Have you ever doubted if you were saved or not? Have you just had a "wait and see" attitude if you will make it to heaven? In other words, you are not 100% sure of your salvation. Some think that just because they are perfectly good people in basic qualities and works, that they will probably go to heaven.
What does the Bible say? It is God's Holy Word which is the authority on salvation and on the power of the shed blood of Jesus to save you.
1 John 5:11, 12 tells us: (11) "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
"Whoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him." - 1 John 5:1
If you are "born of God" - or born again - then you can rest assured that you are truly saved and heaven-bound.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
To be born again is to put your full trust and faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior , and to follow as closely as you can in His footsteps; to become more Christ like in every way. If you are sincere in your belief in Jesus, you will repent from all sin and will not return to your former lifestyle of living selfishly and sinfully. You will pray for forgiveness and endeavor to live a life that is pleasing to the good Lord.
As pastor Adrian Rogers once said, "You ought not to be a doubting Christian. You ought to have a "know-so" salvation."
Following is an excellent 34 minute audio sermon by Adrian Rogers titled: "How to be saved and know it." Please take the time to listen to it; it is packed full of little gems of Bible truths on this subject that you do not want to miss.
That quoted statement above is indicative of a person depending on self and works.... and not depending upon the saving power of the shed blood of Jesus at Calvary.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9
We have the Holy Spirit to bear witness with our own spirit, which assures us that we are truly saved. Believe me, if you are born again, you will know it in your spirit. You will also be a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your love for Jesus will compel you to live for Him and put Him and God first in your life. You will live and breathe Him; your focus will be on Him. Your life and speech and actions and demeanor will reflect Him and manifest His influence in your life. You will be a new creation ! You will fear to displease Him or grieve Him in any way.
But do not forget that our hearts can be deceitful.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" - Jeremiah 17:9
Since we can be deceived by our very own hearts, we need a second witness to confirm the testimony of our own. The Holy Spirit is a fellow-witness. He will plead for you, and help you to know that you are, in truth, actually born again; actually saved and heaven bound.
"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." - Matthew 18:16 b
Along with faith in the good Lord, we need to develop a strong, close, and intimate love relationship with God through Jesus His Son. If you are close to the Lord, that alone is proof that you are actually saved and in the will of God. You need to communicate frequently in prayer with Him. You cannot get to know a person well unless you are in frequent contact with them and converse with them and share your thoughts, your hurts, your troubles, and your love for them in countless ways. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
You can also draw close to the Lord by reading the Bible daily and by memorizing Scriptures and keeping His Holy Word within your heart. Reading the Bible teaches us about God's attributes and His thoughts and ways - His desires for us. By daily Bible reading, we will learn to love Him more and more. He wants us to live holy lives.
"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:16
If God expects believers to be holy, He means just that. You cannot willfully and deliberately sin (fornication, drunkenness, lewdness, and many other sins) and expect to be actually saved. Especially if you have no remorse for your sins such as sex outside of marriage and other things displeasing to the good Lord. No remorse when you sin and no conviction from your conscience, means you are not saved. Repent and turn to the Lord with all of your heart and soul and mind and spirit.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend...... and life !
