Am I still saved? Can I lose my salvation?

Step 6

After salvation, hard times will come. Sin will creep in, trials will increase, and Satan will do his best to discourage you. As a result, many Christians will find themselves asking...

Am I still saved?

If you have ever wondered this, it's ok. You're not alone. Fortunately, the Bible is full of verses that can help us in this area. God wants us to have assurance of our salvation.

Why Do People Doubt?

Doubt is a natural part of the human life. As people, we tend to believe in things that we can see, smell, touch, taste, and hear. When something isn't tangible, we struggle to fully believe it. Since faith requires us to believe in something that can't be seen, salvation is a completely intangible event.

As a result, doubts can come from:

Feelings
Sin in your life
Confusion
Misunderstanding the Bible

Are you sure that you are saved?

If not, go to Step 1: How to go to Heaven

God does not want you to be unsure about your salvation. According to the Bible, you can know that you are saved.

What Is Assurance of Salvation?

Assurance of salvation means having confidence that you are truly saved, and that your salvation is secure. True assurance isn't based on your feelings, performance, or consistency in the Christian life. It is based on what God has said in his word.

Can I Get Saved Again?

Salvation Is a One-Time Event

Salvation in the Bible is not a process that can be repeated. It is a moment in time when you place your faith in Jesus Christ. Once the perfect gift of salvation has been received, it can't be received again.

Ephesians 2:8 - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

When you put your faith in Jesus:

You are saved
You receive eternal life
You are redeemed
You are justified
You are adopted by God
You are sealed by the Holy Spirit

If we needed to be saved over and over again, it would mean that Christ’s payment on the cross was not sufficient. It would remove God's responsibility to preserve us and place the responsibility on us to keep our own salvation. The simple fact is, if we aren't good enough to earn salvation on our own, then we aren't good enough to keep it on our own either.

Believers are Forgiven

Thankfully, the Bible clearly teaches that believers are perfected by God forever. Not because we keep our salvation, but because God keeps it for us. Once someone places their faith in Jesus, their sins are paid for... past, present, and future.

Hebrews 10:14 - “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

Can I Lose My Salvation?

You Cannot Lose Your Salvation

Before you get saved, you are a criminal standing before a judge. He views the sin that you have committed, looks over all of the evidence, and issues out the correct punishment. That was your relationship with God before salvation, but once you are saved, that relationship changes.

According to Galatians 4, God adopts us (that's why we call him our heavenly Father). As a result, we are not longer a criminal standing before a judge, but a son standing before his father. While a judge will send a criminal to prison for breaking the law, a father will punish his son to correct his bad behavior. No matter how far we get from our heavenly Father... we are still his children.

If salvation could be lost:

It would depend on your performance

It would no longer be a gift

It wouldn't be "eternal" or "everlasting"

John 10:28 - “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Eternal life is:

Not temporary

Not conditional

Not reversible

Eternal - everlasting; endless; immortal

God Wants You to Know

The Bible is clear in this area. God doesn't want us to go through life confused and unsure of our salvation. He wants his children to be confident in their standing with him.

1 John 5:13 - "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

God wants believers to have confidence—not doubt.

The Same Foundation

Your assurance must rest in the same thing your salvation rests in... Jesus Christ. Since your salvation is not based on your works, behavior, or feelings, then your assurance is also not dependent on these things. Our good works can't save us. Therefore, our good works can't keep us saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Why Do I Doubt?

Evidence vs. Assurance

It’s important to understand the difference. The day that we get saved, God doesn't give us a golden ticket that we can keep in our pocket and pull out anytime we have doubts. Although that would provide great evidence for our salvation, it would eliminate our need to have faith, and our faith is pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:6 - "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Evidence of Salvation

Desire for the things of God
Conviction of sin
Growth in obedience
Production of good works
Serving God

Assurance of Salvation

While there are some evidences that can be observed in someone's life, those evidences don't give us assurance. Our assurance is based on what God has told us through his word—not what we see. Our confidence should rest in His promises, not our performance.

Common reasons that will cause you to doubt:

1. Relying on Feelings

Feelings change. Some days you feel close to God. Other days you don’t. God has given us emotions, but our emotions aren't intended to make our decisions for us. For any big decision in life, we should use wisdom and discernment that we gain by reading God's word. Your salvation is not based on how you feel.

2. Struggling with Sin

When you sin, it may cause you to question everything. "Am I really saved? I keep doing things that I shouldn't do. Surely, I can't be saved...." Sin naturally separates us from God. When sin remains unconfessed, it hurts our relationship with God and can make us feel far from him. When we confess our sins to God, he forgives us every time. Sin affects your fellowship with God—not your salvation.

1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

3. Confusion from False Teaching

Unfortunately, there are many false teachers out there that will say you can lose your salvation if you fail to maintain it through works. Ultimately, this will create confusion and constant uncertainty. We must remember that the Bible teaches that salvation is a gift—not something you earn or maintain.

In order to ensure that you don't fall into this trap, go to Step 2: Find a Biblical Church.

How Can I Be Sure?

1. Go Back to the Gospel

Have you trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation? Are you relying on Him instead of your works? If you truly put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, then according to the Bible, you are saved. Salvation is simple... we tend to overcomplicate it.

2. Believe God’s Word

You can find peace and rest in the promises of God. For thousands of years, he's never told a lie. He's not going to start with you. Take God at his word.

John 3:36a - “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life…”

Not “might have”

Not “hope to have”

Hath - present possession

3. Reject Feelings as Authority

Feelings are real, but they are not reliable.

God’s Word is.

4. Continue Growing

As you grow in the Christian life, be sure to be faithful to the things of God. By reading your Bible, praying, and applying God's word to your life, you will remain close to God. When you are close to God, you will not doubt your salvation. We doubt our salvation when we have wondered far from him. Stay close to the Shepherd.

If you lack assurance:

You will live in fear
You will struggle to grow
You will constantly question your foundation

But when you are confident in your salvation:

You have peace
You can grow
You can move forward

Satan doesn't need to destroy you. He just needs to get you to doubt your salvation. If he can accomplish that, you won't be excited about the things of God and you will keep you faith to yourself. Doubt is a natural part of the Christian life, but it must be dealt with. If not, it will severely limit our walk with God.

Ready for the next step? Once you have assurance of your salvation, check out Step 7: Learn Doctrine.

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