Counsel #5 — Faith Over Feelings

Picture: Counsel #5 — Faith Over FeelingsCSL 7.1

After accepting Jesus as Lord, including repentance and confession, what’s next? Now God wants you to believe that He will do what He says—save you! Believe this is true because of the promises of God, not because of your feelings, which can be up one day and down the next.CSL 7.2

When Jesus said to the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk,” the sick man believed Jesus had made him whole and got up. We, too, can have the same kind of faith in God.^{[6]https://www.adventist.org/experience-of-salvation/how-to-know-youre-saved/}CSL 7.3

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 NKJVCSL 7.4

“Many make a serious mistake in their religious life by keeping the attention fixed upon their feelings and thus judging of their advancement or decline. Feelings are not a safe criterion. We are not to look within for evidence of our acceptance with God. We shall find there nothing but that which will discourage us. Our only hope is in ‘looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.’” Ellen White in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 199CSL 7.5

Reflect: In what ways do you sometimes give into doubt about being saved? How do you overcome it?CSL 7.6