Originally posted by TheSkipper=============================================
Heh...you make it sound so easy.
If God's forgiveness were a life preserver in a vast ocean it would be invisible with many rumors of its existence but zero actual sightings. Sure, there'd be plenty of people bobbing about in the sea claiming to be wearing an invisible life preserver, but the ones that don't seem a little daft are highly annoying.
made with less information than you would collect before choosing a battery for your car.
Meanwhile, you (as the unforgiven) are expected to grab on to one of these invisible life preservers OR spend eternity paying for your "lack of faith".
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I think you are being perplexed needlessly.
I would encourage you to come just as you are. It is Christ Himself Who is your salvation. It is not the amount of information you know that saves you.
You can pray:
"Lord Jesus. I come to you just as I am, with doubts, with fears, not too sure, not even too willing. But I believe. Lord Jesus help my unbelief.
I accept you Lord Jesus. I just receve you Lord Jesus. I just open to you Lord Jesus. I open, fear and all, doubt and all, reservations and all, annoyances and all. Lord Jesus I just open to receive you. And I thank you Lord. I just thank you that it is not up to me. Lord You do your work in this poor vessel. I receive you as my Lord and Savior."
Let go of your "annoyance". You are annoyed because you are unforgiving. When you yourself experience the peace of forgiveness you will not be so annoyed and unforgiving of others.
Put others out of the picture long enough to deal with Jesus Christ yourself.
A Classic Christian Hymn puts it so well:
JUST AS I AM
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!