My BF asked me the other day how she can know that when she asked Jesus to come into her heart all those years ago when she was a youth, how could she know that she REALLY was sincere. I answered her as best I could... and I told her you would feel that release of sin after you confessed your sins and if you asked Jesus in w/ a sincere heart & meant it, you would know. But I hope I answered her well and did not confuse her or anything. She seemed fine & satisfied w/ that... I don't know I am just concerned a bit of how I handled it. Any suggestions or other words I could say to her to help her have assurance?? THANKS & GOD BLESS!!!
P.S. I meant to mention, she is doubting herself lately b/c she was not led to the Lord by a person... but by a gospel tract... and she knelt down & confessed her sins & asked Jesus into hear heart, yet she is starting all these years later to wonder - "was she sincere enough." She said-"How can you remember that sincerity from that long ago?"
2006-12-15 19:04:10 · 18 answers · asked by Francis Jane 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am secure in my salvation, and I wasn't led to the Lord by one particular person. If your best friend is having doubts, tell her to get alone with God, and His word, preferably where she was when she first believed, if possible, and read the passages she was reading when she first saw the truth. Think back to the feeling of release she felt when she was saved. Tell her to be completely alone with God-not even you should be there, sweetheart. I think it's wonderful that you care so much. If she still has doubts, she can give her heart to Jesus again. Tell her she has to humble herself, and come down off the throne of her life, and ask Jesus to sit there, and tell Him how sorry she is for helping to crucify Him. We all killed Jesus, each of our sins was a lash on His back, a strike on the stakes in His hands and feet. I hope everything works out all right for you and her. I really do. I'll be praying for you. E-mail me. God bless.
2006-12-15 20:03:40 · answer #1 · answered by lost and found 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You answered very well. God was pleased with Abraham because he believed God even though he had every reason to doubt Him.
Ignore how she got converted, whether from a tract or reading the Bible or from a person isn't very important.
Jesus talked a lot about knowing a tree by it's fruit, and I believe this would also apply to the lady, how she felt is less important than the fruit in her life before and afterwards.
2006-12-16 03:34:46 · answer #2 · answered by Bad bus driving wolf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she's worried that she's not "saved" because she was too young to understand what that means, that's being just a little too scrupulous. Everyone should experience changes in their spiritual understanding as time passes. That what maturation is about. A 20, 40 or 60-year-old with a twelve-year-old impression of Jesus, God and the way things work is just pitiful.
If she feels like she blew it the previous time, she can do it again now, "and really mean it". Do you thing Jesus keeps a journal of these things? I wouldn't mind hearing a commitment like that more than once. Maybe everyone should do it again, every now and then, as their faith develops.
2006-12-16 03:22:41 · answer #3 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember that Jesus says. Whoever has my commands and keeps them, that is who loves me.
Jesus commanded us to repent. We need to turn from sin.. Not just confess our sins but turn completely from anything that separates us from God, and pray for strength always.
Jesus said take up your cross and follow me. We need to read the bible. Pray, always asking for strength and mercy.
Remember jesus's two main teachings.
Love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind and also love your neigbor as yourself.
As you truly walk with the lord, and the holy spirit works in you, you will be counseled, led and refined.
In my opinion, you know you are being saved because you have a desire to love god, learn more and repent. Hate sin.
True, Jesus paid for our sins. But I believe to be forgiven, we must be children of God. there is nothing we can DO to be saved. It is a gift. But how can we claim to love God, if we continue to sin, and dont pray or seek him?
Email me anytime.
2006-12-16 03:11:24 · answer #4 · answered by Ray 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like she' s too worried about traditions. Maybe because most people get saved in church. But really all she needs is jesus. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that's it.
Tell her she could always go into church and talk to a preacher or make a confession of faith. That might be useful.
God Bless.
2006-12-16 03:09:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's o.k. if she does it again. It's not against any rules or anything, I have heard of pastors daughters doing it more than once. If she has doubts, go through it again. Baptism and everything, she can do it until she feels comfortable.
I would have though that crazy before "once saved always saved" but I figure that God gives us all many chances to do things right "praise God" and if she has doubts she can get saved all over again and be proud of it.
I hope this helps.
God Bless
2006-12-16 03:14:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she was sincere then YES. It is normal to doubt but there is no law in the bible that says you have to be converted by a person. Encorage her in her faith and show how Christians live. Sometimes it takes a while for faith in 'head' to transfer to heart. encourage her to go to a church she likes and talk to the minister. If she is is not in one already. Good luck!!!
2006-12-16 03:13:17 · answer #7 · answered by bcooper_au 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to struggle with this as well. God has shown me that it is not about us "doing it right." It is Jesus who saves and His work alone. We must keep Jesus our focus. Instead of focusing on rather or not she was sincere or meant it, she should focus on Jesus, who alone can save her. I hope this makes some sense. Just let her know that if she trusts in Jesus, then she is fine! Jesus saves her and Jesus will keep her. It's not about her, but it's about Him.
As long as her focus is on Christ and her trust is in Christ, then she will be fine.
2006-12-16 03:35:23 · answer #8 · answered by KT 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not have to lead by a person onto the Lord. That comes from within through your soul that facet of the creator that was made from its own body before the creation of the physical universe. All it takes is something to trigger the remembrance that your physical body is not all of your self . but only a temporary vessel that is used to by your soul to get around in this physical universe.
2006-12-16 03:23:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the reasons people ought to become part of a church and get baptized.
As memories fade, it's too easy to fall into doubt.
Baptism has always been the typical and best way for people to become Christians, it's the way Jesus taught us to do it, and it has a certain "permanence" and respectability about it.
Besides, you won't find "the sinner's prayer" anywhere in the Bible. Maybe the Holy Spirit is prompting your friend to get baptized.
2006-12-16 05:10:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋