Confirmation of Salvation!
Our topic for this week is a good one. We look at what the Scripture reveals about the blessed assurance we can have regarding our being Christians or believers. If you or someone you know has doubts, please read today's post and recommend it. We are thankful you are reading and eager to learn and grow spiritually. Eric
Have you ever had someone ask you, "How do I know if I am a Christian? Have you had a time when you were not sure? Today, we will be looking at what it means to be a Christian or a believer, how it affects our lives and how we can have the blessed assurance that we are indeed children of God.
There are a lot of 'ideas' of what a 'Christian' or 'believer' is and what they will 'look' or 'act' like. In fact, if you do some research or studying - not everyone's teaching will be exactly the same. The most important detail you must be aware of is whether what you are 'hearing' or 'reading' lines up with God's Holy Word, the Bible. The Scripture is truth . Thus, it is important that you are hearing the truth and not lies and deception. All of the following phrases are accurate biblically concerning what it means to be a Christian or believer.
Christians or believers :
- Trust Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation.
- They have personally received Jesus as Savior.
- They have 'faith' in Jesus, in His person, death and resurrection.
- Are committed to Jesus as their Savior and their Lord (or Master).
- Seek to follow Him in their daily life.
- Know that Jesus alone provides salvation and is their only source for forgiveness of sins.
- Know, if they seek to follow Him, their lifestyle will change.
- Are God's possession.
- Have the Holy Spirit residing inside them.
The Scripture reveals that when we accept Jesus as our Savior, the Father sends the Holy Spirit to live inside us. In John 14:16 and 17 (NIV), we read Jesus’ words to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” This was an extremely invaluable gift for the disciples because Jesus, their Teacher, was going to leave. However, God’s plan was not to abandon the early disciples nor us, His modern day disciples. His plan for them was to send the Spirit of His Son or the Holy Spirit to be with them forever. 1 John 3:23 and 24 (ESV) reveals, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. 24Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us. “ By this Scripture, we realize that the Holy Spirit confirms the presence of God in our lives!
Ephesians 1:13 and 14 (BSB) reveals, "And in Him, having heard and believed the Word of Truth - the gospel of your salvation - you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of His glory." 'Believed' in verse 13 means, have confidence and entrust. When we hear, we are convicted and trust God. In response to the revelation of His word, we believe! 'Sealed' sphragizo in the Greek, means a guarantee of a promise (a mark to attest to ownership). The Holy Spirit's presence in us seals our security in God's promise. Praise God! The seal is irrevocable. Then, we see in verse 14 that the Holy Spirit is the 'pledge' of the inheritance we are promised when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus' blood to pay the ransom for our sin. 'Pledge' is a guarantee or deposit. The Holy Spirit is the first portion of the believer's eternal inheritance!
The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is an amazing portion of the inheritance we receive when we become believers. Some of the other benefits His presence brings to our lives now are: divine revelation of the Word of God, sanctification, and empowerment for doing God's work and will. These things are just a small foretaste of the glory to come!
Philippians 1:6 (NIV) reveals, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ” (when Christ returns).
'Redemption' in verse 14 of Ephesians 1 is defined as, getting back what was previously forfeited or lost (because of our sin) effected by the payment of Christ's blood for our ransom.
What a marvelous gift God has blessed us with in sending the Holy Spirit to be with us forever. (John 14:15-17). The word used for the Holy Spirit in verse 16 of John 14 is 'Helper' which, in the Greek, is parakletos. 'Parakletos' means: called to one's side, intercessor, helper and assistant and in other Scriptures the Holy Spirit is also referred to as our 'Advocate.’
Let's look for a bit at what the Holy Spirit (Helper and Advocate) does for believers. According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, 'Parakletos' leads believers to deeper knowledge of the truth of the gospel, gives us divine strength, which we need to enable us to undergo trials and persecutions, teaches, brings things to our remembrance, convicts us of sin, abides with us forever ... and are you ready for it? He assures believers that they are children of God! Romans 8:16 (ESV) reveals, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Yes! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children! "The Spirit's testimony is an internal witness that corroborates the believer's own spirit, providing a deep-seated assurance of their salvation and relationship with God." (Bible Hub Study Bible). Wait!
There's more! Galatians 4:6 reveals, "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" As a believer, we have received the 'Spirit of adoption' to sonship. Our adoption signifies that we have a new relational change, identity and status before God. With the 'Spirit of adoption' to sonship - the adopted children are given the full rights and privileges of a natural born child. This refers to the Holy Spirit confirming to believers that our new identity is as a child of God. When we accept Christ as our Savior, relationally, we become a child of God in the same manner as His Son Jesus Christ! Wow! "'Abba' is of Chaldee origin being used as a term of tender endearment by a beloved child - i.e. in an affectionate, dependent relationship with their father." (HELPS Word-studies). A representation of this intimacy and trust in relationship would be seeing a young toddler crawling into their father's lap, hugging him while yelling out,: "Daddy!"
It is amazing to realize that the Lord has provided, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, for believers today to have that same Father/child relationship which He had with Jesus. Remember, when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion, as He was praying He cried out, "Abba, Father."
Thus far, we have established that the Holy Spirit gives us an inward witness that enables us to have assurance that we are believers, Christians or children of God.
Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (NIV), “However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"--the things God has prepared for those who love him-- 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
We humans have a very limited perception of things. God’s plans and purposes are beyond human comprehension. Our ordinary means of communication falls far short of understanding God’s intentions and plans for us. We must have spiritual discernment and divine revelation to live a successful life as a believer. Even our immeasurable level of imagination cannot conceive what God has in store for us. God has a plan for those who trust in Him (Jeremiah 29:11 ) and God reveals it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit’s role is crucial - mankind cannot comprehend God’s mysteries. The Spirit is omniscience - He discerns and reveals God’s will and purpose. We have received the Spirit who is from God. God is the divine originator of the Holy Spirit and the Father sent Him to live in us so that we will not be left in the dark. You see, through the presence and revelation of the Holy Spirit, we can comprehend His gifts, His blessings , such as our salvation, His grace and spiritual wisdom . The Holy Spirit reveals the truths of Scripture so we can understand the love and riches of His grace.
Another mainstay we have to assure us of our salvation is the Word of God.
Titus 1:2 reveals that God does not and cannot lie. The Word of God which was inspired and given to man by God therefore, is Absolute Truth.
So, let's see what the Word of Truth reveals:
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13 ESV)
"Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out." (John 6:37 NASB20)
"For I take no pleasure in anyone's death, declares the LORD, so repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32 NASB20)
"Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." (1 John 2:3 ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3 ESV)
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."( 1 Peter 1:8,9 ESV)
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 ESV)
Our assurance that we are saved comes through facts and faith. It is a fact that there is no other way by which man may be saved. (John 14:6 ESV)
We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)
His work, cross, tomb and resurrection are facts.
Our faith has an object - that object is Jesus. Faith involves our will - we make a decision to believe in Christ. Faith also means we surrender and make a commitment to the claims of Christ.
God gives to every man and woman the ability to believe. (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.) (Romans 10:7)
If you 'doubt' your salvation, you will remain powerless.
When you 'know' you are a Christian and have the Holy Spirit inside you - you will walk in the fulness of Christ and accomplish His work as being His body.
The church is His body and as we do His work here on the planet until He comes, we will confound and overthrow evil powers. "My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes." (Psalm 92:11 NIV).
I extend an invitation to all who are reading who have never made the decision to accept the gift of God for salvation. Jesus Christ, God's Son came to earth to pay the penalty for man's sin. There is none righteous. We have all sinned. The penalty is death. The death of the one paying the penalty would not be sufficient if they had sinned. That is why Jesus came. Being sinless, He became that perfect sacrifice. He died on the cross and took all of our sins upon Himself. If we accept Him and His sacrifice, we escape the death sentence meant for us.
If you would like to accept the salvation Jesus provided by shedding His blood for you, pray, thanking Him for making that way for you. Confess your sins, turn away from them and accept His cleansing. If you make these decisions, I welcome you to the Family of God.
For more information on the decision you made, I recommend you read, "Are You a Christian?" our post from November 5, 2025.
Take heart. If you have doubted whether or not you are truly a believer, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God provides all of the confirmation you need to know that your decision to accept Jesus as your Savior is valid . You will desire to follow Him, be obedient to His Word and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you!
You need never doubt your salvation again!
Praise God!
Scriptures were taken from:
BSB Berean Standard Bible
NIV New International Version
ESV English Standard Version
NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020