how do i know i am saved?
The scriptures clearly teach that it is possible to know whether we are saved or unsaved.
The assurance of the believer is not based on feeling, (though the Christian may ”feel” saved) but on the principles of God’s word. We can know we saved because
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe … that ye may know that ye have eternal life …and believe
Matthew 16:17 (13-20) Holy Spirit reveals who Jesus is – NOT man’s intellect
1 Corinthians 12:3 … no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:7 … But the manifestation – the outward works, the deeds done, the witness given – is given to all
Belief is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Christ is in our hearts (Colossians 1:26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages … this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you; and
1 John 5:10 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself
WHY do I believe I am Saved? Because …
1. of our understanding of the scriptures …1 John 5:20 We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him
2. we keep His commandments 2 Corinthians 5:1 We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.; 1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.)
3. we love the brethren 1 john 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
4. we have the inner witness of the Holy Spirit Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
We are fully persuaded concerning the keeping power of God in salvation 2 Timothy 1:12 … for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
It is impossible for an unregenerated (not renewed in heart and mind or reborn in spirit; unrepentant: ) person to have any true belief or affection for Jesus.
The believe and affection for Jesus is a result of the Spirit’s work. That is what regeneration is all about. That is what the Spirit does in quickening. God the Holy Spirit changes the disposition of our mindsand the inclination of our hearts.
Before regeneration we are cold, hostile or indifferent (which is the worst kind of hostility) to the things of God having no honest affection for Him. Because we are in the flesh the flesh does not love the things of God. Love for God is kindled by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit who pours the love of God into our hearts.
Romans 5:1-11 … Therefore being justified by faith, … we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. .. we glory in tribulations … tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope … through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
REMEMBER
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. There is a difference in un-belief and doubt. Even when we DOUBT … we are NOT alone …
Abraham doubted … Genesis 12:1-3 … the call of Abraham; Genesis 12:10-13 … say you are my sister
Moses doubted … Exodus 3:10-11 … who am I … that I should bring forth the children of Israel
John the Baptist doubted … Matthew 11:1-7, 11 … 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Thomas doubted … John 20:24-29 24 Now … So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Peter walked on the water, and doubted … Matthew 14:28-32 … O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt?
We have the Power thru the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8;
and We shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38
John identifies two ways that we can be sure of our salvation.
1. We have placed our hopes for heaven entirely on Jesus. (1 John 5:13-14)
- We have personal trust in Jesus. we trust in HIM and we cease striving to earn heaven The gospel, by its very nature, produces assurance. my assurance does not depend on how well or how much I have done. It depends on whether or not I rest in HIM.
- So the question is not, “How do I know if I am saved?” … or “Was my conversion experience real?” The important question is, “Am I resting on Jesus as payment for your sin?”
- A lot of us get caught up looking for assurance, but John writes to those who believe. The point is WHAT is the present posture of my heart.
2. We have a new nature. (vv. 16–18) When we are born of God we are given a new nature. And that comes with new desires. So we no longer “keep on sinning,” because we have new desires.
- God changes us: not by browbeating us with rules, but by giving us a new heart. We no longer love dishonesty and hatefulness and immorality, and we don’t avoid them because of threats from God, but because these things start to make us sick.
- Our change is not immediate, we are not made perfect, or that we no longer struggle with sin. But we stop engaging in sin willfully and defiantly. One cannot love God and love the things that grieve him.
- When you do start to go back toward your sin—which we all do!—Jesus protects and renews us (v. 18). In fact, one of the signs that our salvation is genuine is that even though we fall, we never permanently fall away. God brings us back, again and again.
Prov 24:16 “The righteous man falls seven times, and rises again”
Our new nature is not demonstrated by never falling, but by what we do when we fall.
Salvation does not mean sinless perfection, but it does mean a new direction. Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him from them all.
