How Do I Know If I'm Saved?

How Do I Know If I Am Saved?

After following or beginning to follow Christ, some have become anxious about if they are truly saved; here we will go through some key signs to look for.

Faith in Christ:

All have sinned or fallen short(Romans 3:23); even so, Christ died for us allowing us to be able to live forever with him. To accept this gift, Jesus asks an important thing: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast," (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). As Paul notes, Jesus died for us, but we must have faith in him for this gift. We see this sentiment too in other places such as: Mark 16:16, Luke 7:50, Romans 10:9, John 3:15, John 5:24, and 1 Peter 1:9.

Good Fruits:

Now it is important to note that our works do not directly save us; rather, our good works come out of our faith as a by-product. Carbon emissions are not necessary for a car to start; instead, we need gas(or perhaps electricity). Carbon emissions come out of our cars while the gas starts it. The same is so with our faiths for as James notes, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:17-22 KJV). If faith is without works, it is dead.

Following God:

Jesus too tells us we must follow him to be saved. As Hebrews states, "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26 KJV). If we are deliberately sinning we are not following God and thus are not saved. "If ye love me, keep my commandments," (John 14:15 KJV). If we love God, we are to follow his commandments. Also read: Proverbs 8:13.

Conviction: 

We also must have the spirit convicting us for the Spirit dwells in all believers, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba(or אבא or Father), Father," (Galatians 4:6 KJV). The Spirit convicts us(John 16:8, John 14:26), so if we do not feel conviction, this is a fairly clear sign there is an issue.