A common email for me is one where someone is questioning their salvation. The typical person is one who has been in the church for a number of years, perhaps even growing up in the church, but, for whatever reason, never quite feels they are saved. Recently I had this kind of question and decided others may have the same struggle. I’m not pretending I have the best answer, but perhaps you need to read it.
Here is my email reply:
Thank you for your email. I don’t know if I can help or not, but I’ll try. I think though, that this may be less complicated than you are making it.
The Bible is fairly clear to me what is required to be a follower of Christ…to be a Christian…to be saved…
John 6:29, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:13….
It takes believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that He lived and died on a cross and rose from the grave, and that Jesus is the only way for a sinner such as you and me to be right with a Holy God.
Do you believe that?
If so, you are saved. Not because I said so or you said so, or even because you feel you are saved or you do not feel you are saved, but because God said so. In my experience, many times when a person doesn’t feel saved, it’s because they are looking too closely at what they have done or haven’t done instead of at what Christ has done. Salvation hangs completely on the finished work of Christ, not on the efforts of man.
I seldom meet non-believers who even question their faith. That seems to be something the devil loves to use against believers…causing us to doubt our salvation. The key may be to accept truth…and convince yourself that what God said is true! (It is by the way.) You may have to remind yourself of that truth many times until it sticks.
I’m praying God speaks clearly to your heart that you are saved…that your heart has been changed…and that you are in a right relationship with Him, not by your efforts, but by the grace of Jesus Christ, in whom you believe. Remember also, God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He measures and weighs our motivation. If you truly are desiring to be saved, I’d say you have a saving kind of faith…
From what you are telling me, I think you’re in! I don’t believe it takes special words or a special prayer to be saved. I believe it’s what happens when a heart chooses to simply, without reservation, follow Christ alone. There’s nothing wrong, however, with saying a simple prayer if it makes you feel more certain in your decision.
You might pray, “Dear God, I know you love me. I know I’ve done things wrong…I’m a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose from the grave, paving the only way for me to get to you. Forgive me of my sins, come into my heart, and save me. I want to follow Christ with my life. Thank you for saving me.”
Again, use your own words, but be certain your heart is fully open to Jesus!
God bless,
Ron
Have you ever doubted your salvation? Are you doubting now?
i doubt if i’m a believer because i stopped going to church and don’t even love people from my church.
Do you believe Jesus died for your sins and is the way for a sinner to reach a holy God? Thanks!Ron Edmondson
besides i have the ominous feeling of going to hell oe day… i have sleep paralysis quiet often…i cant stop sinning… i failed to put God's word into action many a times…. i failed to fulfill promises i have made to others…… i really believe in God and Lord Jesus as my only Lord and Saviour…. but what should i do? i dont want to go to hell….. please help! thanks
hi Sir, i am really confused with the Bible verse "not all who call me Lord Lord shall enter the Kingdom of God" and that we have to do his will…. how do we discover his will for us? thank you!
You have to call on Him with a sincere heart. It sounds as if you are.
Christians, YOU ARE NOT SAVED.
It is self evident, because God who is the Savior, is not present in your heart. Did He save you and then not introduce Himself? Did He save you but wants to keep you in darkness? He is the light, and darkness cannot be in His presence. Yet it is self evident that you still desire the things of this world (sand) while Jesus offered that which is from a different world (God, who is water).
No. He is not present, and therefore you are not saved. You have misunderstood scripture, due to selfishness.
You apply the message that "salvation is by grace alone" to mean that you don't need to apply the teaching of Jesus Christ "Repent, Forgive" to be saved.
You hypocrites, is it not your works by which you claim to be saved? "I believe, I opened my heart, I brought God into my life, He saved me, He is doing things in my life, I opened my heart o Jesus" Who are you?
Can the weak move the strong? Can the imperfect be more cunning than the perfect? Only God decides if you have followed the scripture, that you confess with your mouth Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. You don't even understand these scriptures because you don't apply the teaching of Jesus Christ. You look through the lens of selfishness when you study the Bible.
In selfishness you disobey what God commands even when He showed that He is forgiving. You are still only concerned that you will not receive His wrath. And you think that your confession of Jesus Christ with your mouth is anything but mockery? Jesus came to show us that God is forgiving and you need not be afraid of wrath. Yet still you do not want to know Him. Still you do not want to please Him. Still you want to sin without repentance.
God saves you. So please Him. Do that by trying to follow the teaching "Repent. Forgive". Your fault is that you are trying to enjoy God's property as if it belongs to you, and His servants (your brothers) as if they are your servants.
See it in your actions, be sorry, and you will receive Grace. He is pleased when you do what He said to do. It's not that you are saved by works (your own, which is selfishness), but by Grace, which is His works (which is unselfishness) If master says "servant, do this" should the servant claim the action as his own?
Do not pretend to be a Christian, be a Christian. And certainly do not fool yourself, out of self righteousness, into believing that mile marker 1 on the narrow road is the destination. God will reveal Himself as the Savior when He saves you. Lest you think your Savior is to afraid to show His face. Make your own reason, and fool yourself the more.
God wants you to know Him, be with Him, see Him, but it is your own selfishness which you need saving from, and He does not force you. If you want to be saved, apply the teaching, and you will please Him. This shows Him that you are doing these things because you want to know Him, not because you have to.
And please do not mock Jesus Christ, for He did not die for your sins that you remain dead. He lived and taught that you may have life, and you have chosen death because you are so selfish, and only wish to be saved from sin, rather than know the taste of water.
In Jesus Christ name, and by the power of the holy spirit.
Amen.
Jason Lundy
I sometimes wonder if people are really questioning their salvation or are they questioning their relationship to God? I suppose that one could honestly question their salvation. For example, we are to believe the stance of something for nothing; not a point that is lived well in this world. Second, if there is no flash of light or angels singing did it really happen? So we prayed the prayer… now what? I still feel the same and so…is that it? I can see this putting doubt in a new believers mind.
But for someone who's been a believer for a long time, I wonder if it has more to do with a lack of faith in their daily interactions with God. I've been a believer for almost 40 years. But it's only been in the last couple of years that I really feel like God and I have come to a point of my really being able to have faith and trust in the light of all the bad stuff that spins around me each day. For years I questioned why I never heard from Him.; why I felt so alone. I could have questioned my salvation, but I didn't. I now realize that the issue was mine, not His…surprise 🙂
The stresses and pressures, especially with my marriage, are even greater and more pressing than before, but I stay strong, but lonely, by knowing that I have that good relationship. If I didn't, I'd be even more likely to question everything…perhaps even salvation.
I just wanted to point this out and I think it is something that is overlooked often times. Ron you said, "I seldom meet non-believers who even question their faith. That seems to be something the devil loves to use against believers…causing us to doubt our salvation." Could it be because Satan is a lot less worried about non-believers? Could it be that Satan works so hard to have us, as Christ followers, doubt our salvation in the true, risen, Christ Jesus because he is without question the ONLY way, the ONLY truth, and the ONLY life? I believe the answer to both theses questions is a resounding yes!
I think you are right. Thank you.
Ron, thanks for posting this! I work with teens and am constantly asked the very same question. I think that the confusion comes from a gospel that is ambiguous about what happens after salvation begins. Even your response (which was good) isn't clear on this. What we do after salvation doesn't add anything to grace, but it is important as well. I like that you quote the two passages in Romans 10. In my experience, it is essential to help someone understand that calling Jesus "Lord" implies a life led after the initial conversion experience. It calls us to submit to his authority. Again, this adds nothing to salvation, but it does give direction to a professed new belief.
That's a great add. Thank you.