[buzzoff1031]

It's very possible you are right. I believe in my mind that I'm a sinner. I believe in my mind that Jesus's death on the cross is the only reason I would be spared the torment of hell, because He had to say the price of my sins, which 47 death. I believe these things! But how do I if past mere belief? Must I rely on God for everything including my faith? Must I realize that I can't even have faith without Him? must I simply begin reading the Bible and going to a Bible believing church and rely on God for the rest? I just don't know what to do. I relate to two phrases out of the Bible that I don't know where they are. One: What must I do to be saved? Two: Lord I believe. Help Thou my unbelief.

[ChaplainPaul]

Originally Posted by buzzoff1031

It's very possible you are right. I believe in my mind that I'm a sinner. I believe in my mind that Jesus's death on the cross is the only reason I would be spared the torment of hell, because He had to say the price of my sins, which 47 death. I believe these things! But how do I if past mere belief? Must I rely on God for everything including my faith? Must I realize that I can't even have faith without Him? must I simply begin reading the Bible and going to a Bible believing church and rely on God for the rest? I just don't know what to do. I relate to two phrases out of the Bible that I don't know where they are. One: What must I do to be saved? Two: Lord I believe. Help Thou my unbelief.

Buzz, you sound a lot like a minister. Are you in Bible college or seminary? When the people in Acts 2 cried out, "What shall we do?" it was because they were pricked in their heart by Peter's preaching. Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but I perceive I'm not reading the post of a man pricked in his heart.

Luke 18:13 has this prayer, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." Ask the Lord to help you get to this point. Review the 10 Commandments and know that if you even break one in your lifetime God sees you as a transgressor of the Law, a sinner, and you can never undo that. For that sin you earn death. Your only hope is for someone who is not guilty to come and take your place. This is why it was important that the Lord Jesus Christ never sin. Not in word, thought or deed, and not even once. He took our place. Because he satisfied the judgement against us, we can go free.

[peopleoftheway]

Originally Posted by ChaplainPaul

Buzz, you sound a lot like a minister. Are you in Bible college or seminary? It sounds like you're trying to start a conversation on the relationship between repentance and faith. When the people in Acts 2 cried out, "What shall we do?" it was because they were pricked in their heart by Peter's preaching. Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but I perceive I'm not reading the post of a man pricked in his heart.

George stated something similar Brother and I would sincerely hope this isnt a trick by buzzoff to bring about a conversation on "repentance".
That would just be utterly devious and unscriptural

[ChaplainPaul]

Originally Posted by peopleoftheway

George stated something similar Brother and I would sincerely hope this isnt a trick by buzzoff to bring about a conversation on "repentance".
That would just be utterly devious and unscriptural

Sorry I didn't catch that earlier. I edited that out because I felt I was reading too much into what he said. It's true, that was my first reaction. I hope that's not what he is doing, though. Unfortunately, recent posts by others have made me a bit jaded. Perhaps Buzz can appreciate that!

[buzzoff1031]

If I wanted a conversation on repentance I would have posted again in the thread I started on Lordship Salvation. I simply want the truth. Most of you guys seem to know you have it. I, on the other hand hear things like Way of the Master and McArthur, and my wife telling me I need to go to a catholic church, and I get unsure. I am no minister. I think I have above average intelligence. I also over-analyze things. I just want to be saved. I want to know I have the truth, as so many of you here seem to.

[peopleoftheway]

Please Read the following My Friend, please read without "way of the master", Macarthur, repentance as described by these men and indeed anything you may be over anylzing, read over this prayerfully and focus on one thing
YOUR position with God, not anyone elses or indeed what anyone else says your position with God is.

God's Word For Anxious Souls - by Murray McCandless

How often we have heard anxious souls declare in their frustration, “ I believe, but I am not saved!” They hear the same message of the gospel as others, read the same Bible verses, and yet they are described in the sad words of Jeremiah 8:20 “not saved”. We must remember that salvation is not merely the result of human understanding. Salvation is the result of revealed truth from God’s Word to the anxious soul, accepted by faith. I cannot over emphasize the value of the personal, careful reading of the scriptures: “What saith the scripture?” (Galatians 4:30).

It will be helpful to open your Bible and read the passage, John 4:46-54, concerning the nobleman’s son. This is one of the clearest passages in the gospels to prove conclusively that one must accept His Word and that alone. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). “Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed” (Luke 7:7). “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).

The nobleman had made his way to the Savior with burdened heart concerning his dying son. When he met the Savior, he was greeted with these words: “Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe.” At this puzzling statement, the man had one of two options: forget what he heard and go home and bury his son; or he could do as he did, accept the same and in faith and humility exclaim, “Sir, come down ere my child die” (vs 49). The Saviour immediately said, “Go thy way, thy son liveth.” Please note the period after the word “liveth”; nothing more was needed to heal the boy. I would like to present two questions: (1) What if the man didn’t believe the word? Would his son have lived? (2) What if the man didn’t go his way? Would his son have lived?

Now here is where we must be careful. The answer to both questions is an emphatic, yes. For this one reason: Jesus said it. He did not say, “Thy son liveth, if you believe.” He did not say, “Thy son liveth, if you go your way.” His believing had nothing to do with it. Believing didn’t make the boy better; the Savior did. So often we want to put something in the scripture that is not there, or take something away that is there.

Suppose we were to encounter this man joyfully making his way home. We stop him and ask him why he is so happy. Would he not with joy tell us his son is living? If we were to ask him how he knows that, would his reply not be “because Jesus said it”? Suppose later the same day we meet the same man, and now he is very disturbed; joy is gone, no peace. Is his boy better, is he living? Most certainly; his feelings have nothing to do with the fever being rebuked in the boy by the Son of God.

Now an interesting thing happens. He meets his servants. Normally they were not to leave the property of the master. Possibly as the mother cradled her once dying boy in her arms she saw him sitting up and noticed the fever was gone. So she would send the servants to get the master in the belief that the Savior isn’t needed. The boy is better. She doesn’t realize that the Savior had spoken the word and the boy would live for this reason. To prove how little this man’s faith was, he asks the servants when he began to get better (vs 52). Did he think it was something gradual? Salvation is not gradual; it is the miracle of a moment, because it is a birth (John 3:3). How come he doesn’t announce to the servants upon meeting them that he knows the boy is living? Maybe he wasn’t sure. Did that change anything? Not a thing. He now knows that it was the same hour in which Jesus said unto him, “Thy son liveth”, and himself believed and his whole house. Again let me remind you, it was not “thy son liveth if you believe”, or “thy son liveth if you go your way”. It is true, he believed, and it is true he went his way, but it had nothing to do with the boy living or dying. IT WAS ALL IN WHAT JESUS SAID.

The blind man in John 9:35 is asked, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” Notice, the man does not confess to more faith than he possesses, and replies, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” Listen to the delightful and assuring reply of the Saviour: “Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee” (John 9:37-38). And he said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped Him. He had to take His Word for it that He was Jesus, the Son of God.

So the anxious sinner asks, “Is my believing needed then?” Yes, it is, and for this reason. The work of Christ on the cross is complete and it is enough to save all. But God gives the free gift of eternal life to those who accept it as repentant sinners. So they believe God’s Word.

Sometimes we treat the word “believe” as if it were a poor choice of word for God to use, and it has stumbled so many people. What stumbles them is not so much the word as their unbelief and their futile efforts to make belief, rather than Christ, their savior.

There are, of course, other words used for the same experience, but in the end we place our trust in the Savior or we fail to do so. That is exactly what His Word tells us. We reject it at our peril.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

If you have never been convinced that you are going to hell, it is not going to be possible for you to be sure that you are now on your way to heaven. The Word of God and of the Lord Jesus is our authority for both. If the words of Christ mean anything they mean everything. He assures us of our being lost without Him. He assures us of His power to save those who trust Him. The question is, do we trust His Word alone?

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:8-9).

[Diligent]

Originally Posted by buzzoff1031

If I wanted a conversation on repentance I would have posted again in the thread I started on Lordship Salvation. I simply want the truth. Most of you guys seem to know you have it. I, on the other hand hear things like Way of the Master and McArthur, and my wife telling me I need to go to a catholic church, and I get unsure. I am no minister. I think I have above average intelligence. I also over-analyze things. I just want to be saved. I want to know I have the truth, as so many of you here seem to.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Don't "bear with" them. Anyone who wants to add something to your salvation should be ignored.

[buzzoff1031]

I think I'm starting to understand. It's just so hard for me to get past myself and get to Jesus. It's hard for me to realize the work is done. It's hard for me to get past "head knowledge" and get to "heart belief". Should I just accept what the Bible says, even though I struggle with unbelief, and read the Word praying that God will eliminate that very barrier?

[chette777]

buzz,

Just be sure it is really from your heart you will know. I said what I said to get you to a point to really seek God about it. what Tbones said is true the fact you are having a great struggle could in fact show your salvation.

I recently had one of the strangest event in my life, I fasted and cried all night because of one thing a man said to me. I can't go into the whole details but a confrontational meeting with a man who had spread rumors and lies about me in a half truth fashion ended with me being quite upset that the man refused to see it, and right there in the presence of others right to my face had lied again. Aand acted as nothing was wrong. I was ready to fume.

anyway, the mediator asked me in private after the unsuccessful meeting, "Are you saved?"

I answered, "what! of course I am saved"

he asked another Question, "They why didn't I see Christ."

If floored me. I mean it it really shook me up. I spent the next 12 hours in prayer and fasting. about 3 hours into crying out to the Lord from the roof top all alone, the Lord took me to Psalm 136 every verse said, His mercy endureth for ever.

I knew then my salvation was secured. My flesh had been in control and he took me to some other verses in James and in Philippians which guided me into what was happening as far as I was concerned.

that little event was needed and I will never will doubt again about my salvation. it involved my intellect, my emotions, my heart and my body. There were no feelings per se the Bible verse in them selves were marvelously inspirational. the tears I shed were needed forgiveness went forth to this man without him ever admitting his error. and I was free from the years of holding it in my heart all the hurt and anger and disappointment of someone who was supposed to be a leader and a living example to those of lower rank and file within our organization.

Sometimes we need times alone with God to get us where he wants us. that is why I asked the questions and proposed what I said.

God bless and we are praying for you.

[peopleoftheway]

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

My Friend you cant buy it, you cant work for it you simply have to accept it.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Every single person on Gods earth is a sinner, we all sin, even when we get saved we still sin, sin is in our nature, but when you realise in your heart that sin is destroying you and will finally finish you off in eternal damnation, unless you simply come before the Lord Jesus Christ and admit to him in your heart that you cannot deal with your sin on your own, and take it all to the foot of that blessed cross, the filthy rags that are your life, leave them at his feet and ask him for forgiveness and ask him to save you and if you mean it with all your heart you will be saved.

Dont look for a sign or a feeling, don't let anyone tell you you didn't do it right, just believe what it says in the word of God

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Its a Gift, its Free and you seem to be looking for it in all the wrong places, just take it all to the cross my friend, lay it down at his feet and accept his free Gift by believing in your heart he is on that cross for YOUR sins.

God Bless and I pray you accept it if you haven't already and your life through Gods spirit is forever changed.