How Can I Know I Am Saved?

I. Importance

A. Some thought they were saved but were not

B. Matthew 7:21-23 – “Lord, lord…” Matthew 25: Judgment seat of Christ; some thought they served but did not

C. The Christian should have confidence in his salvation

D. Our salvation will provide little strength during time of trial and persecution if we are not sure we have it in the first place. Lack of confidence about our salvation may lead us to be more concerned about ourselves or make us feel that we must keep working to earn something we never can attain by works thus frustrating us.

II. Standards

A. Some person’s word

B. I know I am saved because my preacher, parent, or teacher told me so.2 Peter 2:13-21 – (do not read) false teachers with false promises entice believers who lose their salvation when they follow the teachers There were many religious teachers who thought that Paul was doing a great thing by persecuting the church but they were wrong.

C. Feelings

D. Some will say, ” I know I am saved because I feel it in my heart.”

E. Unsure standard

F. Should our feelings be the standard by which we judge our salvation?

G. We do not use this standard in other matters. Proverbs 28:26 Proverbs 14:12 – a wrong way may seem right Feelings are subjective (originates within) but truth is objective, it remains fixed and does not change regardless of feelings

H. Feelings do not change the truth

I. The way you feel about salvation does not alter God’s word Wayne Greeson: “Whether or not you are saved is an objective fact, not subject to the whims of how you feel from moment to moment.” Proverbs 3:5 – trust God, not your own understanding

J. Promises of God

K. 2 Timothy 3:15 – scripture makes us wise for salvation God’s word is objective and we can measure ourselves by that standard Greeson: “God will judge you by His Word, not by how you feel.” John 12:48 – Words will judge us on the last day

III. Blessed Assurance

A. Have I believed that Jesus is the Son of God?

B. John 3:16 – believe or perish James 2:20-23, 26 – Faith without works is dead

C. Have I repented of my sins?

D. Luke 13:3 – unless you repent you will perish Acts 3:19 – repent so your sins can be blotted out

E. Have I confessed Jesus as the Son of God?

F. Matthew 10:32 – Necessary for God’s favor Romans 10:9-10 – Believe and confession for salvation

G. Have I been baptized for the remission of sins?

H. Matthew 28:19 – Disciples made through baptism Acts 2:38 – repent and be baptized in order to be saved

I. Some do not believe that one must be baptized in order to be saved.

J. Why would we exclude something God tied to salvation?

K. “Why would I not want to do something that the Bible says is necessary in order to be saved?”

L. Does pride or arrogance that will prevent me from obeying when I do not know “how” God accomplishes salvation through a specific act? Is it prejudice against certain commands because, despite what is clearly revealed, someone says that you do not have to do it?

M. Some will end the list before or after baptism, but God’s word does not

N. Those who advocate ending the list here say that one cannot lose salvation Sam Morris, Baptist Preacher: “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his souls…And all the sins he may commit from murder to idolatry will not make his soul in any more danger.“

O. Those who hold this position have no assurance of salvation.

P. I have asked those who believe that one cannot lose his salvation to explain how a person can be a faithful member of their church for forty years then all of a sudden leave the church, abandon his wife and move in with another woman, pursue a life of immorality and disgrace and still be saved.

Q. Some say that the man would not be lost—as if God’s hands are tied and He will have to let a rebellious, immoral person into heaven. More often someone will answer that he was never saved in the first place—he only appeared to be saved. Since a person can be considered a good Christian for forty years but determined to have not been a Christian at all later in life means that such a person can have no confidence in salvation.

R. Am I walking with God, obedient to His will?

S. 1 John 1:5-7 – Walk in the light2 Peter 1:10-11 – growing will make your calling and election sure

T. Do I ask God to forgive me when I sin?

U. 1 John 1:8-9 – Confess our sins Hebrews 10:26-27 – the rebellious forfeit remission of sins

IV. Conclusion: We can have confidence in our salvation; not by our emotions or the words of another but we can examine God’s word and know that we are saved. I may not “feel” saved or have forgiven myself, but I can know that God has forgiven me. I can show others why I have confidence in salvation and how they can have that confidence. My confidence is not in myself but in God’s power and mercy and He will preserve me.

V. Can I Know If I Am Saved?