How do I know that I’m really saved?
We are often asked, “How do I know for sure that I am saved?” There is probably no greater question that can be asked. Fortunately, the Bible is very clear about this IF we “rightly divide” Scripture and get our understanding of salvation from what is written TO us in this dispensation of grace.
Most everyone who questions their salvation is laboring under false teaching about what it takes to be saved. That is why it is so important to get our doctrine from Paul’s epistles and not the Gospels or General Epistles, written to kingdom Jews and not to the Body of Christ, which is the Church today in this dispensation of grace.
The gospel for today clearly states that we are saved totally by grace through faith alone. Not faith plus works, but only faith. Not “believe and do,” but only “believe.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “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.”
Galatians 2:16 says, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
How does this happen? It is very simple. When we hear the message of salvation, we BELIEVE it. Ephesians 1:13 says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
If we BELIEVE the gospel that Christ died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4) and place our trust in His finished work on our behalf, we are eternally saved.
But some doubt because they do not “feel” saved—they don’t “feel” like they have been transformed, don’t “feel” the Holy Spirit within them, or don’t “feel” like they are forgiven. But do you see the problem with all these statements? They are all based on what we “feel” instead of what the Word of God declares. By faith we must accept what God says is true and not go by the whimsy of how we feel.
Satan loves to manipulate our feelings. He wants us to doubt our salvation. He wants us to doubt that all of our sins are forgiven the moment we believe the gospel (Col. 2:13) and that we are secure in Christ because God has sealed us with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
So if you have believed the gospel, also trust in God’s Word that you are indeed eternally saved–nothing can cause you to lose your salvation if you truly believe.
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