Am I Saved?
One question carries eternal significance for every human being: “Am I born again?” The question can also be asked this way: “Am I saved?” Jesus Christ paid the price to reconcile you and me to God, our Father (Rom. 5:10). You might ask, “Why were we not reconciled to Him?” Due to Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden, we all had become alienated: “At that time you were without Christ … having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).
Jesus Christ’s death on the cross opened a door for us, but have we each walked through it? Many wrongly link their salvation to church attendance, baptism as a child, having relatives in ministry, or performing good works for God. We do not want to stand before God one day and hear “depart from me” (Matt. 7:23).
In the Experiencing God devotional by Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, the authors share this wisdom regarding salvation: “You do not become a Christian by asking Jesus into your heart. You become a Christian when you are born again.” Their words align with Romans 10:9-10, which says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” We confess, but also a change – true belief – must occur in our hearts.
You see, at salvation, a life-altering transition takes place. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” When we are born again, we shift from being children of darkness to children of light. That light is the light and life of Christ. We now become spiritually alive and represent Him on earth!
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” But how does this happen? When we are born again, the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) comes to live inside us. He quickens us (John 6:63) and makes us alive in Christ. We are new creations in Him.
Salvation – A New Creation and a New Way
In Christ, we become new creations. God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, guides our lives. We turn from old ways to pursue Christ and lay hold of our new life in Him. Zacchaeus’ life is an example for us. He was a dishonest tax collector who experienced heart change that drew Jesus’ attention. Jesus refers to the change in Zacchaeus’ life as “salvation.”
We find the account in Luke 19:1-10. Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
In Luke’s account, Zacchaeus pursued Christ. He renounced old ways and chose to walk another life path that honored God. His actions confirmed that he was now a child of the light.
Persevering in Christ
As a born-again believer, you are sealed: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13). The Holy Spirit guides, covers, and comforts you.
Despite His presence with us, the hardness and temptations of life can cause us to falter occasionally. At times, we will disappoint even ourselves. But God has made provision for us: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The Holy Spirit within us helps us to persevere. Ask believers in their 70s, 80s, and beyond; they will tell you that the Holy Spirit is a keeper. Yes! We have a loving Father who has chosen us for eternity. As we continually lay hold of Christ in a loving relationship with Him, we can rest assured of our eternal salvation (John 10:27-29).
So, let’s persevere in rest: “Remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us” (1 John 2:24-25, NLT). Yes, eternal life promised!
Resources
If this article has prompted you to question if you’re truly saved, take next steps to learn more. Click here: https://www.bornofthespirit.today/
For further explanation of salvation and a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, click here: http://www.bornofthespirit.today/experience-salvation-today/
On my website, find this study entitled “Salvation and the Holy Spirit.” Click here: https://thewordismylife.com/study-1-salvation-and-the-holy-spirit/
Video: “How I Find Joy in Everyday Life: Lessons Learned about Salvation Along My Life’s Path” Click here: https://youtu.be/fUd_Z3BxcS4
Video: “Find a More Excellent Path for the Soul.” Click here: https://youtu.be/7C83g1NFwwc
