Many Christians at some point in their lives will experience doubt in their salvation experience. Did I truly get saved? Am I still saved? What if I messed up, and God has turned his back on me? These are all questions that I have heard people ask over the years. I hope this blog post will be an encouragement to you, and answer any doubtful questions you may have about your salvation. God wants you to live with peace in your soul about knowing Him!
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Let’s be clear right up front, none of us reading this right now deserves this kind of love. The unshakable and immovable love of God is something none of us can earn. It is selfless, and ever-giving. In spite of us, he gives it anyway. Christ died a cruel death to pay the penalty for our sin, simply because he loved us so much. There is nothing we can do to stop him from loving us. Once you put your faith in Him, and ask Him to save you (as he has said he would in Romans 10:9-10) then nothing can separate you from Him.
But God commendeth (proved, showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
So why do we doubt?
We tell our children that there are typically two reasons doubt will creep into your mind regarding your salvation experience. 1) Satan is messing with you! Don’t let him tell you lies. Stay close to God. 2)You aren’t really saved, and God is trying to show you that! Either way, prayer is the way to resolve the problem. Pray that God will give you peace about it one way or another. But let’s take this doubt problem a step farther. A little less “elementary”, if you will.
Do you doubt that God REALLY knows you, and loves you enough to save you?
We already explored this earlier. He loves you so much that he died for you before you were born, and even though he knew you would be a sinner. He paid it all. Gave it all. Nothing, not Satan, not sin, not even the wicked things we do could separate us from his love.
Do you doubt if you have truly believed unto salvation?
It is good every once in a while to prove your salvation to yourself. What does that mean? 2 Corinthians 13:5 says “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” We should periodically evaluate where we are with God. And the way you will know you are right with God is really quite simple: are you bearing fruit? Does your life reflect the fruits of the spirit as given in Galatians 5:22-23? Your faith will be evident in your works. The way you think will be different. The things you say will be seasoned with grace and kindness, instead of selfishness and anger. Will we occasionally sin, and get angry and selfish? Yes! We are human. But will our consistent lifestyle be one of malice, and greed? No. Not if we are truly saved.
Remember: salvation is more than just a belief in God. James 2:19-20 says “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” Salvation is believing, AND repenting from your sin nature passed on to you from Adam. (Verses for reference: Romans 5:12, Romans 10:9-10.) If you have done that, then you ARE saved, my friend. And being saved isn’t based on your working, your feelings, or your ability to keep that salvation. Even when you are spiritually low, God is with you, and in you!
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8
