Got Questions?

Week 1 - How Can I Know If Im Truly Saved?

Doubt is an ugly thing. It creeps into our minds at unexpected times and it cripples us and keeps us from being able to do what we want to do, what we ought to do, and what we need to do.

When it comes to the matter of salvation, it is no different. As a matter of fact, I would argue that the doubting of your salvation or the lack of complete assurance may be one of the most crippling things that you can experience. The mental anguish, the severe anxiety, the constant questioning “what if?”.

I think for most Christians, at some point in their Christian life, there will be a time when we start to have some doubt, whether that be triggered by us falling into sin, or simply us overthinking it by making it more complicated than it really is. “What if I didnt say the right thing?” “What if the Timing wasnt right?” “What if im wrong?” “What if I didnt do it the right way?”.

In 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine 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?” Paul says we ought to examine ourselves, to determine whether we truly are saved or not. So how can we know?

I. The Essential Elements of Salvation

The Bible gives us some specific elements that must be present when one gets converted that make it authentic.

Truth - One cannot get saved without truth, because the Gospel IS the Truth. The Truth is the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Troubling - Conviction of the Holy Spirit. Salvation MUST be initiated by the Holy Spirit, it does not happen when we are “ready” or when we choose it to happen. This is why when we give the gospel, we shouldn’t try to push them into a decision, the Holy Spirit has to illuminate a person’s heart to their sinfulness and their need of a Savior.

John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

John 16:8 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Personal Testimony of when I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit to be saved.

Turning and Trusting - Once a person has had their sinful condition and their lostness illuminated, THEN they must respond. They respond in repentance and faith.

What is Repentance? It is NOT a work of man. It is not you deciding “im not going to sin anymore”, because that would be a work. Repentance is simply you turning to Christ, and then HE turns you from your sin.

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

What is Faith?

Faith is defined in Hebrews 12:2 “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

To put it simply, Faith is just believing what God says and taking action upon it

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Faith is described in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Belief is the confidence that a parachute can keep you from dying when jumping out of a plane. Faith is putting the parachute on and jumping out!

Salvation is simply turning to the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting that He can save you!

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Testimony - Genuine Salvation produces change in a persons life. It may not necessarily be an outward change, but it is ALWAYS an inward (heart) change! It is impossible and foolish to think that someone as big as God can move into your heart and no one notice it!

Acts 9 - the conversion of Saul

It not only produces change, but you wont be able to forget it! You will have a story to tell

This does NOT mean you will remember every little detail of your salvation experience. But it does mean that you will have some recollection of you making that decision.

If you won a free Lamborghini, you would never forget that day. How much more would you remember the day you were born again?

Paul never forgot the day that he met Jesus. He spoke of it often, even decades later!

Have you been born again? Do you have a testimony? Do you have a recollection of your salvation?

II. Why do we Doubt and How to Combat it

People who have doubted

John the Baptist

Matthew 11:3 “ And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”

Matthew 11:11 “ Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

The Disciple Thomas

John 20:25 “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

The Children of Israel

Many times throughout the OT, the Israelites doubted the promises of God, but God always proved Himself again to them.

Their doubts did not make them any LESS God’s people. Your doubt doesnt make you any less of a Christian

Why do people doubt?

Because they may not be actually saved

Because they are massive overthinkers!

We like to overcomplicate Salvation and think it is much harder to obtain than it is. It is so simple that a child can comprehend, yet so profound that even the Angels cannot perceive!

They are buying into the misconception that their salvation depended on them

Nothing you or I did saved us. It was Christ who paid the price and the Holy Spirit who drew us unto Christ. All we did was simply respond to His invitation.

If your doubt is rooted in the question “what if I…?” then you can be sure it is not from God, for Salvation has nothing to do with you!

The reality of Hell

As Christians, we know and understand that Hell is a real and devastating place, and we dont want to go there. So sometimes we doubt simply to make sure we are not going to hell.

Anxiety/Depression

These are very real things that people struggle with. They should not be brushed off as illegitimate.

How to combat Doubt?

Remember it is Christ, not YOURSELF that Saved you. You are not able to save yourself, and you are not able to keep yourself saved. That is Jesus’ responsibility, not yours!

Memorize the promises of God regarding salvation

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

God did His part, and if you did your part, there is nothing else to it!

Confess any sin that you know is unconfessed. Sometimes we can confuse the conviction for salvation for the conviction of sin.

John 13:6-10.

Understand that God is not the Author of Confusion. God desires for you and I to have clarity and to KNOW we are saved

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Understand that Salvation is NOT BASED ON FEELINGS! You may not “feel” saved sometimes, but that doesnt mean you arent! Always refer to what Scripture says, not what you FEEL

1 John 3:20 “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

2 Peter 1:18–19 “ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”

Conclusion

Doubt is one of the most effective tools the Devil has at making us ineffective for the Lord. When we are crippled by Doubt, we cant do anything else until we get the assurance.

Dont let the Devil cripple you with doubt! take these things to heart and live in the peace and freedom that Salvation brings!

If you realize that you may not be saved, I encourage you to get that settled TODAY!