Paul writes in Romans 8:24-25 "For in this hope we were saved.Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience?" So my question is, why do so many Christians insist on an assurance of their salvation? If you have an assurance, you have no need to hope, as Paul (ie Scripture) writes. I submit that we hope for heaven because we know we still have a chance to lose it.
2006-12-08 10:48:58 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I do not assure my salvation for that would be judging myself and Christ instructs us not to cast judgment but to love one another.
Like everyone I deserve eternal condemnation for my sins as just punishment from God, so I pray in earnest that He shall have mercy on me a poor, sinful being for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ who died to open the door to Salvation for everyone.
Acts 2:39
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.
2006-12-08 10:55:03 · answer #1 · answered by phoenix_slayer2001uk 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The word "hope" in the text you just referred to in the original Greek is not the same as our English definition. The way we use "hope" is "Gee, I hope I am saved." which is completely incorrect. The meaning of the word "hope" or the Greek "elpis" is an anticipation of a coming event. In the case of Romans 8, it is a reality, and therefore our salvation is assured. Just a few chapters before the one cited above states, "We stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." So it is a word of anticipation rather than a non-assurance. There is no rejoicing in non-assurance. There is great rejoicing in full-assurance.
Example:
The wife of a soldier is told that her husband has received orders that his tour of duty is up in Baghdad. She then stands in hope of his disembarking from the plane. She does not see him, but she knows she will soon. That is the use of the word hope. The misuse is, "Gee, I hope he gets off the plane and doesn't change his mind and go back." It's an unseen assurance of coming joy and excitement and anticipation.
2006-12-08 10:50:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe we can have assurance...but we may not always have "proof" that we can see with our eyes. Acts 17:31 talks about God giving us assurance unto all men because He had raised Jesus from the dead.
Isa. 32: 17 talks the effect of righteousness being quietness and assurance for ever.
Hebrews 10:22 talks about drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.
2006-12-08 11:18:10 · answer #3 · answered by bethybug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone uses an assurance of salvation as a license to sin, there is reason to question their salvation in the first place.
2006-12-08 11:01:21 · answer #4 · answered by lost and found 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people are hopeful for things of which there is a certainty on our part, I realize outside interference could change any of these. Going to sleep, a good meal, getting well after a cold etc. If there wasn't a certainty we have no reason to be hopeful, but because God stays true to himself and keeps his word, we know he'll keep up His end, and because of the Holy Spirit, he'll keep up our end.
2006-12-08 10:54:39 · answer #5 · answered by westfallwatergardens 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hope is the blessed assurance. Its a knowing in your knower.
Our hope is heaven because we know in our knower no one can take us from the love of our Lord.
Hope in the bible isn't, "I hope so." It is "Hope that is assurance". The assurance that we will see it come to pass. I will see myself in heaven before the Lord.
2006-12-08 11:02:12 · answer #6 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wish is an attribution, no longer a actuality. (some people's hopes are people's fears, so there is not any genuine or absolute "wish", purely as there is not any absolute "stable" or "evil"). for this reason it is not technology's business enterprise to grant wish. it may, certainly, be faith's business enterprise to grant wish - this concept of an excellent destiny. nonetheless, certainly evolution could be suggested to hold some wish with it - the changing of issues to fulfill environmental or developmental demanding situations could certainly be a hopeful element in case you be a member of an evolving species, as we are. additionally needless to say as you and different rightly ingredient out, evolutionary technology has saved an identifiable, quantifiable style of lives. while wish manifested with the aid of prayer...properly, it ought to have saved lives too, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that that's an fairly sketchy area precisely how a lot of people beat ailment with the aid of harnessing prayer power. So i think of technology wins interior the wish stakes.
2016-10-05 01:47:27 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't see heaven! We are confident that we are saved and are going there, but we still cannot see heaven! We cannot see salvation either, but we do see the effects of it. Therefore, I submit to you that we DO, as Christians, have a confident, faithful hope in heaven. God bless!
2006-12-08 10:53:16 · answer #8 · answered by eefen 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Romans 9 38-39.It says nothing can separate us from the love of God that's in Jesus.
2006-12-08 10:57:27 · answer #9 · answered by pepsiolic 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i believe once saved always saved as long as youre trying...yes I know I will live again....thats sure! Longing for eternal life with God is how I think of it...this world sure does suck huh??!!
2006-12-08 10:54:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋