Are you saved?
How can you know?
Have you ever doubted your salvation? If you have, you are not alone. Most people have wondered at some point in their lives whether or not they are saved. But is it possible to know if you died today where your soul would go? Is it a feeling or is there a more sure way? Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder or worry. The Bible teaches there is a way you can know you are saved! Please take the time to examine and verify the following information in order to claim for yourself the assurance the Bible offers.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). According to this passage, it is possible to know if we have eternal life. Notice this assurance comes from the things that are written in the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Because you possess nothing more valuable than your soul (Mt. 16:26), you should verify by the Bible all that you believe and practice. What does the Bible say on the subject of salvation?
Salvation: A gift offered by God!
The Bible pictures two parts to salvation: God’s part and man’s part. God, out of His love for man, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16). God’s part is called grace. Grace is unmerited, or unearned, favor. We are not saved by our own goodness or our own deeds. We can never do anything so as to put God in our debt or earn our salvation. Salvation is a gift from God (Romans 6:23; Eph. 2:8). Paul explained, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). God’s offer of salvation is for everyone, regardless of race, gender, or nationality.
Although God’s grace has appeared to all men, not all men will be saved (Mt. 7:13; 2 Thess. 1:8). The difference between being saved and lost has to do with man’s part to salvation. Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).
Salvation: A gift received by man!
A gift offered is of no benefit unless it is received. How do we receive this gift from God? Would God make such a sacrifice and then fail to tell us what we need to do in order to be saved? Would He make us guess as to what is expected of us? Certainly not! The Bible clearly teaches the process by which we can receive the gift of salvation.
One must hear the gospel
God’s message of salvation is contained within the New Testament and is available only to those who agree to live under its teachings. But before we can make such an agreement, we must first learn about God’s New Covenant. We cannot agree to obey what we have not heard or do not understand. Paul says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
One must believe
After hearing God’s message, we must believe it. The writer of Hebrews says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must believe Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus said, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Before ascending back to heaven, Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach the gospel to the whole world. Explaining this process, He said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). It was for this purpose that Jesus came to earth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
One must repent
Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of life. Through reading and understanding the New Testament, we learn about sin and its effects on the soul, and about Jesus’ sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin. We become sorrowful for the past life we have lived and decide to devote the remainder of our lives to serving God based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is repentance. Paul told the Athenians that God “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
One must express their faith verbally
Faith is not an outward action or condition that is immediately observable. Once a person has heard God’s Word and has confidence in its truth, he must communicate that faith. This is what the Bible calls “confession.” Jesus tells us, “whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Confession is a necessary element in one’s pursuit of salvation (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9–10).
One must be baptized
Baptism means “to dip, to immerse, to submerge.” Baptism is an act of obedience, by which God changes our spiritual standing. Baptism puts us into Christ (Galatians 3:27); it puts us into His church (1 Corinthians 12:13); it puts us into the death of Jesus (Romans 6:3) where we can be cleansed by His blood; it is a spiritual cleansing that washes away our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Baptism results in a believer obtaining a new relationship with God. Where once a person was outside of Christ, he is now in Christ; where once he was outside the church, he is now in the church; where once he was separated from Jesus’ cleansing blood, he is now a recipient of its cleansing. Jesus told His disciples that believing persons were to be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16). Peter tells us plainly the purpose of baptism is to save the soul (1 Peter 3:21).
As one examines the examples of conversion in the book of Acts, a consistent pattern emerges. In each case, the individuals heard the message of salvation, believed that message, repented of their sins, and submitted to baptism in water. In Acts 2, those who were convicted by the preaching of the gospel asked, “what shall we do?” Peter answered, “repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). The Lord adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47) where He expects them to worship Him (Eph. 3:21), grow to be like Him (2 Pt. 1:5-11), and remain faithful to Him unto death (Rev. 2:10).
Conclusion
God wants you to be saved—no message is clearer in the Bible. God’s desire for you to be saved is so great that He sacrificed His only Son as a sin offering on your behalf. God has done His part. Have you done your part? His offer of salvation is still available. Have you received His offer? Examine and verify for yourself the teachings of the Bible. You don’t have to wonder about your salvation. Let God’s word remove all of your doubts. You can know you are saved!
If you have questions about your salvation, we would love to help you in obeying the gospel. It is not worth taking a chance. We anxiously await the opportunity to assist you “in order that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).