This is a common question, based on the number of sermons, articles, and books written on the topic. Knowing whether you are really saved isn’t difficult, but conscientious, anxious people often worry whether they are a ‘good enough Christian’, which is actually a different issue. That is a law versus grace question which I will discuss in another post. For now, just know that you are saved by grace, not how good you are, and that is the gospel in a nutshell!

In today’s culture, people who believe that the Bible is God’s truth are often criticized as being ‘fundamentalists’. But you can’t believe in anything without knowing what you believe. “Being saved” is based on having certain fundamental beliefs about God that come from the Bible. Christians believe that we can and do know what we need to know and do to be saved. If you want to check to see if you are really saved, you need to know what the Bible says about it. This article may help you decide if you are still trying to earn your salvation (keeping the law) or if you have made a false confession of faith (not saved).

What did Jesus say about proof that you are saved? He said that those who are saved will LOVE GOD AND LOVE THEIR NEIGHBOR. Not just “love your neighbor” and not just “love God”. Being ‘spiritual’ is not the same as repenting of your sins. Jesus also said that those who are saved will DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.

Do you know WHO you believe in?

Jesus’ main mission, besides dying on the cross, was to glorify God. Everything he said and did pointed to God’s authority, holiness, and righteousness. God created us and we are subject to Him. If you believe in random evolution, you do not believe in God. If you say you “believe in Jesus”, but do not understand who God is, your faith is in a mythical God. Make sure that you believe in the God of the Bible, not a different God, because the world is full of other ‘gods’.

What are works and do they matter?

Works are the things we do ‘for God’. This is a big question and I refer you to these articles for more information. But briefly, works can be done for right and wrong reasons.

What is the sign that someone is not saved, according to Jesus? In one of the most anxiety-producing passages in the Bible, Matthew 7:21- 23, Jesus describes a man who shows up at the gates of the kingdom and thinks he has earned his way into heaven by doing miracles and good works in Jesus’ name. Then Jesus says, I never knew you, cast him into outer darkness. In another sermon Jesus lists some differences between the saved and unsaved where he describes how we treated others, giving the thirsty a drink of water. Not only can this apply to actual water, but it also refers to telling others about the Jesus, the living water. In both cases you are demonstrating love and compassion for others, which is a sign of salvation.

But what about the person who did good works and miracles but Jesus said didn’t know them? That person did not love God and love others, they loved themselves and were pursuing a worldly form of outward righteousness that did not include a fear of God. If they did fear God and respect his authority and seek glory, Jesus would have known them. In other words, they looked good on the outside, but God knows the real motivation. That person never saw themselves as a wretched sinner in need of salvation and sought forgiveness through humble confession of their inability to save themselves. They wanted to be saved based on their own righteousness which the Bible says is not good enough. The ultimate problem is they didn’t truly recognize God’s authority over them and act accordingly.

Law versus Grace

Does being saved mean that you must keep the Old Testament law? No. Salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus who fulfilled the law perfectly. However, as stated above, when we are saved we should have a desire to obey God and Jesus said that will show fruits of the spirit. In other words, if you are truly saved, you will not be able to keep on sinning like you were before because you will feel convicted, guilty, when you do. The Ten Commandments are basic moral laws that almost all cultures and people recognize as ‘the right thing to do’. People who regularly break the commandments should examine their faith. The only one we do not have to keep anymore is the Sabbath. Jesus said he is the lord of the Sabbath. He fulfilled that law for us.

Do you believe the Gospel?

The gospel has been overly simplified in some cases. People like short and sweet. But this can sometimes lead to false confessions of faith because people are saying YES to something they don’t really understand. A false confession is dangerous because it does not lead to ‘saving faith’. Saving faith is faith in the real Jesus, the real God, and recognition that there is going to be real judgment for sins.

The Gospel and the fundamental meaning of salvation is that 1)You recognize that God has the authority to condemn you for your sins and that you are a sinner. 2) You have asked God to forgive your sins by your belief in Jesus life, death, and resurrection. 3)You live your life in submission to God’s authority and seek his will for your life daily. 4) You continue to confess your sins and ask forgiveness after being saved. 5)You grow in your faith and sin LESS over time. 6)Most important, your LOVE for God and others grows and is demonstrated as the Holy Spirit changes you when you obey. If you do not love others at all, you should really question your salvation.

When you were born again, or converted, you received the Holy Spirit. You do not need to do anything extra to be filled with the spirit. But you do need to pray for the spirit to guide and correct you so you can become more like Christ through sanctification, not by a self-improvement course. Jesus said to pray without ceasing. Prayer is how we communicate with ‘the boss’, and if we don’t pray we are prone to wander away into worldly concerns and pursuits. The Holy Spirit helps us pray and helps us avoid making wrong choices that lead to sin.

Going to Church

If you want to grow as a Christian, you must understand that you are part of the church, the Body of Christ, which is the amazing, supernatural connection to other believers. When you go to church you can be discipled by more mature believers and begin to serve God and have fellowship. You will become ‘set apart’ as you spend more time focusing on what God has planned for you and less on the world’s way of living. This is God’s will for us. He wants us to trust Him daily. He doesn’t give us the whole plan at once.

James said that ‘Faith without works is dead.” He didn’t mean that we are saved by works. He meant that if you have faith, you will also have works. You get saved, then you get sanctified by obedience. Besides the evidence of your inner motivation, there should be outer changes in your life as well. Do you desire to spend time worshiping God, serving in the church, reading the Bible, loving the people in your daily life, giving your money, concerning yourself with eternal things more than worldly things? Those are the fruits of your salvation that will give you confidence that you are ‘really saved’. Sanctification is a life-long process. Thankfully our savior Jesus is always with us and helping us.

Conclusion

Remember, Jesus paid it ALL. He bought you back from the death penalty of sin with HIS LIFE. You cannot save yourself by good works. But you should demonstrate your true repentance by a changed inner and outer life. There is no contradiction between faith and works. We are saved by grace and we do good works because we are saved. The contradiction is between grace and Law. No one can be saved by keeping the law. Being saved by grace means freedom! Don’t become a slave again by trying to keep the law. If you think you are doing everything right, you might want to check yourself for the sin of pride. It’s sneaky!

I pray that you will believe the gospel and accept the free gift of grace today and submit your life to the one who loves you so much that he died for you.