AboutErnie Laurence, Jr. Expertise I am capable of answering any questions concerning doctrines of the church of Christ. I specialize in Creation vs. Evolution topics, the book of Revelation and other Biblical prophecies, and other apologetics related topics such as distinctions from denominational doctrines.
Experience My experience in this area includes: having been raised by members of the church of Christ from infancy, having been immersed into the church of Christ at age ten, having taken an active role in worship/service leadership (song leading, teaching, preaching, youth ministry) since age fourteen through the present, and participating in numerous formal debates, research projects, and online discussions.
Organizations The church of Christ
Publications Local congregations.
Education/Credentials I hold a bachelor's degree in computer information systems (CIS) from Tarleton State University which focuses on business communication and management. This provided training for how to deal professionally with individuals and organizations if not direct training in the field of religion. See experience section for informal education experience.
Question QUESTION: I must say that I disagrre however can I ask you another question?What if a Christian is unsure about their salvation,does that mean that they are not saved?
ANSWER: If there is a doubt, better to be safe than sorry...eternally.
Ernie
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QUESTION: What do you mean?
How can you be safe than sorry?
Answer Well, the idea is that if you are doubting your status of salvation, that you are questioning whether or not you were ever saved in the first place, then you need to study the concept of salvation more and be sure you have done all that God (not man) requires to be saved.
If you know for sure that you have been saved initially, which something you CAN know for sure (1 John 5:13), then it may be that you have fallen away, that you are no longer walking in the light (1 John 1:7). In that case you need to repent, you need to turn away from doing evil and turn towards God and doing what is right. Turn away from darkness and back towards light. Then, once that is accomplished, pray to God, through Christ, for forgiveness.
But only those who have been immersed into Christ for the remission of sins have Christ as an advocate, a lawyer before the Judge (God the Father), a mediator to pray through. God does not listen to and answer the prayers of sinners:
John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Even if a person who is not a part of God's family is praying for forgiveness of sins, God does not respond to them until they obey him...that means you have to follow God's plan of salvation, hear His Word, believe the gospel, repent of sins, confess your faith in Christ as the Son of God, and be immersed in water for the Bible stated reasons for doing so...that is in order to contact the blood of Christ to obtain remission of sins. It is only in the watery grave of baptism that contact with the blood is made and we are made a new creature (John 3:3,5; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 John 5:8).
But you have to study to determine where you are according to the Bible. If you doubt your status one way or the other, then studying the Bible is the only way to know for sure where you stand.
