Not sure if I would fit in here

I am not a fundamentalist. I tried that route but failed miserably.

I failed in two of the most important ways:
1) I don't have a Christian education background.
2) I didn't get saved at a very young age. I was 34. (I'm sure that based on point 1, you're questioning whether I'm saved at all)
3) There are things in my past I'm not proud of. Very few Christians have that problem.
4) My faith is a little shaky too in some areas. But the fact that I'm substandard in your eyes, and God's eyes, is bad enough.

Is there any way I can ever get on your level of righteousness?

There are none righteous.. This subject is better suited for the bible discussion thread..

Sounds typical for a lot of Christians. Strive to keep growing, learning, and committing the Word of God to your life.

Once saved, the individual is seen as righteous period. There isn't different levels of righteousness. Your not substandard. Everyone starts their journey the same way, it is just people are at different points than you. Some at the beginning, near middle, middle, near end, the end.

You clearly have no idea who many Christians are, so maybe you should read some testimonies.

Just a welcome here!

If you won't fit in here, then neither will I, but I think I do. Hello, and welcome, CW!

Greetings and Welcome, Confused! First of all, having a Christian education is not a prerequisite for having faith in Christ. And second, education in the word of God comes by reading the scriptures and prayer and is a life-long process. When you come to the Lord, you come as you are and He receives you, because He is the One calling you.

Again, it does not matter what age a person is when they receive Christ. If you believe that Jesus paid the penalty for your sins by the shedding of His blood and that He rose from the dead, you are saved. From there continue reading His word and in prayer, giving thanks to God for all things and praying for all people and growing in Christ.

I also grieve whenever I think of my past sins. But I also have faith in God's promise that through faith in Christ I have forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life, as do you and every other believer. Part of having faith is believing in the promises of God. Regarding this, His promise says "When we sin, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:8-10. From the time we believed, the Holy Spirit took up residence in each believer and we have been in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ, i.e. taking on His nature which is the fruit of the Spirit.

If you are believing in the Son of God, you are not substandard. We all feel that we fall short as Christians, some more than others. But when we believed, we were credited with righteousness and reconciled to God. We have been seated in heavenly places with Christ, meaning that there is a place in heaven reserved for each believer. Jesus went to prepare places for us in the Father's house and that includes you as a believer. Seeing that these things are true and are promises to those who believe, then have faith in them. Apply them to yourself. Scripture already tells us that there is none righteous, no, not one. All have sinned, all fall short of God's righteous requirements. But through faith in His Son, God sees us through the spectacles of Christ. The righteousness of Christ is credited to the believer, even though we still have our sinful nature. God sees us as perfect just as Christ is perfect.

You have become a new creation in Christ. Have faith in His promises! And when the powers of darkness attempt to discourage you, which is what appears to be happening, counter with the truth of God's word.

We're always here if you need prayer or have questions about God's word.

Hello CW, welcome to Christian Chat. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here.


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Welcome to CC! You wouldn’t be a cheating tax collector or cussing fisherman would you? Because that’s exactly who Jesus is looking for.......

Welcome aboard.....no worries, only Jesus walks on water.....

Be careful though, there are Pharisees among us.....

Glad you’re here!

PS~ I did not surrender my rebellious opposition to God until I was almost 50 years old

Whats your definition of a ""fundamentalist"" different people have different idea's and how did you fail at being one?

I came to believe Jesus and trust in his atonement when i was in my early 20's 24 i think.. People have come to believe Jesus and trust in his atonement in their 80's while being on their death beds.. So your age is not an issue..

God is perfect so by Gods measures and standard ALL human beings have things in their past and will have things in their futures that they should not be proud of.. Pride is the enemy of a Christian.. New or Old..

Don't pre- judge us before we have responded to you.. Saying that we think of you as being substandard in our eyes when this is the first time as far as i know i have seen you is being unnecessarily negative..

You can get to my level of righteousness by believing Jesus and trusting in the Atonement He secured on the cross.. His atonement that paid the penalty for our sins..

Glad to have you join us here at CC. One thing you are is a child of God. Two things you shouldn't be is confused or worried. We trust in God's Word and what He says about us. God bless you and your family!

I think it is highly likely that you are making some fairly baseless assumptions about people you do not even know... although you joined many years ago without posting until this introduction, I suppose it is possible you have read some or many posts here, but that is rather beside the point, because the fact is, that as Christians, we all have sins we have committed and things in our past we are not proud of. Do you understand the concept of repentance? It is fundamentally germane to the process of becoming Christian. None of us stand in our own righteousness before God. None of us are good enough, which is precisely the reason why Jesus was purposed from before the foundation of the world. Have you read the Bible? ALL have fallen short. We stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Those not so clothed and covered by the righteous blood of the spotless Lamb of God, pass in to the everlasting second death following the coming resurrection and judgment of all at the end of this age.