What a simple little question. How many times has this question been asked? And now, I am asking it to you. Are you saved? Another question following that which we asked last time is: are you a sinner? Salvation is only offered to sinners, never good people. You must see yourself as God sees you and that is a wretched, hell bound sinner. And then we asked: do you expect to go to heaven? The way to heaven is not many roads, but one road. Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
To most, Jesus Christ means nothing. To many He means a little, but not much. To some He means a lot, but not everything. But to a few, He is everything; He is their only hope of eternal life. If He meant nothing to you, you probably would not bother to go to church at all. If He means a little, you might show up at church once in a while, but never would you serve Him. If he means a lot, you will try to be at church unless something else comes up and your service will be minimal. That leaves the few who are left to carry everyone else.
To “nominal Christians,” serving God is, (for the most part) an inconvenience that you put up with. To the half- hearted Christian, serving God is seen as a obligation, but not a priority. To the few true servants, serving God is a passion, a delight, and a joy.
Need help? I can maybe help you with our question by saying, that if Jesus means nothing or very little, you most certainly are not saved. If Jesus means a lot but not all, you might be saved, but it can be questioned. If serving God is an obligation, but not a priority, at best you are out of fellowship and perhaps a backslider.
Trusting? If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you may do so now. Confess your sins, repent or turn from them, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 10:9-10. You may be asking, “what if I’m really saved but something is making me doubt; should I profess again”? If you make a profession again, it is not a sin and it certainly is not going to hurt you; it will help give you assurance.
Has there ever been a heart change? The warning of Paul in the above passage is, “except ye be reprobates” which means, “counterfeit and disapproved.” By heart change I mean, a different attitude about God, about your sin and about service. Also, you must understand that these changes are not something that you do in order to be a Christian. No one can force these changes upon themselves. It must be the work of the Holy Spirit which makes those changes in you. Jesus Christ must be in you in the person of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” If you are just trying to be a Christian, then stop trying and trust Jesus and His perfect sacrifice for your salvation and you will be truly saved. E-mail, johnpruitt@frontiernet.net