How Can I Be Certain of My Salvation? 

Randy Hohf

As they say, “Life is uncertain, eat dessert first”. How true. You just do not know if you will be here tomorrow. One thing is certain, however: we will all one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5.10). And wouldn’t you like to be confident that you will be given eternal life on that day? There is a way! The apostle John says:

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 Jn 5.13).

Wouldn’t you like to be able to say, “I know I have eternal life”? And I mean say it with true knowledge that is not based on mere feelings or opinions but on absolute certainty? You can by going to the only reliable source: the inspired Scriptures, where God has revealed his will for us (2 Tim 3.16-17; Jude 3). So let’s take a look at what the Bible teaches us in regard to salvation.

First and foremost, we must understand that salvation is in Jesus Christ and his crucifixion:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

Jesus gave his life on the cross to die for our sins. The Bible tells us that “we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3.23), thereby earning spiritual and eternal death, eternal separation from God (Rom 6.23; Isa 59.2). If it were not for Jesus Christ, we would be without hope, under the judgment of eternal death because of our sins. God is just, and he cannot have fellowship with sin (1 Jn 1.5). However, God is also a forgiving God and in his wisdom he found a way to forgive man without denying his justice. How could he do this? By sending his Son Jesus to die in our place. Since Jesus lived as a man and yet without sin (Heb 4.15), he could substitute his life for ours. He became our “sacrificial lamb” and took our sins upon himself:

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1.29)

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21)

This was all done in grace. Since we have all earned death by our sin, salvation must be by grace:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8)

Grace is “unmerited favor”. By grace we are restored to God’s favor even though we do not deserve his favor. It is a gift that we do not deserve:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:23-24)

Jesus died for us while we were sinners (Rom 5.6-10). Thus, the basis of your salvation is not how good you are. You cannot be “good enough” to be saved on your own, for this would require perfection. You must put your trust in the grace of God which was carried out in Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death.

However, this is where many become confused, thinking that since salvation is by grace, it must be unconditional and therefore we can do nothing to gain salvatin. According to the Scriptures, however, the grace of God does not negate our need to respond in faith. In his grace God has offered salvation to all through Jesus Christ. This offer is made in the gospel (Mk 16.16), which is the power of God for salvation (Rom 1.16). In order to be saved we must hear and respond to this gospel:

“For ‘Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings [gospel] of good things!’ However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:13-17)

We are “called through the gospel”, which is the good news of salvation (2 Thes 2.14). But once we hear the gospel, we must accept these “glad tidings” by faith (Rom 5.2; Eph 2.8). But how do we do that? Do we simply “accept Jesus into our hearts”? Do we just pray a prayer for forgiveness? What is the faith-response that God requires? Again, let us go to the Bible for our answers., where we learn that faith alone not enough. James asks “What kind of faith will save a man?” (Jas 2.14). He answers by showing that a true saving faith is that which is completed by our “works” of obedience:

“You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.” (James 2:22-24)

Abraham’s “faith” was not a saving faith until it was completed (“perfected”) by his obedience. When Abraham offered up Isaac on the alter in response to God’s command, he was not earning his salvation but merely expressing his trust in God by responding in true faith. A true faith does what God says. A true faith responds to God in trusting obedience while knowing that we fall short of God’s glory and perfect righteousness. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11.6), but true, saving faith is a faith that is “perfected” (made complete) by obedience. Thus, in Heb 5.9 we read:

“And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation”

So, how do I “perfect my faith” so as to be saved? What specifically must I do? This is what Peter’s audience asked after the heard the first gospel sermon ever preached (Acts 2.37). Before we look at Peter’s answer, however, let us back up to look at what Jesus told the apostles to preach in the “Great Commission”:

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mk 16:15-16)

Notice that Jesus gave two essential things for salvation: believe and be baptized.  Luke’s account of the Great Commission shows us that repentance is also essential (Lk 24.47). Shortly after Jesus gave this “Great Commission” to his apostles, they had their first opportunity to carry it out by preaching to the very ones who killed Jesus (Acts 2). Peter convinced these Jews that this Jesus, whom they crucified, was both Lord and Christ (vs.36). But, they had killed Him, and the thought of this caused them to be “pierced to the heart” and to ask what they must do to be saved (vs.37). Peter, of course, told them exactly what Jesus said in the Great Commission:

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38)

 Peter’s audience had come to the point of belief, so much so that they were “pierced to the heart”. But as we’ve seen, belief alone is useless. They must also (1) Repent, which means to “change your mind”, and (2) “Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”. And so to be saved, one must hear the gospel, believe in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We also must “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord” (Rom 10.9-10). This would naturally come before baptism (Acts 8.37) as this public confession would tell us whether or not the person is a candidate for baptism. Thus, when we hear the gospel, believe in it, repent of our sins, confess Jesus as Lord and be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins we shall be saved.

Some might respond at this point by saying, “I know we have to believe, repent, and confess Jesus as Lord, but if we are saved by faith, why must we be baptized?”  This is a good question. Why must we be baptized? Again, let’s allow the scriptures to answer. Baptism is essential to salvation because it is baptism (preceded by a repentant faith) that puts us into union with Jesus Christ: 

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:3-4)

 According to this passage, how do we get into Christ? Paul says we are “baptized into Christ”. Baptism (coupled with repentant faith) is how we come into contact with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom 6.3), and therefore it is how we come into contact with his saving blood. This is exactly what Peter tells us

“And corresponding to that [i.e., Noah being saved by water], baptism now saves you -- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”  (1 Pet 3:21)

Thus we see that baptism is how a repentant believer is brought by God into Jesus Christ. When a repentant, believing sinner is baptized, God adds him to the saved (Acts 2.41,47).

And how is one “baptized”? The word “baptism” comes from the Greek word baptizo  which means “to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet)” (Strongs Greek Lexicon). The idea of sprinkling or pouring water on a person is not contained in the word, nor did the first century Christians baptize except by completely immersing the person in water (see Mt 3.16; Acts 8.38-39). That baptism in the name of Jesus Christ was an immersion is also seen in the symbolic meaning of baptism as a “washing” (Acts 22.16) and a “burial” (Rom 6.4; Col 2.12).

There is no meritorious, earning power to baptism. It is a passive act (someone baptizes you) that emphasizes your need for forgiveness. It is an “appeal to God for a clear conscience” (1 Pet 3.21), a “washing away of your sins by calling on His name” (Acts 22.16). It is how we express our “faith in the power of God” (Col 2.12-13).

What a simple yet beautiful plan! God sent his Son to die for our sins. This is the gospel -- the “good news”. We respond to this good news by believing in Jesus, changing our minds so as to submit to God (repenting), confessing him as our Lord, and being buried in water as Jesus was buried in the earth. As we are buried, the old man dies (is crucified) and we come up a new man -- saved! You did not earn it or do any great work to merit your salvation. You simply obeyed Jesus’ command to be immersed into Him. Then, like the Ethiopian eunuch who was baptized by Philip (Acts 8.37-40), you will be able to “go on your way rejoicing”, for you will know you have eternal life. From that point on you can continue to rejoice and grow in your salvation by living a life of faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 6.12-19), trusting in his grace.

As we said, life is uncertain. But eternal life need not be. Wouldn’t you like to be able to live with total confidence that your relationship with God is right and that you have eternal life? If so, please contact us for further study. We would love to help.