Yes, I believe we can... http://www.blogos.org/compellingtruth/assurance-of-salvation.php The following is a question I was asked about assurance of salvation and my answer. If assurance of salvation is something you have worried or wondered about, I hope this will be helpful. The following is a question I was asked about assurance of salvation and my answer. If assurance of salvation is something you have worried or wondered about, I hope this will be helpful.
I believe there is more to this life than living for the present. God's Word gives us hope that even though we die once, we will not remain in the grave forever. Jesus says: "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement" (John 5:28-29).
Like (most) other Christians, I do believe that salvation is through Christ alone, and I believe that salvation comes from faith and the grace of God. The Bible tells me that, so I cannot deny it and still claim to be a Christian. However, the Bible also speaks of the role of obedience in salvation. Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. -- Matthew 7:21 Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. -- Luke 13:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. -- John 8:51 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel... by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. -- 1 Corinthians 15:1,2 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolator, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words. -- Ephesians 5:5-8 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. -- 1 Timothy 4:16 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. -- Hebrews 4:11 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. -- James 2:24 (See also Matthew 25:33-35, John 8:31, John 15:10, Acts 24:15-16, Romans 2:6-7) The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. -- 2 Chronicles 15:2 You will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. -- Matthew 10:22 Jesus said him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow; and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. -- Luke 9:62 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If deny Him, He also will deny us. -- 2 Timothy 2:12 If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement. -- Hebrews 10:26 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. -- 2 Peter 2:20-21 (See also Matthew 24:13, Luke 17:31-32, John 8:31-32, John 15:1, John 15:6, Galatians 6:9, James 1:12, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:36) Yes, I believe that salvation is by faith alone. But after faith comes obedience, and if we refuse one, we cannot be assured of the other. Does this mean that if we give in to temptation and then die, we are damned? I don't think so, but neither do I care to press the issue. I believe that God has an unending tolerance for our imperfections, but that He has no tolerance for willful disobedience.
I wanted to share in this thread but I'm afraid I may be misinterpreted because of my radical belief. We all know that there are countless religion and countless divisions of those religions in denominations or sects. Take for example Christianity, all the believers of Christ may be the dominant number but Christianity is divided in a variety of sects and denomination not to include the cults. My rationale is this - if there is one God then why are there countless of religious groups?
You may believe but there is no possibility of assurance that it is true. People believe they are right, whatever their belief. There is no way to be certain who is right. I naturally believe I am. In fact I'm pretty sure I am. Therefore those who disagree with me are wrong.
And Catholics believe differently also and they are a pretty big group, probably the majority when it comes to Christians. Here is what it says about salvation. "Are you saved?" asks the Fundamentalist. The Catholic should reply: "As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)." So, if I remember correctly, to be saved or go to heaven first you have to be baptized as a baby usually, then live a good life and then at the end you will be judged. Aren't all those that believe differently afraid that they might be wrong and Catholic was the way to go? I've been baptized and have received most of the sacraments and live a good life and although I've strayed from the Church I firmly believe just as all of you believe that if there is a heaven or life after death I'll be there. If there isn't, I won't and it doesn't matter. I continue trying to be a good person and that's all that matters to me anyway. I will live on fondly in the memories of people that loved me.
Then it would follow that you could be as right as I am or I could be as wrong as you are. In the realm of abstract thinking, all who think in linear terms are always right until all of the correct thinkers collide, then everyone is incorrect. It goes back to 1+ -1 = 0
It's all very simple, either there is a Catholic God or there is no God. I'm covered. Just teasing, so don't attack.....please. I went to a lot of trouble at the last minute when my husband was dying to get a Catholic priest to come to my house and give him his last rights. We didnt belong to a Catholic Church and he wasn't even really religious but at the last minute I felt a need to do this so it was quite a few phone calls and pleading. My best friend and hospice volunteer made me laugh even at that sad time because he was the HOTTEST looking priest I ever saw. I felt it was a nice send off, we prayed and think " Amazing Grace" was even sung. It reassured me that I did all I could and that's what mattered. My peace of mind.
Actually @Chrissy Page, your first statement is extremely profound so no, no attack is warranted by anyone! It would indeed seem that each denomination has it's own God so to speak. Each has it's own tenets of worship, salvation, baptism, sanctification and even what can and cannot be eaten using God's Word as it's foundation for it's practices. It is no wonder that some folks do indeed have questions as to whether they are saved or not.
It would make it easier if everyone believed the same and there was only one religion. That alone would add more credibility to the existence of God, also less hate and fighting and everything else that goes with that.
I have recently struggled how to explain my religious self to someone I have recently connected with after almost a half century. For example, is there a God, does he exist? I don't know. Do I believe the Bible is a reliable word of God. No. This someone recently said to me she thought God was telling her to do so and so. I can't believe God, if he exist, would communicate with lowly human beings. She is trying to convince me of her assurance of Salvation and that she believes God does talk to her, that indeed that is the way God works is through other human beings. I would like to get off this subject with this individual but it seems central to her life. I suppose I think the matter of a God is too complex for mankind to grasp but most any thing I say is likely to cause hurt feelings or seriously damage a relationship. Maybe a conversation is merely to far over my head. And I don't seem to have a point in all this. Just whistling Dixie I suppose.
That's too bad. One thing people that are religious don't seem to understand and that is people don't like to be preached to all day. It actually has the opposite effect on me when someone quotes bible scripture. I guess they have that right to a certain point but if they maybe knew that the person on the other end isn't caring for it maybe they would stop but I doubt it.
I don't differentiate between a Catholic God, a Christian God, or even a Jewish God. I believe we all worship the same God, but just have slightly different beliefs about Him. I think the differences have come about much in the same way as forms of everything else have come about. One person prefers something a specific way, while others like it the way it is, and I believe that's how we ended up with so many versions of God, and even of Christianity. I don't know enough about Mormons to know whether they worship the same God, and I don't agree that Allah is my God. I do think there are some Muslims who probably worship the same God I do, but they call him Allah, because that's what they've been taught to call him, but they definitely aren't the ones out stoning, beheading, etc. I do find some biblical quotes comforting, especially when they're used in a soothing or uplifting way, but I don't care for people who browbeat others with them.
There's been few who lived in union, as one, with the Creator and the Savior Messiah Jesus. Most of the whole world/ society/ goes their own way, and refuses to stop sinning. Those who have the thoughts of Jesus, do believe the same, and do not follow any religion. They live abiding in Jesus as one with Jesus, and one with the Father, just as Jesus and the Father are one. (John 18, et al). So if you find the truth, and by the Will of the Father are born again (not by your own will, nor the will or man, or any other way), then you will be one also, one with the Father, and one with the Son Jesus, and one with all those who are born again by His Will, as He Says, Always. Because of the interference and obstacles of the flesh, there is still hate and fighting and everything else that goes with that (the flesh), and the only hope is in Jesus. All the religions of the world fail to deliver anyone, and self-help is no help at all - it is a failure from the start.