How Can I Know I Am Saved?
Many people experience doubts, or a lack of assurance, as it pertains to their salvation. They struggle through each day, or sermon for that matter, wondering if they “did the right things” for salvation or if “God will accept them” due to their past sins. Some even fight this battle for years trying to justify their decision, either through good works, being faithful to church, or simply because they don’t do “bad things.” Some have even questioned whether God wants us to find assurance. The obvious answer is “yes.” He desires that we know Him and have complete assurance in Him based on Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Professor Donald Whitney says, “But assurance of salvation is not only possible, it should be the normal experience for every Christian.” In that regard, the Bible says, “But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Timothy 1:12). We live in a fallen world; therefore, many people stumble through their lives without the proper assurance for their faith in Jesus. However, there is hope through Christ to know that we are His.
Assurance of Salvation
To best understand, “Assurance of salvation is a God-given awareness that He has accepted the death of Christ on your behalf and forgiven you of your sins. It involves the confidence that God loves you, that He has chosen you, and that you will go to Heaven” (Donald Whitney). Moreover, it is trusting, resting, and placing our faith in the complete atoning work of Christ.
God wants us to have assurance of our eternal life in Him. One may continue to wonder why they experience doubts and a lack of security. After all, there are plenty of people who doubt. Pastor J.D. Greear says, “That’s probably why in his first letter to the church, the apostle John explored how believers can know- know– that they have eternal life.” The main idea in 1 John 2 is that believers in Jesus Christ have full assurance of their salvation because they love and obey Him. Dr. Danny Akin says that obeying Christ’s commands helps believers enjoy the assurance of their salvation.
In like manner, 1 John 5:13 states, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” Douglas Sean O’Donnell says, “he wrote this epistle because he wanted Christians to know the answer to it. One way in which we can know that we have received the gift of salvation is to accept through faith the testimony of God concerning Jesus.” Make no mistake, salvation, and assurance are totally dependent on Jesus, not a person’s good or bad decisions, good works, or anything else. It is based on what Christ has done for us, in us, and through us. R. C Sproul says, “Assurance of God’s call comes through the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s influence in our lives as it produces good works (Gal. 5:22-24; 1 John 3:10,14), in conjunction with the internal testimony of the Spirit in our hearts (Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:16).”
Do you know that you have eternal life?
J.D. Greear says, “Salvation is not given because you prayed a prayer correctly, but because you have leaned the hopes of your soul on the finished work of Christ.” This is not saying that prayer is not essential, but praying without totally repenting and trusting Jesus leads to a prayer that is prayed but not to a changed life. To know that you have eternal life with God through Christ brings peace, especially knowing that Christ has secured your eternity. Meaning, if we have repented of our sins, turned and trusted Christ to save and secure us, the Holy Spirit is sanctifying us by growing us to be more like Christ, then we can have assurance that we are saved and will spend eternity with Jesus. The question remains, “Are you saved and have assurance of your salvation?” One might resort to repeating the sinners’ prayer. In fact, Pastor J.D. Greear suffered greatly from doubts and lack of assurance. In his book, Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart, he details how he received baptism four times because he simply could not get assurance of his salvation. It wasn’t until he concluded that his salvation is not about what he (Greear) did, but what Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection.
Scripture Verses
1 John 1:4:
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1 John 2:1:
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 2:12-13:
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning I am writing to you, young men because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
1 John 2:21:
I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
1 John 2:26:
I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
1 John 5:13:
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Dr. Danny Akin’s summary of these verses is powerful. He says, “1 John goes like this: I am writing because you are true believers, but there are deceivers in your midst, and I want you to be rock-solid confident in your present possession of eternal life as regenerate children of God, so my joy will be complete. So at the heart of his reason for writing is the desire to help them know they are born again- that they now have new spiritual life. Eternal life.” God does not want His followers struggling to find assurance of their salvation. Instead, He wants us to find joy and peace in our salvation. Followers cannot manufacture this on their own; rather, they can pray, trust, obey, and rest in His Word and His promises.
Video Resources
Resources
The Reformation Study Bible (ESV) (RC Sproul)
Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know For Sure You Are Saved (J.D. Greear)
How Can I be Sure I’m A Christian: What The Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation (Donald
Whitney)
1-3 John Reformed Expository Commentary (Douglas Sean O’Donnell)
Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus In 1,2, & 3 John (Daniel L. Akin)
Recommended Resources
Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know For Sure You Are Saved (J.D. Greear)
How Can I be Sure I’m A Christian: What The Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation (Donald
Whitney)
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