Thanks so much for this website. Christians really need this opportunity to ask questions and get a response.
I was saved many years ago when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and believed He died in my place on the Cross. I was so grateful to read the Scriptures and see salvation was faith-based. I notice from time to time I have doubts about my salvation and it really bothers me. Sometimes I think it’s my Catholic upbringing which stressed good works or it’s the Enemy trying to scare me. Your thoughts? Is this normal from time to time?
It’s not unusual to have a doubt now and then about your salvation. Every knowledgeable believer knows it’s something we don’t deserve, not by a long shot. And no matter what our upbringing, we’ve all been taught by the world that we have to work for what we want. The free gift of salvation is therefore a counter-intuitive notion to us.
When you experience doubt, it’s probably the devil toying with you, but it might be the Holy Spirit nudging you back to a closer relationship.
Either way the correct response is the same. Read 1 John 1:8-9 and seek forgiveness, for even your lapse of faith is a sin, and re-read the passages in Scripture that explain salvation by faith alone. John 3:16, John 6:28-29, Romans 10:9-10, Ephes. 1:13-14, Ephes. 2:8-9, and my favorite Titus 3:4-7, are good examples. I’m sure you have your favorites too. Get to know them by heart, so you can quote them to yourself from memory. As you do this you’ll find that your times of doubt become further and further apart until you no longer have them.
And remember James 4:7 “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Jesus taught us that the way to resist the devil is to quote from Scripture (Matt. 4:1-11) and those I’ve given you above are good ones.