Dr. Ron Sumners
May 2, 2004
"Preacher, how can I know that I am really saved?" That is a question that every pastor has been asked by church members at some time in their ministry. Today, I want to talk about salvation. How can you know with certainty that you have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ?
Before we discuss the proofs of salvation, let's talk a bit about what salvation is not.
Salvation is not denominationalism. I have had people respond to the question concerning their salvation by saying, "I am a Southern Baptist." Or they might say, "I am a shouting, pew jumping Pentecostal." A man is not saved because he belongs to a particular denomination or any religious entity. We are saved through a faith relationship with Jesus Christ. We are washed in the blood of the Lamb. Hebrews 9:22 tells us, "Almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness)." In heaven, there will be no denominations, just believers who have accepted the blood sacrifice of Jesus! My maternal grandmother, who was a staunch member of The Church of Christ, will be quite surprised when I arrive in heaven with her. She didn't think I had a chance because I was a Baptist!
Another counterfeit salvation is the belief that salvation is based on man's sincerity. In Romans 10: 1-3, Paul says, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God."
Satan has deceived many people in leading them to believe that if a person is sincere in what he believes, God will admit that person into heaven. This is a nice, humanistic rationalization, but it is not true! We have many in this nation who are sincere in what they believe and what they are doing, but they are sincerely wrong.
Those who worship the goddess of success, power and materialism are sincere. They really believe that they will achieve happiness, purpose and meaning from these things. They are sincerely wrong! The Jehovah's Witnesses, The Mormons, Moslems, Buddhists, and many others, are wrong. Adolph Hitler was sincere in his belief that the eradication of the Jews in Europe would solve many of the social and economic problems in the world. He was sincerely wrong.
What is involved in a person being saved? This is the question I want us to consider. We will let the Word of God be our authority rather than my opinions.
First, we must realize that we need to be saved. There is an old axiom that says, "Before you can get a person saved, you have to get him lost." Until a man becomes aware of his need, he will never see the need for salvation.
When God created man, He made him perfect, without sin. He placed man in a perfect environment and gave him only one prohibition. He could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man, on his own accord, disobeyed God. After man sinned, God provided a way for the fellowship with Him to be restored. That provision came through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We must realize that every person is a born sinner and in need of salvation. This is the first step of salvation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to take the Word of God and open the eyes of the sinner and show him his need. As Christians spread the word, the Holy Spirit takes it and opens the eyes of the sinner. A person will not be saved until this happens in their life.
Second, the sinner must have an invitation from God Himself. John 6:44 tells us, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ..." The Bible teaches that salvation is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." The giver gives the gift to whomever he wishes, whenever he wishes, and the receiver must be ready to receive the gift when the giver is ready to offer it. Man does not tell God when he will be saved. God invites man to be saved and man must respond to God's invitation.
Third, man must repent of his sins. "I tell you, but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3) The Word of God makes it plain that man must repent if he is to be saved. Therefore, we must know what it means to repent. It is a change of mind and attitude toward sin and toward God. It is a complete turning away from sin and ungodliness and turning one's life over to the Lordship of Christ. It is in this step that many people miss being saved. They mistake self-reformation for repentance. There is a difference between the two.
Self-reformation is a person's giving up doing something he knows is wrong but, yet in his heart, he still has a desire to do it. Repentance is turning away from the same thing but letting God take out of your heart the desire to do it. Repentance is walking away from sin and toward God.
Fourth, we must invite Jesus into our heart to be the Lord of our life. There is not a standard prayer that you can pray. The thief on the cross said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Paul said, "Lord, what will you have me do?" The publican said, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." The words do not have to be the same. It is the attitude of the heart that is important. In each of the three prayers, the person realized that Jesus was Lord, and he was the one who could save them.
Have you become aware of your need for salvation? Have you confessed your sin and your need for Christ? Have you repented? Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart? Have you made that confession before men? If you have done those things, you can rest secure in your salvation. Now let's examine some proof of salvation. How do you know that you have the real thing and not a cheap counterfeit?
The first proof is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; and behold, all things are become new." We become new creatures in Christ! The key word in this passage is "any." The scripture is saying that when anyone is saved this happens to them. The person becomes a new creature. He experiences a new birth. The old, sinful desires are gone, and the desires of the heart become the things of God. Our goals and priorities shift from self-interest to Christ-centered.
I have seen this happen to several people during my years in the ministry. The change in their life from self-indulgence and hedonism to service and humility can only be explained by saying that they are a new creature. What about you? Is there a marked difference in your life because of the presence of Christ? Are the priorities and standards of the Kingdom of God the priorities and standards of your life now? If you are the same person, then Christ has not fully claimed your life.
The second biblical proof is found in Romans 7:15-21, "For that which I do I allow not; for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more that I do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would do I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more that I do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I do good, evil is present with me."
Paul is talking about spiritual warfare! When a person is saved, he takes on anew nature. The Holy Spirit comes to live within him. The desires of the flesh are still there. So, there is a continual battle going on. The old nature wars with the new nature. This is not a contradiction to the fact that we become new creatures. The flesh still cries out for the old things, and we must constantly fight against our sinful nature and the temptation of Satan. We must call upon the presence of the Holy Spirit daily in order to win the struggle against our sin nature.
If you are saved, it doesn't mean that you will never have struggles or temptation again. Indeed, Satan may double his effort against you when you commit to the Lord! I am not saying that you will never sin again as a Christian. I am saying that a Christian will fight against the desires of the flesh and will overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit. Don't be surprised at the struggle. It is a part of the continual battle against Satan and our sinful nature.
The third proof is found in Romans 7:22, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man." This verse says that a saved man will find joy in the things of God. True salvation will bring a desire to pray, read the bible, go to church, and listening to Christcentered preaching.
If you say that you have been saved, and you have no desire to pray to the Father, read the Holy Word, attend church, sing praises, tithe, have fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters or love people, please understand that you may be living with a counterfeit faith and not the real thing at all.
A fourth proof is found in 1 John 3:13 "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you." The saved person is despised and hated by the world. If you stand strong for Christ, you will be ridiculed by people who don't understand. Indeed, they cannot understand because they do not have the discernment of the Holy Spirit. Satan will use friends, business associates and even family to try to pull you back into the world. If you have people who call you goody-two-shoes or mock you because you don't drink alcohol with them at social functions, or think you are odd because your commitment to church is stronger than your commitment to soccer, baseball, football, cheerleading, dance, or civic functions, thank God for you!
A fifth proof is found in I John 3:3, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." A saved person has a desire to be holy and pure like Jesus. He does not go around trying to justify his un-Christlike behavior. He will keep himself as pure as possible. This does not mean that he will never sin, but it does mean that he will be miserable when he does, and he will seek forgiveness from the Father. Do you have a desire to be pure and holy in your daily living?
A sixth proof is found in 1 John 3:14, "We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." If the love of Christ dwells in you, you will not have trouble loving your brothers and sisters. Hatred and the love of Christ cannot coexist in the same heart! I love the people of Meadow Brook Baptist Church. Some of you are only acquaintances, while others are like family, but I love all of you. I hope you know that. I can't be your pastor if I don't love you. I may not like your actions sometimes as you may not approve of mine, but please know my depth of affection for you. If you don't love the brethren, you need to examine what you have.
Your salvation is a personal experience with Jesus Christ. It is not the acceptance of a set of propositions or ideas. It is a living relationship with a living Lord. If that relationship is real, it will affect the way you live your life. There will be proof if you are a child of the King!
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