“Experiencing Salvation”

Monday, July 09, 2012

     My question is: when was I lost?  First let me clarify.  I am not doubting my salvation.  I do not expect you to doubt my salvation.  I do not remember an experience that I can say when I was saved.  I remember being baptized, but that's not when I was saved.  I don't remember not believing in Jesus.  He had been my Savior as long as I remember.  This causes others (not me) to doubt my salvation.  Knowing Him came as easy as breathing.  Please reply.  Thanks.

Sincerely,
I’m Good

Dear I’m Good,

It sounds like you are using your personal experiences and feelings as the judge of whether or not you are saved.  This is a very common thing to do, but it isn’t the correct gauge of our salvation.  Emotions are fickle and can be deceiving.  Some people feel that they are saved when, in fact, they are lost (Matt 7:21-23).  Others’ hearts condemn them while they are actually saved (1 Jn 3:19-21).  It is our adherence to God’s Word that saves us (Rom 1:16), not how we feel about the issue.  If you are doing what God says you must do to be saved, then you can have confidence regardless of how you feel (see “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” for further details).  For the record, baptism is the point when we move from lost to saved (Mk 16:16, 1 Pet 3:21, Acts 2:38).

Serving God is often an issue of doing what is right without regard to our emotions… showing bravery when we are afraid, working when we are tired, praying when we feel we aren’t heard, and persevering when we are discouraged.  One of Satan’s greatest tools to destroy us is that we often don’t feel as we ought, and sin has a way of numbing us to the truth of God’s Word (Heb 3:13).  The only way to combat the callusing effect of sin is to choose that which is right and reject that which is wrong.  Do that, and we guarantee you will see changes externally and internally.

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