A recent post on Amish America's website responded to a reader's question of whether the Swartzentruber Amish (one of the most conservative groups of the Amish) believe in assured salvation. The answer to that is, the Swartzentruber do not, the New Order Amish would as well as the Beachy Amish.
But my question to you is do you believe in assured salvation? I personally do not. I was raised in a protestant church that did not teach that we will for sure make it to heaven if we do A, B, and C. I was taught that until we go knocking on Heaven's pearly gates, we do not know whether God will allow us to enter or not. However, I do believe some of the members of that church do believe in assured salvation, my mom included. In attending a Mennonite church and previously a Beachy Amish church, I think that is one of the hardest things for me to grasp. How can anyone know for sure that what they are doing on earth is exactly what the Lord wants, even if we are doing our best to follow His instructions? I also have the tendancy to believe if we go around spouting that we will be going to Heaven when we die, we overlooking God's Will. Are we telling Him what to do by telling others with such assurance where we are going when we die? Are we being prideful when we state that rather than humble? Also, could we do harm to new Christians or those who we are trying to share the Word with by being so outspoken? Just a few thoughts that run around in my head.
Blessings in Christ,
Salvation can be gained and later be lost.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you make of this verse?
1 John 5:13
13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
I agree salvation can be gained and then lost. I understand the scripture verse, but I also know that there are other things that we must do in order to be granted salvation. Whether or not I do these things up to God's standard I do not know and therefore I do not feel that I can rightly say that yes, I will be going to heaven. That is me personally. I understand God knows my heart, but are my intentions good enough for me to be granted my salvation?
ReplyDeleteHi Chelsea! Those are some really good questions, and I hope some of what I say will help. :) First of all, I believe that once we realize our sins, repent and accept Messiah as our Saviour, we are truly saved.
ReplyDeleteJohn 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me *has* everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but *has passed* from death into life.
Col.1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you *have been* saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God
Joh 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one believing into Me, though he die, he shall live. And everyone living and believing into Me shall not die to the age, never! Do you believe this?
(The emphasis in these verses were all mine :)
Our Father assures us that once we accept His Son as our Saviour, we are indeed saved. But after your immediate salvation, I believe there is more refining to be done in your life. It's as though you were a baby again and though you are truly a new person, you still need to "grow up" as a believer.
1Pet. 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
You're not instantly an mature and tested Christian once you're saved. You've been wiped clean, now its time to become more and more the child He wishes you to be.
Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
2Pet. 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
The questions you have are actually that of two well-debated doctrines, Immediate Sanctification and Progressive Sanctification. Immediate Sanctification is the belief that once you are saved (repent, believe, and Accept our Messiah), you are immediately made holy and will go to heaven unless salvation is lost by some action on your part (ie. wandering away from Our Father). Progressive Sanctification is the belief that once you are saved, you are wiped clean from sin and you now spend your life growing in Our Father so that you can become the Child He wishes you to be.
I hope this helps a little! :) If you’re interested, I have some Bible studies I can email you that cover the issue, one discussing Salvation itself and might answer some of your questions, and another on Immediate and Progressive Sanctification. Just let me know! :)
Many blessings dear friend,
Mia
P.S. I’ll be getting back to your email soon! :)
We never can do "things up to God's standard". The Jews tried but failed and had to make sacrifices and go through rituals to atone for their sins.This is why Jesus came alone, the ultimate sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteCareful when you say that the Swartzentruber Amish do this and the New Order do that. It's not true for all churches and you have to be careful saying all Amish churches do this or that. I'm sure you know that from your expirience in Beachy Amish and Mennonite churches. No Anabaptist church is the same, that's for sure! haha.
ReplyDeleteKate
Mia, I guess I am of the Progressive Sanctification group. :)
ReplyDeleteKate, you are right, I should have included that this is true for the groups around me. I do know that the New Order around me definitely fall under the salvation assurance category as they will definitely evangelize and tell those who they are talking to that they are going to heaven.
ReplyDeleteVisit Amish America's post on this topic at: http://amishamerica.com/are-swartzentruber-amish-saved/
Kate, a valid point.I'd meant that we have to be very careful that we do not become so rules orientated that we forget to focus on God.I think I would be fair in saying that majority of Schwarzentrubers have become very fixated on rules to the point that they shun anybody that decides to be baptised into another Amish church.The bible sets down rules on when to shun and marrying into another Christian church is not listed as a reason to shun.
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