If you doubt your salvation, does that mean you are not truly saved?

Answer

Most believers, at some point, have questioned their salvation. Doubts about salvation can stem from various reasons, some valid and some not. If you are uncertain about your salvation, there are steps you can take to seek assurance, address your doubts, and find peace in God’s promises.

Firstly, it’s essential to understand that having doubts does not determine your salvation. Some sincere believers grapple with doubt, while some non-believers who assume they are saved may never question their faith (and they will have a rude awakening someday—see Matthew 7:21-23). Therefore, the presence of doubt does not necessarily indicate a lack of salvation, nor does the absence of doubt confirm salvation.

One common reason for doubting salvation is the existence of sin in one’s life. Hebrews 12:1 mentions “sin that so easily entangles.” Many genuine Christians struggle with recurring sins, leading to doubts about their salvation. It’s crucial to acknowledge that, despite being a new creation in Christ, everyone still sins. “We all stumble in many ways” «For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. », (James 3:2). No one achieves sinless perfection in this world. The difference for believers lies in their attitude towards sin and how they respond to it. As Adrian Rogers stated, “Before I got saved, I was running to sin; now I am running from it. And if I fail, I turn right around and start running away again” (“Assurance of Salvation,” www.lwf.org/discover-jesus/assurance-of-salvation, accessed 4/7/20).

It’s also crucial to understand that the presence of sin in a person’s life does not necessarily indicate a lack of salvation.In one’s life can be a sign that you are not saved. The Bible is clear that willful, unrepentant sin is an indicator of an untransformed heart (see 1 John 3:6,9; Romans 6:1-2). If you are living a lifestyle that the Bible condemns as sinful, then there is a spiritual problem. Do Christians sin? Yes. Do they willfully continue in sin? No.

If you doubt your salvation because of sin in your life, then confess the sin to God and ask for His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. Then take steps to not repeat the sin: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God” «Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. », (Luke 3:8, NLT). The very fact that you recognize sin and struggle against it in your own life is proof that the Holy Spirit is at work. Cooperate with what He is doing.

Another reason people doubt their salvation is the absence of godly works in their lives. The Christian life involves more than turning from sin; it includes doing good. Jesus said that “every good tree bears good fruit” «Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. », (Matthew 7:17), and Paul wrote, “Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful” «And let our’s also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. », (Titus 3:14). There are some who inspect the “fruit” of their own lives, find it lacking, and wonder if they’re truly saved.

Their lack of confidence in being a “good tree” may stem from various reasons: 1) setting higher standards for themselves than God has, thus downplaying God’s work through them; 2) foolishly comparing themselves to others and their fruit «For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. », (see 2 Corinthians 10:12); 3) being lax in pursuing good works; or 4) lacking salvation and therefore not having the motivating love of Christ.

If you question your salvation due to a lack of good works, confess the sin of omission to God, seeking His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. Then, it is time to “stir up the gift of God which is in you” «Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. », (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV). There is much work to be done for the kingdom «Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. », (Luke 10:2), and the Bible provides ample guidance on God’s will for Christians. Avoid setting false performance standards or comparing your good deeds with others’. Seek God’s guidance on what He wants you to do, and follow that.

Some individuals, particularly those saved at a young age, may doubt their salvation because they do not recall their conversion well and question the genuineness of the decision made as a child. Such doubts are common among adults who accepted salvation in childhood. In such instances, it is beneficial to revisit the promi

Remember that Jesus welcomes children to come to Him, saying, “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14). Salvation is based on God’s grace and faith in Christ, not on our knowledge, wisdom, or sophistication (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus assured that those who belong to Him will “never perish,” stating, “and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28). If you have doubts about the authenticity of your childhood conversion, examine your faith. Regardless of your past actions as a child, do you now believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again? Are you putting your trust in Him alone?

Another reason for doubting salvation is lingering guilt over past sins. We all have remorse for past wrongdoings, and we face a spiritual adversary known in the Bible as “the accuser,” as stated, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10). The combination of regrets and accusations can lead to significant doubt. Thankfully, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world,” as affirmed, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4). If you question your salvation due to guilty feelings, remember that God’s forgiveness is greater than your past sins.

Feelings, then ask yourself, “Were those sins over which I feel guilty confessed to God?” If so, then know this: God has removed that sin from you “as far as the east is from the west” «As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. », (Psalm 103:12). This promise stands forever: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” «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).

Sometimes, doubting is a good thing. Doubt can, like pain, alert us to a problem that needs to be addressed. We are to test ourselves to be sure that we are “in the faith” «Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? », (2 Corinthians 13:5). Be sure that you are born again. If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, then you have eternal life, and God wants you to be confident of your salvation (Romans 8:38-39;1 John 5:13).