Most anyone who believes they are saved, has at some point questioned whether they really are. Satan works to cause doubt in the mind of a new Christian, and with someone who is not saved, Satan works to create a false security or salvation. God desires that we have absolute assurance of eternal life and therefore gives us the answer in His Word. The more we read God’s word, the more assurance we gain. Most Christians who have been saved for a number of years and apply their minds to the scriptures, have no doubt about their salvation and live with the peace of knowing they have eternal life.
The apostle Paul had visited the Corinthians where he taught them how to be saved. He later wrote to them reminding them of what he first preached. I Corinthians 15:1-4, Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Paul was concerned some of the Corinthians were not saved even though they had been taught and believed the gospel. Notice in verse (2) his concern. Paul wrote letting them know it was possible to believe the gospel in vain. One who believes the gospel in vain is NOT saved.
*(Vain: to no purpose; without effect; ineffectual – empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance.)
Paul wrote a second letter to them, to address this very issue. 2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Today, there are many “Christians” who believe the gospel in vain. A person can believe that Jesus died on a cross for sin and was buried and rose again, but if such a person believes he must keep up with religious practices or live a certain way to be saved, he may be lost. To avoid believing the gospel in vain and to receive real salvation, a person must be given completely to the gospel. In other words, a person must trust in what Christ did for his salvation and trust in Christ alone. A person must give up on his own good work and place his entire saving faith in the work that Christ did to save him.
Every person should – Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves – 2 Corinthians 13:5. What is the examination and how does a person prove whether he is saved? The examination is to identify what you are trusting in for salvation.
You can examine yourself with this simple exercise. Imagine you have died and are face to face with God. God is standing at the door to heaven, and you humbly ask Him to let you in. God, all the while knowing your thoughts and heart, says: “I have one question for you: WHY SHOULD I LET YOU IN?”
Your answer to this question will identify right now, as you read this, what you are trusting in for your salvation. Here are some common answers people give:
* “I tried to live a good life and treated others as I wanted to be treated.”
* “I was kind and helpful to people.”
* “I worked hard and lived clean, like a Christian.”
* “I loved you God.”
* “I attended church regularly.”
* “I was water baptized on ___date.”
* “I asked you to forgive me when I sinned.”
* “I followed the rules of my church or my religion.”
* “I received the sacraments often.”
* “I confessed my sin.”
* “I read the Bible.”
* “I am not perfect but am generally a good person.”
If your answer to God is similar to these, you might very well be lost. The examination shows you are placing all or some portion of your saving faith in yourself. We are all sinners, and although a sinner can do works pleasing to God, a sinner cannot do any good work toward his salvation. Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If your answer to “WHY SHOULD I LET YOU IN?” begins with “I”, you may not understand salvation is a gift from God. It might be that you view salvation as something you have to earn or obtain as a reward. As noted above, if you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins while also believing you have to do your part by living a certain way, you likely believe in vain and are trying to earn the great gift.
The giver of a true gift cannot accept one single thing in return, or else the thing given is not a gift. God would be a liar if He accepted or required any good deed from a person to save them. His Word is clear: the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. For a person to think he can do good deeds as part of his salvation would be an insult to God: like offering a penny for a great mansion. Consider Isaiah 64:6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Again, we can do good things pleasing to God, but our good becomes as filthy rags to Him if we put one tiny bit of saving faith in it.
Salvation can only come through the work of Jesus Christ. As Christ died on the cross, the last thing He said was It is finished (John 19:30). Any and all work required to save us has already been accomplished. Colossians 2:10, And ye are complete in him [Jesus Christ], which is the head of all principality and power: If Christ finishes and completes something, there is nothing for us to do, but to believe we need it, and then call on Him to receive it.
Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The only acceptable answer to “WHY SHOULD I LET YOU IN?” must not be centered on “I” but on Jesus Christ.
Something such as:
* “Jesus Christ paid my way in by dying for my sin, being buried, and raising again. Before I died, I called on you God to save me while trusting Christ did it all”.
* “God, before I got here, I made the choice to give up on my goodness and to put all my saving faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood to atone for my sins. I called on you to save me trusting the finished work of Christ on the cross would get me in”.
I understand that some who will read this already have absolute assurance of eternal life. However, if you are not sure, I hope you will consider the scriptures listed herein and make certain you are trusting in Christ Jesus alone to save you. Once your saving faith is in His work and nothing else, you can call on God to save you: Romans 10:9-10, (9) That if thou shalt confess [to God] with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
{“God, I am a sinner and realize I cannot do anything to help save myself. I want to make sure you know I am not trusting in any good deeds or works of my own, but on Christ’s work to save me.} Note: there is no such thing as a specific “sinners’ prayer”. What I have written above in brackets is simply an example of how a person may talk to God to receive salvation. God knows the heart so He will know what a person is really trusting in when they call on him to be saved.
Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
