How do you know you are saved and just backsliding?
God created us with the intention to love and obey Him, but we chose to disobey Him, leading to our own willful ways and opposition to Him.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
The Bible emphasizes that overcoming our own actions and striving for good is not enough; we need a savior, and there is only one.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5
So if Christ is the only way, then what should you do?
Receive Christ! You must believe and trust that He is Lord, that He died as a payment for your sins, and personally invite Him to be your savior.
God’s promises in His Word, the Bible, provide Christians with assurance of certainty in their lives. Despite life’s challenges, such as pain, suffering, and loneliness, Christians can find peace, strength, and comfort in God’s love.
The Bible encourages believers to come to Him “in full assurance of faith,” with five basic assurances of faith: God’s promises to every Christian, with no strings attached, and the benefits of being in the family of God. Salvation is a gift from God, paid for by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. As a Christian, the assurance of salvation means eternal life cannot be taken away from us, regardless of our wrongdoings. As children of God, nothing can separate us from His love. This assurance of salvation and the love of God made a significant difference in the life of Josephus Tan, a famous criminal lawyer. Despite his bad decisions, Josephus found God’s love ready to accept and welcome him home, demonstrating the power of God’s love and assurance in the lives of Christians.
Assurance of answered prayer
Prayer is a conversation between God and us, providing assurance of answered prayer. The basis for God’s heed for sinful humans lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ, who places us in the status of “Child of God.” Christians believe that God’s answers can be categorized as “Yes”, “no”, or “wait”. While “Yes” is our preferred answer, we must trust that our Heavenly Father knows better than we do. He will provide what is good for us in His time, not ours.
For example, Deon Tan, also known as Mrs. Chew Chor Meng, had a prayer for 13 years: “Wait.” Her husband, Mediacorp artiste Chew Chor Meng, would accept Jesus Christ into his life. One day, that answer turned into a “yes” when Chor Meng received Christ, but also faced a rare form of muscular dystrophy. The couple’s journey of faith continues, as they pray and ask for God’s healing while serving Him with joy.
Assurance of victory
The fight against evil in a broken world is a crucial battle that often goes unnoticed. It manifests in various ways, such as the urge to do something we know we shouldn’t do, sickness or accident, and injustice. Each situation becomes a test of our faith in God, and we must decide whether to evade it or endure it, behaving in a way that honors God. God promises that He is faithful, and in every temptation, He will give us the strength and ability to endure it.
For Deonna Tan-Chi, whose 15-year-old daughter was gang-raped in their home, victory came in the form of trust in a good and loving God. Despite the unbearable pain and guilt, Deonna chose to trust that God would work everything out for good and turned her energy to serving God. She later saw in the light what she trusted God for in the dark.
Assurance of forgiveness
God promises forgiveness to believers in Christ, regardless of their past, present, or future sins. This assurance is based on confessing the sin, as demonstrated by King David’s confession in Psalm 51. Sin separates us from God and destroys us, causing a ripple effect in our personal lives, relationships, and the world. However, forgiveness breaks the cycle and allows us to restore our relationships with others and make things right. No accusation holds any ground against those who have been forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ.
For example, David and Jay Chong, who divorced in their late 20s, found forgiveness when they understood God’s forgiveness towards them. This forgiveness eventually led David back to Christ, and the couple remarried several years later.
Assurance of guidance
God’s guidance is a crucial aspect of Christian life, as it provides wisdom and counsel in various situations. The Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Romans 8:14, is a reliable source of guidance and teaching. God’s guidance can be both immediate and innovative, prompting us to find solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems.
For instance, in the 2008-2009 financial crisis, ex-CEO Lucas Chow sought God’s counsel to retrench over 10% of Mediacorp. His solution, a temporary pay cut of 10%, was met with applause from the relieved staff, demonstrating the power of God’s guidance in guiding individuals and situations.
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God, through Jesus Christ, has saved many Christians, but many still question their salvation. The Bible explains that salvation is not based on feelings, but on Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Christians often feel uncertain about their salvation, but the Bible teaches that it is a legal transaction where God forgives sins based on Jesus’s death and resurrection. Accepting Jesus as our Savior declares us “not guilty” for our sins and adopts us into His family. Therefore, Christians’ salvation is based on Jesus Christ, not on their feelings, and they are not considered “saved” by God.
Christians, despite being declared righteous through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, still struggle with sin. The Bible teaches that confessing our sins allows Jesus to forgive us and cleanse us from unrighteousness. True Christians, who trust in Jesus alone for salvation, will not live a lifestyle of unrepentant sin. The key is to obey God, as a true Christian will want to live a life of righteousness.
Salvation is not just about praying a prayer, making a decision in church, or growing up in a Christian home. It involves acknowledging our sin, understanding Jesus as the only way to be forgiven and reconciled with God, and choosing to accept his sacrificial death on the cross as the payment for our sin. No Christian who has genuinely accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior can lose that salvation.
To determine if your salvation was genuine, consider what you are trusting in today to save you. Is it the prayer you prayed as a child, your good works, your church attendance, or the person and work of Jesus Christ? If you are trusting in Jesus alone, you can be confident that you are truly saved. If you are relying on your works or a past experience, take a moment today and ask Jesus to save you from your sin.
In John 10 Jesus himself says
“But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:2-5, 7-11 NASB. Following Jesus is a way of life. Praying is asking and listening. When we ask Jesus what He thinks about our situation. He gives us truth. The Truth is in the bible.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV
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