Am I born-again? Am I going to heaven or hell?

[anthony123]

Up until a few months ago I could honestly say that this was my absolute statement of faith:

The Scriptures: I believe the scriptures--both Old Testament and New Testament--to be the verbally inspired Word of God, written by men in God's control, inerrant and infallible.

The Godhead: I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--who are identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and possess precisely the same attributes and perfection.

Christ: I believe that the Lord, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God; that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in order that He might redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross thereby satisfying God's righteous judgement. He gave proof that He accomplished that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave. He then ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of His people.

I believed this for most of my 31 years up until a few months ago. Here is my new statement of faith:

The scriptures: are errant and fallible, written by men

The Godhead: I believe in the possibility of the existence of God but I don't know for sure. If he/it does exist he is most likely hands off and does not intercede on our behalf.

Christ: I believe in the possibility that Jesus is God or was sent by God, but I don't know for sure and I find it more unlikely than likely.

Now that I have had this conversion in thinking, what do you think of the eternal state of my soul?

Am I still a Believer? Will I go to heaven or Hell?

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

what happened a few months ago?

 

[Twisted Hawk]

Hey, everyone gets their doubts at times. I know I face it too at times. Maybe the Holy Spirit is convicting you of something you are doing.

Just remember this! Jesus is the Lord and Savior! He died for all of our sins! As long as you come back to faith, you are born again!

 

[anthony123]

what happened a few months ago?

I realized the truth of evolution. I started to look critically at the Bible at the tough verses. I dove deeply into textual criticisms of the New Testament manuscripts and found that there are more mistakes in the New Testament than there are manuscripts. I found that the four gospels are strikingly different. I struggled deeply with the fact that 80% of the world live in poverty and despair and this same 80% according to the Bible will most likely be in Hell. I also started thinking about the suffering of children in this world and why God would not stop their suffering when he could.

 

[Nick]

Your 'new statement of faith' is not a Christian statement of faith. I would call it more agnostic. So, it is likely that at this time your name may not be in the Book of Life. However, perhaps God is putting you through this time of trials so that you may come stronger out the other end...that is why God makes us go through trials. The book of James, especially chapter 1 speaks on this very well.

 

[handy]

I agree with Nick. Your new "statement of faith" is not at all lined up with God's truth. I find no salvation in it.

However, you must be still seeking otherwise why be here.

I'm going to take a flying leap into the pond of conjecture and surmise that perhaps you went to church for 31 years, without really ever truly embracing and being renewed by the Spirit. It happens a lot and I see it happening now far more than I ever have before.

Also swimming around in this pond of conjecture, I am thinking that when you say you "dove into textual criticisms it was probably via a atheistic or agnostic website or some such thing, rather than via Christian scholarship. If this true, may I compare someone going to atheistic websites to search the truth of the Scriptures is like going to Media Matters to search how truthful Fox News is?

What if I were to tell you that you presented absolutely nothing in your post explaining your loss of faith in Christianity that hasn't already been more than addressed by God?

That there is a way for a Christian to, while not being able to fully embrace evolution as the theory is now being taught and still hold completely to the Scriptures, there is enough room for a Christian who is Bible believing to still see some truth in evolution as well. Takes an open mind on both parts, but the two need not be mutually exclusive?

What if I were to tell you that there are solid answers for each and every so call "contradiction" in the Bible and that there are reasons why the Gospels show both differences and similarites?

What if I were to show you, via Scripture, that there is no reason to assume that "80% percent of the population will most likely be in hell"?

And that being in what this world calls poverty isn't necessarily a reason to quit on the idea of eternal life?

If all these doubts of yours were addressed, would you desire to walk with God?

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

what happened a few months ago?

I realized the truth of evolution. I started to look critically at the Bible at the tough verses. I dove deeply into textual criticisms of the New Testament manuscripts and found that there are more mistakes in the New Testament than there are manuscripts. I found that the four gospels are strikingly different. I struggled deeply with the fact that 80% of the world live in poverty and despair and this same 80% according to the Bible will most likely be in Hell. I also started thinking about the suffering of children in this world and why God would not stop their suffering when he could.

Well I suggest then that you dive into some creation science and find out the scientific truth for creation and the bible.
Also you may want to look into bible numerics. You can begin looking into Ivan Panin and His numeric bible where he took all the manuscripts and found the perfect numeric scientific pattern that runs through each word to prove what is the true word of God.
If you have hardened your heart towards God then these things may not help you but if you are still willing to seek and find then the truth may set you free.
It is clear you are not comfortable in the postion you have puffed yourself up to believe and stand in other wise you would have moved on with your life, you would not be interested in coming to christian fellowship areas and speaking to us about these things, you would be out doing whatever your flesh leads you too and not here so may God give you a heart to repent and see in Jesus name

 

[seekandlisten]

Up until a few months ago I could honestly say that this was my absolute statement of faith:

The Scriptures: I believe the scriptures--both Old Testament and New Testament--to be the verbally inspired Word of God, written by men in God's control, inerrant and infallible.

The Godhead: I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--who are identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and possess precisely the same attributes and perfection.

Christ: I believe that the Lord, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God; that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in order that He might redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross thereby satisfying God's righteous judgement. He gave proof that He accomplished that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave. He then ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of His people.

I believed this for most of my 31 years up until a few months ago. Here is my new statement of faith:

The scriptures: are errant and fallible, written by men

The Godhead: I believe in the possibility of the existence of God but I don't know for sure. If he/it does exist he is most likely hands off and does not intercede on our behalf.

Christ: I believe in the possibility that Jesus is God or was sent by God, but I don't know for sure and I find it more unlikely than likely.

Now that I have had this conversion in thinking, what do you think of the eternal state of my soul?

Am I still a Believer? Will I go to heaven or Hell?

I am simply going to put this out there for you. As to whether you are still a believer and whether or not you will go to heaven or hell is only the decision of God when you stand before Him. Is your life representing the love for your neighbors or at least your attempt at it? God judges based on where our hearts are. The true Body of Christ can only be a personal one with God's Law written on your heart and your actions, though in error sometime (we are human and sinful), will portray that and that is the fruit to be judged.

I don't believe the bible to be infallibe in a sense of breaking it down to the meanings or words or interpretations. I believe God's Word to be living, and holding the bible up as a set of rules and laws doesn't fall into that category. I realize this a big disagreement in christianity as to the relevance of the infalliblity of the bible but in all honesty I don't think we can decide who and who isn't a follower of Christ based on scripture ignoring the fruit. Don't get me wrong I believe all God's Truth is contained in the bible and that the Holy Spirit can speak through the bible but I don't think it is literally God's Word as He spoke to a guy and that person wrote it down.

I don't know if in reference to the Godhead your are referring to the trinity explanation or not so I won't make an assumption. I believe there is a God, Creator of the world. I do not however believe Jesus to be equal with God in the sense to make the statement Jesus is God. I do however believe that Jesus did die for the sins of mankind in fulfillment to God's Promise made in the old testament.

I don't want to add any more confusion to this thread but if you have any questions I will be more than happy to answer them. As for wrapping all my beliefs into a religion or denomination I can't do that for you. I judge all things by the fruit they show and this goes for the church. I respect all beliefs and religions and only will put my faith in the 1 true Body of Christ which can't be contained in a denomination or religion. Just so no one attacks that one statement only, I do believe the true Body of Christ to be present in a lot of denominations and religions but not contained solely. Make any sense? The true Church of God with Christ as its head will not fail. Due to the disagreements, separation and division, and the fruit shown of organized religion I cannot logically conclude that any one is completely right. Hope this helps.

God bless

 

[inhopeofglory]

I'm going to be blunt. If your new "statement of faith" is truly what you believe, then you are not a Christian believer. You've rejected Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers, and were you to die today, you would be in Hell.

You've been looking in the wrong places, friend. The Bible has withstood the attacks of its critics for centuries, and will continue to do so until the end of time. The issue of evolution is a matter of interpretation, not of evidence. Should you care to read them, you can find plenty of intelligent responses to your textual critics. The poverty and despair present in this world are the result of mankind's selfishness and inherent evil, as is the suffering of the children. What would you have God do? Wipe out the evil? He would take you and I with it - if you don't believe that, I respectfully suggest that you take a good look at yourself. We all have an irresistable bent towards selfishness, lust, pride, rebellion, anger, and a myriad of other evils...

It is God's love, His patience, which forestalls judgement, waiting for us to respond to His offer of salvation. But one day His hammer will fall, and justice will be served.

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)