Recently I was with a small group of friends discussing life and sharing stories. One of the girls in our group was asking challenging and purposefully uncomfortable questions to each person one by one. It was a fun way to pass the time and everyone was mostly up for it. About half way around the circle, she asked one of the guys a great question.

“What is your greatest fear?”

He was silent for a moment and looked down at the table. I wondered if he would down play the question and offer up a shallow answer. I would not blame him for being lighthearted with the question. He has a reserved personality. He could easily say a typical answer like fear of heights or snakes. But, his answer was genuine and profound.

“I guess my greatest fear is that I’m not saved.”

Now there was a silence from everyone else. We all knew he was dead serious and we respected his courageous vulnerability. Also, I felt that everyone in the group instantly related to his answer. The fear of missing out on eternal life is a horrifying thought with which many people have wrestled. But few people have the clarity and bravery to say the words out loud like this man.

Have you ever asked yourself the question am I saved? Do you struggle with this same fear? God doesn’t want us to live in doubt and fear regarding our eternal destination. We can have peace and clarity today by understanding what God has said about being saved in the Bible and by taking a moment to prayerfully reflect on where we are personally in our relationship to God.

The Scriptures give us clear instructions on what we must do to be saved. In short, we must trust in Jesus Christ. We must be relying on him for the forgiveness of our sins and for our resurrection life. If you are trusting in Jesus Christ, then you are saved.

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.

Romans 10:9

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

John 1:12

The word for “believe” in Scripture is “pisteuon” in the original Greek. It is used in the present active tense, which means it is an ongoing experience in a person’s life. Saving faith is not a one time experience but a perpetual, daily trust. It is not about getting your ticket stamped and then moving on with your life. Rather, it is more like a marriage relationship. I don’t only say “I do” on my wedding day, but I say “I do” every single day for the rest of my life. Saving faith is a perpetual and active experience in the context of a covenant relationship with God.

Also, belief is more than intellectually agreeing that Jesus is Lord. There is a big difference between intellectual affirmation and personal trust. For instance, I can hear an insurance salesperson pitch me a great financial product. I can intellectually agree that what they are selling is beneficial to my life and will enhance my financial situation. But, am I willing to sign up personally and invest my $80 each month? Am I ready to cancel my old insurance and enter into this new one? Is this just good information or am I personally ready to invest? That is where it switches from intellectual affirmation to personal trust. Likewise, saving faith is more than intellectual affirmation in Jesus Christ as a Lord and as a Savior. Rather, saving faith is personal trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Savior. Saving faith is about actually signing up and counting on Jesus to secure your future.

Saving faith is not about having a “stronger faith”. It is not the strength of your faith that saves you. Even the smallest faith is effective. It’s not the strength of your faith that saves you, but it’s the strength of the one your faith is in that saves you. Salvation is not based on your passion or level of conviction. God recognizes and can use faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains.

Salvation is not based on my personal effort. There is nothing on my personal résumé that earns me salvation. No amount of good deeds cancels my sinful record. Rather, salvation is a free gift that is received through faith. It’s not about climbing the spiritual mountain or overcoming in your own strength. Actually, God came down to us to offer salvation as a gift that can only be humbly received. Jesus died on the cross to accomplish the work of forgiveness for us. He rose again defeating death for us. The redemptive work is his work and his victory that he shares with all who trust in him.

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.

Ephesians 2:8-9

So, if you are doubting your salvation, then ask yourself this simple question. Am I personally trusting in Jesus Christ to forgive my sins and give me eternal life? If yes, then you are saved. If yes, then you don’t need to be worried or over think it. If yes, then you are a beloved child of God forevermore.

If no, then you know what you need to do to be saved. You need to personally trust in Jesus Christ. Tell him you are sorry for your sins and that you want to receive his free gift of love and salvation. He is ready to give salvation to whoever trusts him.

Knowing that we are saved is a matter of personal reflection and conviction. If you are wrestling with doubt and uncertainty, then here are some further questions to ask yourself and pray about.

Am I living in perpetual unrepentant sin? One sign that you may not have genuine saving faith in Jesus is if you are living in perpetual unrepentant sin. This is not stumbling or occasional sins. All Christians sin and are in a process of becoming transformed by the grace of God. What should get you attention is if you are perpetually sinning with no regard for God’s commands and no plans to stop. If we are walking in persistent hypocrisy, then we should question the genuineness of our faith.

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

1 John 1:6

Is there any evidence or fruit in my life? When we trust in Jesus, then we start to be transformed in our heart and actions. The Holy Spirit does a good work in our lives that helps us to bear good fruit of righteousness. It is a journey and not a perfect one. There may be a few steps forward and a few back. But, steadily the Spirit’s work will bear fruit in your life. When we see this life changing fruit, then we can see that as a sign of our saving relationship with God.

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.”

Matthew 12:33

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:23

Am I experiencing conviction or condemnation? If you are sinning as a Christian, then you will experience conviction from the Holy Spirit. Conviction is meant to drive us to repentance and then restored relationship. But the devil likes to speak condemnation into our hearts where conviction is more appropriate. Condemnation says “God doesn’t love you anymore.” Condemnation says “You are no longer saved.” Condemnation is only accurate for those who do not trust in Jesus and remain under the penalty of their sins. If you are trusting in Jesus, then you are no longer condemned. The blood of Jesus covers you sins–past, present, and future. Don’t let the devil fool you here.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

If you are still confused or grappling with doubt and fear about your salvation, then please message me. I’d be glad to talk with you personally.

Praise God that he has made a way for us in Jesus Christ. When we trust in Jesus we are saved. I encourage you to pray and talk to God about your relationship with him. Tell him what you want and affirm that you are trusting in Jesus today. He loves you so and welcomes you to experience his love and grace today.