Doubting Your Salvation

Many Christians go through times when they seriously doubt their salvation. Satan wants us to doubt and may plant doubts in our minds (Genesis 3:1). Even the biblical writers experienced doubts and expressed the need for renewal (Psalm 51:12). Yet, it is God’s purpose for us to know we are in fellowship with Him (1 John 5:12-13) and to experience the joy of salvation (John 15:10-11).

WHAT LEADS TO DOUBT?

Five major factors cause believers to doubt their salvation:

• Adequate explanation may not have been given at the time the person made a profession of faith.
• Prayer, Bible study, and worship may have been neglected.
• Sin (that is, disobedience), or a failure to share one’s faith may have clouded a person’s relationship with Jesus.
• A person may have inadequate or erroneous understanding about God or about the daily Christian life.
• Physical or emotional difficulties may be causing the person to doubt his salvation.

MEASURE BY THE STANDARD

How then can Christians be sure of their salvation? If we use our feelings as a standard, we may decide that indeed we are not saved. We may feel dirty, unworthy, guilty, or separated from God. Even though we may want to return to Him, we may feel He will not accept us again. We may think to ourselves, "I failed Him so many times. Surely He would reject me now." Yet, if we go by our feelings, we would be wrong, for God's love continues even after we have been unfaithful and even if we do not feel worthy (1 John 1:8-2:2). So, our feelings are not an accurate guide in determining whether we are saved.

A more accurate standard is found in Scripture itself. Jesus says no one can inherit the kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3). Being born again means believing Jesus saves us personally from our sins and inviting Him into our lives. Being born results in beginning to see the world and our sin from God's perspective. Inside we change. We want to do God's will, and we want to stop doing things that are opposed to His will. We will from time to time still do things that are against His will, but at the core of our being we want to do what pleases Him.

Thus, we see Jesus not only as the one who saves us from our sins, but also as the one to whom we submit. When the Holy Spirit reveals these things to us and we accept them as truth, we are born again. If a person has not taken that initial step of faith in submission to Jesus, she is unsaved regardless of her involvement in church or any rituals such as baptism which she may have gone through.

PUT FAITH INTO PRACTICE

Just as important as this initial step of faith and commitment is the necessity of an ongoing relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ. Being a Christian means having a living faith. It means pleasing God with thoughts, words, and actions on a daily basis. It means talking with God and listening to God. It means experiencing the love, mercy, grace, guidance, direction, and support of God in every moment of life. Without this ongoing relationship with God, the initial commitment loses much of its meaning, and the believer lacks the joy of Christ's presence. This lack of joy creates a fertile breeding ground for doubt.

Naturally, this kind of relationship cannot be developed overnight. Many Christians struggle for a long time, even a lifetime, with their commitment to Christ, for the Christian life is not easy. Again, feelings can be a problem, even for the person who has not broken fellowship with God. If we expect to feel a certain way or respond to God with a specific emotion, we may begin to feel something is missing. If we do not have the same feelings others describe, we may think we don't have "the real thing."

Faith, however, is not a question of fitting into a certain pattern or formula. Rather, it is the honest desire to say "Yes" to Christ's invitation to follow Him. We can rejoice in knowing God is patient with us. He can start with that initial commitment, even if it was made years ago, and transform our lives into one that will honor Him today. He requires only that we yield our will to His and allow Him to transform us, for He will not change us into something we do not want to be (Romans 12:2).

FAITH COMMITMENT

The doubting person who realizes s/he has never made that original commitment needs to be born again. Christ does not want us to be separated from Him, and He is always reaching out to those who come to Him in repentance and faith.

We have prepared a page that explains how you can accept Jesus Christ’s gift of life. We invite you to go to How to Become a Christian now, and let us know your decision.

Those who feel they have made a genuine commitment but have turned away from God from time to time, canreturn to him and receive forgiveness. We can leave behind that which is holding us down, and ignore Satan's judgmental mocking (Hebrews 12:1-2). God loves us, and if we turn to Him we can have a new or renewed relationship with Him.

Perhaps you want to find a place in your local community where you can receive help and encouragement. We will be happy to refer you to a local Baptist church. Please fill out and submit the request form here.