When Youve Had Enough and Askgod for Help Again

How I Stopped Doubting My Salvation

When I was a teen I struggled with doubts over my salvation. Actually, struggled would be an understatement. For over a year I was plagued by this question, wrestled with it daily, and could find no peace.

I had prayed and asked Christ to save me in sixth grade, only in high school I was nevertheless tortured by doubts. I wasn't sure If I had meant it, wasn't sure if I had enough faith, wasn't sure if I could be sure.

Pastors would ask if I "knew that I knew that I knew I was saved" and I would just think, no, I don't. I must've prayed only-in-case prayers (where you ask God to salve you once more just in instance yous hadn't actually meant it the last time) about a hundred times – and I sincerely meant them each time. Only they didn't help.

The questions kept raging. What if I didn't accept enough faith?  If I take doubts doesn't that mean I don't have enough religion? Volition I ever be certain?

I asked counsel and listened to sermons and lessons, but it just wasn't helping. Our Bible lessons on how to know you're saved left me with more questions than I started with. The talk with my mom encouraged me for one day but left me questioning again the next.

I was really struggling, and I eventually started to sense that these doubts were an attack by Satan, meant to cripple my faith. And his attack was working because, although I was beginning to believe these doubts were unfounded, I still couldn't banish them.

Until I turned to the Bible.

I started writing downwards verses that discussed conservancy – verses such as Romans x:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the proper noun of the Lord shall be saved" and Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and 1000 shalt be saved." I created an ever-growing list of verses such as these and started to claim God's promises.

Whenever doubts would assail me, I would get out my list and showtime reading. I would read Romans 10:13 and remind myself that I had called up the proper name of the Lord so I was saved.  I would read Acts 16:31 and remind myself that God does non lie, so if I believe on Jesus I am saved. As I read and claimed these verses, I would find peace.

The doubts did not go away overnight, but they started to get fewer and further between. Presently I was going days without doubts then weeks and finally months. I can't pinpoint a specific time when I stopped doubting, but I praise the Lord that I haven't doubted His saving work in my life for years.

When I was struggling with my doubts I felt and then alone, only since then I have realized that many Christians feel similar challenges. Nosotros need to assistance each other piece of work through our doubts and find peace in God's promises. So if yous're counseling someone struggling with doubts over their conservancy (or if you demand help in this area yourself), here's the key:

Enquire this question: "Accept you lot repented, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and asked Him to salvage you?" Don't make it more complicated than it is. The question is uncomplicated.

• If the respond is no or I'm not sure, and then don't mess around. You lot need to settle the question today. Romans 10:9 makes it simple: "If thou shalt confess with thy rima oris the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, 1000 shalt be saved." Don't overcomplicate salvation. You don't need incredible religion or to know the answers to every doctrinal question. Y'all merely need to acknowledge that yous are a sinner and deserve death but that Christ died to accept your penalty and that He rose again and offers salvation as a gift. Apologize of your sins, choose to follow Christ, confess that Jesus is Lord and that you need His salvation, and He will save you.

• If the reply is yes, then merits God'due south promises. God has promised that if yous believe on His Son, He will save you. Ephesians ii:8-9 states, "For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest whatever human should avowal." Your salvation is not determined past your good works or even by the amount of your faith. These verses say that even your faith is not of yourself. God is the one who saves you, so if yous have repented and trusted in Him and then dubiety your salvation, you are actually doubting whether or not God keeps His promises. We know God is true-blue, then claim His promises. Create a list of Scripture and cling to them every time you are uncertain

Claiming God'southward Promises

Here are some of the verses that helped me. Add to these as you come beyond other Scriptures that reaffirm God'south hope of salvation.

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his merely begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
• Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and chiliad shalt exist saved, and thy house.
• Romans ten:nine That if yard shalt confess with thy oral cavity the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine center that God hath raised him from the dead, thousand shalt be saved.
• Romans x:xiii For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall exist saved.
• Ephesians two:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any homo should boast.
• Titus ane:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the globe began.
• Titus iii:5 Not by works of righteousness which nosotros have washed, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
• I John four:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
• I John 5:thirteen These things take I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye accept eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

What About Show of Salvation?

One final thought: Scripture is articulate that if we are Christ'due south there will be show of God's piece of work in our lives. Even so, when examining this attribute, we need to one) involve others and 2) take a large-moving picture view. This means, rather than looking at the sin you lot committed yesterday and maxim "I don't know if I'm saved," look at a broader span of time and ask yourself, "Am I closer to Christ now than I was 5 years agone? Is in that location more prove of the fruit of the Spirit in my life now than there was 5 years agone?"

Improve yet, don't just ask yourself these questions. Ask a trusted friend or spiritual mentor. Sometimes we struggle to encounter the growth in our own lives but others close to united states see it more clearly and would be able to encourage usa – or, if need be, point out the lack of growth.

If there is a complete lack of growth, and then it comes back to the same question – Have you repented and believed on Jesus, trusting Him lonely? If not, choose to do so today.

If you struggled with doubts over your salvation, share your testimony in the comments. Those who are notwithstanding struggling can use all the encouragement we can offering.

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Linda Kardamis

I believe that when God calls us to teach, He promises the forcefulness & wisdom to practice it well. All nosotros need to exercise is keep learning, growing, and depending on Him. I'm here to provide practical advice and Biblical encouragement so yous'll have the conviction and perspective to not only inspire your students but reach their hearts likewise.

trujillotwome1978.blogspot.com

Source: https://teach4theheart.com/how-to-stop-doubting-your-salvation/

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