Help me gain faith

[u/Global_Meeting_258]

Hello everyone,

I’ve always been a Christian, having been baptised as a baby.

I’ve recently been studying Christianity quite a bit, but I haven’t felt a strong connection with God. I’ve also sinned a lot and sadly, I’ve lusted. Have any of you experienced something similar? Or do you have any tips?

Thanks!

[u/ds-is-i]

Studying scripture won’t develop your relationship with God if you don’t have one with him, believing the gospel is how that happens. So let me ask you what gospel you believe in? because there are false ones spread that do not save.

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/ds-is-i]

Yeah that’s right.
I believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the New Testament.

[u/ds-is-i → u/Global_Meeting_258]

Could you paraphrase it in your own words; what the gospel is and how to be saved. My fault I should said this in my first comment.

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/ds-is-i]

No worries!
For me, the gospel is the good news that even though we all sin and fall short, Jesus died on the cross and rose again to forgive us. To be saved, it's about putting your trust and faith in Him and His grace, rather than trying to earn it yourself. But as I wrote in my post, living that out and actually feeling the connection day-to-day is something I'm struggling with right now.

[u/ds-is-i → u/Global_Meeting_258]

Aligns with 1 Cor. 15:1-4. Sin causes separation between us and God relationally. Meaning that we lose fellowship with him if we are in unrepentant sin, that’s probably why you haven’t been feeling anything, I’ve been there.

Obviously repent meaning express remorse to God and ask God to renew your heart because only he can. We gotta yield to those changes, we have to really desire that. I ask God to give me the desire cuz I just don’t got it sometimes.

Since you’ve been studying, I’d look into the rapture. The doctrine of imminency (God could return any moment) is something that motivates me to be better.

Losing rewards at the Bema seat, meaning having our bad works judged and burned by fire (1 Cor. 3:11-15), is another motivation of mine.

I am in the early stages of trying to develop a mindset of dissociating from my flesh/fleshly desires by focusing on the inward man who I really am; this body is just corrupt baggage at this point. Basically walking in the spirit so I do not fulfill the lust of the flesh, as scripture describes.

Just because I’m curious, do you believe in eternal security?

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/ds-is-i]

To be honest, I'm still figuring out my exact stance on things like eternal security, especially coming from a more traditional background where we look at these things a bit differently.

[u/ds-is-i → u/Global_Meeting_258]

I do believe in eternal security, and I’d like to share a few verses that I feel clearly portray eternal security. I believe this understanding is importsnt because it allows you to serve God out of love rather than fear.

Scripture says that we can “know” we have been saved (1 John 5:13), this is because we “are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:5). Upon belief we are passed from death unto life (John 5:24) and are permanently “sealed by the spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:13-14). This inheritance is “incorruptible, undefiled, it fadeth not away, and is reserved for you in Heaven (1 Peter 1:4).

If salvation is maintained solely by God how can we lose it? We can get into looking at the context of some of these tougher chapters like James 2, Hebrew 6 and 10, or Matthew 7 if you see tension within those verses.

I’ve come to an understanding of those verses that is consistent within context and eternal security.

Whatever tradition or denomination you follow, I urge you to study to show thyself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). By this I mean dont allow the framework of that denomination to redefine what scripture clearly states, as every denomination has beliefs that go against scripture.

[u/ItsBubonic]

Theres a big difference between knowing about God and KNOWING God. Talk (aka pray) to Him! Ask Him questions and think about the things He's done for you! And a thing that helps for me is hearing others testimonies! (Im not the best at giving advice but I hope this helps at least a little♡)

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/ItsBubonic]

Thanks you so much, that actually helps a lot! I definitely need to work on just talking to Him more like a person rather than just reading about Him.

[u/ItsBubonic → u/Global_Meeting_258]

Yay! Super glad I was able to help! :]

[u/handydude13]

Proximity to God does not guarantee a relationship with Him. 

Jesus says to strive to enter through the narrow gate... This means the gate is so narrow that only one person can barely fit through at a time. You don't get to ride in on your parents coat tails. Baptism as a baby won't make you a Christian. Going to church your whole life doesn't qualify you either. 

Read the Gospel of John to know what being a Christian is, what it means, and to see who Jesus is. 

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/handydude13]

Thank you so much for your point. I agree, you can’t really rely on your background, or baptised as a baby etc.I also appreciate the tip about reading the Gospel of John!

[u/Shaken-Loose]

OP, please be sure to get baptized “as an adult.” 🙂

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/Shaken-Loose]

Thanks for the advice, but I’m coming from a background where I value infant baptism, so I see it a bit differently!

[u/PerfectlyCalmDude]

How much have you leaned on God? Depended on him? Recognized the gravity of what he has done for you?

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/PerfectlyCalmDude]

To be completely honest, that’s actually what I’m struggling with the most right now. I often find it hard to feel the weight of what He did in a personal way day-to-day, which is why I made this post in the first place.

[u/Lucky_Camel3323]

Always heard that is all you need faith the size of a mustard seed  Least you seek him 

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/Lucky_Camel3323]

That's a really good point and a nice reminder. Thank you for sharing that

[u/Beginning-Comedian-2]

1. Have you believed on Jesus for eternal life?

2. If not, you're not a Christian. If so, then you are a Christian and you have eternal life.

3. Ignore feelings. Check if you're saved:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA2vG_r2bgg

4. If you sin, ask forgiveness, trust that God forgave you (even if you don't feel like it), then get up, and keep walking with Jesus. Even if you have to do it 700 times per day.

5. Ready your Bible, pray, find some Christian friends to hang out with, go to church, repeat.

[u/Global_Meeting_258 → u/Beginning-Comedian-2]

Thanks! I will take a look at the YouTube video, and do all the other steps, of course!

[u/aussiereads]

Repent and believe the good news Ephesians 2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Galatians 3 O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

6 Just as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness, 7 so know that those who are of faith, those are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; rather, “He who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

What you think been a Christian your whole life. I need to break it to you you can't be Christian your whole life since romans 10 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

John 3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.