What Did You Mean By That?

Q

In one of your answers about salvation you wrote the following: “The fact is some who think they’re saved are not, and some who fear they’re not saved will discover they are.” Who were you referring to?

A

The people who think they’re saved but are not are those who think that joining a particular church or doing certain “good works” is all that’s necessary for salvation. They don’t realize that the only way we can be saved is to be born again by believing that the Lord died for our sins and rose again. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3)

Those who fear they aren’t saved but really are would be those who believe Jesus died for them and have asked for salvation but are either worried they haven’t been good enough to deserve it, or are convinced they’ve been bad enough to lose it. They don’t understand that everyone who asks in faith receives salvation, no matter what kind of life they’ve led (Matt. 7:7-8) and once they have it, there’s nothing anyone can do to take it away (John 10:27-30).

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7).