Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

Yes! Satan's intention is to deceive humanity by hiding the truth found in Christ and His completed work for us at the cross.

2 Cor 11:3-4
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

2 Cor 11:14-15
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

Your use of the phrase "feel saved" is what Satan desires. Salvation is not recognized as a reality based on any "feeling". It is rather through our belief in the truth found in the gospel that salvation occurs. We believe what God did for us through Christ crucified out of His love. We have "faith in His blood" being the only means by which all of our sins were forgiven, not by any merit of ourselves (Rom 3:25). We believe that Christ was dead, buried, but rose again for our justification (1 Cor 15:1-4).

"Feelings", however, are the result of the subtle deception found in a works-based religious system. Our pre-salvation "works" (our own efforts) that we perceive to be the means by which we are saved are contradictory to the true gospel of our salvation. 

We are saved by God's grace through our faith in Him (our belief). Salvation is then the "gift" of God, not by any efforts of our own, so that no one in eternity will be able to boast about it (Eph 2:8-9). All the glory then goes to God rather than any to ourselves. Self-righteousness is not allowed! (Rom 10:1-4)

Gal 3:1-5
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"

The apostle Paul warns us of Satan's efforts to make us "fall from grace" (forget that our salvation was God's gift), and rely again on our own self-righteous efforts for salvation (Gal 5:4). It is the spiritual battle that Christians must recognize and prepare for daily.

Eph 6:10-19
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,".

"Feeling" saved may be misplaced faith (faith in ones self), but with belief, we know.

19 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The question reminds me of the story of Simon Magus in Acts 8, who had been baptized in response to the preaching of Philip the evangelist in Samaria, but who showed that he was not right with God when he offered money to Peter and John to be granted the power to bestow the Holy Spirit as he had seen them doing (from which the English word "simony" derives, defined as "the act of buying or selling something spiritual").

Also, later (in Acts 19), seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva attempted (without true faith of their own) to cast a demon out of a man by invoking the name of "Jesus who is preached by Paul", to which the demon replied, "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?", and then wounded all of them. 

Other relevant passages on this question, which encourage believers to examine their faith to assure its orthodoxy, include 2 Corinthians 13:5 and 2 Peter 1:10-11.

22 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report