How do we know that we are saved for sure? I have read and heard of pastors and church workers who confessed that they got saved in the churches where they were ministering. I’ve also heard about others who after doing great things for God openly denied their faith in Him. I know that those who truly trust in Him alone for salvation will be saved and experience His transforming power. I am just not sure anymore about whether my faith is the right kind or not considering my failures and sins. How can we know for sure that we are indeed saved and not just deceiving ourselves?
If you’re saved you don’t have to worry about the kind of faith you have, because the faith that saved you is not from you but was a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Everything you’ve told me is from your head, but the faith of God is in your heart.
You can know you’re saved because Jesus said everyone who asks for salvation receives it (Matt. 7:7-8). Our observable behavior is irrelevant because God knows what’s in our hearts. He knew every sin of your life long before you were born and nailed them all to the cross. As soon as you asked to be saved every one of them was forgiven. And remember, if you didn’t have failures and sins in your life you wouldn’t need a Savior. You could have saved yourself. Because you have them, you’re just like the rest of us.
I would advise you to stop trying to evaluate your situation on the basis of things you’ve heard about others and ask the Lord, who is the author of your salvation, to give you peace about it. But remember, salvation is not about how you feel. It’s about believing what He said.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charges of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14).