Am I really saved? (Will I make it to Heaven?)
This is a question that I've heard uttered by many people over the years... "Am I really saved?" Truthfully every human being on earth has been saved by God. Before you freak out thinking that I'm saying that everyone on earth is going to Heaven, keep reading...Webster’s definition of saved is “to deliver from sin”. And the definition of salvation is “deliverance from the power and effects of sin”. The bible says that Jesus died for ALL of us that we may be saved. This is the beauty of God's free gift to us. Salvation has been given to every single one of us that is willing to receive it. But that's the key, we have to take hold of it! In order for something to be considered a gift, it has to be given and received.Some of us that are confident in our received gift of salvation from God don't understand why this question is asked. However, I think this is a valid question. Did you know that in 2015, 75.2% of the American people claim to be Christians? (% based on report from Gallup.com.) I'm not trying to be negative or judgmental, but I'm positive that 3 out of 4 Americans are not truly Christians that are walking in God's salvation.
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Actions speak louder than words.You can say that you're a Christian all day, but if your lifestyle doesn't match up with the word of God, are you truly saved? There is no “Get out of Jail Free” card for heaven. Professing a sinners prayer or asking God to let you into heaven is not enough. There is no magic prayer. Your salvation is based on the disposition of your heart and the actions that follow the sincere decision to walk in God's salvation. Do you truly believe the words that you prayed to God and is your lifestyle following them?
1 John 1:5-7 (MSG)If we claim to experience a shared life with God and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out 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.
Actions alone aren't enough.
Maybe you know someone who isn’t a Christian, but they are a “good person”. They appear to have “good fruit*”. They do nice things for everyone; they even seem nicer than some or most Christians that we know. What makes you any different from them? Why are you more saved than they are? Is it because you said the sinner’s prayer? Some “Christians” are actually only good people, they have nothing deeper with God, no personal relationship with Him.
Matthew 7:22-23Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Love is the key.At the end of the day, God wants us to believe in Him, walking by faith both in our words and in our actions; but the key to all of this is love. Do we truly love God? He doesn't ask us to be perfect, or even close to perfect, but He wants us to try because we love Him, not because we want to get to Heaven or because we want to be considered a Christian. Salvation comes when we are truly and deeply in love with God. The day that we decide to walk in God's Salvation for us, is the day that we should begin changing our wants and desires to what He wants. This is when we are truly a saved Christian that will spend eternity in Heaven with God!
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*Matthew 7:16-21
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.