Am I even saved?

These are the words the roll off the tongues and go through the minds of many, many members of the church. If you are assured of your salvation, this blog is for you. Others need to be blessed by your counsel! If you are not sure of your salvation, this blog is for you as well for obvious reasons. Many young men that I have talked to struggle with this topic. I’ve struggled with this topic. I’m sure young women do too but I don’t talk to them as much! In this short article, I’ll talk about why we doubt, evidences of salvation, and the great hope that we have.

Why do we doubt?

Christians doubt their salvation for many reasons.

1. Lack of trust/wrong theology – Christians doubt their salvation because they don’t fully trust that Christ paid for their sins in full. They think their is something they have to do in order to be saved. In our individualistic society, this thinking process makes sense. We strive to work toward the top of the totem pole to realize the ultimate prize we worked so hard for. But Christianity is not about relying on ourselves for salvation. The beauty of Christianity is that it isn’t works based. We can rely on what Christ did on the Cross. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7) Christ paid it all. It is finished.

Example- I once had a friend that said he was struggling with assurance of salvation. He didn’t think there was enough fruit in his life to possibly be saved. Sometimes there won’t be any fruit in our lives for a time. But true Christians will produce some fruit generally speaking. There are exceptions (The thief on the cross didn’t have time to produce any fruit.) If one started to try to produce fruit in their life to convince themselves they are saved, it would be to no avail. Moral unbelievers exist. But a true Christian is one whose heart has been radically transformed (Ezekiel 36:26) They have a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Their desires have changed 180 degrees (Deuteronomy 6:4). Instead of living for oneself, ones own advancement, and this world, the Christian lives for God, His purposes, and advancing His kingdom.

2. Unrepentant sin

Someone who is in unrepentant sin should indeed question their salvation. The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20) In 1 John, John exclaims that not one born of God makes a practice of sinning (1 John 3:9) This is not to say that believers don’t sin. Believers do sin but they are on a path of repentance and growing more like Christ every day.

So how does one know if they are saved?

If someone has completely trusted in Christ and Lord and savior, they are saved. It’s that simple. What does scripture say?

Romans 8:1- There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.

This is the verse that someone at my church called TNT. It packs a punch! T- ten N-nine T-ten (Romans Ten- Nine-Ten)

Romans 10:9- because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Evidence of fruit in our life

Confessing Christ as Lord and savior is unnatural. It’s a work of the Spirit that comes about out of the transformed heart that we have been given! The fruits of the Spirit are listed in Galatians :5 including Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Self-Control.

Love– To be a Christian is to love for God is love. The Apostle John says “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.” (1 John 3:14). Love is expressed in action. To love God is to keep His commandments. As we grow in our faith, the Spirit will be working in us. We will love others well not because they benefit us or because it’s a duty but because it truly is a delight to love others as an expression of our love for God!

Source of Love– 1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us

We are becoming more like Christ– The Spirit is working in us if we are becoming more like Christ every day. Some sanctification verses include 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Philippians 2:12.

We establish patterns of Godliness as w11e wait for the eternal hope of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ- Titus 2:11-13

We don’t live for self but for God and put other people’s interests first (Philippians 2:3)

Our love is not a faux love but an Authentic love for God and others- We don’t love others because of what we can get from them but we love and serve others regardless of what they can provide. We look for ways to love and serve others because we are other oriented and ultimately God centered. Thinking of others first is a priority. It’s a sacrificial, agape love emulated in us.

Tests of Salvation from 1 John

1 John 1:2-3 Sensitive to sin

1 John 1:5- 1 John 2:1 Obedience

1 John 2:3-5 Reject the World

1 John 2:15-17 Love Christ

1John 3 :1-3 Decreasing patterns of sin

1John 3: 5-10 Love other Christians

1 John 3:14-17 Experience answered prayer

1 John 3:22-24 Keep His commands

1 John 4:1- Ability to Discern between spiritual truth and error

1 John 3:13- Experiencing persecution because of your faith

Love emulated is the test of Diven life working in you

How do we make our calling and election sure (Our salvation)

2 Peter 1:4-11

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your fatih supply moral excellence….knowledge….self-control….perseverance….godliness…..brohterly kindness, love……For in whom these things are not present, that one is blind, being nearsighted, having forgotten the purification from his former sins. Therefore, brohters, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing these things, you will never stumble.

Conclusion

If you have truly believed and repented of your sins, you are saved. That’s it. Believers will have evidence of the Spirit working in their lives. It’s humbling to know that there isn’t anything we can do to be saved. We can’t produce more fruit or do a bunch of external actions to ensure salvation. We rely totally on what Christ did on the cross. Our transformed heart of regeneration will produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. As our lives conform more to Christ, we can know with certainty that our calling and election is sure. Fruit is not the root of salvation but the evidence and stamp of authenticity of salvation. We know what someone truly believes by the life that they lead. Today is the day of salvation. There are 2 doors. One to Eternal fire and one to Eternal Heaven. Believers go to the Bema seat or the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, 2 Cor. 5:10). Unbelievers go to the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Christ is the door to heaven (John 10:9). He is the only way. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). Unlike our culture, the Bible calls us not to have more works than bad but to trust In Jesus Christ alone by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). There is absolute truth, one way, one salvation, one Bible, and one truth. How blessed are we to have God’s Word and know the truth, being part of His Kingdom all the days of our life! We are just sojourners here on Earth, passing through. Are you ready?

Part II Updated 07/15/24

Credit Ligonier Ministries

How can we know that we are saved? Many people struggle with this question. How would you answer this if someone asked you? How do you know that you are saved? It is possible that you are truly saved or not saved. I once talked to a brother who said he was not saved functioning as an assistant pastor. This is a question that will come up in ministry. We are all Biblical Counselors and need to be able to answer this question well for others and in self reflection. Are we even saved? I want all of us to be effective in ministry and not worrying over our salvation. Not having assurance can be terrifying and produce a lot of anxiety-
Matthew:7- And then I will declare to them I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
Hebrews 10:31- It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

There are three great strands of assurance that the Holy Spirit works through

1) Promises of God
2)Evidences of Grace 
3) Testimony of the Holy Spirit 

1) Promises of God 
Scripture is clear. If we believe and repent, we will have eternal life. 
Romans 10:9- because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dear, you will be saved.
1 John 5:10- Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. 
John 3:16
Being born again
John 3:3
Adoption as sons from Satan's family to a new family
Ephesians 1:4-5
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will 
John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  

We are so prone to look at ourselves and our performance. However we should be taking 10 looks at Christ for every look at yourself for assurance. Our assurance isn't even in our own faith. Our grounds for salvation is in Jesus Christ. We hold on to the promises of God.

2) Evidences of Grace. Do we see the Holy Spirit working in our life? Are there marks of desire and maturity going toward Christ and away from sin? These aren't the root of salvation but marks of an authentically transformed life.
Galatians:5- The fruit of the Spirit (Holy Spirit).
2 Peter 1:10- We can confirm our election and calling (salvation), if we see virtue, knowledge, self control, godliness, brotherly affection increasing in our lives (summarized) 
Marks of Salvation 
1 John 1:2-3 Sensitive to sin 
1John 1:5- Obedience
1John 2:3-5 Reject the world 
1 John 2:15-17 Live Christ 
1 John 3:1-3 Decreasing patterns of sin 
1 John 3:5-10 Love other Christians 
1 John 3:14-17 Experience answered prayer 
1 John 4:1- Ability to discern between spiritual truth and error 
1 John 3:13- Experience persecution for your faith. 
John 8:31- If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples 

3) Testimony of the Holy Spirit 
Romans 8:15-16 but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 
         Parallel-
Now we cry abba Father in times of distress. Unregenerate people don't do that. Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying Abba! Father! 

What is the conclusion? We can know we are children of God because the Spirit has enabled us to believe in the promises of God. The promises of Adoption, New birth, believing in Christ, repentance. There are Evidences of the Spirit working in our life. We desire to live for God and do that by the Spirits help. There are decreasing patterns of sin. We didn't desire this new life before. And Holy Spirits Testimony has enabled us to know that we are children of God. Promises. Evidences of Grace. The testimony of the Holy Spirit. Take 10 looks at Christ and one look at yourself. Our faith and assurance  is grounded in Him crucified and raised from the dead and nothing else. We don't have to be unsure but can trust in His Word and His work on the cross. Stay convicted of your assurance for effectiveness. 

Salvation is doctrinal. Do we believe in these essential truths? 

Do I see the Spirit working in tangible ways? Any marks of salvation? Fruit the Spirit is producing