“Am I Forgiven?”

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

I asked the Lord to save me eight years ago.  I can still remember the relief I felt leaving the church that day.  But since that day, I have had many struggles.  I got with the wrong guy in college.  I drank, smoked, and had premarital sex.  I even went through a short period of doubting the Lord's existence.  I am back in church now and have changed my behavior, but I feel guilt every day for ever doubting in God.  I have asked Him to forgive.  I still worry about my salvation.  I had no doubts in the Lord when I asked Him to save me.  I really don't remember why I ever felt this way and am very ashamed of it.  My question is: am I still saved?  I have sinned so much and doubted Him since I asked to be saved.

Sincerely,
Left Wondering

Dear Left Wondering,

Before you ask the question, “Am I still saved?” – let’s take the time to make sure you properly sought God’s forgiveness the first time.  We highly recommend you read “What Must I Do To Be Saved” and thoroughly examine whether you properly obeyed God the first time around.  If you did – WONDERFUL.  If you didn’t… now is the time to do things right.

That being said, let’s address God’s willingness to forgive.  God says that He finds more joy in one sinner returning to Him than in ninety-nine who don’t need to repent (Lk 15:7).  God also says that there should be no limit to forgiveness when someone repents (Lk 17:4).  When we turn back to God, He promises to show us mercy and to remember our sins no more (Heb 8:12).  It is very normal for us to still feel guilt when we dwell upon our previous lives of rebellion against God, but we can’t let that guilt consume us.  God forgives us; therefore, we can turn that guilt into gratitude (Rom 6:17).

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