jyeager & doulos,

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3) don't knock yourself out too much over your doubt. Your salvation is not on the line here. Your salvation depends on Christ alone, it's not even your responsibility to maintain your faith, He sustains that too. True, there will be those who are cast out..."depart from me, I knew you not". But if you read the context you will see that those are "doers of iniquity" They are people who lived licentiously. Perhaps included are those who hold heretical views of Christ. I sincerely doubt that any of those people were agonizing over whether they were saved prior to meeting Christ first-hand

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And that may be the problem right there, the focus has shifted from how great and awesome he is to how lowly and pitiful you are. Poor me, I'm a wretched, awful, terrible, sinful person. You're right, you are. But praise God he doesn't see it that way!

Thanks. Both of these points were highlighted again during my weekly meeting with my Asst. Pastor, which came before I read your posts so HERE'S MY SIGN I guess <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. But how true it is that the focus is put more on self when I think about how miserable I am or how much I'm doubting. During our conversation today Ephesians 1:6 kept coming to mind, "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the Beloved. When I focus on that particular truth of Scripture, most, if not all, of my doubt and lack of assurance pale in comparison.

I will also look into some good apologetic resources. Any particular recommendations? I'm gonna have to pick up some part time work to pay for my sermon printing from The Highway and my book buying. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />

tj
"-that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."