Pastors will often ask the question “Do you know that you know that you are saved and that you will go to heaven when you die?” I struggled with that question for many years. “Am I really sure?” “Did I say all the right things when I prayed the sinner’s prayer?” “Did I leave anything out?” I would sit in church services at invitation time and literally have a battle going on inside of me.
Recently, when our church had “Unashamed Sunday,” where people are invited to ask Jesus to be their savior and to be baptized that morning, I was reminded of those years of wondering and worrying and I rejoiced in the fact that I no longer toil over those questions. I DO know. YES! I have assurance of my salvation and I will go to heaven when I die. I no longer deal with those doubts.
I walked the church aisle when I was 13 years and I gave my heart to Jesus. I was baptized. I loved God’s word. I loved Bible study. I prayed. I wanted my life to reflect Christ. I lived my life as a Christ follower. But there was still that doubt that I couldn’t shake.
There came a point in life when I just needed to settle it. I didn’t want to say the sinner’s prayer again just to make sure. I wanted to KNOW. I began to look at what the Bible said about faith and salvation. I wrote scripture on cards and reminded myself what God’s word said. I kept the cards close and anytime doubt showed up I used the WORD of God to confirm my faith.
Romans 10:9-10 – Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Yes! I did that many years ago.
I familiarized myself with verses about faith and learned the definition of faith. Faith- complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
I John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 2:8- For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Hebrews 11:1– Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Salvation comes from Jesus Christ alone through accepting the free gift of his blood sacrifice for our sins. Confess, repent and believe. We don’t have do the right things, or say the right prayer. We don’t earn it because it’s not of works. “We must personally and fully rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins… The faith God requires of us for salvation is belief in what the Bible says about who Jesus is and what He accomplished and fully trusting in Jesus for that salvation[1].” Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The word of God, when I took hold of it every time a doubt entered my mind, cleared up any question of my salvation. It CONFIRMED my salvation.
The enemy would have us to walk in fear and doubt regarding Jesus and salvation. He can rob us of peace and assurance if we allow him to. But Jesus comes that we may have LIFE. And have it abundantly. When we accept Jesus as our savior through faith, we are HIS! We are sealed as His until that day that we get to see Him face to face. HE paid the price and we can’t add a thing to it.
“ 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 Tim. 1:12
Priceless 