2 questions

[brad5]

Hello everyone. I've got two questions:

1. Does God ever "reject" anyone in any situation? I found a link (forget what it is) that had a story of a guy's journey to Christ and in it, it said "the man thought for sure he had been rejected." So that's why I ask.

2. As some of you know, I "used to" be a Christian, and after some time, my faith and sense of morals left me. It has, however, come to my attention that I need to ask God for a new heart. But since my faith also left me, I'm wondering this question: When we need a new heart, does our faith leave us to (since faith comes from the heart)?

As they relate to a personal situation I'm going through, these two questions go hand in hand for me. Because I'm going through the situation described in question 2, but at the same time I feel rejected because I used to really want to do good works for God, but now the things that motivated me to do those good things don't have the same fulfilling desireable effect on me, and I find myself sinning intentionally a lot, and I look at living by God to be a bit of a hassle to say the least. It bothers me because I'm uncertain that I've ever been saved and I think I've just fallen away.

So can someone answer these questions and give any advice on my situation please? Thanks in advance.

[Soldier4Christ]

Brad these questions have already been answered in your thread "Back and worse than ever (spritually)..."

It is you that is doing the rejecting. You were given many wonderful answers in the other thread. Stop struggling with your salvation, repent and turn back towards Jesus, follow Him and not the things of this world.

[nChrist]

Hello Brad,

I agree with Pastor Roger. You are now questioning your own questions, and those questions have already been answered in considerable detail. It's time for you to think about things and determine what your decisions will be. We will be praying for you.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1 John 1:1-4 NASB  What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life -- and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

[brad5]

I'm sorry. It's just that I've been battling with this for almost a year now and I'm really confused, and I'm afraid of the cut-off point (since this has been going on for so long). I mean, I don't have any faith left in me. In my heart I don't even want God (I just do in my mind it seems). This whole thing just worries me...

[nChrist]

Brad,

The only cut-off point will be one of your own making. Find a good Bible teaching church and start going. Pick up your Bible and start studying. You should definitely be worried about this, and actions of your own will be the only solution. The water is already before you if you are thirsty. If you are thirsty - drink. It will be up to you if you decide to drink or turn away, and you will be effected by your decision. Nobody can force you to drink.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 1:16-17 NASB  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

[brad5]

But doesn't God make us thirsty? Doesn't God make us hungry? I mean you say no one can force me to be thirsty... but at the same time, as a human, I can't make myself be thirsty either, right?

I'd pray for it, but like I said, I just don't have the faith now. I'm really confused here about what I have control over and what I don't.

[nChrist]

Brad,

You are thirsty and hungry, or you wouldn't be here seeking, so that question is already answered also. You are simply playing word games with yourself and looking for excuses. The excuses don't satisfy you either, and they won't.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 1:21-22 NASB  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.

[brad5]

I guess I just don't understand what it means to be hungry and thirsty then. Because from my view (and I'm probably wrong here, hence I don't understand what being hungry/thirsty mean), if I was hungry/thirsty, I don't see why I would be making excuses when the answers come to me. Wouldn't I just happily accept the answers? I don't get it... 

I'm sorry if I come off stubborn, but I honestly just don't get it.

[nChrist]

Brad,

YES, you are being stubborn, and you're playing games with yourself. If you aren't hungry and thirsty, why are you here? You are hungry and thirsty, and the food and drink have been set out before you. Eat and drink if you want to. If not, stay hungry and thirsty. The decision will be all your's about how long you want to play games with yourself. You can also make games out of what is games and debate that with yourself.

Love in Christ,
Tom

Colossians 1:13-14 NASB  For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

[Soldier4Christ]

You have said that you have been going to church for some time now. I am sure then that you must have heard the terms thirst used in the Bible. You came here supposedly looking for answers in regards to your salvation. That is thirst and hunger. Thirst and hunger for the truth. The only way to satisfy that thirst and hunger is to stop playing these games with yourself and to get right with God and to follow after Him.

Or is it that you don't want to accept Him, never having truly believed in Him and that you are here to attempt to play games with us.

Either way you have been given many truthful answers to this and it is now up to you. Either you accept Jesus Christ for who He truly is, turn to Him in repentance, following Him or you don't.

[brad5]

I'm sorry for being stubborn and I'm not purposely trying to waste everyone's time (although I fully understand why you would think that), but...

Or is it that you don't want to accept Him

This is what I was saying in my other thread. I don't want to accept Him, but I "want to want to" if that makes sense. I can't explain it, but morally I just can't get myself to surrender... so yes, I see that I am being stubborn... but I don't want to be. Isn't God in control of our hearts? And this is a stubbornness of heart, right? I'm not blaming God, I just honestly don't get it.

[nChrist]

Brad,

You aren't wasting our time. After reading the other thread again, I really don't know what you're doing. You are asking the same questions over and over again, and you already have all of the possible answers. Maybe you are looking for some kind of evidence to help you decide one way or another, but nobody knows from what you are asking.

Faith would not be faith if one had concrete, iron-clad evidence. Reading and studying some for yourself seems to be one of the best things to do at this time. I suggest that you carefully read and study Ephesians 2, and come back after you think that you have given it the proper attention. Let us ask you questions and try to determine what you understand or don't understand. You are at a point where the important things needed must be done by you.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1 John 1:7 NASB  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi Brad,

If you are looking for an excuse to just give up and continue a life of sin you won't find it. Please do read Eph 2 as blackeyedpeas has requested of you then let us know when you have finished it.

[Brother Jerry]

Brad,

Some things that you have said are that you "do not want to" but yet you "want to want to"

Well let me point out a couple of things here.  There is a part of you that is telling yourself that you "do not want to".  Ask yourself why.  Why do you not want to? 

You also mentioned that there is a part of you that "wants to want to".  And this is apparent because that part of you is reaching out seeking answers.  You are here at least asking questions.  Even if they do seem to be the same.  And that is OK.  Many have provided the same answers and some with further explanations and answers. 

It is quite apparent to me by reading your posts that you are struggling within yourself.  You are currently fighting a spiritual battle.  Part of you is telling yourself that the life you have right now is good.  You need nothing more.  You enjoy the sin and want to keep it.  This is the part of you that is saying that you "do not want to".  Why?  Because to even want to would mean changing who you are, what you are doing, what you think.  By nature we do not like change.  We like things to remain the same.  Thus when we are living in sin we like to keep it that way.  We convince ourselves that to seek God is to change.  To seek God would disrupt what we have and would not change our circumstances.  We do not see beyond today and into tomorrow.  We do not think of what happens to us when we are dead.  We get to the point that we do not even care about that. 

You can then turn around and ask yourself why you want to want to.  You will probably find out that you really are not satisfied with your life.  That you would llike for there to be something more.  And let me tell you this.  There is something more.  A life turned over to Christ is a life renewed and although there are still trials and tribulations there is great rewards.  You are here seeking answers and the answers are right in front of you. 

[brad5]

Sorry about the confusion over the definition of hunger and thirst. I know how it's used, but I just didn't realize that it was possible for someone to refuse eating despite being hungry.

Ask yourself why.  Why do you not want to?

Well, the thought of surrendering my life just bothers me. I know the Truth is meant to set us free, but I'd just feel imprisoned since my heart doesn't want to surrender.

You can then turn around and ask yourself why you want to want to.

Because it's for the better good, and it would actually mean something in the long-run. Everything around me now is meaningless.

The thing is, I keep thinking the above Truth. But it doesn't seem to sink in to my heart. It just seems like thought, as someone mentioned in my other thread. I dunno... I'm just really confused.

I'm sorry for apparently asking the same questions over and over. I should probably ask follow-up questions if anything (for further explanations, like Brother Jerry alluded to).