How can I know I am saved?

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
(1 John 5:10-13)
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We have taken time to discuss the new birth and explained what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus that he must be born again. We have also established the importance of the new birth, without which no man can see or enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3 & 5). It is therefore the foundation that introduces one into the Christian faith, and gives the assurance of eternal life and an eternal home in heaven. The question is, can one know that he is born again or saved?

Many years ago, when I was pursuing my first degree at the University of Ghana, (Legon), we had a discussion during one lecture, as to whether one can know that he saved and assured of heaven. I was surprised at the answers some of my colleagues gave. None of them could give a positive answer to the question. During my contribution to the discussion, I stated unashamedly and unequivocally that one could know he was saved and assured of heaven. I was shocked to my bones when the lecturer looked directly at me and said: “This is spiritual arrogance. Nobody can know that they are saved and that they are going to heaven.” I was very sad that day, because I highly respected this lecturer who was religiously inclined, and who had a large following as a “minister of the gospel”. He was like Nicodemus, who asked Jesus “…How can these things be?” (John 3:9). Clearly, Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus in John 3:10 would have been an appropriate response to my lecturer.

Many people today seem to have difficulty saying that they know that they are saved, and are sure of going to heaven by God’s grace. I am referring to people who claim to have experienced the new birth. They are still unsure of the decision they made when they prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. On that day, they made a choice to receive the gift of God, which is eternal life.(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8 & 9).

The new birth, which is a spiritual birth from above, is an experience based on the fact of the truth of God’s Word. It is not based on our feelings or our assumptions. The Lord Jesus told Nicodemus:. “… that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit”. There is a physical birth which we go through to enter the world, with the sinful Adamic nature. There is also a spiritual birth which is brought about by the agency of the Word and the Spirit of God.

We all know that we were born into this world at a certain point in time, though we may not know or understand the exact process, but there is no controversy to the fact that we were born into the world. The spiritual birth follows the same principle. Anyone who claims to be saved or born again, should know when he had this experience, and should be able to give a clear testimony to that experience. (1 Peter 3:15). You may not remember the exact date you got saved but there is no way to forget that experience when you received Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Saviour and Lord.

You can know you are saved because this truth is taught in the word of God. Please prayerfully read and meditate on the passages listed below:

1. John 1:11-13

2. John 3:14-18

3. 1 John 5:10-13

4. Romans 10:9-13

5. Romans 6:23

6. Romans 5:1-2, 8-9

7. John 10:27-29

8. Romans 8:1-2

What these passages teach is that those who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour have been given the power or authority to become His children and that they will never perish. For such people there is no condemnation. (Romans 8:1-2). The questions you must answer are:

a. Have you received Jesus Christ as your Saviour? (John 1:12) If you have then you should know that you are saved, because that is what the Word of God has promised (John 3:13-18).

b. Have you confessed the Lord Jesus Christ with your mouth and believed in your heart that God has raised you from the dead? (Romans 10:9-13). If you have, then you should know that you are saved.

c. Have you believed on Christ as the Son of God? (1John 5:10-13). Then you can know that you are saved. John says in the above scripture that:

“These things are written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”

Beloved, if we can know that we were born physically into this world, though we cannot recount the process of our birth which is a mystery, so is the new birth. However, we are fortunate to have God’s Word, which teaches clearly that we can know that we are saved and have become possessors of eternal life in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul could say without any shadow of doubt : “…I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day”. (2 Timothy 1:12). Paul knew that his soul was safe and secure in the Lord. I pray that the Lord will grant you the understanding and conviction, such that you can with all humility say, I know I am born again, I am saved and I have eternal life in Jesus Christ. You can know you are saved, because our salvation is based on the truths of God’s unchanging Word. Shalom.

OUR PRAYER
Lord, grant us the understanding of your Word, especially concerning the certainty of the salvation you have so graciously offered us in your Son, Jesus Christ. May we know that Jesus Christ is able to keep us from falling, and that He will present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Jude 24). Amen.