Title: Four things that hinder faith in salvation
Colossians (3) Four things hindering the faith of salvation (Colossians 1:13-17)
< 4 things that hinder the faith of salvation >
Salvation is being delivered from the power of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Son of Love (verse 13). Also, through the Creator, Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven (verses 14-17). Salvation is the greatest blessing God has given to man. Therefore, for those who have received Jesus and have been saved, do not let their faith in salvation be shaken. Why is the faith of salvation shaken? There are four factors that hinder the faith of salvation.
1. Emotions and Mood Problems
There are times in life when you feel down and out of grace. Then a little bit of doubt arises. “Am I really saved?” His mood may change from time to time, but do not forget that John 5:24 says, “He who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned.”
One day, the two of them were sitting on a bench by the lake, looking at the moon reflected on the water. A looked at the sleeping moon and admired it. "Ah! The moon is beautiful!” Then B got grumpy and threw stones. So, when the moon that was on the surface disappeared, A was sad. "Ah! The moon is gone!” If your mood fluctuates like that, anxiety and unhappiness keep coming. The human mind is like the surface of a lake. Don't forget that when Satan drops a stone into your heart, you lose your composure and you feel like you have lost your faith, but you do not lose your salvation.
2. Personality change problem
Even if you are saved, you do not immediately become a mature person. If you are saved, it is like becoming a spiritual child at that time, so there are still many things you lack. If you go to a mega church, you will often see members of the same church shove and fight to get on the bus first after worship. How shameful are you? But that doesn't mean he wasn't saved. The change of character is not a matter of salvation, but a matter of sanctification.
3. A sense of good deeds and merit
Salvation has nothing to do with tithing and church service. Furthermore, when you pray a lot or pray earnestly, “I believe! It has nothing to do with repeating “I believe!” One day, a mother made a promise. "Hey! I’ll buy you a hamburger today.” Then the child saw the mother's face and said, "I believe! Believe it!” your mother will say. “Hey, are you crazy?” My mom said she would buy it, but she said, “I believe. I do.” It could mean that you don't trust your mother.
There are many prayers like that in prayer. If God has promised, you have to believe and enjoy peace of mind. As you continue to feel anxious and say, “I believe! When you say, “I believe!” God says, “Anyone! Calm down!” you would say. Giving more importance to prayer time or prayer intensity than to the prayer of faith can be a distrustful attitude that puts your own merits first. Of course, praying a lot is a blessing. However, the premise that that prayer must be a prayer of faith must be clear.
Associating good works and self-worth with the matter of salvation undermines the value of faith. It is okay to reduce the price of things, but do not reduce the value of faith and accept it as it is at face value. When medieval Christianity emphasized good deeds and self-worth, Luther and Calvin, etc. initiated the Reformation and advocated ‘Sola fide (only faith)’. ‘Faith of salvation’ is a necessary and sufficient condition that opens the way for salvation.
4. The Outward Witness of the Holy Spirit
We cannot say that we are not saved without the outward evidence of the Holy Spirit. The outward evidence of the Holy Spirit has to do with a powerful life. What is the difference between science and Christianity? Science says you must experience to believe, but Christianity says you must believe in order to experience. That is, saving faith is essentially prior to the outward experience of the Holy Spirit.
If we connect the outward experience of the Holy Spirit with the problem of salvation, our faith in salvation is often shaken. This is because the outward evidence of the Holy Spirit may temporarily disappear if we fall into unwanted sins, expose our faults, or find ourselves in a psychologically debilitating situation. Do not misunderstand that the gospel becomes a more perfect gospel and saving faith becomes a more perfect saving faith only when the outward evidence of the Holy Spirit is added. It is enough just to have faith in the gospel and salvation.