Today
there are many who claim they hold the truths to Christianity. To go further there
are many who claim to be a Christian or to belong to a Christian movement. We
have everything from the extreme charismatic movements that claim unless one
speaks in tongues, prophesy or see visions; the person is not a genuine believer.
We also have televangelists who are so money hungry; they will stop at nothing
to further their ministry and riches as to sell an extreme false gospel called “Prosperity
Teaching”. We also have ministry’s out
there claiming supernatural healing and preach a false manipulation gospel. As
for the social media, they will report that many Christians around the world
are celebrating events and only show that of the Pope and the Catholic faith.
What is more serious than this however, are the self professed movements that
are cult in nature which have by their own means proclaimed themselves Christian.
Such as Watch Tower Society (Jehovah Witness) and the Mormons known as The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
So with
all the professing movements and teaching out there it is possible many are may
think they know Jesus, but the reality is they are experiencing another. One
might be thinking –does this site, or
even this article have any validity to answer the question, How do I know I’m
Saved? The answer is yes and it is for this very reason. Every group
mentioned above have one key common thread – they all distort and they deny the
absolute authority of scripture. The term Sola Scriptura is Latin for by
scripture alone. This is important to understand because the bible contains all
knowledge necessary for salvation and holy living. It is Inerrant, it is infallible and is the
only source of authority a “true” Christian needs. If any movement or group claim that the bible
is only a portion of authority, there are serious issues. (To learn more please
visit our false theology page.)
To
answer the question How do I know I’m saved we first must come to a common hard
truth. Today, many claim to be Christian. Many claim to have a relationship
with Jesus Chirst, yet, many fail to live a lifestyle that reflects the image
of Christ the king – thus, confirming scripture when Jesus says “Not everyone who says to me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will
of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your
name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me,
you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23esv)
I am
sure most sound minded people would agree that for every action there must be a
reaction. So, it is safe to say that because there is a barrage of false
teaching, there is also a barrage of false professing by-products. Look at the
sower parable found in Matthew 13:24-30esv.
“24 He put another parable before them,
saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who
sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were
sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up
and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said
to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have
weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to
him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in
gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let
both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the
reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but
gather the wheat into my barn.’
So again, if the action is
planting the good seed (the true gospel and teachings of the bible) the
reaction will be wheat (genuine believers of Jesus Christ) just as much as the
action of planting weeds (the distorted teaching and false gospel) will cause
the reaction of having weeds (false converts). But the key thing to remember is
that both the weeds and the wheat will grow together until the harvest (the day
of judgement) and the weeds will be bundled and burned – thus taking us back to
Matthew 7.
If
you are reading this today and have concerns that you may not be saved or
involved with a non Christian movement, we must take scripture as our trusted authority.
It is stated in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine
yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not
realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you
fail to meet the test!” it also states in 2 Timothy
3:16-17 “All
Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be
competent, equipped for every good work. So with this, let’s continue.
Here is
a straight forward question for self examination. Do you profess a walk with
Jesus Christ, and yet the fruit produced does not match up to a biblical image?
Is what’s produced a lifestyle just as
filthy as the one you professed to leave behind, yet now it is covered by a
smoke screen called religion? To take it further, regardless of you background,
do you remember the day, when God opened your eyes, to His gospel? Do you
remember the day that the lights came on and it all made sense, and you fell to
your knees, broken over sin, and repented over your sin? Another question is -
Do you weep over your sin (read Psalm51), do you proclaim Jesus Christ
or do you have shame over your faith around others? (Matt 10:33but whoever
denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.),
Are you actively serving the Lord, being a voice to shout the effectual call
and rescuing His sheep (John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd. I know my own
and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I
lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of
this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there
will be one flock, one shepherd. ).
We will
take it further with these questions to see if one is saved. Do you believe
that Jesus is the [only] way, truth and life (John 14:6) or do you hold onto other
deceptive idols? Do you worship or pray to other men, deceased saints or to the
virgin Mary? Do you treat other books as inspired revelations of Jesus Christ?
Do you hold onto religious customs that clearly contradict scripture? If you
have answered yes to any of these questions there are serious concerns and
warning bells that you have not been saved, just brought into a lifestyle of
religion.
One
thing we must understand is that salvation is in Christ alone, through faith
alone by grace alone so that God gets all the glory alone. No works can ever suffice;
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not
your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one
may boast. Therefore, no religious attempt will ever do.
Maybe you
have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, so here it is, We as people were born into sin and in sin were we conceived Psalm 51:5.
Sin is
the breaking of God’s law – Idolatry, adultery, lying, stealing,
blasphemy/God’s name in vain, covertness, hatred, murder, dishonouring you
mother and father; and therefore can only expect condemnation (John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.).
We
deserve the deepest darkest parts of hell because we are such sinners who
wilfully and ignorantly sin against a Holy and righteous God.
You must
stop the rebellion. Repent (Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel,
every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest
iniquity be your ruin. Ezekiel 18:30 - The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom
of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel Mark 1:15 - No, I tell you;
but unless you repent , you will all likewise perish Luke 13:3)
And
simply embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One,
died for your sins (1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God
but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.)
He was
raised on the third day, triumphant over all his enemies. He reigns until he
puts all of his enemies under his feet. Forgiveness of sins and a right
standing with God comes freely through him alone, by faith alone
That is
the gospel! That the worth and the merit is based on another, which is Jesus
Christ That is what we need to understand today.
In
closing,
No man
has the authority to pronounce any man saved. Only Jesus Christ knows who are
His, yet, if you have read this article, and you know that there has been
regeneration in your life. You remember the day when you realized that you are
a totally depraved sinner and by the grace of God alone you have been saved. If
you know that Jesus Christ is your Lord and your God and you daily strive to
live a life pleasing to Him. If you read your bible daily, if you are in daily
prayer and not forsaking the body. If you live according to the word of God day
by day the best you can by the grace of God, if you are repulsed by sin and
want to please Christ with everything you have.....you will know you are His.
If you need more answers, please go through the site and visit the many other sites on here and dig for the answers you need. If you do not have time and just want to talk with someone, please email us and we will be glad to talk to you regarding the messages of salvation
All for His glory and our joy (in Him)
Steve
For Your Joy
by John Piper (Booklet)