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Thanks for those comments & your great testimony. Certainly, your love for the Lord & to be used by Him is paramount in your life & that you have been blessed with a wonderful gift from the Lord, in your wife, all show that you are in a place of God's Delight & Blessing. I didn't see your first comments as that of "reasons not to believe", but from one who was/is struggling with 'feeling' the presence & joy of the Lord which could cause you to wonder about your position in God's family.
I did endeavour to show you that the fact of our salvation (which is Christ-generated & Christ-based) is more worthy an indicator of our blessed state, than what we 'feel' in our daily Christian walk. If I had to look purely at my 'feelings', I would often see my unworthiness, my filthiness & being a candidate for rejection, if I had to account for every sin & misdemeanour in my life. That is why the blessed Spirit of God is given to us: not only for instruction & comfort, but to immediately show us our sin/grey areas in our lives so that we can do something about it. Often I find that those who have a 'feeling' of being lost or unworthy, are those who are either judging themselves too critically or entertaining sin in their lives. We are told to judge ourselves ( 1 Cor 1:31,32) but it's always in the light of revelation, whether from the Word or by the Spirit. And if there is known sin, then we need to confess, repent & turn away from it.
I did mention too earlier, about the need to correctly understand Scripture, & I fear that you are looking at passages such as Heb 10:26,27 & Heb 6:4-6 at 'face value' rather than the actual intent by the writer. So, if I could shed some light that may allay your fears. (onto Page 2.)
I know it must seem like I'm looking for reasons not to believe but the truth is I have repented and turn away from my past life even moved away to get away from the people i was hanging out with and to get away from the drugs that took over my life, i study the word daily and truly try to live my life for Christ married a wonderful Christian woman with a wonderful heart for other people and the Lord, and i thank the Lord for her daily, and i will also tell you God has answered prayers 3 times when i've been at the point of giving up i asked a simple prayer, i said Lord if your still here let me help someone today, on 3 different occasions spur of the moment when feeling really down i prayed that and all 3 times i got to help someone the 3rd time 2 people I wasn't looking they all just seemed to pop up, but then i get that feeling from Hebrews chap 10 vs 26-27 and any joy seems to fly out of my life. But i don't quit I stay in the word and repeat 1st John 1 vs 9. It just that feeling that i knowingly sinned and waited to long, and that is what i want other to learn from, stay in Christ no matter what the world offers you nothing can compare to living for him, as i said before the most miserable person in the world is a fallen Christian who can't find his way back, it's that nagging feeling that haunts me. Hopefully i will be able to join the prison ministry at my church the one thing i want to tell them is to accept Christ never take your eyes of him and take his great mercy for granted.
You quoted Heb chaps 6 & 12, so to clarify only these portions to you. Heb 6:4-6 speaks of those who turn their backs to God having appeared to be Christians in their midst. They showed all the signs of spirituality, joined in fellowship, received the Word, but ultimately refused God & turned their backs to Him. To these, the Writer says, that Christ can't be crucified a second time (i.e. Christ's death can't be made a mockery every time one chooses to repent for salvation) & they will find no place for repentance. BUT the writer goes on to say in verse 9: "BUT beloved, we are persuaded better things of you", inferring that those who were genuine believers in that Fellowship, wouldn't go the way of those who turn their backs to God & whose (genuine) salvation was clear & secure. So, are you in this position? From reading your comment, I see you yearning for assurance of your salvation, not as these folk in vv 4-6 who were willing to give God away for their own ends.
Heb 12:16,17: this speaks of Esau's rejection & cannot apply to you or me, as any sincere repentance for his foolish act was useless because he could never retrieve the blessing already given to Jacob by Isaac. It was a physical matter that changed the course of history. We have all foolishly refused Christ at some point, but unlike Esau's situation of rejection, we have a longing, waiting God Who wants to secure our cleansing, our new relationship with the Godhead & give us a hope & a future that can never be taken away: Jn 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me SHALL come to me; and him that cometh to me I WILL IN NO WISE cast out".
So, it is so important for you to be assured & confident in the gift of salvation given in spite of how you may feel. To continue to assure our hearts & to oppose what Satan wants to do & take away our joy, we must continue to study the Word, rightly dividing it, & focussing on the specific words that give us the assurance of His Love & our faith."( Heb 3:14).
Secondly, in understanding the Scriptures. You said: "The minute I wake up in the morning my mind starts telling I have no forgiveness it seems like every sin I have ever committed runs through my head laughing at me." If a person hasn't left his sins that he has repented of at the foot of the Cross for Jesus to deal with, then either he has not truly repented or he is listening to Satan who wants to afflict him with past sins to make them the present burdens. Doesn't Jesus say to come to Him with our heavy loads & He WILL give you rest? ( Mt 11:28-30). Of course, Jesus was primarily referring to the heavy loads imposed by the Jewish leaders, but it surely applies to the loads & cares we carry now that we can confidently put on Him & leave it there. Look at the many Scriptures that affirm that God will DO something: even Jn 3:16, 'if we believe on Him we SHALL NOT perish but HAVE eternal life'. Are you abiding in Christ? You say you are ("I'm living for Christ but you don't feel like that inside") but re-read 2 Tim 2:11-13 & take note of the affirmations: "we SHALL also live; we SHALL also reign; Jesus REMAINS faithful". There are so, so many Scriptures that give us complete confidence in Jesus' Work for us, His accepting us on the basis of our faith & will never deny or reject us. So, our joy is in what Christ has done for us & not how our feelings may sway us from time to time. (onto Page 3.)
Lost 1, you've painted a very sad picture of yourself & your struggles, & there are many who also entertain such thoughts & hold such feelings. I see two things here: you are allowing your feelings to control the facts of God's Salvation for you and you have to also correctly understand the Scriptures. We often fail in appreciating & applying biblical Truths to our lives because of these two hindrances. I should state also, that I know a dear sister in the Lord, who has over many years, been plagued with thoughts of having committed the unpardonable sin: that she has inadvertently blasphemed against the Holy Spirit & there was no forgiveness for her. No amount of counsel & Scriptural help given to her from me & others would allay her fears & she remained totally overcome. Her Christian doctor, from tests, found that there was also a chemical imbalance in her brain which didn't help her deal with worry & fear & so prescribed relevant medication, to which she is on till now. I'm not suggesting this of you or even that she should pull out of her agony only by the Lord's intervention, but I do know that she is quite free now because of medication
Having said that, I would like to strongly suggest that even though God has given us the ability to sense joy in our salvation, the Spirit's Work in our lives, & the consequence of Calvary's Work, we still have to rely on the fact of our salvation, even when our feelings about it or ourselves appear to contradict. An example would be like a child who may sometimes feel that he is not part of a family because of unfairness or discipline, but the fact remains, he is very much a part of his family aside from perceived feelings about it. So don't let your feelings control the facts from Scripture or what has taken place in your life - feelings are unreliable - God's Word is totally reliable. (onto Page 2.)
Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.
1 Peter 1:7
So that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Daniel 7:9-10
"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened
This verse refers to a "stream of fire" that came from before God's fiery throne. Is it possible this stream comes from or leads to a..Lake of fire?
In the verses I've provided the scripture clearly teaches us that we are tested by fire, and saved through fire. Jesus' sacrafice on the cross purchased all men, paid for all their sin, and according to the scripture, missing the mark is to sin, and if Jesus meant to save all men, and fails to fufil that promise, he missed the mark, and that would make God a sinner. The whole world is in His hands, not mens hands.
Ephesians 1:10
As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
Every creature; that includes everyone on earth throughout all time, there are no exceptions.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
As we slow down and practice social distancing; Oh God, Help us to take the time to Pray and ask You to Help those around us-- Especially Healrh Care Workers, And those who help bring Food and Care. God Bless our Mothers and Fathers and whoever helped us. Those who Loved us-- and have Helped So Unselfishly. IN JESUS HOLY NAME. AMEN. MAY GOD ALWAYS BE IN YOUR LIFE AND HEART IN EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THESE DAYS OF UNCERTAIN TIMES WE NOW LIVE IN. LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST:
From Jesus
Give these scriptures to her also: Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13. She is adopted by her Heavenly Father. She is highly blessed.
As far as salvation goes, your granddaughter is safe. Spiritually, we cannot be bastard children, because we are born of God's Spirit. We are legitimate children of God, and He does not see us as bastards. We are God's children. He has given us to His Son. And Jesus promised us that all whom the Father has given to Him, He will not lose one, not a single one. That's Christ's promise to us. Your granddaughter needs to know that she is safe in His powerful grip. God bless!
Zechariah Chapter 9:4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
5 Ashkelon shall see [it], and fear; Gaza also [shall see it], and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
Goliath the giant that David faced was a Philistine and was considered a bastard.
may I suggest the booklet The Angels That Sinned: Author Clifton L. Fowler
He founded the Denver Bible college
Yes, we are not to sin, but don't forget if we do sin we can and should confess our sins and have an advocate to stand before the throne of judgment in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
These are called the Books of the Law (Torah). Moses was the lawgiver (the Ten Commandments). I'm sure there's more. Maybe someone else can add on to this.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
romans 9: 4,5 - when you read who ,whose, whom these verses are refering to the israelites.
hebrews 12:17 repentance wasn't given to esau even though he cried for it, only to the house of israel.
rev 13: 9, 10 - here is what yahusha says will happen
isaiah 14:2- here's the other nations future role in the besorah (gospel).
Mark 12:18
Mark 12:24-27
Luke 16:20-31
Hebrews 12:1
These are the scriptures I found hopefully it's helpful