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How can I be sure I'm saved?

Dear Dawson, I became a Christian two years ago, but lately, I just don't feel anything when it comes to my faith. Now, I'm having doubts. How can I know I'm saved?

That's a great question, and I'm going to answer it by referring to the Bible, because we'll always find the truth in God's word.

We'll start with Romans 10:9, which says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Not, "You might be saved," or "You could be saved." But, "You will be saved."

What does it mean to believe in your heart? Well, it's more than just an intellectual thing. It's more than just saying Jesus was a great teacher or even saying that Jesus was God's Son. To believe means to trust him with your life, to give him your heart and soul, to be willing to follow him for the rest of your life.

The verse also says we should "confess" that Jesus is Lord. That simply means telling others that you follow Jesus. Now, telling people about Jesus doesn't make you a Christian, but it is evidence that you are a Christian.

Another good verse is Ephesians 2:8, which says, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith." You can't earn salvation. That's what "grace" means. It's God's unmerited favor. You cannot earn God's love. It's not for sale. It's a gift he wants to give you. And it's a gift you accept through faith, and faith alone.

Now turn to Revelation 3:20, where Jesus says, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Ask yourself, "Have I opened the door and invited Jesus into my life?" He promises that if we invite him in, he will come in. And if you've taken that step, you can know that you're saved. (See 1 John 5:11-12.)

People sometimes get confused because they base their faith on their feelings. I think "feel" is one of the most dangerous words in Christianity. Our feelings can be affected by circumstances, by our health, by the humidity, by how much sunlight we get. A lot of things affect your feelings that have nothing do with whether or not you are a Christian. You are a Christian based not on your feelings, but on the promises of Jesus and the words of Scripture, period.

Finally, look at John 10:27-29, where Jesus says that no one can snatch us out of his hand. That's the punch line. We are in Jesus' grip of love and faithfulness, and his grip is so strong, there isn't anything that could get us out of that grip.

So keep believing. God keeps his promises.

Dawson McAllister is a popular youth speaker with Shepherd Ministries. He also has a live, nationally syndicated radio call-in program for students ("Dawson McAllister Live"), at 8 p.m. (EST) every Sunday night. Call your local Christian radio station to find the show in your area. You can also check out his site on the Internet (http://christianradio.com/dmlive).

Got a question about the Christian faith? Send it to "Dear Dawson," Campus Life, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. You can also reach "Dear Dawson" via fax (630-260-0114) or e-mail (clmag@CampusLife.net).

Copyright © 1997 by Christianity Today International/CAMPUS LIFE magazine.

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