Need advice on being "saved"?

Question

After many months of going to church devotedly and many hours spent reading the Bible I was saved last year and Baptized a few weeks later (baptist). My problem is that I don't know what to do now. I was told (and believed) that your life changes when you are saved. You feel differently, your life is completely different. Washed in the blood, going to heaven, etc. The problem is that I don't know how to carry on that feeling into everyday life. Also, the preacher spends 95% of his sermons talking about getting saved. What about the rest of us who have been saved already? Even Sunday school is about being saved. Is something wrong with me? Was I not really "saved"? Do I need to find another church that preaches on other things besides redemption and the "basics"? If my life is supposed to be completely different then why do I feel so inadequate? My grandmother is Catholic and she says Mass is completely different. Not this constant pressure to be saved (even if you already are). I don't believe some of the Catholic teachings but maybe I'd be happier there.

P.S.Atheists don't bother responding.

Answer 1

Get a frontal lobotomy first.

Answer 2

Well.

Being saved is not just an event.

It's a process.

Answer 3

those sweet old catholic grannma's!!  Listen to her.

Theres alot to do now that you have come to christ. Now you have to run the race, fight the good fight. That means, praying every day, so ask your granma for a prayer book. That means being present to Jesus each day. Say good morning to him, get a picture of him, and just talk to him as to a friend. The catholic church IS, the church started by Jesus Christ. that's why it is 2,000 yrs old. talk to your grandma. Listen to her. email me, I love being catholic, it is so rich, so much, one can never be too close to Jesus.

Answer 4

I would like to thank Chris for his comment. I am moving and was looking for a church. I went to their website and read their mission statement. Very good. Thanks a lot.

Edit: The first Christ that posted.

Edit: Sorry typo; the first Chris that posted.

Answer 5

I think it's true that some pastor's hone in on the unsaved, while leaving the converted to fend for themselves...BUT< there are a lot of solid, Christian, Bible believing churches that balance messages more evenly (can't not talk about being saved, because chances are not every person in the congregation is).

The change that is to take place is more a change in the way you view your actions, your morals, etc...things that you did (or, maybe just condoned) before (swearing, sexual sins, lying, stealing, etc) now bother you to a degree that never would have existed before. The Holy Spirit convicts you of the wrongdoings in your life.

As far as other steps, you need to start getting into God's Word individually, too.  I find it most advantageous to take a passage, not even necessarily a whole chapter, read it one verse at a time, and write what speaks to me in each verse/ group of verses....Its a different study method that I found I liked. Rick Warren has a book out called 'Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods' that offers 12 concepts on how to study the Bible...maybe that would be helpful?

Let me also say though that giving to the church financially, converting to a completely different religion (and Catholicism IS different, MUCH different than true Christianity, and I have points to back that up), etc will not help you grow in grace and knowledge of Christ... Studying His word, and praying for His guidance, as well as finding a church home that feeds you spiritually are all necessary steps.

Email me or drop me a comment on Myspace with any further questions, please! =)

-Dan

Answer 6

I'd suggest joining some Bible studies, forming an life transformation group (which involves meeting weekly with someone for accountability), and pursuing other forms of Christian fellowship.  However, if your pastor really does spend most of his time preaching about how to become saved, you probably should seek out another church.  There should be messages that apply to everyone.  But by all means, don't attend a Catholic church, that is definitely not going to help your walk with Christ.

Answer 7

You are saved. Show the same forgiveness that God has shown to us. Love everyone like yourself, have faith and mountains will move for you. It's been said a million times, Tell others and demo your power and walk away when someone mocks you and show kindness to all without judging by vanity. Don't be infected by pride, there is no punishment in the grace of God. Teach the law but dont be an enforcer so that you might not be filled with the pride of the non existent. To punish those that break the law in turn you will break the law and be worse then your transgressor.  Your life has been changed,  look at your question. You have felt the love of God and the grace has filled your spirit. Show that same love and grace to your brothers and sisters. Even to death because there is no death in love and grace, only joy and happiness. Teach as many as you can. Shake your enemys hand and thank them for what you have learned and you will teach them something. Love respect and peace will thrive after the non believers and deceivers of Christs ways all perish at once and even though you might have perished with or because of those dragons. Time has a place for everyone and I believe that the river of time will fork. Set your heart to love and sadness will follow for now but not forever. If you set your heart to hate love may follow for now but not forever.

Answer 8

i felt EXACTLY as you after i came to realize who God is and why His son died and was resurrected. Believe me when i say "I've been there."

and that same old same old sunday message did "diddly dot squat" to quench my need my thirst if u will for the water of life. that is what u r. u r thirsty and u hunger for the bread of life. the message of salvation is the "milk and honey" of Christianity but try to live on milk and honey. sure it tastes good but soon u begin to get weak from hunger

that is u and me before. i found a way to quench my thirst and to sink my teeth into some real meat

if i have made sense to you go to this site

www.shepherdschapel.com

i watch this program mon-fri on tv for me it is on at 5:00 am but it differs where you live but most all cable systems have acess to it and it is on satellite as well but you can just go to the site i mentioned and watch the same tv show each day

he (pastor arnold murray and his son dennis both) teach God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse omitting nothing and adding nothing the pastor hold a doctorate in religious education and speaks hebrew greek aramaic english and other languages. he uses a standard king james bible to teach,however, he teaches more from the manuscripts the bible is translated from so he has a good grip on the scriptures. he has been teaching for 50+ years i will make you a solemn promise if you watch him for just 1 hour a day (1 show) mon-fri for a month u will know more about the bible than many "churches" will teach you in an entire year i mean the type you are going to all milk and honey and no meat.

i humbly ask you to give Dr. murray a chance to help u understand the word of God as i have come to understand it

naturally it is your choice and by all means choose as you wish all i ask is that u consider going to the site and checking it out it will open your eyes and you will literally see the bible come to life as he reads it to you i promise u will not be disappointed

thank you for reading this far and may you find what you are looking for as i was once looking for it too and as i found it God Bless you for allowing me to tell you what i know thank you again

ps he doesnt beg for money either

Answer 9

First, don't worry and don't be afraid.  I know what you mean.  I've been baptized for 9 years.  Your life does change when you sincerely give yourself to God.  I think that you are looking for a feeling, a feel good-happy-I-can-really-sense-God-feelin... My advice is don't look for a feeling.  Essentially, after you give yourself to God you must follow Jesus.  You need to talk to God often to maintain your relationship with Him.  Remember to have devotions, i.e. prayer and Bible study, everyday.  The best times to have devotions is in the early morning and late night when everyone in your house is asleep and you can have peace and quiet.  Jesus practiced early morning prayers.  Daniel prayed three times a day. A good reminder for when to pray is mealtimes.  Most people who do not eat at least three meals a day will not be very healthy or energetic.  The same goes for your spiritual life and your spiritual food.  Thrice daily devotions is a good idea. When you eat physical food, you need to use the energy from it in order for it to benefit you.  The same thing goes for spiritual food.  It should strengthen you and that strength should help you to witness to others. This why I am on R&S.  I try to have devotions everyday but when I don't share what I study I feel useless. If you eat and sit on the couch or sleep and don't do much work afterwards you will gain excess weight and feel lethargic.  I am getting my spiritual exercise right here and right now.  So you need to share what Jesus has done for you with others. Second you need to help people with their non-spiritual needs for no rewards.

If you do these things: have daily devotions, tell others about Jesus and allow Jesus to work with you so that together both of you can make you a better person and the world a better place you should be fine.

P.S. I would like to tell you to come to my church, but I know that in this situation it wouldn't be right although I really want you to come to my church.  By the way, I'm not Catholic and I wouldn't recommend the Catholic church. If you read the Bible for yourself and listen and talk to God honestly and try your best to do His will you should find the truth and be fine.

The website www.ssnet.org has daily Bible study lessons.  www.amazingfacts.org also has webcasts of Bible study lessons.

Answer 10

Ok now you need to continue reading your Bible and pray. You need to pray and ask God what he has for you to do in His service.  If you are saved  you will notice these things .

1. You feel guilty when you sin, and you confess it to God and ask forgiveness.

2. You hate your own sin more than you hate anyone else's sin.  

3. You have a hunger to learn more about God.

4. You reject the world and all the old worldly things you used to do.

5. You experience joy in fellowship with other Christians.

6. You want to share your faith with any one who will listen.

7. You feel the presence of the Holy Spirit living in your heart and guiding you daily.

Sister be patient, all these things will come to all who wait on God. God is going to change your life and lead you where he wants you to go. Just stand by. stay in prayer, obey his word and stay away from sin.   God does things in His time not ours....

  

Answer 11

If I were told my life would change, and it didn't, I would ask for a refund.

EDIT:  No sarcasm intended here.  This is straight advice.

Answer 12

Actually a Minister wrote a book about what you are talking about.

This is a common situation.

Check on Ebay for the book below.

God love you!

Answer 13

What your grandmother says about Mass is the truth. There is little emphasis on the need to be "saved." They tend to talk more about applying the principles of the faith to your life, and being closer to God. In fact I teach at a Catholic school and I don't think I have ever heard anyone there (teacher/student/parent) even USE the word "saved."

My own opinion is that there is nothing to be "saved" from, but that's irrelevant to your question. Just thought you should know my bias.

Answer 14

Probably because prayer is not enough, perhaps you need to be doing something more with your life. Charity is a good place to start, maybe you need a more hands on approach to things. Just because you studied for a few months, don't expect everything in your life to change.  

Answer 15

I remember feeling exactly that way.  I did alot of reading and time in prayer for answers.  I got my answers,  I only suggest you do the same.  Good luck!

Answer 16

OK, why don't you have this conversation with your Sunday School teacher, or your pastor? I understand exactly what you're talking about; I have been saved/reborn and I can relate to everything you say. Are you doing anything in your life, or in your private reading, to advance your salvation?  

Answer 17

Well, being 'saved' (I don't personally like the term, as it is misused) is not an event in time, but rather an ongoing process that takes place in one's life by participating in almsgiving and the sacraments.

You should try a Catholic Mass, you might like it.

Answer 18

go jump aroungd on the floor a few times that will help then chant in toungues  

Answer 19

There is indeed a great high when one finally comes to the point where they choose life.  Some people the high stays for a long time others it is a short lived feeling.  To borrow from a song "it is more than a feeling."  Life can be hard and can suck the joy right out of your life.  Your duty as a Christian is training.  You need to continue to read and pray.  Get involved in a Bible study or devotional group.  I am sure your Church has classes and other things to do for the new believer.  Listen intently to that 95% message because you now bear the burden to share the light you have gained.  You need to realize what you believe and why.  As you grow you will mature and find that every message applies to different people in different ways that is the beauty of Gods word.  Both you and I can read the same verse and get something different out of it because of our experience and the Spirit moving in us.  If you feel that you really do not belong in the Church you are in take time and search other Churches do not feel pressed to stay in a Baptist Church, though there is nothing wrong with them.

II Timothy 2:14-26

Answer 20

Salvation is not a one time event, my friend.

Salvation is a process by which we come closer to God throughout our whole life. God the Father planned our salvation, not man. God the Son gained our salvation by his death and resurrection; no one else did these things. And God the Holy Spirit infused the very love of God into our hearts by his presence (cf. Rom. 5:5). This is beyond our human ability. Still, we must cooperate with God’s grace to find eternal happiness with God. If we don’t, we will be cut off from God forever.

All that we do is respond with faith and obedience to God’s offer of grace in Christ. This is a lifelong commitment that should grow over time. God’s grace grows within us as we trust in God more and follow his commandments. The final outcome of a life of faith and obedience is eternal life with God.

The Bible teaches that one cannot just profess faith once and then be eternally secure, as it were. One must live out this faith by a life of obedience and good works, and  obedience and works flow from true faith.

, I can say that 1 John 5:13 has been ripped out of its context in John’s letter. If you examine chapters 4 and 5 of this small letter carefully, you will see that "this" refers to acts of love of neighbor, love of God, holding to orthodox teaching, and so on. In other words, John is not giving a blank check for assurance of heaven. He is giving a conclusion of a long list of indicators by which a person can know he is saved. John agrees with James. Good works give a relative assurance that one is in good standing with God.

It seems to me that Hebrews makes it very clear that without holiness "no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). Why would the author say this? Because God is holy and, if we’re going to live with God forever, we too must be holy. So our entire life should be a pursuit of the holiness that Christ gained for us by his death on the cross. God desires to put this holiness within us, or as Hebrews 12:10 says, "that we may share his holiness."

Answer 21

why shouldn't atheists respond?  i'm an atheist and not gonna bite your head off.

i'm trying not too offend but i think your to intelligent for any religion (not that people who are religious are dumb or anything). i guess what I'm trying to say is every ones minds work differently and maybe yours is based more around living for a day at a time rather than reaching a ultimate goal at he end.

maybe changing to catholicism would be a good thing from the little i know about it.

sorry if anyone thinks i'm a terrible person but that's just my 2cents.

Answer 22

Addressing the very last part of your question first. No, you will "not" be happier in a Catholic church. They teach salvation by works plus many other dubious beliefs that I won't go into now. To be brief, don't go to Catholic church unless you want an empty life.  You need to get into a well-rounded Bible study where the the meat of the Word is taught. By that I mean, anything beyond the salvation message.  You cannot continue to lay the same foundation everyday because you are saved only once.  I went to a Baptist church as well and they do tend to preach the salvation message every week.  Baptists are just one of many denominations that practice "winning souls" rather than making disciples.  The local church is "not" a soul winning mill, it is a training ground for Evangelists, missionaries, pastors, and for learning God's Word.  So yes, you do need to find another church that teaches something other than redemption and the basics.  An inadequate church tends to make a person feel inadequate.  You will not always "feel" saved. Although feelings sometimes accompany salvation, it isn't always so. You simply have to take God at His word and believe by faith that you are saved then move on. As I stated above, try to find a well-balanced church. They are out there but quite rare in comparison to the average worldly-minded churches. God bless and I hope this helps.

Answer 23

You have been "Saved" but that doesn't mean that you wont struggle each day with your faith. If you want to go to a Catholic Church and see what its about go ahead. I am Catholic and I struggle daily. Its about following a path, not about how you should feel daily. Christ said it would be easier for a camel to pass thru the eye of a needle then to pass thru the gates of heaven. You need to focus on the finish line and everything else will come to you.  

Answer 24

You were lied to.

Answer 25

just go with what inspires you clearly you are not being inspired now and that is the point of religion right to create some positive influence within us you have to look and search to what religion suits you and only feels right to you  

Answer 26

It would appear your religious organization can only take you part way to where you want to go.

You should thank them for the ride, get off, and transfer to something going farther.

That would not be catholicism!

If you know from the get-go you cannot accept some of their teachings, then you would be purposefully heading down a dead-end street.

Try those people known for going door-to-door, with Bible in hand.

Answer 27

well i wouldnt listen to atheists or catholics but being saved really isnt an all-at-once kinda thing. you really have to understand what jesus did for you and you alone. i know people say he died for everyone and thats true too, but he died especially for you and for me and for everyone else thats a believer. doesnt that make you feel really special? that the son of god, who basically is god, would die a horrible death for you??

but back to the being saved part i would say that you need to talk it out with god...i mean he predesined you to be with him and to be one of his children!! with that understanding its sorta natural to see things in a complete different aspect...

good luck with jesus!!

ill be praying for you!!

and for all those athiests who answer this: you know theres a god!! you just wont admit it cuz your ashamed of your own sin!! so there!!

Answer 28

Mass is different in all religions but I think in all you have to think about sin and trying to avoid it. You can look at that as a term of being saved.

Sermons are usually given about the Gospel which are from the bible.

People often insult the Catholic church for worshiping saints and Mary.

We pray to saints in hoping that they deliver our messeges to the Lord.

We also do pray directly to Jesus which others will say we dont.

Answer 29

Find a church that teaches the Bible verse by verse.  Pray all the time.  Get to know God through His word and personal communion.  Start serving other people and doing the best work you can do at all times.  

I know exactly what you mean.  I was saved as a very young child but was never really taught anything until I was about 25 when I found Calvary Chapel.  It's a non denominational church.  I go to a baptist church now (because there isn't a Calvary Chapel close enough to us) but they teach the whole Bible.  

Your feeling of inadequacy is normal.  We are all inadequate in and of ourselves but remember Jesus died for you because you are extremely important to God.  Don't ever think that living life is a waste of time. We can show God's love by doing the right things everyday whether at work or school or in our own home.

Answer 30

you have to do deeper. grow your relationship with him. pratice it daily. do a kind thing to someone in need, for this is the commandment of our God. love your neibours. stand up for what is right. annd most important share your faith.

im glad you bacame a follower. i will pray for your tonight. He loves you...it may sound weird, but He wanted me to tell you that

Answer 31

You need to get to know the Bible.  If you're getting only evangelistic messages every week, then you won't grow.

You need the Word of God to grow.  Here's a website that teaches the meaning of every verse of every Book of the Bible: http://www.soniclight.com/constable/note...

Choose a book of the Bible, and study along, and learn what the Lord has to say.  :)

There is also a group that teaches in this format, to teach you the whole Bible and not just a few parts of it.  Here's a map where you can search to see if there is one near you:  http://www.faithalone.org/churches/index...

If there isn't one near you, you can email the closest one and ask for a referral to a good place near you.