Expert: Carl Fuglein - 11/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: Someone just told me that if I had to ask if I am Saved then obviously I am not.   I go to an Apostolic church but I am really Pentocostal.MY beliefs are that if you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and ask Him for forgiveness from your sins then you are saved.But of course different denominations have different beliefs on what actually makes you saved so if I went to a non denominational church it might make me confused. So if you don't mind,I will ask my question again.- Well when I was about 8,I asked for God's forgiveness but at the time,I did it because I didn't want to go to hell.I didn't really love GOD because I didn't really know Him that well.So then like 2 years later,I got the Holy Ghost but then I felt that my church was trying to really push me into it so I just all of a sudden shut down.About a year ago or a couple of months ago,I just decided that I didn't want to go to church anymore.I go once in a while but not every Sunday and I feel that if I am just going to make people happy and just to be there then that's a vain reason to go.If you're not there for GOD then there's no point in goingI tried reading my Bible and I started from the first chapter and tried to read the whole book in order.Well that got boring and I didn't understand anything so I stopped that too.So now,the only thing that I will do is pray and majority of the time,it's to ask for things.I'm not really sure if I love GOD because I haven't really got to know Him nor hae I really tried anymore.I know I have really backslided in that area.Does this mean that I am not saved?Or at least anymore now?So now I am not saved?!?!?!?!?!?!?!Now I might as well kill myself.The thing is that I don't know if my heart was into when I was eight,at the time,I Was a little willing to get to know GOD better but now I am hearing this?What are you saying now.Now I am not saved?Yes I do believe that He is the son of GOD and that He died for our sins so that we can be forgiven.I asked Him for forgiveness.At the time,I didn't want to go to hell but at the time,I was young and I wanted to I guess know Him better.But after that,I just drifted off.But now I don't even know if I am saved.Does it sound like I am saved?If I didn't ove GOD when I got saved then does this mean that I am not saved?Do I need to get saved again?   I know this is terribly off subject.But now I am in even worse trouble if I am not saved.I feel even worse.They told me that I have to accept Jesus as my master which is what I thought accepting Him as my Saviour meant.It make sme want to commit suicide even more than before.Maybe my life is just going down the drain.I mean,I have everything academically and school-wise going for me.But everything else is just terrible.   I live with my mom and she is on welfare and medical cards but yet my dad is rich.I don't live with my dad.But I live with my mom in an apartment building that my dad owns,he owns a lot. I guess you could say that my mom is middle class because we aren't poor.My dad always gives us the money to pay our bills and buy food and all of that stuff. So does this mean that I am poor? There are days when my mom doesn't have money.But we don't starve or don't have clothes but there are some days that there is nothing to eat (which is rare)because I eat up everything and she doesn't have time to go to the store or my dad hasn't given her the money.   I am stuggling with my sexuality.I'm not pretty.I have bad thoughts and can not seem to get my mind together.And now I might not be saved?Please respond!

ANSWER: Corrina-

I think you are saved.  All you have to do is accept that Jesus died for your sin, that you want Him to live in your heart, and you want to do what is right.

You will continue to go on in life, and there will be times when you doubt your salvation (like now), but you are already saved.  If you're seeking answers (like now), you're on the right track. I'm much older than you, and there are frequent times when I doubt God's love, but I keep on keepin on, and that's the answer.  God will always be there for you.

It doesn't sound like you are poor, if your dad is supporting you.  I'm sorry your parents are split - it's not easy growing up that way.

You say you are not pretty - WRONG!  You ARE pretty, you're God's child and God doesn't make junk - you are beautiful in His sight.

Corrina - just keep connected with God.  Go to church, read your Bible (I suggest you read the book of Matthew) and realize that you really are saved.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,
carl


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Also I am wondering if I have blaspemed.Sometimes when I say the word gay or something similar,I suddenly look at a picture of Jesus even though I wasn't tlakign about Him.And sometimes I think about blaspemy.I also wonder if I have sold my soul.I sometimes think about selling it.And sometimes I say "If I don't do this then my soul is....." I don't want to say the rest.I don't know if I have bet on my soul but yet I think that I have but I ask for forgiveness after it.I ask God to forgive me for it.But I don't want to sell my soul.Does this mean that I really have?I don't remember being basphemous out loud.But I always ask God for forgiveness from it,even if I think it.Did He not forgive me?I know that in the BIBLE it says that blaspemy is the unforgivable sin so does that mean that I am unforgiven?!?!?Am I going to hell?AM I in trouble?Am I eternally doomed now?Please answer all of these questions!

Answer
Corrina-

You have not blasphemed - if you truly did denounce God or sell your soul to the devil, you wouldn't be asking all these questions.  You're concerned about your salvation, and because you are, you ARE saved.  You ARE forgiven.  You are not doomed.  Just continue to seek God's will in your life, and eventually all these paranoid thoughts will go away.  I highly recommend that you talk to your youth minister about all this.

blessings,
carl