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NASB | Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace [God's remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; |
Bible Question: At 18 I accepted Christ as my Savior. I am now 31 in the time in between I have been in and out of churches. I do not have a church home. I love Christian music, I read the daily bread almost everyday, I know who Christ is and believe in him. I do not have a so called "personal relationship" with him that I hear so much about. Does this mean I will not go to heaven? |
Bible Answer: When this type of doubt comes to me there are three things that give me assurance. The first one is the book of 1 John. It is short and straightforward, and addresses this issue. One verse is quoted below. The second thing that helps me is to confess my sin, and appeal before God to the finished work of Christ, and submit to Him as Lord. This is much like my first real prayer when I accepted Jesus into my heart. The antidote for doubts about salvation is to walk with Jesus day by day. To spend time alone with Him (in Bible reading and prayer), to worship Him with other believers, to walk in loving obedience to Him and to share His love with others. I am not consistent, but find that when I do the above it develops the "personal relationship", and minimizes the doubts of salvation. May God bless you as you seek His face. 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. |