Am I truly saved?

How do I know I am saved?

Do you ever doubt your salvation? I think every converted believer has had moments of doubt, but for some, such doubts can become debilitating in the walk of faith. The enemies of God want Christians to doubt their salvation because the world, the flesh, and the Devil are anti-Christ, and therefore anti-truth. Paul writes in Romans 8:6–7“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Notice this: The law of the Spirit of life is what frees us from the law of sin and death. Paul is showing here, though, that God does not intend for it to stop there. We have not just changed status from "death" to "life." We have changed roads from "the road to death" to "the path of life." The idea is that we will keep going down this road. That's what Christians do. They keep their minds focused on the Spirit's things because that's the way we're going. That's who we are now. We have left the death-way behind.

It's important to be clear. Paul's teaching here does not allow for the possibility that a Christian might live in the Spirit sometimes and in the flesh at other times. Christians live in the Spirit. Period. Even when we are diverted or distracted by sin (1 John 1:9–10), that's not because it is who we are. That's not the path we're on—sin is a deviation from who we are in Christ (1 John 3:4–6 “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”

Wait: You might be thinking to yourself that I sin, so that does that mean I am not saved? NO! For those who practice sinning is the one far from God. Christ reminds us that 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

It is our deliberate sin that keeps us from God and Paul did write when he stated in Hebrews 10:26 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,”

Let’s be real, a defeated Christian is a prize for the unbelieving world, so the goal of false teachers is to produce confused, defeated Christians.

This problem was certainly true in the early church. First John, penned by the Apostle John, was written to discouraged believers who had been wrecked by false teachers. Quite importantly, a major thrust of John’s letter was to assure these discouraged ones of their permanent salvation. First John declared the doctrine that gave believers assurance they were saved in Jesus Christ and could be confident of eternal life and unbroken fellowship with God’s children. There are four tenets through which John communicated these assurances: Assurance through the test of Christian fellowship; assurance through the conflict of faith; assurance evidenced in God’s love; and assurance verified by the witness of the Holy Spirit.

How do people who have experienced the miracle of new birth deal with their own sinfulness as they try to enjoy the full assurance of their salvation? My answer is you deal with it by the way you use John’s teaching. John warns against hypocrisy over here, claiming to be born again when you’re not born again, because there’s no fruit, no evidence, no validation in your life. That’s hypocrisy, and he warns against that probably fifteen times in this letter.

And over here he celebrates that we have an advocate, 1 John 2:1 “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

Why? Because no one is without sin, and we all fall short of the glory of God! But We have one who is righteous, and who removed all the wrath of God, and, by bearing our judgment and our sin and providing our righteousness, made a way for us sinners into everlasting hope. So, those are the two things he does for us: warns us against hypocrisy over here, and celebrates the advocate and the propitiation over here.

So, the question is, How do you use those two truths? And this is really where you should deal with the Lord right now. How do you use those two truths? What do you do with them? Because what I’m going to argue is that the born-again person spiritually discerns what to do with those two truths and makes proper biblical use of them.

Feeling distant from your faith and struggling with sin are common experiences for many Christians, regardless of whether they're new believers or have been on their spiritual journey for a long time. Here are some steps you can take when you're feeling disconnected and facing temptation: Acknowledge your feelings: It's important to recognize and acknowledge your emotions rather than suppressing them. Admitting that you're feeling distant from God or struggling with sin is the first step towards addressing these issues. Pray: Prayer is a powerful tool for connecting with God and seeking guidance during difficult times. Share your struggles, doubts, and desires with God in prayer, asking for strength, forgiveness, and renewed faith. Read Scripture: Turn to the Bible for inspiration, guidance, and encouragement. Scripture can provide comfort and clarity during times of spiritual dryness or temptation. Reflect on passages that speak to your current struggles and remind you of God's love, grace, and forgiveness. Seek accountability: Find a trusted friend, mentor, or spiritual advisor who can support you in your faith journey and hold you accountable. Share your struggles with them, and ask for their prayers, advice, and guidance. Repentance and forgiveness: Confess your sins to God and seek forgiveness through genuine repentance. Remember that God's grace is greater than any sin, and he is always ready to forgive those who sincerely seek his forgiveness. Practice self-reflection: Take time to reflect on the root causes of your spiritual struggles and sinful behaviors. Are there underlying issues or patterns of thought that need to be addressed? Consider seeking professional counseling or therapy if necessary. Engage in spiritual disciplines: Make an effort to engage in spiritual disciplines such as worship, meditation, fasting, and serving others. These practices can help you draw closer to God, strengthen your faith, and resist temptation. Be patient and persistent: Remember that spiritual growth is a journey that involves ups and downs. Be patient with yourself, and trust that God is always working in your life, even during times of struggle. Stay persistent in your pursuit of God and his righteousness. By taking these steps and leaning on God's grace and guidance, you can navigate through seasons of spiritual dryness, overcome temptation, and experience renewed closeness with God as a born-again Christian.

Its the religious thinking that destroys our salvation. meaning that we are saved through faith alone and not by our works.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Sometimes believers worry about their salvation because they are trying to word for it. Worry about your own salvation does nothing by make you doubt if you are really saved or not. Its not our devotion to God that saved us, rather it is God devotion to us. Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” and Galatians 3:6 “So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Salvation comes by faith and it is not a license to sin. Being Saved is like receiving a check from someone. meaning you did nothing for that money but in order to receive the money you must deposit it.

Do not let the enemy is any else tell you that you need to work for salvation, those who say that are preaching a false gospel. Jesus said in Matthew 23:13 ““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Loving God is being obedient to God and His word. Its a relationship and in a relationship we do what pleases that person.

Ways on how to be obedient to Jesus Christ:

Study His teachings: Regularly read and study the Bible to understand Jesus' teachings and commands

.Pray for guidance: Seek guidance from God through prayer to understand His will for your life.

Follow His example: Emulate Jesus' character and actions in your own life, striving to love others, show compassion, and live a life of humility.

Trust and surrender: Trust in God's plan for your life and surrender your will to His, even when it's difficult or goes against your own desires.

Obey His commandments: Follow the commandments outlined in the Bible, such as loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself.

Repentance and forgiveness: Acknowledge your sins, repent, and seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ, allowing His grace to transform your life.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit: Invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within you, empowering you to live a life that honors God and reflects His love and truth.

Serve others: Serve others selflessly, following Jesus' example of servant leadership and compassion towards those in need.

Stay connected to the church: Participate in a community of believers, where you can receive support, accountability, and encouragement in your journey of obedience to Christ.

Persevere in faith: Remain steadfast in your faith, even in the face of challenges or opposition, trusting that God will strengthen and sustain you as you seek to obey Him.

James 2:14–26 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righ…”

Now when comparing chapter 2 and Ephesians chapter 2 it might seems like a contradiction but its not.