Is it possible to know for certain if we are in Christ? Why or why not?

Yes, it is possible to know for sure that we are in Christ and forgiven of our sins. No believer in the time of Jesus and the apostles ever said, “I may be saved or I may not be. I hope so but I won’t know until I die and face God. Then it will be too late and I’ll go to either heaven or hell.” That sounds like a miserable life filled with doubt and uncertainty. On the other hand, the Bible is filled with assurances, confidence and a secure hope.

Believers have this confidence that they are in Christ because they have heard the words of Christ and they follow him. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. . . .If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:31-32, 36). Jesus further gives assurance to those who hear his voice and follow him:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (John 10:27-29)

Forty times in his first letter the Apostle John writes that “we know” him. There is no doubt there. We have a “know so” salvation, not a “hope so” one. For example, hear some of his words in 1 John: “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1:3); “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 cleanses us from all sin” (1:7); “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:9); “We know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments” (2:2); “Whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him” (2:7).

Please read this first letter of John and be filled with confidence and assurance. The last chapter is especially encouraging: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13); “We know that we are from God” (5:19); “We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ” (5:20).

The Apostle Paul wrote of this peace and assurance in his letter to the Romans: “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1). He goes further to say,

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (5:8-11)

In chapter eight, Paul gives more assurance of salvation: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1). Then hear these stirring assurances in verses 31-34:

If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Paul then concludes,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . .No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (8:35-39)

These words from Jesus and his apostles make it crystal clear that there is total assurance of salvation and confidence that we are in Christ because we listen to his word, follow him, keep his commandments, walk in the light, and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. You can know for sure that you are saved when you love Jesus and obey what he and his apostles taught.

• Ask yourself these questions:
• Am I listening to Jesus?
• Have I believed with all my heart in Jesus as Savior because of his death and resurrection for me?
• Have I repented of my sins and been baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins?
• Have I been buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life? Am I walking in the light?

If you answer these questions affirmatively, then God says that you are in Christ, forgiven, saved and have been given the Holy Spirit. You have the peace, love and joy of Christ and the hope of eternal life in the world to come. If you cannot answer these questions affirmatively, then today is the day to submit your life to Christ and let him save you. Your teacher or mentor will assist you and help make arrangements for you to be baptized into Christ. If no one is there to help you, please contact us at help@mathetis.org and we have someone assist you in obeying the Lord. Then you will have full assurance that you are saved and in a right relationship with God.