Beth-El Baptist Church

11/21/2010

Greg Tomlinson


How can a Christian be certain about his own salvation?


There are many proclaimers of Christ who believe that it is presumptuous and even arrogant for a person to claim that they know that they are a Christian. Some proclaimers of Christ live in a state that is nearly fearful about whether or not they will be saved. The confidence of the Christian should never waver.


  1. Is is possible for the Christian to absolutely know that he has eternal salvation?

John 20:30-31 1 John 3:14-15; 5:13

2 Corinthians 5:1 Romans 5:20-6:3


The scriptures tell us that we may in fact know whether or not we have eternal life. We do not need to wonder, guess, nor worry about the reality of our own salvation.


  1. What are the proofs of a Christian's eternal salvation?

Romans 8:5-8; 8:15-17 1 John 2:27; 5:1-4

John 13:34-35; 14:26-28 Psalm 34:18-19; 51:17

Galatians 5:22-23


The primary proof of a Christian's state of salvation is the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit cannot be seen or touched, but he can be felt. The Christian has a great desire to be obedient to God. This also means that he has a desire to learn the scriptures, since in them he comes to an understanding of who God is and what God desires. The Christian will not just have a desire to love, but he will actually love others. It is important to remember that loving others sometimes requires telling them “no” and that you will not give to them whatever they ask. Instead the Christian seeks to know what it is that one actually needs, not just what one feels that one needs. The Christian is also very much aware of his own sinfulness and mourns over the presence of sin in his life.


  1. What is the basis of a Christian's eternal salvation?

Colossians 1:12-15 John 3:36

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Romans 3:19-22; 8:9-11

Acts 16:30-31 Galatians 2:16

1 John 5:4-5 2 Timothy 2:13


The scriptures are clear that the basis of true Christian salvation is the completed work of Christ on the cross. When we have faith in Christ, we are entrusting ourselves to His work and not our own work. By faith in Christ and His cross, Christians are considered righteous by God and may be identified as children of the one true, Holy and righteous God.


  1. What about professing Christian's who “quit believing”?

Galatians 2:16-19 1 John 2:19-20

Revelation 2:9; 3:9 Hebrews 6:4-6

2 Peter 2:20-22 2 Corinthians 2:6-8


A professing Christian might “quit believing” because he never was actually a Christian but he was only pretending to be one. He might also “quit believing” for a period of time out of a sense of fear or anxiety or other such reason and then be restored again in fellowship as he returns to who he truly is, a child of God. We are never to give up on our fellow brethren but earnestly pray for them and help them in and through their unbelief.