I am a Lutheran and was baptized by a Methodist when I was a baby. God converted me at that moment. I didn’t decide to be baptized but I’m really glad it happened!
Christ promises He will never leave nor forsake us. How is that for eternal security? Any time we wonder, we can just remember that one statement.
I actually went to a Baptist church for many months, coming from a watered down Methodist church. The Baptists were sure they were saved, which was good, because the Methodists weren’t really worried about it!
But I was never sure that I had appropriately made my decision and commitment. I just happened to be more introspective, sensitive, honest and intelligent than the other young men swaggering in their self-assurance.
So just as Lutheran doctrine and Scripture teach, if you rely on ANY THING you have done, you are not certain of your salvation because you are relying on the WRONG THING.
Your decision and commitment are filthy rags. Christ’s decision to go to the cross for you is better than the purest gold.
If we are scandalized, appalled and terrified at the idea of people leaving Christ after knowing Him, we should be. But He wants us to be reassured by His promise (above). It is a mystery how someone can hate Him after loving Him, but Scripture says it happens, and we have seen it happen.
I urge you to criticize, doubt and question your own decision and commitment just long enough to realize how prideful and foolish relying on those in any way for assurance of your salvation is. I encourage you to have a moment of despair, knowing that you could have decided much more honestly and been much more committed. Then rest in Christ’s promise that He has died for the whole world, and He will not leave you nor forsake you (in hell or any other bad place).
Not sure what you are getting at here. I am saved by grace through faith and it is Christ’s work not mine as are all those washed in His blood. I trust in Him completely and have the joy of salvation that cannot be taken from me.
HE did?