Monday, December 04, 2006
Do you ever doubt your salvation?
Some of us have more tender hearts toward this than others...We hear a sermon and start evaluating ourselves...How could I be truly saved if I am like this? How could I be really saved and have these questions about how all the things in the Bible really happened? Or I begin to have thoughts like my heart is self centered and utterly ugly at times....is this the mark of a true believer in Jesus Christ? Most of the time,I know that Christ did the work on the cross for me and I truly believe that...but other times,I see how incredibly worldy and selfish I can be....then I begin the examination-the self analysis--the critical review.
But,we are to examine our hearts and work out our salvation....as we grow and learn,we will see how sinful we really are...but we are not saved from our works or lack of works...we are saved because God has chosen us from the foundations of the Earth to do good deeds as a result of our faith in Him. Nothing we do can help save us...it is only by God's grace that we are saved. My total trust must be in His ultimate sacrifice...not in my own goodness or badness...Satan would want me to lose my faith in the One who saved me...he wants me to feel the guilt and shame of my sin. But,God wants me to see the sinless Savior who made an end to all my sin. Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!
Before The Throne of God Above
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The Great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,With Christ my Savior and my God!
Words by Charitie Bancroft 1863
A Book Recommendation: *How Can I Be Sure I am a Christian?* By Donald Whitney. Go there and scroll down a bit.
But,we are to examine our hearts and work out our salvation....as we grow and learn,we will see how sinful we really are...but we are not saved from our works or lack of works...we are saved because God has chosen us from the foundations of the Earth to do good deeds as a result of our faith in Him. Nothing we do can help save us...it is only by God's grace that we are saved. My total trust must be in His ultimate sacrifice...not in my own goodness or badness...Satan would want me to lose my faith in the One who saved me...he wants me to feel the guilt and shame of my sin. But,God wants me to see the sinless Savior who made an end to all my sin. Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!
Before The Throne of God Above
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The Great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,With Christ my Savior and my God!
Words by Charitie Bancroft 1863
A Book Recommendation: *How Can I Be Sure I am a Christian?* By Donald Whitney. Go there and scroll down a bit.
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
16 Comments:
Kim, have you been reading my inner thoughts of late? This was a timely and beautiful post. I am just like that, and I am so thankful that God allows me to "work out my salvation" by examining my heart and seeing myself utterly incapable of helping myself to an eternal home.
Praise Him, indeed!!
Thank you for such an encouraging post. I love the words about being hidden in Christ.
I add my thanks, Kim. This post resonated with me. I started to write a longer comment, but it got out of hand, and ended up as a post on my blog instead. I felt that perhaps my post on Baptism may have triggered your post, and I am so grateful to have such responsive, encouraging friends.
What a beautiful post Kim, and I love this song...we just finished writing our prayer newsletter and we used the verse "Thanks be to God for his undescribable gift!" It is amazing, isn't it!
Hi Kim,
I am new to your blog (I saw you at Amy Wilhoite's blog) and I really enjoyed reading it today. I loved your reading list...I have been so blessed by "God's Little Boy" and I so enjoy reading it with my four year-old. He has it memorized! Anyway, just wanted to stop in and say hello. Blessings!
Happi
Somewhere within me I know what a sinner I am. How undeserving I am of God's saving grace. Even though I accepted Christ as my savior as a child I know there is nothing I have done or could do to earn my salvation. This helps me realize how precious and real God's love is for me. It makes me want to know God more.
Have you ever read Jerry Bridges book, "The Pursuit of Holiness"?
I have not,Chris...but I have had it recommended to me...in fact,I just received a women's ministry newsletter from our church,that has that listed as a *recommended book*...I may need to get that one. These other ones are listed by the same author:
The Disciplines of Grace
The Practice of Godliness
Trusting God
and the one you mentioned.
I've not read any of his books yet. I may need to,though!
This is beautiful and I loved the poem you finished with. God's grace and mercy are ones I have wrestled with in the past. It is hard to come to terms, knowing ourselves like we do.
This is a neat post.
I am one of those who goes through times of doubting my salvation here and there. Seeing all the "bad" in me. My husband (who has a wonderfully simple faith) always reminds me that I am focusing on myself at those times and not at Him.
Erik is teaching Romans to the college kids at our church right now. And, he keeps emphasizing the point that to put any worth in our works or lack thereof - is taking the focus off of Him and putting it on us. And, that is wrong. We cannot attatch anything to the cross. It is the cross alone that saves us - nothing we have done or not done.
So, amen, sister, preach on!!!
Such a great post! Thanks for being so encouraging!
Jennifer R.
So beautifully written, Kim. There have been times when I have 'doubted', but now I know it's those times that I need to draw close to my Savior, adjust my attitude or repent.
Thanks for your comments on my blog, and yes, you may add me to your blogroll. I have enjoyed yours for awhile now. I love reading your posts.
God Bless You!
Beautiful Kim! I love the words to that poem! My favorite line is "Upward I look to see Him there" and "My perfect spotless righteousness, the Great, Unchangeable I AM"
Great post! I need to examine my heart WAY more than I do. But when I do, I usually am disgusted with myself at what I find- what I've let in there. More of me? No, may it never be. More of Him!!!
His,
Mrs. U
Amen...I am very sensitive to this as well. I am so glad I am not the only one :) The more I learn about how sinful I really am, the more I examine the beautiful gift of salvation I have in my Lord Jesus Christ...and it causes me to again ask myself how could this be MY gift? But the Lord with the resounding affirmation of His Holy Word comforts and restores me. Thank you for this post...I love your blog.
Kim, I am never sure whether to answer questions in my own comments or the other persons (what is the blog etiquette on this???) :)
My husband and I are in Spain as missionaries. We work with GBU which is the Spanish equivalent of Inter Varsity (student ministry), our sending church is the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. We have been here almost 6 years now and love living and ministering here.
I LOVE this hymn, especially the second stanza. I struggled with assurance for many years -- I posted about it here a few weeks ago. It all comes back to what this hymn says -- reliance on the sinless Savior and what He did for us.
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