Sorry if I appear obstinate! Every spriritual book I read, either from a saint or a noted theologian note that no one can know if they have what is called the "gift of final perseverance" except if God makes it known in a rare revelation. Even the greatest of saints humbly submit to God's decision to judge their love as "insufficient". We are as nothing - worse - because "nothing" does not sin! With a humble attitude, we approach the Lord, hoping that we made due with the "Talents" He gave us. (Remember that parable and the poor charecter with a single talent?) Since our intellect and will are wounded and not perfectly clear, it is difficult to clearly see how God sees US!
I would "twist" it a little to say that we should not be overconfident because that is a false confidence. We would say that we take full confidence from God's promises in scripture, and that perseverance, which is absolutely necessary, will happen for the elect because God has ordained it so in His divine plan.
Fair enough. I will continue to "work out my salvation in fear and trembling"! I place my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that as long as He abides in me, I will be saved.
I learned from HarleyD the superior doctrine of "Perseverance of the Saints". That holds that man does need to persevere through life after salvation, and that is in accordance with scripture. By whatever means, God will ensure that His elect will persevere because He keeps His own and does not forsake His own.
It is superior to "once-saved/always-saved". The only problem I see with it is that one presumes THEY are one of the elect! I wonder how many such Protestants think they are not! To me, at least, it seems like self-designation, but perhaps I am wrong!
So, what's an academically competitive but stupid 17-year-old kid supposed to do to make sure this dealy is in the books? I remember thinking at the time that it would all come down to sincerity. I remember reasoning that if I gave absolutely everything of my mind and of my heart, then how could I lose because of what God promised? I stand behind that reasoning today because I know what I experienced. Without getting all mushy, I just opened up as much as I possibly could have in that body at that time. I admitted I was a sinner, that I needed God, that Jesus was God's son and God, and that He died for our sins on the cross. And most importantly, that He was raised on the third day. All I can tell you is that I know for sure that when I said that to God I was changed. No burning bush action here at all, I'm just referring to how different I felt in my heart. That's all I have, so that's how I know.
Thank you for sharing that with me. We all have different experiences of coming to the Lord. Mine was a bit different. I read and read a lot of books about religion, but I didn't feel that inner experience until I went on a retreat and began to experience within me what my sins meant to God and what He did out of love for me. THAT'S when I became more serious, my second conversion, so to speak. This was when I was 35. But like I said, this was my SECOND conversion. The first was my infant Baptism! Catholics believe a seed was planted after Baptism, and God chose to allow it to bear fruit 35 years later. Interesting how God works.
People have written about religious experiences, and it is quite subjective. The trick, though, is "has their life changed"? Scripture is clear that we cannot love without God, so a person who loves, really loves selflessly, not for selfish reasons, we can rest assured that the Spirit of God rests on that person. This is the teaching of the Catholic Church - that the elect may be called from OUTSIDE the VISIBLE Church of Rome. This includes Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and even Protestants! (kidding!)
Brother in Christ
I'd agree that the doctrine only has meaning if the adherent is actually saved. I would also agree that there are many people who falsely assume their own salvation. I'd even say such people are worse off than people who have no faith at all. For the most part, I don't think the self-designation is done out of self-righteousness, I think it comes from an honest (right or wrong) interpretation of scripture, and an honest knowledge of one's own salvation experience. (Thank you for sharing about your experience.)
People have written about religious experiences, and it is quite subjective. The trick, though, is "has their life changed"? Scripture is clear that we cannot love without God, so a person who loves, really loves selflessly, not for selfish reasons, we can rest assured that the Spirit of God rests on that person.
Amen to that, Brother. God bless.