How do I know if I’m saved?
The question of whether or not you are saved is not answered by feelings or subjective experiences, but by examining the objective evidence of genuine conversion. Christian teaching is that true conversion produces specific fruits and marks that can be identified.
First, look for genuine repentance from sin. This means not merely feeling sorry for the consequences of sin but having a true hatred of sin itself because it offends God. A person with Christ in their heart turns away from sin as a lifestyle and pattern, though they still struggle with remaining sin.
Second, examine whether you possess saving faith. This is not merely intellectual agreement with facts about Jesus, but a wholehearted trust in Christ alone for salvation. This faith produces love for Christ and a desire to obey His commands. As Jonathan Edwards taught, true conversion changes our affections and desires.
Third, look for the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. The Spirit produces both assurance of salvation and the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit also causes believers to love God's Word, desire prayer, and seek fellowship with other believers.
Fourth, consider whether you persevere in faith. True believers continue in faith through trials and difficulties. They may stumble and fall, but they do not permanently abandon Christ. As Calvin emphasized, the elect are preserved by God's grace to the end.
Finally, examine whether you love the church and other believers. John wrote that we know we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers. True Christians desire to be part of the visible church and to serve Christ's body.
These are objective marks that the Bible gives us to examine ourselves. Remember that assurance often grows over time as we see God's work in our lives. If you find these marks lacking, cry out to God for saving faith and genuine conversion. Christ promises that all who come to Him will never be cast out.
For Further Reading:
"The Religious Affections" by Jonathan Edwards
"The Mortification of Sin" by John Owen
"Saved Without a Doubt" by John MacArthur
"Essential Truths of the Christian Faith" by R.C. Sproul
"The Gospel's Power and Message" by Paul Washer
Conversations with Kids
How do I know if I’m saved?
That's a really good question! It shows you're thinking about something very important.
When Jesus saves someone, He changes them from the inside out. It's kind of like when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly - there's a complete change! Here are some ways you can know if Jesus has saved you:
First, do you feel sorry when you disobey God? Not just because you might get in trouble, but because you love God and don't want to make Him sad? When Jesus saves us, He gives us a new heart that wants to please Him.
Second, do you believe that Jesus is God's Son who died on the cross for your sins? Not just believing it in your head like you believe dinosaurs existed, but trusting Jesus with your whole heart - like when you trust me to catch you when you jump into the pool.
Third, do you see God changing you? Just like we can tell a tree by its fruit (like how an apple tree grows apples), we can tell if Jesus is in our heart by the "fruit" in our lives. Do you find yourself being more loving, joyful, patient, and kind? These are fruits that the Holy Spirit grows in us.
Fourth, do you love reading the Bible and praying? When Jesus saves us, He gives us a hunger for God's Word - kind of like how you get hungry for dinner after playing outside all day!
Fifth, do you love other Christians and enjoy being at church? When we become part of God's family, we love to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Remember, nobody is perfect - not even grown-ups! Sometimes we still sin. But when Jesus saves us, He changes the direction of our lives. We start walking toward Him instead of away from Him.
If you're not sure if you're saved, the best thing to do is look to Jesus, not to yourself. We don't trust in a prayer we said or feelings we have, but in what Jesus has already done for sinners. It's like looking at the brass serpent in the wilderness - the Israelites didn't need to feel healed, they just needed to look at God's provision. When you wonder if you're saved, don't look inside yourself but look to the cross where Jesus died for sinners. Talk to me anytime about these things, and together we can keep looking to Jesus, who promises that all who trust in Him will never be cast away!