"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!" 2 Corinthians 13: 5 ESV

So many Christians lack the assurance of their salvation.

They lack the confidence that their sins are truly forgiven and their place in Heaven is eternally secured. It doesn't have to be that way. The apostle Peter said,

• "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall." — 2 Peter 1:10 ESV

The prophet Isaiah said, 

• "And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.” — Isaiah 32:17

When God grants righteousness, He also adds peace and assurance. 

Some people have assurance that they have no right to enjoy.

Some feel all is well between them and God when it isn't. They don't understand the truth about salvation and fail to discern their true spiritual state.  Jesus said,

•  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" — Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

How do people get false assurance?

By receiving false information about salvation. Much of our modern day evangelism contributes to creating false converts. We know that in Romans 10:9 says,

• "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9 NIV

When people you just witnessed to profess that they have done this—the conclusion is that they must now be saved. That seems logical but the problem is, you don't know if the person truly believes that in their heart.

Beware of trying to assure people of their salvation based on an untested profession. Assurance is the reward of tested and proven faith. It is the Holy Spirit who gives it, not a human being.

How Can I Know For Sure That I Will Go to Heaven When I Die?

If you lack assurance—if you have doubts or lost your joy, become empty in worship, passionless in prayer, cold in praise, useless in Christian service or vulnerable to false teachers—there is a cure: obeying the word of God in the Holy Spirit's power.

You can take the first step toward doing that by answering these questions to help you think through what the word of God teaches us about assurance. 

1. What is the essential duty a person has in this world?

Answer: Coming to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which involves recognizing His death on the cross as the only atonement for sin, and walking in accordance with that relationship.

• "They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” — Acts 16:31 CSB

2. Don't all members of the Church have a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

Answer: No, only those who are truly saved.

3. How can I be certain I have that saving relationship?

Answer: The Lord will have worked in your soul His own sovereign will—that of calling you to Himself through a work of conviction and humiliation so you will have discovered your sin and misery, and, being so seriously agitated and threatened by it, you will long for the Savior.

4. What's another way of discerning a saving relationship to Christ?

Answer: A strong and serious affection for Christ as He is progressively revealed to you in the gospel. Such love is the product of saving belief.

5. Are there other marks of a relationship with Christ?

Answer: Yes, a desire to shun sin and obey God are the best evidences of a redeemed heart. 

• "If you love me, you will keep my commands.” — John 14:15 CSB
  
  
• "This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:.” — 1 John 2:3-5 CSB
  

6. What if I find sin prevailing over me?

Answer: Although every sin deserves eternal punishment, if you regularly confess and repent of your sins, God will grant you mercy and forgiveness because you stand in grace, and your salvation is forever secure.

• " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 ESV

7. What if my sins are serious and repeated?

Answer: Whatever they are, Jesus Christ has paid the price for them so that if you sincerely and earnestly have turned to Him in repentant faith, you will never experience condemnation. Moreover, His gracious provision for those who believe includes power to overcome sin and live righteously.

• " Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 NASB

8. Is faith alone the requirement for salvation?

Answer: Yes, it is the only basis upon which God offers peace and pardon to mankind. However faith—if it is genuine—will not be alone in the soul, but will always be accompanied by true repentance and an eager desire to obey God.

• "In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.” — James 2:17 CSB
  
  
• "The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it you’re going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 
” — John 14:21-23 CSB

9. What are the results of a relationship with Christ?

Answer: Union and communion with God here, and blessed fellowship and glory hereafter.

10. How can I come to full assurance that I have such a relationship?

Answer: By affirming the promises of God as revealed in Scripture by the internal witness of the Holy Spirit, and by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit out of love for Christ and the desire to bring Him honor and glory.

• "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” — John 6:37 ESV
  
  
• "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” — John 10:27-29 ESV

• "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
  

HOW ARE YOU SHARING THE GOOD NEWS?

We’d love to hear your stories! Let us know in the comments below.