Are You Sure You Are Saved?

Are You Sure You Are Saved?
The question in our title is often discussed and pondered. Many are sure they are saved, but they are terribly mistaken. Other are not sure of their salvation when they should be. By saved we mean that we are forgiven and saved from the fearful consequences of our sins; that we are living at peace with God and fully expect to spend our eternity with Him. It is helpful to remember that there are three aspects of our salvation. There is a point in time when Christ saves us from our past sins. When we are baptized he washes away our sins (Acts 22:16). Salvation must be maintained on a daily basis as we make the journey of life. John write, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light...the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7). The tenses of the verbs indicate that he speaks of our daily walk with Christ and our daily cleansing. When life on earth is finished the Christian can confidently anticipate eternal salvation with God in heaven. Thus Paul writes, "Now is our salvation nearer to us than when we first believed" (Ron. 13:11).

There are many faulty notions about salvation. The person trusting any of them has a false hope of salvation. Feelings are not proof of one's salvation. Saul of Tarsus felt he was pleasing God by persecuting the saints. The assuring words of a preacher cannot guarantee ones salvation. Paul noted that some preachers "by their smooth and fair speech deceive the hearts of the innocent" (Rom. 16:18). Jeremiah observed the prophets and priests of his day and wrote, "every one dealeth falsely" (Jer. 6:13). Ones parents cannot assure a person of his salvation. They themselves may be totally mistaken in what God expects of sinners wishing to be saved. Remember, "each one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). Neither is a vote of a church adequate to assure one of his salvation. Jesus wisely noted that "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a pit" (Matt. 15:14).

God tell us we can be sure of our salvation and provides a solid basis for that conviction. The Apostle John wrote, "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life..." (I John 5:13). The Holy Spirit "himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then... heirs of God..." (Rom. 8:16). Again, Paul write "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). We are told plainly that we are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26). It is fair to conclude that on those who have been baptized according to the teaching of Jesus can have this assurance. This is born out in the words of John, "We have boldness toward God;...because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight" (I John 3:21-22). Thus the idea that one is saved by faith alone cannot be trusted.

The Christian can be sure of his salvation! We know that God loves us and wants us to be saved (John 3:16). We know that Jesus loved us enough to die in order to secure our salvation. We know that God gave us his Holy Spirit when we were baptized (Acts 2:38). The Spirit is the seal of our salvation and our earnest on our eternal redemption (Eph. 1:13-14). The Spirit strengthens us with power in the inward man (Eph. 3:16). Although we can never merit, earn or deserve salvation, we know that God can and will extend his saving grave to us (Eph. 2:8-9). The gates of heaven stand always open to welcome the saved person into the presence of the Almighty (Rev. 21:25).

We can know we have eternal life because we know whether or not we have complied with God's plainly stated requirements for salvation (I John 5:13). Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto God (Heb. 11:6). You know if you believe. If we do not repent we will surely perish (Luke 13:3). You know if you have repented of your sins. We are commanded to be baptized (Acts 10:48) to wash away our sins (Acts 22:16). You know if you have been baptized for that purpose! Christ will render vengeance to them that obey not the gospel (II Thess. 1:8).

Paul cites the words of David, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin" (Rom. 4:8). He later tells us the Lord does not impute sin to those in Christ (II Cor. 5:18-19). This means that God does not charge the guilt of sin to his saved children who are walking in the light of the gospel. This is the case because the blood of Jesus keeps on cleansing us from all the sins we confess (I John 1:7-9).

We can be sure of our standing with God in spite of our imperfections and failings because he does not expect or demand perfection of us. "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word in not in us....And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins" (I John 1:10-2:2).

We can have confidence in our salvation "because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4). He that is in the world is Satan our adversary. He that is in us is God's Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9).

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