Thanks Vince! That was encouraging. Because I myself have been burdened by the very matter you guys discussed -- relating to the (over precise?) idea that one needs to believe on Jesus FOR eternal life to be saved ... and thus would not be saved unless and until he knows/is assured that he is saved. It is just so hard for me to wrap my mind around that. So I particularly appreciate your discussion relating to this matter ... especially at around 59:00. Intetestingly, just about an hour before listening to this I had posted a comment to my own post made recently at the Free Grace Theology Discussion Group on Facebook where I wrote, "It just seems as if with this idea that one must believe on Jesus FOR everlasting life in order to have it -- i.e. that assurance is of the essence of saving faith -- it just seems as if this puts the focus too much on OUR CONFIDENCE that we ourselves ARE saved ... rather than on the Savior who saves. And whenever the focus becomes on human ANYTHING it seems as if (in my case at least) there is always room for doubt -- i.e. "Am I REALLY 100% certain?" It is just too easy (for me at least) to imagine/suspect that I harbor some level of doubt...." So clearly, the very matter you discussed here has been a burden and concern for me ... and so ... I really appreciated hearing you guys discuss this matter. I think in part also, that hearing this discussion which so directly addressed this matter which has greatly concerned me ... makes me feel less alone. 🙂. I thank you again ... and really appreciate you guys addressing this matter.
Thanks Vince!
That was encouraging. Because I myself have been burdened by the very matter you guys discussed -- relating to the (over precise?) idea that one needs to believe on Jesus FOR eternal life to be saved ... and thus would not be saved unless and until he knows/is assured that he is saved. It is just so hard for me to wrap my mind around that. So I particularly appreciate your discussion relating to this matter ... especially at around 59:00. Intetestingly, just about an hour before listening to this I had posted a comment to my own post made recently at the Free Grace Theology Discussion Group on Facebook where I wrote,
"It just seems as if with this idea that one must believe on Jesus FOR everlasting life in order to have it -- i.e. that assurance is of the essence of saving faith -- it just seems as if this puts the focus too much on OUR CONFIDENCE that we ourselves ARE saved ... rather than on the Savior who saves. And whenever the focus becomes on human ANYTHING it seems as if (in my case at least) there is always room for doubt -- i.e. "Am I REALLY 100% certain?" It is just too easy (for me at least) to imagine/suspect that I harbor some level of doubt...."
So clearly, the very matter you discussed here has been a burden and concern for me ... and so ... I really appreciated hearing you guys discuss this matter. I think in part also, that hearing this discussion which so directly addressed this matter which has greatly concerned me ... makes me feel less alone. 🙂. I thank you again ... and really appreciate you guys addressing this matter.