How Do I Know That I’m Saved?
How do I know I’m saved Pastor?
John 15:1-5
First, you have acknowledged Christ as the only begotten Son of God, repented of your sin, and clung to HIS sacrifice and HIS resurrection.
Romans 5:10 – “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
So salvation is thus, we are made aware of our separation from God by the drawing of HIS Holy Ghost.
Through strong preaching and exhortation of the WORD of God we are made aware of the vileness of sin and the condemnation there of.
From this, a sorrowful repentant heart will confess their sins before the almighty God and cling to HIS mercy and HIS grace.
Redemption, renewal, resurrection, reconciliation, regeneration all take place or begin to take place at the moment of our belief in Christ.
Could anybody, the day you got saved, tell you any differently?
John 4:28-29 – “28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
John 4:39-42 – “39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
Yet, now you doubt.
Why?
Generally, when someone comes to me because they doubt their salvation, it’s because there is something in their life they can’t kick, they can’t let go of.
I would say almost 100% of Christians have been there.
Or maybe, your suffering is so severe, you can’t imagine that an all-powerful loving God would allow such travesty to befall HIS children.
Romans 5:3-6 – “3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
I’ve learned that often those suffering doubts due to affliction just need to be reminded of the LOVE of God, not just through speaking much scripture, but also feeling it from a brother or sister in Christ.
For those who fall into doubt because of lingering sin and temptation in their life, understand that sanctification is a process. Your redeemed and reconciled at the moment of belief and acceptance of Christ, you know and have felt that.
Romans 10:9 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Luke 23:39-43 – “39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
But again I say, sanctification is a process.
Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jeremiah 18:1-6 – “1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”
God is absolutely sovereign (so much so that that’s a redundant statement), I will continue to preach this home, God has full control over the believers, the nonbelievers, the heavens and the earth, all of creation.
But, in willfully giving ourselves over to HIM, we enter into sanctification, where HE may fashion us a vessel unto HIS glory.
James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
The thing is, we overcome through God! And our trust in HIM! And HIS strength! And HIS ability to save! And our willingness to let HIM mold us!
Sanctification – overcoming the flesh, our sin, and the world through faith in the All-Mighty God!
How do I know I’m saved Pastor!?!?
2 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “4For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. 5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.”
It is expected to have times where we feel as if we are still reprobates. Unprincipled and unlearned, but we examine ourselves to better correct our shortcomings.
How do I know I’m saved Pastor!?!?
Two things to help you.
Those who are of God, abhor sin.
Romans 12:9 – “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
They see their own sin as disgusting and vile, a plague upon their life, and seek God to remove it.
A lost person will rationalize and accept their sin.
Apply your life to what the bible says are the Fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-25 – “19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”