like to say that this question appears quite strange from a Catholic point of view. For us it is a past, present, and future thing. We have been saved through our baptism from original sin and entered into a life of grace. We continue to work it out with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). We shall all be saved on the last day who endure to the end. A Catholic would never question whether they lost their salvation because its not really something that one can possess.

[Nate]

I more question the faith itself rather than my salvation in it. I know that God exists, and I know that Christ exists...yet I often find myself wondering how I can be so sure that I am truly believing the right thing. It is usually a passing wonder, but sometimes it may stay for a few days, though I would never fall away from God even during the times I questioned it.

So if what I believe is true, then I don't question it...I probably shouldn't say if, but that's how I feel sometimes. ^^;;

[~Natsumi Lam~]

nope.

~NL~

[termyt]

I more question the faith itself rather than my salvation in it. I know that God exists, and I know that Christ exists...yet I often find myself wondering how I can be so sure that I am truly believing the right thing. It is usually a passing wonder, but sometimes it may stay for a few days, though I would never fall away from God even during the times I questioned it.

I agree that is more a matter of one's own faith than a matter of salvation, per se, but I interpreted the question that way. When one questions one's own salvation , one is really questioning one's own faith, not the existence, or the opportunity of salvation.

That said, I have indeed questioned my own salvation. In times of weakness for me, it feels like I am lost in a world of darkness - a world of my own creation. When I suffered from legalism, I struggled in this dark world with little hope of finding a way out.

I have come to understand that that is the beauty if grace. Grace is the light that leads me out of the darkness I have surrounded myself in. I can not escape the darkness. It is not possible, however, with God, all things are possible and He will lift me from my darkness. I will have to struggle until that day, but struggle I shall. I look forward to the day when my mind is no longer clouded by me selfish desire and I can see the world my God intended for me.

[K. Ayato]

I think we've all had struggles concerning our faith. I know I have.

[dragonshimmer]

I USED to question it constantly. In fact, so much so that I had dreams about the end of times quite frequently, and I would always be "left behind" with the non believers because my faith wasn't strong enough.

One day...I dreamed I went to heaven, though, and it was an absolutely incredibly feeling and beautiful beyond words in my dream. Since that day, I never question my salvation past a fleeting though which I'm sure the enemy plants into my head. : ) I know that I am saved by God's grace because I believe and I'm trying my best to be the best Christian I can possibly be.

[K. Ayato]

Amen, chica!

[shooraijin]

Mod note: I think this thread is a good topic, as long as it doesn't diverge into once-saved-always-saved or any other such denominationally divided issue.

[agasfas]

When I was much younger, yes a few times. I lack knowledge and experience. But I continued to grow in Christ and my faith has too. I haven't questioned my salvation since probably about 7th grade. Now the most I'll do is occasionally question why we go through such tough times... Though I'm sure we have all thought that.

[ChristianKitsune]

I used to...until I was about 12 when I went to church camp.. All my life I had been going to church..and I had even "ASked Jesus into my Heart" But I wasn't sure if that decision was legit..because I was really young... so when I was 12 I rededicated my life.. and now I am sure I have salvation, there is no doubt in my mind whose daugther I am.

I look forward to eternity with my father...I can't wait to see my daddy.. (God)

<---------I'M A DADDY'S GIRL! WOOT

[Mangafanatic]

I questioned my salvation quite constantly in my early teenage years. Truth be told, I probably prayed the pray of salvation every night for a long time.

Now that I'm older and have come to more completely be secure in my identity in Christ, I rarely struggle with it.

[V8Tsunami]

While I was growing up I never questioned my faith, I always knew God was there. I started questioning my faith in college, as I interacted with people of various cultures, some of whom asked questions I could not answer.

Fast forward a few years. I prayed for the Lord to help me find someone I could go to for guidance. That morning I was browsing some Christian Manga sites and felt as if the Lord was trying to reach me. Not 2 hours later a coworker invited me to church and I knew my prayer had been answered. My faith is much stronger than it was a year ago, and I question it alot less. The reason is that I have been keeping track of answered prayers, and I can see how there's not much of a possiblity of it all being just a coincidence. I look back at where I was a few years ago, heck even just a year ago and wonder how I've made it this far. I've prayed for years for the Lord to help me change and he is finally bringing those changes to light.

[Godly Paladin]

Constantly.

[mitsuki lover]

I relate a lot to the prophet Jeremiah who was constantly questioning God.

[Spiritsword]

I can honestly say I don't (except one brief stint regarding baptism, but that's over with, and I won't go into detail here). It's one of the few things in my faith I don't question. I have Jesus Christ as my Lord, I'm saved, 100%, end of story.

Strangely, though, I often have doubts about the reality of an afterlife. Is that strange? So maybe that *is* a doubt about salvation. Basically, *if* an afterlife exists, which I believe but still have doubts about, *then* I believe 100% I'm going to Heaven, if that makes sense. It's not the salvation I worry about, it's the existence of an afterlife in the first place. I'm not sure why this is, it's been that way with me for awhile.

[Yumie]

I used to when I was between the ages of like 6 and 9 or so (I don't know if those were the exact ages, but it was in those early years.) Any time I did anything wrong I felt so guilty and thought I might not be going to heaven. Not that I thought I had LOST my salvation, I don't believe anybody is capable of that, but that I never had it in the first place. I thought maybe I wasn't sincere enough, so I prayed it over and over and over again multiple times a day. There were times when I felt OK and thought it had "worked," but then I would do something bad and begin to question it through guilt again. Finally, I realized that God is a forgiving God and that the way to deal guilt is not through repeatedly asking for salvation, but repeatedly asking for forgiveness. After I realized that, I felt forgiven for the things I'd done wrong, and because He's said He'll "never leave me nor forsake me," I don't think I've really questioned it since for any extended period of time. Occasionally I have fleeting thoughts but that's about it really.