Our last blog post addressed reasons why a person may doubt his or her salvation. This topic is near and dear to me because I too struggled with this challenge in years past. As I have studied the Scriptures, I identified Biblical four responses that God has used in my own life that may help other sufferers doubting their salvation.

First, the Bible shows us plainly that God wants his children to know they belong to Him. 1 John 5:13 tells us that this epistle was written “that you may know that you have eternal life,” and it provides a series of tests John encourages us to take to see whether we are truly Christians.

John’s fellow apostle similarly writes in 2 Peter 1:10, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”  Peter is not only writing to professing believers, but as the text is worded, he is writing to actual believers who needed to confirm their “calling and election.” I have found through my own ministry and reading that most people who doubt they are saved are indeed Christians. The very sensitivity they have to things of God and the fear of missing out of Heaven are indicators of a life changed by God’s grace.

A second way to address lack of assurance, especially those seeking the “perfect experience,” is to spend more time preaching to ourselves the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that saves us from sin. Revelation 5:9 tells us, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” As money pays for an item, Christ’s blood purchased the people of God for His own possession. Because Christ’s death has purchased us, we respond to the gospel in faith and repentance. Proclaiming this truth is the Biblical response to doubts. Reciting “the sinner’s prayer” or continually asking Jesus in your heart will never provide assurance of salvation. In actuality, the perfect experience you are looking for was when Jesus died for you on Calvary. Just believe it!

A third thing to consider is all the subjective tests from Scripture whereby we may judge the grace of God in our lives, including:

1. A love for God – Matthew 22:37-39, Romans 8:5-7
2. A desire for obedience to Christ – 1 John 2:3-6
3. Victory over sin through the Word of God – 1 John 2:12-14
4. A love for other Christians – 1 John 3:14
5. Knowledge of the truth – 1 John 4:6
6. The Testimony within us – 1 John 5:10
7. Answers to prayer – Matthew 7:7-11
8. Acceptance into and remaining in good standing in a local church through membership based your profession of faith– Mathew 16:19

While these subjective factors are not a foolproof means of assurance, they are not natural responses to God from an unrepentant sinner, but they are normative for a true Christian and are to be used to help bolster our faith.

The fourth approach I would suggest is to study the doctrines of election and predestination. I am well aware of the controversy and unending arguments that the church has had on this topic. However, the doctrines of election and predestination are meant to encourage you as a Christian. According to Ephesians 1:4, believers are “Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.”  As one who has put faith in Jesus, God chose to maximize His grace and love toward you by putting you “in Christ” before you were even born. What greater lift of the load of doubt can one have than that? 

While I am sure this may not answer every question you have on the matter of assurance of salvation, I hope this list is a help for many of you.

Soli Deo Gloria!