God’s Word gives us confidence in our salvation and we cannot lose our salvation. John 5:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” By definition, eternal life cannot be temporary; it is a permanent possession for all who have truly placed their trust in Christ.

Romans 8:28-39 clearly states that nothing in the universe can separate the elect from the love of God. Jude 1:24 declares that God will prevent us from falling. “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.” A true believer will never abandon the faith. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Scripture teaches that those who once professed to know Christ but later deny Him were never truly saved. 1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” Those who leave the faith are showing that they were never genuinely saved. John 8:31 says, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.’” A few verses later in John 8:44, Jesus tells these same Jews that “believed in him”, that they were of their father, ‘the devil’.

Hebrews 3:14 says, “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” It’s important to note that even true Christians can fall into sin, which may cause them to doubt their salvation (Psalm 51:12). A lack of spiritual growth can also undermine our confidence that we are God’s children. 2 Peter 1:9 says, “For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”

We can have confidence in this: anyone who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit is eternally secure. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Lastly, it’s important that we examine whether we are in the faith. Scripture gives us many ways to which we can validate if our salvation is true or not. One of the most critical questions we can ask ourselves is, “Do I enjoy fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ?”

• Have you experienced a relationship with Christ?
• Have you sensed His presence? 
• Have you experienced the Holy Spirit ministering to you? 
• Do you have a heart of love for Christ that draws you to His presence? 
• Do you have a sense of grace that comes upon you when you discover rich new truth in God’s Word? 

1 John 1:2-3 says, “The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us, that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” Basically, John is saying that a characteristic of a believer is to love God, and to love Christ. This is a love relationship.

1 John 5:4-5 says, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” When you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you place your faith in Him. You overcome the world in the sense that you enter in to a new level of communion; you no longer commune as your priority point of fellowship with the world, but you commune with the living God in a relationship of love. 

John is pointing out that a typical characteristic for a true believer is to have an ongoing communion of love with Christ. This point is foundational, and this is basic to salvation. In fact, 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 says, “…Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Lastly, Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

When a person comes to know Christ and Christ resides within them, they will begin to think and live differently. They will begin to love psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and they will cry out to God. They will begin to find consolation and comfort in Christ. They will possess a peace that goes beyond human understanding. This is the abundant life that John 10:10 talks about, “…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

If you’re a true Christian, you will have a hope in your heart, and your hope will be fixed on Christ. When He appears, we will see Him, and be like Him. Is that your hope? Do you despise sin and the fallen flesh, and long to be like Jesus Christ? When you find yourself longing for the coming of Jesus Christ, that’s evidence of salvation. That’s evidence of a new nature. When you find yourself longing to be delivered from the body of sin, and be made perfect like Christ, that’s evidence of salvation.

We must examine ourselves before the Lord. If you’ve asked yourself the questions above, and your heart does not condemn you, you can have confidence before God that you are His child. If you can say:

• Yes, I enjoy sweet fellowship with Christ. (Acts 2:42)
• Yes, I acknowledge and confess my sin. (James 5:16)
• Yes, I turn to the Advocate Jesus Christ for everything. (1 John 2:1)
• Yes, I have a desire deep within my heart to obey the Word of God. (John 15:10-14)
• Yes, I reject the worlds system. (Romans 12:2)
• Yes, I love Christ and long for the day to see Him and will be made like Him. (Romans 8:28, Philippians 2:5) 

If you can truthfully answer those questions with a resounding yes, with confidence before God, then you are saved. 1 John 3:19 tells us, “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him.” God wants us to have confidence and security in Him, which brings great joy and peace to our hearts. If your heart condemns you, and you don’t have confidence or assurance, then give your life over to Jesus Christ today, so that you might know Him genuinely. 2 Peter 1:10 says, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.”