Am I Saved?

You’re Here for a Reason

Welcome! I am so glad you’re here. I’ve been where you are right now, and I’d like you to know there is a reason why you’re here. Let’s begin by discussing what may have brought you to this page.

If you’re like me, more than likely you have some kind of anxiety or unsettled feeling inside that is telling you, you need what Christ offers. Most people live with an awareness of their sin and weaknesses that trouble them, causing an undercurrent of anxiety, distress, or dissatisfaction in life that leaves them troubled. And if they do not feel condemned or helpless in their sin, they usually, in the very least, feel unsettled or uncomfortable. There is a disquieting unrest, and even a burden that they cannot eliminate despite their very best attempts to justify, comfort, or distract with the pleasures of this world and self-soothing efforts.

You may be experiencing anything from guilt and shame to utter despair. There may even be a fear of what may happen if you die, or what you may face after life here on earth. Most people believe there is a God, but they don’t know who He is, or what they will encounter once this life ends. That brings a terrible fear and anxiety. Those fears are very valid. However, I want you to know they can be relieved today through Jesus Christ.

With all of that being said, there is an even greater reason why you are here. You may have heard it said that Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. That is absolutely true. Where religion demands we work toward God for our redemption, Christ came to die for us as a sacrificial gift from our Father so we could be restored freely and enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. We serve a humble yet powerful God who reaches down to humanity, becoming one of His own creation with no other agenda than to save us and restore our fellowship with Him.

Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. He said that no one can come to Him unless they are first drawn by the Father. Please know that you are here by a very loving and divine invitation. He has personally and diligently sought you out, and that stirring in your heart that has led you here is not merely your own. It is from Him.

Your Need for Salvation

You may be wondering why you need salvation if you are a good person. That is an excellent question that is very valid.

Many people who otherwise have good hearts, who are good citizens, and who live moral lives still struggle with sin and weaknesses. We all fall short of God’s glory, and we know God is perfect and sinless. So salvation is not about your good works, good intentions, personal accomplishments, or moral life. Rather, it’s about being completely redeemed from your sin — which is something we all have. None of us are exempt with regard to that need for cleansing, and that is what salvation is all about. But it doesn’t stop there. The salvation Christ offers not only cleanses us from our sin, but it destroys the power of sin in our personal lives. Sin no longer has any power over you, and that is a miracle only God can perform. So I want you to understand what Christ accomplished for you. Not only does He offer cleansing from your sin, but He also offers the power to overcome it in daily life. However, temptations still come, and we still have a choice. That is a choice we face daily, which is why Christ calls all who would follow Him to take up their cross daily.

Temptations are not the same as sin. Even Christ was tempted, but He defeated that temptation, living a perfect life. He demonstrated how to overcome. Temptations do come, even as they did for Christ, but through Him we have the power to defeat them and walk in righteousness by the power of His Spirit. (see Romans ch. 1-8 for a full understanding of the Gospel and what Christ has accomplished on the cross for all who believe).

The sin which is inherent in all of us, separates us from God, who is holy, just, righteous and perfect. In order to know Him and have fellowship with Him we must be cleansed from our sin. In short, sin must be removed. But Christ did something more — He utterly destroyed it.

If you’ve come here as an unbeliever who does not know Christ, this page will introduce you to Him. If you’ve come here as a Christian who is questioning your salvation, then chances are you may not understand salvation very well, OR you may need to genuinely receive salvation for the first time. Perhaps you are a “backslidden” individual who once walked with God, but fell away from Him. Salvation comes only by repentance, and just like the prodigal son, you can come home to a Father who is running to you with open arms ready to receive you. He is so happy you’ve come home!

Whoever you are, wherever you are, Christ makes salvation very simple. It’s not complicated or difficult. It comes instantly to every person as a free gift which cannot be earned by works. It comes only by faith in Christ when we confess with our mouths, believe in our hearts, and repent of our sin. If that is something you want to do right now, you can. And I’d be honored to help you…

Coming Home to Your Father

You can receive the salvation Christ offers today, right now, wherever you are by praying the prayer at the top of this page. You don’t have to wait any longer. God has made this incredibly simple — simple enough even for a child; simple enough even for the most simple-minded of souls. This is not complicated, but it is powerful. If you want to be saved, you certainly can be.

Coming to God can seem a little intimidating if you don’t really know Him or understand who He is. God may seem to you like an unapproachable, mysterious, dangerous, and even fearful power. He’s just so big, right? How is it possible to know and relate to God?

All you have to do is ask Him.

You are made in God’s image. Just as a child reflects their parents, so you reflect God. As His creation, God calls you to come to Him as His son or daughter. God made that relationship with Him possible through His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to us as a man. Contrary to what many believe, Jesus Christ revealed God to be our heavenly Father, teaching us to come to Him like little children.

The iconic image Michelangelo painted beautifully illustrates how we come to our Father God. He is not far away. We can touch Him if we will only reach out. And what we will find is that He is reaching out to us as well. In fact, He sought you out first. You can come to Him without any fear. You will find Him entirely approachable, humble, welcoming, gentle, and very protective. God is not a heavenly tyrant or dictator. He is your Father. We are His children, made in His image, in His likeness. Although He is omnipotent in His power, He is the embodiment of perfect love. All things God does are motivated by love, truth, justice, and righteousness. God is holy, yes. But He is also humble of heart, generous in mercy, and always longing to forgive and redeem mankind. In His extraordinary love for us, He sacrificed His Son to redeem us. He welcomes all those who would come to Him to receive the redemption He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ. And as any good Father would, He teaches us His ways through His Word so we may follow Him and be like Him. He does not want any to perish or die in their sin. He wants all His children to know Him, and to be at home with Him (see John 17).

How Salvation Happens

Salvation is in no other but Jesus Christ. The term “saved” is the same spiritual experience Jesus called being “born again” (see John 3:1-8). This happens on the inside of us. The Holy Spirit comes and makes us new creatures (see 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15). He came to save sinners like you and me, and He didn’t wait for us to be perfect. He accepts us and loves us exactly where we are, just as we are.

But He doesn’t leave us that way. In exchange for our ways, He offers us His way. In exchange for our sin and death, He offers us His life, righteousness, and justification. In exchange for death and destruction, He offers us eternal life with Him. In exchange for our guilt, shame, and fear, He offers us His freedom, love, comfort, peace, and joy. In exchange for our sickness and disease, He offers us His healing, wholeness and restoration (see Isaiah 61:1-3 and Isaiah 53-1-12).

The salvation Christ offers is not without power and purpose. The salvation Christ offers to us is received by grace through faith when we repent. That means turning away from our sin unto God, from the powers of Satan to God, and from darkness to light (see Acts 26:18). That salvation Jesus Christ offers is complete. He offers us salvation from ourselves, the power of sin, hell, and death, as well as the enemy (the devil), the world, and finally eternal damnation. He saves us in body, soul, and spirit. He overcame all so as to redeem us from all. The salvation Christ offers takes place through a process the bible calls ‘sanctification’ by which His followers are transformed into the image of Christ (see 1 Peter 1:1-25, Romans 8:29-30 and 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). We become like Him, and therefore He is recognized and becomes known in the world through His followers. That transformative power in the life of the believer happens through faith as we engage in an intimate relationship with Christ by which he heals, delivers, and brings complete restoration into an individual’s life. It requires the obedient and cooperative effort of the believer in whatever manner He determines for that individual. Christ is fully able to save, redeem and restore you in any area of your life. And if you need a miracle, He is fully able to perform one just for you. We all need miracles.

My friend once said, “You don’t get cleaned up before you take a bath.” Very true. Yet we are often compelled to hide from God when we know we are guilty of sin. We can easily feel overwhelmed by what we’ve done wrong. We can also feel very unworthy of the salvation and love God offers us. That is a very natural childlike response. God gave every human being a conscience by which we know what is inherently right or wrong. We are all hard-wired with a conscience. It is through our conscience that we have a spiritual awareness of God and eternity, and by which we discern His will. Again, our natural response to sin is to hide from God. We are no different than Adam or Eve in that response. They did the same thing. They experienced fear, shame, and guilt for the sin they committed and were unable to relieve themselves from its power or consequences. Yet in reality, this is when God seeks us out and calls us to Himself. Just like a loving Father seeks a lost child, so does God seek His children when we are lost in sin. And He does that on an individual basis. He knows us each by name. God understands our nature and desires to completely save us, cleanse us, and redeem us from our sin — and all the entanglements that come with it. Just as any parent who has a child gone astray, God comes looking for us in love and compassion with a desire to make us whole and pure, bringing us back home to Himself.

That is the purpose of God the Father sending His Son, Jesus Christ. He came to redeem a lost and dying world from all the entanglements of sin that kept us separated from Him. The consequences of sin are both temporal and eternal. The wages of sin is death. Death, according to God’s word, is defined as being eternally separated from Him in which all who have sinned against Him receive the just punishment for their sins. That punishment is eternal separation in Hell, which God created for the devil and his angels. Hell was never intended for mankind (see Matthew 25:41).

You’ve Been Sought & Found

If you are reading this, God is looking for you. He’s seeking to save you. Regardless of where you are with God in your journey, you can be assured that He loves you and desires your salvation. He has marvelous plans for your life. If you will commit to follow Him by surrendering your life to Him, then your life is destined to change radically. You may feel like you’re beyond help right now. But you’re not beyond God’s supernatural abilities and His omnipotent power. Regardless of how low you may feel, or how messed up you think your life may be, He is able to make all things new. Nothing is impossible for Him. All things are possible with God. There is no depth He cannot reach. Christ Jesus has overcome all, and He rules over all. All the powers of heaven and earth are at His command (see Philippians 2:10 and Colossians 1:12-29).

Salvation is very simple, and it comes by faith. It is a free gift that cannot be earned (see Ephesians 2:8-10). Jesus Christ died to give us that gift of eternal life, which starts right now, and there is nothing we can do but receive it with gratitude.

“Am I saved?” That is a valid question worthy of a solid and sure answer. If you’ve asked this question of yourself, the assurance of salvation can be yours — without question. Salvation does not happen by default, accidentally, or by assumption. It is a deliberate and willful decision to surrender your life to Christ and repent of your sin. For all those who do so, Christ promises the following:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together, (Romans 8:15-17, KJV).

Receiving Salvation

Are you ready to receive Christ’s gift and surrender your life to Him?

If you want to receive Jesus as your LORD and Savior today, or rededicate your life to Him, I invite you to pray the prayer at the top of this page as an act of free and ready will. It’s a long prayer which not only confesses faith in Christ, but it also gives you opportunity to confess what most people may feel, as well as a desire for complete redemption. It’s important that you understand what you’re about to do, which is why I took the time to thoroughly explain salvation. I encourage you to read the prayer first, and if you can agree, then pray it aloud unto God, confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart, just as the scripture instructs us according to Romans 10:9.

However, if you still have the need to know more about salvation before you make this decision, you have every right to settle yourself on that account. You may still have questions, and that’s okay. This is the most important decision you will ever make. If that is the case, let’s take that opportunity right now. I suggest you read Romans chapters 1-8 in their entirety. Take your time. These chapters will outline the Gospel clearly for you.

If life in Christ and the salvation He offers is truly what you want, and your heart is genuine toward God, God will honor your prayer and you will be saved. More than anything, what you need to know is that God honors the honest prayer that comes from the heart. It really is that simple.

Let’s pray… (please see the prayer at the top of this page)

Where Do I Go From Here?

Now that you’ve received the gift of salvation Christ offers, you have come home to God. You are now born again, sealed with His Spirit, cleansed from your sin, and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! You are justified and redeemed! You have a brand new relationship with God who is living with you and in you through His Holy Spirit. You now have immediate and constant access to God’s throne, and you have unbroken fellowship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! That is a powerful alliance!

Are you excited? Perhaps overwhelmed? Are you still confused? I can only imagine that you have a lot of questions, and rightly so. The natural question to ask is, “Where do I go from here and what do I do?” That is very natural, so let’s talk about that…

Beginning this relationship with God is going to be something new for you. It will be an adventure that is both exciting and perhaps overwhelming. Like any new relationship, it takes time to develop. If you’ve never known God, it’s going to take time to get to know Him. If you think you’ve known God, or knew about Him, get ready because He will certainly surprise you! There will be a lot of things about Him that you didn’t know, or perhaps thought were untrue. As He reveals Himself to you in truth, there will be many surprises and much discovery! I guarantee you won’t be bored, and more than likely you’ll have a lot of fun. God is not only loving and very engaged in your life, but He is exciting to know.

As you come to know God through His Word and by His Spirit, changes will begin to occur in your life. Some will be very sudden, and others will be a process that take time. You can anticipate your heart changing in its desires, feelings, and motivations as you begin to experience the heart of Jesus Christ within you. Your thoughts and emotions will begin to change, and you’ll also find a special grace to overcome sin in ways you haven’t before. God’s presence will be near to you, and you will encounter Him and become aware of Him in your life in ways you haven’t before. As you learn to walk in Him He will begin the process of sanctification in you and your life. Sanctification is the transformation process by which you become more and more like Christ Jesus. This is a process that is largely dependent upon your cooperation with God as you obediently follow Him on a daily basis. It’s not something you perform. Rather, you allow Him to perform it in you, granting Him permission to deal with those areas in your life that hinder you and keep you from fellowship with Him. Christ refers to this as taking up your cross daily and following Him.

You will grow into Christ as You begin to follow Him day by day. You do that through obedience to His Word and His Spirit who dwells within you. He is able to speak to you and guide you personally every moment of every day if you will listen and ask Him to do so.

For help with your new relationship with God, please visit the page FOR BEGINNERS. Here I offer you some simple and practical ways you can start and develop your relationship with Christ. As a new born-again Christian, please remember that Christ is perfect, but His followers are not. Many still struggle, and everyone is at different places in their journey with God. Whatever and whomever you encounter, please be careful to let God lead you into healthy relationships with genuine mature believers who are able to support and guide you.

If you have prayed this prayer, please CONTACT me! I’d be honored to celebrate with you and say a prayer for you. God bless you, and may His sweet presence, glorious power, and abundant grace be with you always. Amen!