| Author | Message | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5613 Registered: 9-2006  |
I talked with a man yesterday who is Arminian in his beliefs, in other words he thinks that we do not have salvation already. I guess he strives daily for his salvation and at the end of the conversation he mentioned that ‘like Paul, I haven’t attained yet’. Of course he is referring to Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. What do you think Paul is pertaining to here? He is very grave in nature, never smiles, doesn’t even own a T.V. and I think he thinks just about everything you can do is a sin that leads/could lead to loss of salvation. He has no technology in his house and he is a KJ’er only. Anyway, I left the conversation sort of with a troubled heart and as I look back on the conversation I don’t remember hearing anything he said that was up lifting in any way and we talked about an hour. I wasn’t up to arguing scripture with the man as he seems to already have a made up mind, but it just troubles me at heart. Not that I had loss of confidence in Christ understand, it troubles me for him. I know that it does not depend on me to save myself. It sort of blows my mind to think that we cannot have confidence in the one that loved even the ones that drove the nails through his hands and feet. How can we then think we can do something to save ourselves? What can the man do that is perfect enough to help God out? And how can he have any kind of effective ministry to others? There’s no message here for anyone on the forum, no preaching, I just wanted to share my heaviness of heart, heaviness of heart I guess because he cannot know the joy without the full confidence in Jesus atoning blood. I guess I can just cut and paste the scripture Pegg presented on another post. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Heb. 6:19-20 Ay Captain, the anchor holds. Anchored deeply in the bed rock of Jesus saving love and grace and I cry abba father! The joy of an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast brings praises to God and tears to my eyes as I rejoice in his overwhelming love. Heaviness of heart cannot stay, cannot take root. So even though we have heaviness of heart at times, the joy of the Lord burst through like sunshine after a cloudy day and we rejoice in him. River | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 396 Registered: 12-2007 |
Tht man sounds like he could be a very "good Adventist". No TV, use only King James Bible, get no information from any source other than the SDA church and their publishers, speakers, etc. At the time we felt we were protecting ourselves from the outside which of course we were convinced was controlled by Satan... the only "safe" place was to be so immersed in SDA teachings that Satan could not reach us. Looking back now of course I see how cultic those things were. If it were not for technology... the internet, I would probably be still plugging along with only a "hope" and wondering how I was ever going to be able to reach a state of "perfection" before the Lord comes... very depressing... instead of something to strive toward,, it was that yoke of bondage that drags you down because in your heart you know... you know that you can NEVER do it on your own. Thank you Lord Jesus that YOU did all the hard stuff for us and that we just need to accept your FREE GIFT of salvation. We dont need to be "perfect", neither can we ever be. But HE is perfect, and HIS righteousness covers our UNrighteousness. What an Awesome God to love us that much.:-) Francie | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10495 Registered: 12-2003  |
River, I understand. The heaviness is palpable. Scripture completely reveals the truth, and if we want to know, the Holy Spirit makes it come alive. I completely understand. Colleen | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1070 Registered: 7-2007 |
When I was an Adventist, I didn't have any assurance of salvation either. I couldn't understand Ephesians 2:8,9 where it says to the Ephesian believers "you HAVE BEEN saved;" because Ellen White contradicted it. Of course as an Adventist I didn't think Ellen White contradicted it. I thought she EXPLAINED it! Therefore I would take a middle position between her words that no one could say they are saved; and the Bible where it says "you have been saved," and come up with a sort of "assurance" that never lasted very long. (see also 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:5 and 1 John 2:12 where John wrote a letter telling the believes that their sins are forgiven.) |
