Am I Saved?

Qualities of the Saved

Many people question salvation. They want to believe that they are saved, but deep within them they wonder. Peter addresses a way to asses your salvation. He says i 2 Peter 1:8

2 Peter 1:8 NASB95

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The qualities that he is referring to are faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Are these characteristics that you see as tangible qualities in your life?

Is your faith in Jesus Christ and is it increasing? (Faith)

Do you study God’s word regularly? (Knowledge)

Is your life holier today than it was when you came to faith? (Self-control)

Do you continue to become holier each day? (Perseverance)

Are the fruits of the spirit evident in your life? love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Godliness)

Do you choose to see people the way Jesus sees them? (Brotherly Kindness)

Do you desire the very best for others or harm? (Love)

If you possess these qualities and they are increasing Peter notes that they are and indicator that you know Jesus. The result of that is you are fruitful for Christ.

Fruitful for Christ

What does it mean to be fruitful for Christ? Jesus instructs on being fruitful in John 15:1-11

John 15:1–11 NASB95

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

In order to bear fruit you must abide and remain in Christ. You must have an active prayer life that is effective. You must make disciples. You must keep His commandments. Your joy must be full. These are the fruits for Christ. People will vary in degree to their fruit, but a true Christian will produce these fruits.

Fruitless for Christ

The one who does not have the qualities of the Christian or bear fruit for Christ may be a Christian but will lack assurance of salvation. This lack of assurance will lead to doubt and fear. Without the assurance of salvation, this world is all we have because we are not sure of what will become of us when we leave this world.

A fruitless Christian does not have the fellowship that is necessary to assure them of their salvation. He tends to look and see all the sin in his life and forget that Christ has forgiven him. They get to a point that they question their salvation and the sincerity of their decision for Christ. They do not see any fruit and wonder if they are forgiven.

Christian qualities and fruit for Christ eliminate the questioning of salvation. This is confirmed because our joy is full in knowing that we belong to Christ and will spend eternity with Him.

Asses Your Salvation

Peter commands us to be certain of our calling to salvation. When a person is sure of their salvation the joy of their life will be consistent. They know that their path will not be perfect but that they will not stumble in a way that will cause them to lose their salvation. Quite the opposite happens when a person knows they are saved.

2 Peter 1:11 NASB95

for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

This means that our reward in heaven is secure. Rv. 22:12

Revelation 22:12 NASB95

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

When we know that we are saved, we know that Jesus will his reward. This is everlasting life with Him in heaven.

Remind Yourself of Your Salvation

Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:12

2 Peter 1:12 NASB95

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

Life is hard. There will be days where you will have trials and tribulations so severe that you question your sanity. Jesus gives us a word in John 16:33

John 16:33 NASB95

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Life can be so hard that the only thing you have is to know that a better future lies ahead.

Death is inevitable

We must all face our own mortality. We will all die unless Jesus returns before our death. The only way I know how to adequately deal with my own mortality is to know that the suffering of this world will end and I will spend eternity with my Savior in heaven. Rev. 21:3-4

Revelation 21:3–4 NASB95

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

The things that cause us sorrow and pain on earth will be no more. We will never have to face the mourning of death again because death will be no more.

1 Corinthians 15:54–56 (NASB95)

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

Do you have assurance of your salvation?

Are the qualities of a Christian evident in your life?

Is your joy full?

Do you fear death?

You can be saved today!