Can't be saved.... plans

[Kim R]

Some of you may be familiar with my story. I went 11+ years with false assurance. However, what it really comes down to is that I can't be saved. I put someone/something as more important than God, out of disobedience (my now-husband) when God clearly said NO. Similar to the Rich Young Ruler. I can't be saved now. This has come as a shock, I've been trying to process everything for the past 4 months. I have a beautiful family from the 11+ years I thought I was saved. I never ever could have imagined this happening. I'm going to have to get an apartment with mental health services. The kids will be hurt and they won't understand. Anyone have a better idea? I can't believe this is happening. All I've ever wanted was God and family but I made a big mistake.

 

[1watchman]

Where did you get the idea you Can't be saved? The Bible does not teach that. As long as one is still in this world that one can be saved by confessing their sinful nature to God, and receiving His beloved Son ---the Lord Jesus, into their heart. Do it today, and be settled in His love!

Read John 1; John 3; John 14, and see the promises of God. Don't listen to the lies of Satan, but listen to what God is saying.

 

[Take Heart]

Hey Kim.. I'm not quite sure the specific circumstances that you've experienced..but I do know one thing. And it's that whatever you have done.. is not more powerful than the saving blood of Jesus Christ. If you think that the precious blood of Jesus Christ is not powerful enough to cleanse you of your sin, you need to be rooted in the truth of God and not in the lies of the enemy whose mission is to kill, steal, and destroy God's sons and daughters. To keep His children away from Him through lies and condemnation.

Okay, I'm going to paste something from my blog on this site that relates to what you're going through and how you're feeling (please don't take any of this the wrong way as it's not intended or meant to):

"...if we could somehow gain salvation on our own and by our own works, then we wouldn't need Jesus to die for us. But praise God that, while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. Would you die for someone who did you wrong?
That's how mind-blowing and beautiful His love is for us. Don't you want to WIN this thing?? Don't you want your mind back?? Your joy back?? Stop listening to the enemy's lies and start rebuking Him in the name of Jesus Christ. Stop letting the enemy get you SO distracted.. that you can't even lift your eyes to Jesus because you feel so weary and weighed down. That's why He says "Come to Me all you who are tired and weary..and I will give you rest". "Come to Me" is a command. He WANTS you to go to Him no matter how many times you wander away, no matter how many times you stumble in sin, no matter how many times you repeat the offence. What makes you think that God is far from you now that He no longer loves you the same anymore or is far from you and rejects you like the humans tend to do here on earth? God isn't like humans. And please don't get me wrong, love, but this isn't me saying to GO AHEAD AND SIN now. This is me saying to genuinely..in your heart to follow after Him so that you can be intimately close to Him. Don't you want the victory over the sins in your life??? Why merely confess them and say a half-hearted apology to Him and then come back and do the same things again?? This is a spiritual battle "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." NLT.
You know, I used to hate reading the NLT version because I thought it strayed from the context of His Word. But NLT isn't so bad.. it definitely gives a clearer, easier-to-understand picture of what He's saying.
God addresses you as His soldier for a reason. This is spiritual battle.
And you've forgotten to put on your armour that God already provided for you. Remember the helmet of salvation ..your shield of faith.. and so on? Those things have a purpose. Those weapons have a purpose so that you can overcome.. and overcome through Jesus.

Wake up, dear one.. you've got to stop sleeping in this battle field. You need to know who you are in Christ so that no man's opinion of you will ever shake your firm faith in Him and who you are in Him. You've got to be so ROOTED in His Word so that you can distinguish between the lies of the enemy and the truth of God's Word.

And don't you forget..
That greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.

And honestly, I can watch this video over and over again and not get sick and tired of it because #1, it's engaging and funny and the opposite of boring..and #2, it actually encourages me and feeds me God's truth and builds me up. What more can you ask for? This dude is also pretty passionate for Jesus. It's beautiful and awesome to see."

 

[Kim R]

When Jesus was calling me to follow Him, I did not lay down a relationship that He was asking me to lay down. That is putting something as more important than God. I have been asking His forgiveness for the past 4-5 months and... nothing. I have no peace, joy, assurance, anything. I only have major depression and extreme anxiety. There is no forgiveness for not forsaking all to follow Jesus, and there is no forgiveness for putting something as more important than God when you are being called to follow Him (Rich Young Ruler), and there is no forgiveness for those who put their hand to the plow and look back at what is left behind (Luke 9:62).

 

[Razare]

I'm going to have to get an apartment with mental health services. The kids will be hurt and they won't understand. Anyone have a better idea? I can't believe this is happening. All I've ever wanted was God and family but I made a big mistake.

I put an idol in my heart every day since I been a Christian and I'm saved.

That I kept an idol out of my heart is not the basis of my salvation in Christ. It IS NOT the basis of salvation in Christ.

Sure, get the idols out. But our flesh and our imperfect life will get them back in. Yes, you can be free of them, but being free is accepting God's forgiveness and relationship with Christ where he addresses the strongholds in your heart.

You do not fix the strongholds in your heart to come to Christ. You come to Christ as you are, and he fixes you gradually. It does not happen in a day. And while he is fixing you, you are already saved!!!

There is salvation.
Then there is sanctification.

Sanctification is where Christ washes us with his word every day, renewing our strength, transforming us from glory to glory.

Make sure you have done Acts 2:38. You repent of your own dead works, such as sinning, and also repent of your justification by your own works where you justify yourself before God, rather than the correct way where God justifies you. You recognize you're a sinner, you recognize adhering to rules will not save you, you recognize Jesus is your savior. Then you get water baptized and get baptized in the Holy Ghost.

This is how Christianity works. And then after you're saved (you probably are already but it is good to mention the steps)... Anyway, after you're saved, you do dumb stuff you shouldn't just like all Christians. God forgives you when you do it. The dumb stuff we do along the way doesn't nullify your salvation.

That you discovered you made an idol in your heart out of your husband, that is God working with you because you're saved most likely. God didn't want you to give up on your faith in Jesus. God was showing you, "Hey, I want to help you with this so you can trust me more!!!"

 

[Kim R]

I wish I could know for certain that I was already saved. OH MY. I would jump for joy, run up and down the streets, do anything for Jesus! But I've lacked assurance for 4-5 months and I just don't think God does that to His children. I know He answers His children's prayers too. I get the idea I can't be saved because of the nature of my sin. I didn't forsake all to follow Jesus, I put my hand to the plow and looked back, I put something/someone as more important than God when He was calling me to salvation.

 

[Razare]

But I've lacked assurance for 4-5 months and I just don't think God does that to His children. I know He answers His children's prayers too. I get the idea I can't be saved because of the nature of my sin. I didn't forsake all to follow Jesus, I put my hand to the plow and looked back, I put something/someone as more important than God when He was calling me to salvation.

What sort of assurance you're looking for? If assurance is feelings, that's not assurance. Feelings change, we can get false spirits lodged in our souls and hearts, and if they mess with us, we can think, "Oh, I don't have that feeling anymore, I'm lost!" But if it was a false spirit, you are just feeling different because it is gone or it is present and affecting you. A spirit if unbelief for example or guilt, or fear, or religious spirit.

I trust my salvation for a few reasons, but it's really not because I have a feeling.

And it's not really that my prayers all get answered. There are a lot of bad prayers I could throw up and a lot of those never get answered.

But for example, when I intercede for another person for God to help them, and I pray out of love, God answers it. And then I can see, "Oh, God is using me!"

So yeah, in what way are you expecting to have assurance of salvation? The best way is just to believe scriptures. Just believe them. No feelings, no big thing from God, just believe, and as you live out that faith, you see God work and realizing you were saved becomes obvious.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I wish I could know for certain that I was already saved. OH MY. I would jump for joy, run up and down the streets, do anything for Jesus! But I've lacked assurance for 4-5 months and I just don't think God does that to His children. I know He answers His children's prayers too. I get the idea I can't be saved because of the nature of my sin. I didn't forsake all to follow Jesus, I put my hand to the plow and looked back, I put something/someone as more important than God when He was calling me to salvation.

Do you mean you left your husband?

 

[Razare]

I have no peace, joy, assurance, anything. I only have major depression and extreme anxiety.

Oh I see. Sorry, I'm dense and missed this.

Don't ask God for peace, joy, and assurance, or anything. It's bad prayers. God would not answer those prayers for me either.

Once, I was praying for peace, and commanding peace into my body. And it did not happen. God would not do it. Then I went to church, and the pastor stopped before his sermon, God was speaking through him.

"If you want to have peace, seek me," is what God said through him. And I did not have peace for another 2 years. And this week, I have some peace. 2 years of stress, worry, anxiety all day long, every night, no rest. I would pray for peace.

But in praying for peace, I denied that I already had peace given to me by God, and as I sought God, I realized God had given me peace, and all this struggle I was doing to get it was the problem. Asking for it, was the problem. Realizing I already had it was the solution.

So asking for these things is not the way to get assurance.

If you turned your hand from the plow, turn it back. Start doing what the word says and help others according to the word... which would include helping your husband and children. When you do this, you're exercising faith and God responds! Then you will be assured of salvation.

And if it happens that you were never saved, then God will send all the forces of heaven to tell you what you need to do, to get into the kingdom and it will pierce your heart. "A lost person trying to do my will?" Father will respond to that.

 

[crossnote]

I wish I could know for certain that I was already saved. OH MY. I would jump for joy, run up and down the streets, do anything for Jesus! But I've lacked assurance for 4-5 months and I just don't think God does that to His children. I know He answers His children's prayers too. I get the idea I can't be saved because of the nature of my sin. I didn't forsake all to follow Jesus, I put my hand to the plow and looked back, I put something/someone as more important than God when He was calling me to salvation.

We are saved on account of His perfect obedience credited to our account ...not by our godliness or blunders...

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
(Rom 5:19)

Also it is good to be continually reminded of...
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
(Mat 12:31)

 

[retlaw]

The only documented sin that you cannot be forgiven of is to deny that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Everything else can be forgiven if you are willing to repent and ask forgiveness.

Now if you married someone God didn't want you to marry, this in my opinion isn't a sin, this is ill advised, possibly stupid depending on the circumstances, but not sin. To then Divorce them because you realize this is to ACTUALLY sin so you can't make a right by adding a wrong to a stupid.

However, there have been cases where God saved a non believing spouse through their husband or wife, in fact it's happened quite a bit. So after the fact was it Gods will or not? We will never know for sure.

Still others have unbelieving spouses, the Bible does not preclude us from remaining married to them if they are willing (though this can be a drag)

Bottom line to life, Do what is right by the word of God, do it now, what you did yesterday may have consequences, but that does not excuse the choice for today and tomorrow. IT's never too late to do the right things and make the right choices as long as you are living. Jesus is the way, man cannot approach God on his own, only through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. None of us are worthy, only redeemed by an amazing Father who loves us.

 

[pescador]

The only documented sin that you cannot be forgiven of is to deny that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Everything else can be forgiven if you are willing to repent and ask forgiveness.

Now if you married someone God didn't want you to marry, this in my opinion isn't a sin, this is ill advised, possibly stupid depending on the circumstances, but not sin. To then Divorce them because you realize this is to ACTUALLY sin so you can't make a right by adding a wrong to a stupid.

However, there have been cases where God saved a non believing spouse through their husband or wife, in fact it's happened quite a bit. So after the fact was it Gods will or not? We will never know for sure.

Still others have unbelieving spouses, the Bible does not preclude us from remaining married to them if they are willing (though this can be a drag)

Bottom line to life, Do what is right by the word of God, do it now, what you did yesterday may have consequences, but that does not excuse the choice for today and tomorrow. IT's never too late to do the right things and make the right choices as long as you are living. Jesus is the way, man cannot approach God on his own, only through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. None of us are worthy, only redeemed by an amazing Father who loves us.

I agree with the advice that you have given but I disagree with your first paragraph. Where does it say that denying that Jesus is the son of God is the only unforgivable sin? Denying the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable sin. If you are a Christian (in Christ) then ALL your sins have been forgiven. You don't have to repent because you are in Christ and he is sinless.

People make mistakes but it is God's grace that counts. Otherwise it's justification by works. Love is the answer in all relationships, and that is a gift from God.

 

[BelleC]

I wish I could know for certain that I was already saved. OH MY. I would jump for joy, run up and down the streets, do anything for Jesus! But I've lacked assurance for 4-5 months and I just don't think God does that to His children. I know He answers His children's prayers too. I get the idea I can't be saved because of the nature of my sin. I didn't forsake all to follow Jesus, I put my hand to the plow and looked back, I put something/someone as more important than God when He was calling me to salvation.

Wow, does your post ever hit home for me! About 17 years ago I married a man God had explicitly let me know I should not marry. He was a Muslim. I knew almost immediately that I had made a huge mistake but I was determined to try to make it work. In a way I felt addicted to him. Talking to him I knew we didn't even define marriage in the same way but I still felt trapped because I had made a promise before God. I prayed for him to convert but that never happened and slowly I was led away from Christ as I tried to make sense of his religion, please him, and make our marriage work. At times I tried to convince myself that what we believed was not so different that maybe I should convert to Islam. Eventually he asked for a divorce and I agreed, taking solace in the verses concerning an unbeliever wanting to leave.

It took me years to recover from this mistake. I knew in my heart I had disobeyed God willfully and even became confused as to who Jesus really is. But ultimately God let me know clearly that I was forgiven. The Holy Spirit never abandons us without our explicit rejection of Him! Keep reading your Bible, praying, repenting, and relying on the promises of God!! He may let you walk through a desert of testing but He doesn't just leave us alone.

 

[Sketcher]

When Jesus was calling me to follow Him, I did not lay down a relationship that He was asking me to lay down. That is putting something as more important than God. I have been asking His forgiveness for the past 4-5 months and... nothing. I have no peace, joy, assurance, anything. I only have major depression and extreme anxiety.

No, he forgave you the first time you sincerely asked (1 John 1:9, no exceptions). You have forgiveness. The peace, the joy - you can have forgiveness without it, but God isn't the one depriving you of it.

There is no forgiveness for not forsaking all to follow Jesus, and there is no forgiveness for putting something as more important than God when you are being called to follow Him (Rich Young Ruler), and there is no forgiveness for those who put their hand to the plow and look back at what is left behind (Luke 9:62).

This is a lie. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus. Also, if anyone embodied the plowman who looked back, it was Peter, whom Jesus actively sought and took back.

 

[BelleC]

No, he forgave you the first time you sincerely asked (1 John 1:9, no exceptions). You have forgiveness. The peace, the joy - you can have forgiveness without it, but God isn't the one depriving you of it.


This is a lie. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus. Also, if anyone embodied the plowman who looked back, it was Peter, whom Jesus actively sought and took back.

Yes!!! So many times in my life I have taken comfort in reading about Peter and how Jesus reached out to bring him back.

 

[Jim Langston]

As others have said, the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the holy spirit, which I believe is saying things from the holy spirit are from the devil. If you have not done this then you can still repent. Turn from your sin, ask God for forgiveness and you will be forgiven. The only way you won't be forgiven is if you refuse to turn from your sin, that is, if you are not repentant.

 

[Pedrito]

For Kim and others who may find it helpful …

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 states:

10 According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds [on it]. But let every man be careful how he builds [on it].
11 For any other foundation can no one lay than the one] being laid, who is Jesus Christ.

12 And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble,
13 each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare [it], because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.

14 If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

I suggest that Kim and others in situations like hers, rather than feel that their relationship with God has somehow been irrevocably compromised, might consider themselves simply in the wood-hay-stubble category. That would make more sense for someone who once felt assurance, and who now has a heartfelt concern. Would it not?

So instead of worrying unnecessarily, a person like that could well start concentrating on moving to the gold-silver-precious stones category.

Kim, I perceive that something traumatic probably happened to you around 4 months ago, and that has understandably distorted your perceptions of your real standing with God.

If that is so, please be aware that there will be a time when you no longer feel the way you do now. The devastating negative feelings will pass. Look forward to that light at the end of the tunnel. Hang on for now, for your own sake, and for the sake of your children.

And think about what you could start doing now to become a gold-silver-precious stones person.

 

[retlaw]

As others have said, the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the holy spirit, which I believe is saying things from the holy spirit are from the devil. If you have not done this then you can still repent. Turn from your sin, ask God for forgiveness and you will be forgiven. The only way you won't be forgiven is if you refuse to turn from your sin, that is, if you are not repentant.

The verse you are talking about may be misunderstood or mistranslated well in English. I have notes in a Greek/English bible that indicates that the phrase "Blasphemy of the holy spirit" is not well translated/understood. In fact tell me what you think that phrase really means because I surely never did. The notes indicate it means to deny that Jesus is the Christ, which is pretty much a no-go for getting into heaven. I'll go get that bible and put more details on this note in a followup post.

 

[nChrist]

The only unforgiveable sin is rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Rom 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

 

[Jim Langston]

The verse you are talking about may be misunderstood or mistranslated well in English. I have notes in a Greek/English bible that indicates that the phrase "Blasphemy of the holy spirit" is not well translated/understood. In fact tell me what you think that phrase really means because I surely never did. The notes indicate it means to deny that Jesus is the Christ, which is pretty much a no-go for getting into heaven. I'll go get that bible and put more details on this note in a followup post.

If you look at when Jesus said this it becomes a little clearer.

The verse you are talking about may be misunderstood or mistranslated well in English. I have notes in a Greek/English bible that indicates that the phrase "Blasphemy of the holy spirit" is not well translated/understood. In fact tell me what you think that phrase really means because I surely never did. The notes indicate it means to deny that Jesus is the Christ, which is pretty much a no-go for getting into heaven. I'll go get that bible and put more details on this note in a followup post.

You should read the whole passage and it fairly explains what it is. The Phrariees were saying Jesus was casting out demons by the devil and this is where this comes up. What they were doing was blasphamy of the Holy Spirit, saying miracles of the holy spirit were from the devil. It is found in Matthew 12

24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

If you understand that Jesus was talking about what they were doing it should become clearer.