Assurance of Salvation

Every believer wants and needs assurance that they are truly saved and “in Christ”. Otherwise, Satan can harass you endlessly with doubts regarding God’s love for you and His acceptance of you. So assurance of your salvation is not just a nice thing to have, it is a vital necessity, not only in thwarting Satan’s efforts to derail you, but in being effective in your service for the Lord. You can’t argue to someone else, “You must be born again!”, if you are unsure of your own re-birth.

So, the first thing to ask is, are you saved? II Corinthians 5:17 says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” So, are you “new”? I know personally I am new and can cite many vivid examples of the changes brought by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit; however I don’t want to dwell on my past sins, nor give them any glory in doing so. But rest assured, someone who is born-again has new priorities for their time, talents, and treasure, they value possessions and people very differently than before being in Christ.

This is one reason I cannot accept that infant baptism has any eternal value. Saving faith begins with repentance – acknowledging your sinfulness before the holiness of God, and turning away from that sin to start the life-long process of sanctification. An infant has no knowledge of God, sin, or repentance; therefore, there is no saving faith imparted by baptizing an infant.

There simply must be a “then” and a “now” regarding your life with Christ. The person who has repented of their sins and been indwelt with Holy Spirit cannot be living the same life as when they were selfishly lost in their sins and un-reconciled to God. No such thing is possible. You must be born again and that re-birth makes you a new creation (John 3:3 and II Corinthians 5:17).

Your personal assurance of salvation comes from recognizing how your spiritual re-birth has effectively changed your life. If you’re searching for assurance, ask the Lord to remind you of your old self, then give Him the glory for the changes He has brought about in you.

If you need help understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how to be saved, please use the link below to visit GotQuestions.org, or email me at wingabouts@gmail.com.