Anywho, one of the things I have been thinking about is assurance of salvation. There are christian faiths that do not believe in assurance of salvation. The Catholic faith, (I have heard this from multiple people, but please leave a comment if I am wrong) does not preach assurance of faith, neither do arminian thinking people. They preach that you can lose your salvation. I don't understand where this comes from, but I do understand where this leads. The thought that you can lose your salvation leads to people always worrying about "I wonder if I have been good enough today." or "oh no! I better confess my sins because I am not saved anymore". The Catholic church uses it as a way to get money, and to get people into the church on the holy days. The Catholic leadership has told people that if they don't go to church, and if they don't do good works, they get points marked off their card with God. You can gain points by helping the priest and such.The problem arises that it is now salvation by works. (Which is spoken against many places in the bible.) This is one of the passages I have found.
Rom 9:31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
Rom 9:32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Rom 9:33 as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
Some Jews still believe that, and it is the same type of thing that the Catholic leaders have used.
I am not saying works are bad at all, for in James it says:
Jas 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Jas 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
but Faith is necessary, along with works.
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
Jas 2:22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
Jas 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.
Jas 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Jas 2:25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Jas 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
works follow faith, it is not the other way around. faith leads to salvation, which in-turn leads to works.
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
and also in Romans
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
it says all you have to do is believe!
and once saved we can not be plucked from Gods hand for we are Christs sheep.
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,
Joh 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Joh 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
If your really believe in Christ, have faith you are saved in him, are embodied by the Holy Spirit, you are saved.
you get and assurance from the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Rom 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
In conclusion,
you are not saved by works, but by faith. However, works are part of the faith, and follow the faith as if we are Christ like, we must do good works, for him. we can be assured of faith, there should be no guessing, for God given those that are saved his spirit, (the Holy Spirit) who will bear witness to us, from God, about our salvation.
so if you are not assured that you are saved, ask yourself "why don't I know?" you can be assured, and should be assured of salvation. Follow Christ, serve God, and then the Holy spirit will give you that assurance, that you crave. Remember, you are in the hands of an eternal, all powerful God, who will take care of you, when you give your whole being over to him.
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