Assurance of salvation

 ”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

“Assurance of salvation” taken from Catholic Answers reads:

There are few more confusing topics than salvation. It goes beyond the standard question posed by Fundamentalists: “Have you been saved?” What the question also means is: “Don’t you wish you had the assurance of salvation?” Evangelicals and Fundamentalists think they do have such an absolute assurance.

All they have to do is “accept Christ as their personal Savior,” and it’s done. They might well live exemplary lives thereafter, but living well is not crucial and definitely does not affect their salvation.

….

That one act of the will, he explains, is all they needed to do. But is this true? Does the Bible support this concept?

Scripture teaches that one’s final salvation depends on the state of the soul at death. As Jesus himself tells us, “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31-46). One who dies in the state of friendship with God (the state of grace) will go to heaven. The one who dies in a state of enmity and rebellion against God (the state of mortal sin) will go to hell. 

…

“To deny the assurance of salvation would be to deny Christ’s perfect redemption,” argues Ewin, and this is something he can say only because he confuses the redemption that Christ accomplished for us objectively with our individual appropriation of that redemption. The truth is that in one sense we are all redeemed by Christ’s death on the cross-Christians, Jews, Muslims, even animists in the darkest forests (1 Tim. 2:6, 4:10, 1 John 2:2)-but our individual appropriation of what Christ provided is contingent on our response.

Certainly, Christ did die on the cross once for all and has entered into the holy place in heaven to appear before God on our behalf. Christ has abundantly provided for our salvation, but that does not mean that there is no process by which this is applied to us as individuals. Obviously, there is, or we would have been saved and justified from all eternity, with no need to repent or have faith or anything else. We would have been born “saved,” with no need to be born again. Since we were not, since it is necessary for those who hear the gospel to repent and embrace it, there is a time at which we come to be reconciled to God. And if so, then we, like Adam and Eve, can become unreconciled with God and, like the prodigal son, need to come back and be reconciled again with God, after having left his family. 
 

Continue at http://www.catholic.com/library/Assurance_of_Salvation.asp

The assurance of salvation I believe is not as importance as salvation itself.  Fear should be vanquished by the belief in God’s goodness and love, not by running away from a dreaded truth.

In the article “Secret to mountain moving faith” posted at ITAKEOFFTHEMASK.COM, HIYAS pointed out what it takes in order to have authentic faith, a faith sufficient enough to face frustrations when we don’t immediately get what we want.

Indeed it is true, that whosoever believes in the Son shall be saved.  But let us take note that the Bible clearly states what is required is not a past belief nor a past action.  The word is “believes”, a continuing and persistent faith in the risen Christ.  It is all too easy to fall away believing all is already forgiven, that the battle with the principalities and powers that be is no longer going on to claim our very souls.  Man is not saved by good works alone, but faith without good fruit is dead, and no faith at all.  He who believes also persists; he who cannot persist may not have believed from the very beginning.

Criticisms and Commendations on the law of attraction

   As its influence grew stronger, many criticisms and counter-criticisms have been written in its regard.  Many people were uplifted and empowered, while many also warned of its ill effects and subliminal impact.  Which of these is true?  What should we take heed of in our lives?

  I would like to begin by citing the good I saw that the said Law was able to promote.

1.  Responsibility for Self

The Law of Attraction reminds us that we are the ones responsible for our own thoughts, and for most of the things that happen in our lives.  It reminds us not to put the blame on anybody and to acknowledge our part in creating the life we desire.  It teaches us that we need to own our problems and that we need to own our capability to solve them as well. 

2.  Focusing on the Positive

The Law of Attraction shifts our gaze from our present burdens to the hope that lies ahead.  It reminds us that we can do nothing by dwelling upon our bitterness, clinging on to our past hurts and walking the path of worry and anxiety from day to day.  It teaches us to keep the vision of joy always within us despite the many troubles we face from day to day.  It gives us hope.  It renews our thinking.  It enables us not to exaggerate our problems by focusing on them.

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – is anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. – Phil. 4:8 NIV 

3.  Discovery of our True Desire

The Law of Attraction allows us to discover the seed of happiness planted within our own hearts.  It reminds us not to let the opinions and the standards of other people dictate upon us what can truly make us happy.  It helps us discover that our innermost desires, our true desires are not bad nor selfish, but holy and pure and will lead us to the happiness and peace we’ve been searching for.

4.  Belief in the Impossible

The Law of Attraction opens our eyes to blessings and possibilities we’ve never even dreamed of.  Indeed, everything is possible and every dream is just within our reach!  You can finally get out of the box of your limitations.  You can finally claim what is yours, the whole universe if need be!  Finally, you can believe in miracles again.

 “Everything is possible for him who believes.” – Mark 9:23 NIV 

Such are the things we cannot deny or refute, the rays of sunshine that had allowed many to awaken and rekindle the flame of hope and power upon their hearts.

Yet in all these, let us not forget also our human tendencies that may lead us unto extreme beliefs we may implant in our hearts along the way.  What are the messages we may pick up in the process?  What roads must we avoid so as not to destroy the precious joy we’ve found in our hearts?

1.  Apathy for those who suffer

While the responsibility for self should be encouraged, such principle should not lead us to apathy or lack of concern and sympathy for those who are suffering.  May it not lead us in judging or blaming victims of abuse and other kinds of misfortune.  For surely, we cannot impose upon others that which we believe in, neither can we expect everybody to be like ourselves.  We are not the ones trapped upon their shoes, and neither can we slip upon their shoes even for a day so we can learn first hand what they’re going through and what purposes said trials are working upon their lives.  May it not lead us to self-righteousness.  And may it not hinder us from extending our hearts and our hands where they may be needed the most.

 Such will be the spread of evil that many people’s love will grow cold. – Matthew 24:12 TEV 

2.  Pursuit of material desires

While material wealth itself is not evil, and can infact promote in us a sense of well-being and generosity, we should keep in check that we fall not upon the easy road of pursuing the material desires that had been made open to us.  The Law of Attraction excites us.  It teaches us all things are possible, all things we can acquire.  Yet let us not forget that though everything is possible, not everything is beneficial for us.  Let us have the wisdom to choose the priorities of our hearts.  And let us have the perseverance to look more deeply into our spirit, what indeed is our true and deepest desires.  It’s so easy to stop digging and content ourselves upon the outer layers of our wishes, upon the glittering treasures that had been made available to us. When we busy ourselves so much upon the acquisition of these things, we may forget the more important ones.  We may get so used in focusing upon these things that shifting our gaze towards our real joy may prove to be more far too difficult later on.  Never think you are infallible.  And do not believe that the lust of our impulses can be so easily restrained.  Care should be taken to avoid the subtlest dangers that may ensnare you closer to pits of slavery from day to day.

 If you think you are standing firm, you had better be careful that you do not fall. – 1Cor. 10:12 TEV  

3.  Inability or unwillingness to learn from suffering

While the tendency to dwell on the negative should be avoided, we must not forget that there are lessons only sorrow and difficult times can teach us.  If put to the extreme, the Law of Attraction can lead us to a life of conflict-avoidance and running away from anything that causes us discomfort or pain.  Life is not like that.  There are things that happen in life that we cannot change.  We are born, we live, we die.  And no matter how much we ‘think it’, we cannot prevent our physical selves from dying and surrendering unto the dust from which it came.  Life is  daytime and nighttime.  Life is spring and winter as well.  Running away from difficult times is like running away from life.  We strive not to avoid difficult times so we can be happy, rather, we strive to be strong so we can be happy no matter how difficult the circumstances seem to be. 

 Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. – Ecc. 7:3  NIV 

4.  Loneliness and Exhaustion

Say unto me that you are the only power and consciousness there is in the universe and you tell me that you are alone and unloved.  Tell me that everything and absolutely everything that happens to you is your idea and you tell me you are a very burdened person because you have the weight of the whole world and of the whole universe upon your shoulders.  Have you ever felt like that?  Have you ever felt so tired feeling everything depends upon you and you alone?  Believe it or not, not everthing runs upon your sole command.  The sun sets without your order.  The rain pours down without you needing to mind its every move.  Water had existed before you ever knew you needed it to quench your thirst. You don’t have to do everything, and you need not blame yourself for everything that happens to you. 

 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind.  His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parents’ sin?”  Jesus answered, “His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents’ sins.  He is blind so that God’s power might be seen at work in him…” – John 9:1-3 TEV 

I believe we are not alone.  I believe that we need to know we are loved by someone other than our own self.  I believe we need to know there is a strength that awaits us when we’ve exhausted our every power and can no longer carry on.  

And for those of you who believe in God, I believe just as much as you that He loves us unconditionally and will never ever stop until we’d have been found.  My God is a God that loves me as I am, warts and all.  He is the One who sends rain both to those who do good and to those who do not.

The Law of Attraction is truly commendable in many respects, yet let us not forget that there are other laws we should take note of as well, like the Law of Grace and the Law of Love.

 I have given you great honor although you do not know me. – Isaiah 45:4 TEV  

The ARt of Allowing

 The Law of Allowing states “Our negative beliefs, thoughts and statements are the only barriers to the compete fulfillment of every one of our desires.  The moment we express a desire for something, the universe is already delivering it to us.  Our ability to receive is limited by the negative thoughts we think and statements we make.”

As such, it can be inferred that many of our woes are indeed due to our own self-limiting beliefs – beliefs on the scarcity of resources, beliefs on the limited sources of our happiness, beliefs that we are not worthy of grace, beliefs that we do not deserve the blessings and gifts God has placed before us, ready to find our way into our lives if only we would receive them with an open and grateful heart.

When we worry and trust not upon the generous and loving hand of our God, we close the door through which we desire all things good to come in.  When we surrender not to a higher power leading us, we forfeit the opportunity to be guided in ways we couldn’t have known ourselves.  We forfeit our chance to be surprised; we do not allow our Father to move us in that moment of joy when He leads us in ways we know nothing about.

“Why do you fear? O, you of little faith!”

 When we continue to fret, and we force our own will against our undiscovered highest desires, we forbid our own happiness to come, and we content ourselves with second bests and leftovers that make us glad, but fail to make us sing with awe from a heart of true gratitude.

In our prayers, we utter what we want, but with our hearts and hands, we try to take control of everything as though we did not believe Someone heard us, and Someone has started His works to answer our deepest desires.

Such is the way we close our lives from the blessings that come our way, of not allowing the best gifts of God to reach us and make us happy.  This is true, and I refute it not.

Yet on the other hand, we must not forget that allowing is not synonymous to giving up, to irresponsibility, or to plain laziness of the flesh in desiring for things it has no strength to take hold of.

Allowing is also not blindly letting go to the wills and consciousness of those who do not care for our highest good.  Ask yourself at all times, “To whom am I surrendering to?  What would this being make of me when I allow him to permeate my very soul?”

“The world is mental”, they say.  “

“What you think, you also create.”

In the end it is not a battle of what is seen, but of what is unseen, of forces and consciousness whose powers we do not know.

Are you opening yourself to goodness, to self enlightenment and empowerment? Or are you risking the influence of forces more adept and skilled at manipulating the reality you believe in?

The Universe is generous, as it is good, as there is good.  Yet the universe is also harsh, as there is an opposite force to every good that there is. 

Which side of the universe are you allowing to permeate your being?  Which God are you allowing to influence your soul? How would you even know? By the feeling of ecstasy you have? By the marvellous things you see?  The greatest deceit is not the deceit of darkness, but that of light, the light that shines as though it is the brightest, although it is not.

I allow only One God to influence my whole being, the only God who has ever died and suffered for me!

On Reincarnation

 As more and more people are being inclined to belief in the endless births and deaths brought about by reincarnation, we are apt to think of the logic or hope attached to a theory that has subsisted ’til the present time.  Why do men suppose we should live again and take upon another body?

Is it because men naturally desire immortality?  Is it for love of this world that men could not bear living it in exchange for something he knows nothing of that he’d ratherspend eternity in the familiar environment in which he has lived, hoping as though cursed, that the next life would indeed be better than the last?  Is this for fear of the Judgment to come, such that men may accept the temporary punishment of living in the body of a fish hoping that this is an easier burden than the eternity of separation from God that awaits those who have chosen the dark path in this life? 

 Men dislike uncertainty.  Men could not accept the idea of dying.  Men desire a comfortable explanation which he can accept and live with without seeking for a truth he fears may not fulfill that which he so desires.

But what does the Church say about all this?  For those who have the courage to hear, what is there to realize? 

Irenaeus

“We may undermine [the Hellenists'] doctrine as to transmigration from body to body by this fact-that souls remember nothing whatever of the events which took place in their previous states of existence. For if they were sent forth with this object, that they should have experience of every kind of action, they must of necessity retain a remembrance of those things which have been previously accomplished, that they might fill up those in which they were still deficient, and not by always hovering, without intermission, through the same pursuits, spend their labor wretchedly in vain. . . . With reference to these objections, Plato . . . attempted no kind of proof, but simply replied dogmatically that when souls enter into this life they are caused to drink of oblivion by that demon who watches their entrance, before they effect an entrance into the bodies. It escaped him that he fell into another, greater perplexity. For if the cup of oblivion, after it has been drunk, can obliterate the memory of all the deeds that have been done, how, O Plato, do you obtain the knowledge of this fact . . . ?” (Against Heresies 2:33:1-2 [A.D. 189]).