Beth-El Baptist Church

01/09/2011

Greg Tomlinson


How can I know that I am saved?


With many people proclaiming various views regarding the eternal state of man, it is important to consider what God has to say about eternal things and, if possible, why.


  1. What is man to be saved from?

Isaiah 59:1-4 John 3:36; 16:7-11

Genesis 6:5-6 1 Samuel 2:25


Having been created in the image and likeness of God and because of sin, man has drastically defiled the image of God and thus they have maligned the name of God and His person. God is perfectly Holy, Just, and righteous and being such, he must properly and adequately judge sin (man's defilement of the nature, character, and name of God). The only right and proper judgment against sin is eternal separation (death) and eternal condemnation by God which is God's righteous outpouring of just judgment upon all men. Therefore all of mankind are in desperate need to be protected from the outpouring of God's Holy, perfect, and just wrath.


  1. What does a person need to do in order to be saved from the wrath of God?

Acts 16:30-31 Romans 9:15-16; 10:8-13

Luke 18:13-14


In order to escape the just outpouring of God's wrath for your sins, you must first recognize the harm you have done to the person, nature, and character of God. If you understand the perfect nature of God and your own defiled nature, you are to cry out to God for mercy in recognition that there is nothing at all that you can do to deserve escaping God's wrath except for plead with God to show you mercy. The fullness of the mercy of God and the satisfaction for righteous judgment for sin can only be found in the cross of Jesus Christ. It is only by trusting on Christ's finished work on the cross and thus on the mercy of God in Christ, that someone can be saved from God's wrath.


  1. Are there any indications in my life that I actually believe?

Romans 6:16-18; 8:13-17; 8:28-29 1 John 5:1-5

Galatians 5:19-25


When you believe, your desires begin to change. You now know that you are at peace with God because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. You now desire to know the Word of God in order that you might be able to obey the commandments of God from the heart rather than either ignoring the commandments of God or trying to obey them from the head or with the goal of becoming pleasing to God. When you are saved, you are already pleasing to God. Furthermore, your life will be marked by actually doing those things that please God. Such things as, love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, self-control, and other such things will be a part of your life. Such things as lust, sexual immorality, hatred, strife, anger, envy and other such things will begin to cease from being in your life and when those things are present, your heart will convict you that you have again sinned against God and need to repent.


  1. Does this mean that I will no longer have sin in my life?

Romans 6:12-14; 7:13-17; 7:18-25 1 John 1:8-10; 2:1-5


Sin will still be present in the lives of believers. Believers do not desire to sin, nor do they make excuses in order to justify their sin but they do know that sin in their lives will not separate them from the love of God. The believer who sins, has still been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and they are to repent of their sins and seek the forgiveness of God and all others they have sinned against.