How do I know I am saved?

This is a great question that I feel like more Christians have and just don't publicize. Or at least we would hope that we have them. Not often or recurring, we want to be confident, but I think this question proves some self evaluation is taking place, which is great. Studying yourself, our conversion, who we were, what we are, the steps we are taking to become more and more discerned are all important. This shows legitimate concern. It means you need security in your answer. If you are concerned with something then you need to know that it is secure. I cannot judge a heart and do not want to mislead anyone into believing they are not secure or that they are, so here is what I believe to be evidence of salvation, and then we will provide evidence to the security of our salvation.

We are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. And we know that our faith in him is a gift. 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, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” and our connection with God can and will be tested, faith being something that is proving. Our faith will be refined and tested. The encouraging thing to know is that if God is guiding us in our faith, our connection to God is not dependent on ourself. From this we can conclude that he will never let go of us.

Your heart's desires will change. If you haven’t listened to episode 22 of our podcast, in that episode we establish just how wicked the natural heart is, it is at odds with God. Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Once resuscitation takes place, once we are brought to life we are gifted a new heart. That new heart has new desires. Imagine taking our old heart, a heart that has not been renewed, and taking everything that that heart loves, to it now despises it, and that everything our old heart despised, it now loves. How thankful we should be that God's gifts of faith and love for him are implemented at the center of our being.

Spiritual conviction. The walk of a christian revolves around growing pains. The renewal of heart once taken place implements immediate justification. We are safe. But the purifying of our faith is a slow, tedious, process. This brings us to our second indication of salvation. Spiritual conviction. This can become absolutely excruciating and also lead to questions such as the one we are addressing this morning. The apostle Paul is quoted as stating in Romans chapter 7 which has to be one of my favorite most relatable pieces of scripture, starting in verse 15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” This is the

What fruit are you bearing?. As noted, our desire changes, our love changes, our focus shifts to God and I believe what is biblical is that “good evidence for the Christian connection to God is legitimate evidence of connection to God.” What are you following? What is consuming your soul? What do you long for? These are all great questions to ask to find your desires, but also, what fruit are you seeing produced from your walk with the Lord? Are you sharing the gospel? Do you talk about God? Do you have a hunger to know him more and to share him more? John 15:14, ““Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” We take the role of the branch here, us holding and bearing this fruit, it stemming from us, but God is the vine, and we know that all good fruit comes from him, and only him. Good fruit is evidence of the Holy spirit residing within us, producing this good fruit, Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” These being produced from the Holy spirit within us, the vine that he is, is evidence of the work he has done and work he continually does. It is important also to look at John 15:2 that states, “every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit.” This piece of scripture shows us the importance in bearing fruit, and we do this by looking at Psalm 1:1-6, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” It is essential that we stay discerned, increasing in knowledge, fleeing from evil and temptation, and being prepared for every good work set before us.

And in times of trouble or doubt, hold fast to this piece of scripture that I personally keep dearly close to my heart, Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Know that if our salvation was dependent on our behavior we would have lost it by the end of this article. Cling to Jesus Christ.

Solli Deo Gloria!