I would like to start a post that deals with how You know you are saved, the elect. Please no post that deal with theoretical, how someone knows they are saved or the elect. What I would like here is personal testimonies using Scripture; How do You know you are saved.
By a comparison of my life in light of what the whole book of 1 John teaches that a true convert's life will look like.
How else does anyone gain assurance of their salvation?
Well, not that I disagree with what you say, but there is also this:
Hebrews 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...
I appreciate the two answers so far. Please treat this thread as if you were speaking one on one with me and sharing with me how you know you are one of the elect. Let's add if you were speaking to me and I was not sure I was of the elect and you are sharing your testimony with me. How do you know!
I appreciate the two answers so far. Please treat this thread as if you were speaking one on one with me and sharing with me how you know you are one of the elect. Let's add if you were speaking to me and I was not sure I was of the elect and you are sharing your testimony with me. How do you know!
Of my own, I would not and could not hunger for righteousness (Rom. 3). I would not and could not repent of my sins. I would not and could not place my faith in Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:29).
I look back and see my belief and repentance and know that God has brought these outward actions into my life as a demonstration of His electing me. Belief and repentance are the outward evidences of the inward working of God in election. I didn't get saved because I repented and believed; I believed and repented because I was elected by God!
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~ Dan
Real Christianity should be identified by its production of spiritual fruit*, not religious nuts.
*love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
Let me share my testimony. The Word of God was something I had heard from a very early age as my parents had our family in church and around preaching all the time. There was a time when I remember thinking about my sinfulness and realizing what the Bible said about where I was heading to a Christ-less eternity in hell. I remember talking with my dad about this. My dad took me back to his bedroom and taking the Bible and showing me again the truth of salvation. I did not understand all that I know now about salvation but what I knew was what the Bible said and that I needed Christ for my salvation. I remember kneeling by my dad's bed and asking for God to save me. It was not a dynamic prayer but the simple prayer of a child. That was 38 years ago. My assurance of salvation is solely on the work of God in my life. I do not trust a prayer or words, I do not trust in a feeling or emotions. I trust fully in the work that God said He would do for all who call on Him. I did not deserve salvation or did I earn it. Salvation came from God and He did the complete work. I share my testimony all the time and praise God for His great work in me. I know with no doubt that if I am absent from my body today I would be present with the Lord.
The reason I want people to respond to this post was if it is true in your life that you are one of the elect and God choose you for salvation and you have confidence in that salvation; why does it seem that an arrogance is portrayed by those who hold to "Calvinism" This is my problem with this teaching. I do believe that Christ did all the work in making my alive in Him. I do not believe that I did anything that earned salvation. If you know you are saved, elect, then where is there room for us to proclaim to the world that some of you out there will never get salvation because you are not a chosen one. How arrogant on our part to send this message. We may not be able to reconcile in our minds the work of God in our salvation and God's call for whosoever but I believe it is best that we leave to God what is God's and we focus on the whosoever verses. What would I have done had my dad said to me 38 years ago, not every one will be saved and you may not be one of the elect so pray if you want but you may not be saved if you are not of the elect. I am saved because of the work of God but I know I am saved because I responded to the Word of God to call on Him. So please continue to share testimonies of your assurance of salvation as I believe there may be those who read and shown that they too can be saved if they only come to Christ and call on Him.
Let me share my testimony. The Word of God was something I had heard from a very early age as my parents had our family in church and around preaching all the time. There was a time when I remember thinking about my sinfulness and realizing what the Bible said about where I was heading to a Christ-less eternity in hell. I remember talking with my dad about this. My dad took me back to his bedroom and taking the Bible and showing me again the truth of salvation. I did not understand all that I know now about salvation but what I knew was what the Bible said and that I needed Christ for my salvation. I remember kneeling by my dad's bed and asking for God to save me. It was not a dynamic prayer but the simple prayer of a child. That was 38 years ago. My assurance of salvation is solely on the work of God in my life. I do not trust a prayer or words, I do not trust in a feeling or emotions. I trust fully in the work that God said He would do for all who call on Him. I did not deserve salvation or did I earn it. Salvation came from God and He did the complete work. I share my testimony all the time and praise God for His great work in me. I know with no doubt that if I am absent from my body today I would be present with the Lord.
The reason I want people to respond to this post was if it is true in your life that you are one of the elect and God choose you for salvation and you have confidence in that salvation; why does it seem that an arrogance is portrayed by those who hold to "Calvinism" This is my problem with this teaching. I do believe that Christ did all the work in making my alive in Him. I do not believe that I did anything that earned salvation. If you know you are saved, elect, then where is there room for us to proclaim to the world that some of you out there will never get salvation because you are not a chosen one. How arrogant on our part to send this message. We may not be able to reconcile in our minds the work of God in our salvation and God's call for whosoever but I believe it is best that we leave to God what is God's and we focus on the whosoever verses. What would I have done had my dad said to me 38 years ago, not every one will be saved and you may not be one of the elect so pray if you want but you may not be saved if you are not of the elect. I am saved because of the work of God but I know I am saved because I responded to the Word of God to call on Him. So please continue to share testimonies of your assurance of salvation as I believe there may be those who read and shown that they too can be saved if they only come to Christ and call on Him.
The bolded part: who has said that?
I don't know who is chosen and who isn't. My not knowing is why evangelism is so important. It is up to God to grant belief and repentance. It is up to me to help carry out the Great Commission and be a living epistle of the Gospel and conduct myself worthy of that Gospel.
__________________
~ Dan
Real Christianity should be identified by its production of spiritual fruit*, not religious nuts.
*love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
I don't know who is chosen and who isn't. My not knowing is why evangelism is so important. It is up to God to grant belief and repentance. It is up to me to help carry out the Great Commission and be a living epistle of the Gospel and conduct myself worthy of that Gospel.
Ditto! So glad you said that! I believe it's a common misconception that those who hold to the Doctrines of Grace are not evangelistic! My church has 2 "organized" opportunities each week for outreach, and members are encouraged to go on mission trips as often as possible. And, of course, each member is encouraged to share the gospel whenever they have an opportunity. As you said, we are not against evangelism. We just happen to understand that it's not our efforts, our clever words, or any "coercion" we might could use, that will bring people to Christ. We are to sow and to water. It is God Who will give the increase!
__________________
My Hannah bug...
The only reliable means for measuring our love for God is to examine whether we obey Him. We may dress the part, act the part, talk the part of being a Christian, but none of these things proves that we genuinely love God. Obedience is the only way.
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How do You know you are elect?
So glad you said that! I believe it's a common misconception that those who hold to the Doctrines of Grace are not evangelistic! My church has 2 "organized" opportunities each week for outreach, and members are encouraged to go on mission trips as often as possible. And, of course, each member is encouraged to share the gospel whenever they have an opportunity. As you said, we are not against evangelism. We just happen to understand that it's not our efforts, our clever words, or any "coercion" we might could use, that will bring people to Christ. We are to sow and to water. It is God Who will give the increase!
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