Article - You Can Know You're Saved If...
We live in a world that is full of doubt and worry. What will the stock market do tomorrow? Will the gas prices rise again? How will our country stay safe in these times of terror? Many of these questions are really unknown to us. Yet, when it comes to a person’s eternal salvation, he can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is saved. The Apostle John said, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). He can know he is saved if he does the following things.
Keep God’s Commandments. While we do not at all advocate salvation by works (Ephesians 2:8-10), God does make it clear to be saved we must do exactly what he says. Jesus said, “If you love me keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The Apostle John said, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). In fact, John makes it crystal clear when he says, “He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). This principle especially applies to the initial steps in the plan of salvation. For example, many in our religious world do not teach the full truth on baptism. Many will say that while baptism is a good thing to do, it is not essential to salvation. Notice what Jesus and His followers said. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, he who does not believe shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Ananias told Saul, “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the Lord’s name” (Acts 22:16). From these passages and others it is clear that baptism is essential to having one’s sins washed away. If a person is going to keep all of God’s commandments he must obey what the Bible says on baptism also.
Love your Fellow Christians. It seems odd that we would have to remind ourselves to love our Christian family, but it is at times necessary. For example, the church is a family (Ephesians 2:10). Just like a physical family, there are also problems that arise in a spiritual family. Tempers flare at times and people say things they shouldn’t. It is at times like these that we must let our love for Christ and one another outweigh our own emotional impulses. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Jesus summed up the essence of knowing we are saved when He said, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).
Dear friend, if we truly love God and do what He says in the Bible and love our neighbors and friends as our selves it will be impossible for us not to go to Heaven. The imperative question we each must ask is, “Have I really obeyed what the Bible says?”
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