Many today do their best to make sure they truly have received salvation. They want to be certain they will be among the saved when the Lord returns. Personally, I believe this can be a good thing for Christians. By seeking to ensure salvation they are showing how serious they are about their faith and show that you believe what the scripture says to be true.
Thankfully this is not an issue that we must worry over. Or search hard to discover the answer. Because God has made it very easy for His people to know for sure they are saved. By giving great instruction and insights throughout scripture. The first step to ensure you have been forgiven and will be saved. Is to be sure you followed the plan of salvation that is clearly laid out by Peter in the book of Acts.
Which begins with the belief that Jesus is the son of God. Come to this earth to be made a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Followed by the repentance for and turn from your sins. Then baptism in Jesus’s name and receiving the Holy Ghost.
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Acts 2:37-38 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Once you have completed those aspects of receiving salvation you must continue to live a life worthy of the call. Because while nothing can ever take your salvation from you. It is possible for you to freely give it up by returning to your sinful past.
1 Peter 1:14 (ESV)
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
To really test yourself and know you are truly going to be saved simply turn to the First Epistle of John. In which John lays out multiple ways to know if one is truly saved and living for God. For instance, we see almost instantly that those who walk in darkness do not have fellowship with God.
1 John 1:6-7 (ESV)
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
The book goes on to explain that those who know God keep His commandments. Stating that those who keep God’s word have the love of God in them.
1 John 2:3-5 (ESV)
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
John is sure to point out that it is not the occasional fall to sin that shows us to be unsaved. But that it is those who make a continued practice of sinful activity who are not of God. Paul even points out those who live a lifestyle of sin. Worthy of a title such as adultery, murder, etc. It is those who shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 John 3:7-9 (ESV)
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
John even goes as far as to say that those who claim that Jesus abides in them. Should be walking as Jesus walked. Or even live in the way that He lived.
1 John 2:6 (ESV)
6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
This means we should study the life of Christ. Making a point to learn the way he lived and do what we can to live the same way. This means loving all people, giving freely, showing compassion, and so so much more.
1 John 4:19 (ESV)
19 We love because he first loved us.
John 15:9 (ESV)
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
Matthew 10:8 (ESV)
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Matthew 9:36 (ESV)
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Does your life align with the scriptures shared in this article? If so that’s awesome, but don’t allow that to go to your head. If not then you know what you must do. Turn away from the way you have been living and turn back to God. Really spend time reflecting on this and ensure your salvation. Don’t run the race in vain but chase after the prize of eternal life.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (ESV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
While these verses are a great test of your faith and salvation. Do not allow them to be the only scripture you base your salvation on. You need the whole Bible because every verse is important to our salvation. So please spend time everyday reading and studying the word. It is your greatest tool to never lose sight of your salvation.
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