If you have to ask if you are saved, then you aren’t!
Yes, you read that right.
That particular question most often is asked by someone who wants you to give them assurance, but there is no assurance other than from God Himself;
This is one you have to hear yourself.
A changed life, a “growing in holiness”, is not PROOF for salvation.
Let me say that again, in case you missed it:
A changed life is NOT PROOF YOU ARE SAVED.
Oprah Winfrey can “change lives” and yet the lives she alters show no proof they are right with God. If it did that would be pragmatism.
Pragmatism:
An approach that assesses the truth of meaning of theories or beliefs
in terms of the success of their practical application.
When someone asks, “How do I KNOW I am saved?”, then I merely point out that if they don’t know they are saved then they must not be.
I say again:
If you don't know you are saved, THEN YOU ARE NOT.
In fact I vehemently assure them that they are desperately wicked sinners, agreeing with them that they cannot possibly be saved by themselves, and drive them to despair of ever knowing. “Why?”, you might say, “That sounds very cruel.” Because, assurance of salvation is the Holy Spirit’s job, not mine. If I assure someone of their salvation, when they are actually still headed for Hell, then that would be cruel! Indeed, that would be the ultimate form of cruelty. But when they are born again, I will never be able to convince them they are not saved. See, as Paul said, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (in Romans 8:9). What is one of the reasons the Spirit of Christ is given to a Christian?
Assurance! (See 1 Thess. 1:5).
So what do I tell someone who doubts, then?
Only Jesus Saves! What else?
No one but Jesus is able to save you from your just reward of Hell for your violations of God’s Law. If you trust in anyone (or any thing), other than Jesus, to save you, then you will have no valid assurance of your salvation.
I remember fondly the many, many, -MANY- hours of wailing at my friend, and now my older brother in Christ, over my lack of confidence that I was saved – To which He would, most aggravatingly, agree with me that I was not! I would get pretty angry when he, and his wife, did not ever give me any assurance of my salvation, but NOW I know WHY they did!
I am forever (F O R E V E R) grateful, Lee, and Kathy, Headley.
Christians preach The Truth, being faithful to expound, wisely and thoroughly, what all must “do” to be saved; The ASSURANCE of salvation is God’s job, by the Holy Spirit IN them. When you K N O W , there will be no shaking, E V E R again. But if you are not sure… then you are not saved; It’s just that simple to understand.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
– Jesus, John 14:15-17
Says to him Jesus, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father if not by me.”
– Jesus, John 14:6 Interlinear
Hope that helps.
www.AreYouAFool.org
Patrick Burwell, OnlyJesusSaves.org Ministries
