Are You Sure You’re Saved?

Between the ages of thirteen and nineteen years, I probably repented and prayed the “sinners prayer” for more than 300 times. I was terrified that I might go to hell because of some of the sins that I had committed the previous weekend. I was afraid that because of some sinful thoughts that I would miss out on the blessing of going to heaven. It was a horrifying experience. I remember asking myself the question, how do I know that I am saved?

The Bible tells us that we must test ourselves to see if we’re truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). We’re to look at our lives and with a careful scriptural examination, determine whether we are saved. A recent conversation with a friend reminded me of how important this is, my friend firmly believes that he is a Christian and would, without a doubt, go to heaven. Sadly, his life is one with drug addiction, poor management of money, constant fights with his parents, and he cannot keep a job for more than a month because he does not work hard. He also does not attend church or read the Bible. All evidence point that he is not a Christian even though he firmly believes that he is. The only thing he holds on to is the fact that he prayed a “sinners prayer” when he was seven years old. I love my friend very much and have begged him to consider with careful scriptural examination if he is truly born again. Still, he is reluctant and firmly believes he is saved. 

So, how do you know if you’re truly saved? Here are some of the proofs or characters of someone who is saved.

Proofs of Salvation

There are several proofs or tests to put yourself through to see if you’re genuinely born again. We must do so so to see if our faith in Christ is genuine (2 Corinthians 13:5) or to see that you are living a lie like my friend. Look at these proofs carefully and consider them carefully if you’re genuinely born again, because to be wrong is to be in eternal torment in hell (Matthew 25:41, Jude 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Mark 9:48, John 3:36). 

1. Love for God (Psalm 42:1, Psalm 73:25, Luke 10:27, Romans 8:7)- Someone who is saved is someone that loves God. I love Psalm 42:1 in the list of scriptures above. The psalmist aligns his love for God with a deer panting after water. The location that the deer is in is a desert, and a deer is not like a camel that can survive long periods in a desert without water. The deer desperately needs water frequently, or else it will die. The psalmist is saying that he desperately needs the Lord in his life. Without the Lord, he would soon die. You must be constantly desperate of the Lord; this proves that you’re truly saved. Their love for God surpasses the love for anything else. All he wants is to be with God, and his joy is to do what God says (Psalms 11:3) and learn more about God. Do you love the Lord? Are you desperate for his presence?

2. Repentance from Sin (Psalm 32:5, Proverbs 28:13, Romans 7:14, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 1 John 1:8-10)- Show me, someone, who is saved, I will show you one who is daily repenting from sin. They are not able to hide and hold sin in. Because he is in love with God, he develops the hate that God has over sin and all wickedness. In Psalm 32:3-4, David, says that he was physically wasting away because he did not repent. Someone who is truly born again will not be able to live without confessing and repenting of their sins. True believers find themselves confessing their sins to the Lord often and asking God for the strength to turn away from every sin they may fall into. Do you confess your sins frequently to the Lord?

3. Genuine Humility (Psalm 51:17, Matthew 5:1-12, James 4:6-9)- True Christians are those that will be humble before the Lord. The reason this is true is that the Bible says that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).” It is only by grace that we’re saved (Ephesians 2:5); therefore, God will only save someone who has resigned on trusting on his strength and intellect and is humble to trust in God for his salvation. So are you humble before the Lord? 

4. Devotion to God’s Glory (Psalm 105:3, Psalm 115:1, Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 48:10, Jeremiah 9:23-24, 1 Corinthians 10:31)- Someone who is devoted to God’s glory is someone that does not want glory to go to themselves, but to God (Psalm 115:1). They are more concerned with letting God get glory in their lives as opposed to building up riches, monuments, and other things that make them look good. Because they know that there is nothing good in them but attribute all that is good from them to God who is working in them to will and do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). They want God to look good and are deeply committed to his name being made famous in their lives, work, communities, and nations. Secondly, God is using your commitment to his glory to transform you from one degree of glory to another. this is when you will start to find victory over sin, for your attention is on God not on things that will trigger sinful desires. So are you devoted to God’s glory, do you really think about him? 

5. Continual Prayer (Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, James 5:16-18)- True Christians are those that are committed to praying continually. This is because prayer is a sign of genuine humility, love for God, and shows devotion to God’s glory. For someone to lose heart in prayer means that they don’t believe that God can actually help them with their needs or others needs and they strive to have their needs met in any way necessary even if it is unethical or sinful. True Christians continue to pray, expecting God to answer according to His will. True Christians also pray continuously for all people in every position and place to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth that only Jesus saves (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Do you pray continuously?  

6. Selfless Love (1 John 2:9, 1 John 3:14, 1 John 4:7)- Someone who is truly a Christian is someone that truly loves his brother or sister in Christ selflessly. True Christians will not hate the church, but they will love others that call on the name of Christ even if they are difficult to handle (1 John 2:9, 1 John 3:14, 1 John 4:7). However, it is not just fellow Christians that they will love, but they will also love their enemies, and humanity in general (Matthew 5:44, Matthew 22:39). You cannot love God and have no love for people. So are you marked by love? 

7. Separation from the World (1 Corinthians 2:12; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 5:5)- Another important quality of a genuine Christian is separation from the world. The world seeks after the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). What does that mean? Someone who desires the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes is someone that gives into the evil desires within them. These desires could be sexual immorality of any type, hatred, racism, tribalism, pride, alcoholism or any drug abuse and addiction, envy, or even jealously, to name a few. Giving in to those desires over and over again without repentance is a sign that you’re not saved. Then lastly the pride of life is when someone is arrogant in their possessions, accomplishments, or social position. They feel that they are better than others because of what they have. They usually are greedy with what they have and don’t consider others, even when they are suffering. Analyze your life and ask whether you truly separated from the world, or are you just like the world except you wear the title “Christian.”? 

8. Spiritual Growth (Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Ephesians 4:12-16)- Someone who is truly saved is someone that grows spiritually, bears fruit, will not continue to subscribe to false doctrines, and clings to Jesus (Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Ephesians 4:12-16). In terms of false doctrines, they will not feel comfortable in a church that glorifies men above Jesus. The reason is that the Spirit teaches them and will let them know that it is not true (John 14:26). Someone that is truly a Christian will bear the fruit of the Spirit and will continue to grow stronger in those nine elements (Galatians 5:22-23). They will show growth in matters of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (2 Peter 1:3-11). Those who are growing all of these areas are those who are truly saved and will have “an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11).” So are you growing spiritually in these areas? If not at all, then you need to be saved. 

9. Obedient Living (Matthew 7:21; John 15:14; Romans 16:26; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 John 2:3-5)- Are you obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ? Are you doing what the scriptures are commanding you? I am not asking you to say “well, nobody is perfect.” I want you to consider if you are truly obedient to Jesus. If you were to look at your life and map it out from the time that you were “saved” are you as obedient or more obedient than when you first were born again? If so, then you’re most likely saved. The Apostle John says “Whoever says, “I know him” but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4).” So consider if you are truly in Christ. If you are, then you will be obedient to God’s words. 

10. Hunger for God’s Word (1 Peter 2:1-3)- True born again Christians are those who truly desire the Word of God. The Apostle Peter says that those who “tasted” the Lord desire the Word of God (1 Peter 1:22-2:3). Some of the effects of someone who truly loves the Word of God according to Peter is that they will grow in love for others (1 Peter 1:22-25) and be delivered from sins such as slandering others, lying to others, being a hypocrite, and envying others (1 Peter 2:1). Also, someone who truly hungers for the “spiritual milk” of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2-3) cannot get enough of it. They will desire it more and more. In other words, if you love God’s Word you will read it constantly and can’t stand to be away from it. Do you truly hunger for God’s Word? If so, then you are truly a Christian. 

11. Transformation of Life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 2:1-2)- The last marker I have here for you to determine if you’re truly saved is whether or not your life has been transformed. I don’t mean for a season, a month, or even a year. I mean, has your life changed? Someone who has truly been transformed is someone that was a drunkard and a womanizer, but now they are so different; it is hard to believe that they were that way (Romans 6:4). Consider that Matthew was basically a thief as a tax-collector, but then he had a transformed life when he met Jesus. He totally changed his ways and followed Jesus (Mark 2:13-17). Some say that Matthew, the former tax collector, died by being stabbed to death as a missionary in Ethiopia. His life was totally transformed to the point that he even died for Jesus. Has your life been transformed? If so, then you’re truly a Christian. 

After looking at all eleven of these proofs, you must ask yourself if you’re genuinely saved. Considering that hell is eternal, and the most crucial decision to make is to turn to God for salvation. 

Are You Truly Saved?

So are you indeed saved? If you are not saved, then click on the “Receive Christ” button found out our home page for KuzaApp.com or at the very bottom of this page. Watch that video, and if you get saved, then please start reading the “Foundations” devotion found on our Kuza app. I would also love for you to contact us and let us know if you received Christ after reading this blog by emailing us at [email protected] or by texting or WhatsApp us at +254-799-254-254.