Asking you all for your forgiveness.

[WillyCamaro]

Brothers, do you know what false fruit is.

It is the outward appearance of of what looks likes a saved person. But in fact, it's just a works based system that the self righteous person produces.

All my prayers, the Scripture thread, the believing I thought I was saved; well, my spirit behind it was not of love for my Savior, or genuine fellowship.

I was just performing works I thought you had to do to be a "good christian".

I thought by working, I could somehow, I really don't know what I believed now, work to earn God's favor, and lesson my pain, and all the guilt I was carrying.

Gentleman, please, I ask you all, forgive me.

The Lord finally after a lifetime of wretchedness, has redeemed me.
I love my beloved Savior now. He peeled away the darkess that had blinded me my entire life. It's so, so good to be loved by Him. I understand that now.

I have the desire to pray now. I have the desire to study scripture out of joy. I truly want to be in fellowship with my brothers and sisters, not church constantly being a slog to get through.

It's good to be finally free gentleman, it truly is.

Again, please forgive me brothers. I pray I always remember that my sin has been nailed to those blood stained hands.

[orvet]

You have no need of forgiveness from me. If you were incomplete in your faith or your understanding of your duties as a Christian, it is no offense to me. You're only offense would be with the Lord. He is the one to whom you must as forgiveness. He is quick to forgive, full of grace and mercy. If you ask him for forgiveness it is done.

[treefarmer]

William, I'm in agreement with Dale and would add that the posts you made were God's word or messages by some pastors of days gone by. With this in mind, it seems like Isaiah 55:11 might be in effect. People were blessed by reading your posts even if your heart was not right at the time. His words won't return void.
Treefarmer

[WillyCamaro]

Thank you Dale and Philip. It's good to be forgiven, isn't it.

I'm finally, totally, and absolutely forgiven in the sight of my heavenly Father. I've known, and been experiencing this since last week. Jesus's blood is sufficient to cover even the worst of sinner, and by His grace and mercy, I am covered.
And even more than that, in redemption, He makes us his children.

He gives us hope, in are trials of this life. We gain a new love for others (this is huge for me!). I no longer wish to wallow in self pity, but live in the light of the truth that I am forgiven, for everything I ever did.
The self righteous, hypocritical, looking down on others because I'm not as bad as they are, all while knowing the truth, was blatant rejection of what grace means.

Yes, there will be this share of life's trials and difficulties ahead, I know that much. But, for the rest of my life, I'll be at rest in knowing that I'm held in the hands of my savior, never to be lost, never to be forgotten, never to be cast away.

Trying to work and earn His grace is a blatant rejection of the grace of God. All I was doing was trying to relieve my pain, without understanding it was the mercy and grace of are Lord Jesus that brings about peace. I just have to be constantly reminded of the love of my savior every single day, for me, for us all.

God bless!

[Reverand]

We love you, brother, and rejoice at what Jesus is doing in your life!
"Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new"

[Gtrclktr-351]

Having a "crisis of Faith" doesn't equal "false fruit". Most believers have occasion to sometimes question themselves. We are not saved by works, but by grace. Seeds sown through grace cannot bear "false fruit". I will echo the sentiments expressed by Dale, Treefarmer and Reverend

"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see."


Romans 3:23-24
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.