Are You Truly Saved?

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11)

My dear friends, heed this verse with the utmost regard. Be certain, under careful scrutiny of of your own life, that God has indeed saved you. Salvation is none to be taken lightly. The apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). Work out your salvation with fear and trembling – for if you are not truly in Christ, then you have much to fear. On that final day, all will come to account for every one of their sins, and those found without the precious blood of Christ upon them shall perish under the eternal judgment of Almighty God.

Bear this message with much fear. Jesus comes not to give us an invitation, but an ultimatum. Repent, or perish under the coming wrath. The good Lord repeatedly warns us of the terrible consequences of our rebellion. The Law has judged the world and all have been found guilty before God. Those who will not repent, those who love the world; to these the Lord has shown us their fate:

If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name (Revelation 14:9-11).

Who, then, might these be who worship the beast and his image and receive the mark of his name? I tell you, anyone who does not do the will of God will be among those. Those who love this world and all that is in it cannot be lovers of God. Scripture clearly speaks this: “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Therefore, if we chose to love this world, if we chose to indulge in material wealth, if we are given over to sensuality, if we make idols of what we have, what we are, what we look up to or anything of the like, then there is no question that we have made ourselves to be enemies of God. If we willfully break God's Law, then we have shown our hatred for His lordship. Make no mistake, God is love; however, for those who would dare to defy Him, their condemnation is deserved.

This is why I charge you, do not presume your own salvation. For it is written: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:8). Examine your own life. See that you are in Christ. Look at the evidence. Do you bear good fruit; that which is borne of a genuine repentance? For as Jesus says to us, “Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:17-21). Therefore, do you bear the fruit of repentance? Or, by the things you say, the things you do and the thoughts and feelings you harbor in your heart, do you bear the fruit which is of wickedness?

Look closely at your life and see if it lines up with scripture. The apostle John yields much insight into this matter in his first epistle:

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives (1 John 1:5-10).

Here we can see that we can have no darkness in our lives – yet at the same time, if we say we have no sin, we make Christ out to be a liar. We must understand, that all end up sinning in this fallen world. However, the one who is in Christ will abhor any sin in his or her life and will repent of it. The wicked will either be indifferent or will revel in their sin. Worse, some will even take their sin in boisterous pride. The evidence of salvation will be that those who sin will be overcome with grief, to the point of confession and repentance before God. If this is lacking from your life, do not take such a matter lightly. For such is a clear indicator that you have, in fact, not been saved. If you so choose to continue in such a lifestyle, then Jesus makes clear the consequences:

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! (Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV).

Therefore, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Come to Christ, for He is mighty to save. Seek His mercy. Throw your life down at the foot of the cross and surrender! Surrender to your King and He will have mercy on you. Defy Him in any way, and you will perish under His wrath. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is worthy of all honor, glory and praise. You are nothing before His greatness. I urge you, dear friend, accept His terms of surrender – your complete, total and unconditional surrender to Him. Surrender! Lay it all down. Cry out to Him until He saves you! For when He has saved you, it is such a mighty work, you will know, for you will no longer be the wicked, idolatrous rebel you once were, but someone who desires nothing else than Christ and to see Him glorified. You will seek after righteousness and so deeply despise the sin you once loved. Above all, you will know a love that you have never known before. You will know the love of Christ, and how great it truly is. He was crushed for your sin. He bore the wrath that you were due. He purchased you with His blood. See how much He loves you – how dearly you are loved! Repent and believe the gospel! Yield to Him, lay down your life . . . surrender! Come to Him and be saved!