Checklist for Biblical Tests of Genuine Salvation
The purpose of the assurances test of true salvation is to give Christians security and confidence in their connection with God, not to instill fear or uncertainty. Tests function as a roadmap for introspection and spiritual development for Christians. Passing these tests is proof of a changed life brought about by sincere faith.
Note: All quotes from Scripture revealed below are from the NASB translation of the Bible unless noted otherwise.
Where To Get Confidence in Salvation
We find confidence in salvation through God’s word. The purpose of the book of 1 John, according to 1 John 5:13, is to give Christians confidence in their salvation. A transformed life, humility, spiritual fruit, devotion to God’s glory, selflessness toward others, effective prayer, obedient living, good works, religious interest or ministry involvement, morality, kindness, knowledge of the Scripture, contrition or conviction about sin are all among the tests and evidences of genuine salvation.
Who Can Save You?
Only God can save you. No pastor, no preacher, no friend, no set of magic sentences or phrases can save you. Not even you can save you. Salvation is ultimately from God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Warnings
- Some people think they are saved but they are not. Matthew 7:21 says, ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.’”
- There are false Christians among us. Jesus explained the Parable for the Tares. “‘Then He left the multitudes, and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” And He answered and said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. “Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:36-43)
How Can I Compare Myself to See Whether or Not I am Genuinely Saved?
- (1 John 5:13) “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
- (2 Corinthians 13:5) “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Assurance Tests
This assurance checklist is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all elements but rather a significant listing of important doctrinal statements where a Christian can compare himself or herself to the evidence of genuine salvation.
- (1 John 1:8) “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Admission and confession is evidence of salvation.
- (1 John 2:3) “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” Obedience is one of the proofs of salvation.
- (1 John 2:4) “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him…” Obedience is one of the proofs of salvation.
- (1 John 2:5) “but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:” Obedience is one of the proofs of salvation.
- (1 John 2:11) “But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” Love for others is an evidence of the proof of salvation. Jesus said, “‘…‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:39-40)
- (1 John 2:15) “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” If your life demonstrates you love God rather than the world, this is another evidence of a genuine salvation.
- (1 John 3:5-6) “And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life? This verse refers to not continuing in sin as a way of life, not a total absence of sin. A true convert to Christianity will not be sinless but will sin less.
- (1 John 3:16) “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” If we are willing to lay down our life for someone else, this is evidence of a genuine salvation.
- (1 John 3:18-19) “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him…” – When we put love into action and not just talk about it, this action is another evidence of genuine salvation.
- (1 John 3:21) “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God…” If you are able to maintain a clear conscience. and confessing your sin when you do sin, this is another evidence of genuine salvation.
- (1 John 3:24) “And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” Obedience is evidence of a genuine salvation.
- (1 John 4:2) “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God…” Confession is evidence of genuine salvation.
- (1 John 4:7) “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” Loving God and knowing Him is further evidence of genuine salvation.
- (1 John 4:13) “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” If the work of the Holy Spirit is evident in our life, this is proof of our salvation.
- (1 John 5:4) “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Experiencing victory in your Christian walk is evidence of a genuine salvation.
We Are at War.
We also need to keep in mind God’s promises and the fact that we are engaged in a continual war with Satan and his minions. Satan is a powerful foe of our souls and is equally real to Jesus Christ. When we come to Christ, Satan will seize every chance to trick and outwit us. He will make every effort to persuade us that God has given up on us or that we are undeserving failures. We can be sure that Christ is keeping us when we are in Him. In John 17:11, Jesus asked the Father to “protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.” His prayer was on our behalf, and He asked the Father in verse 15 again to “keep them from the evil one.”
Only God Can Save You
If you’ve never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, the fact that you are even wondering about salvation is strong evidence that God is working in your heart, for only He can save you…no preacher, no person, no magic words or phrases, not even you can save you.
What Jesus Said About Being Saved
Jesus said in John 6:44, ““No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” This verse means that it is the Father, by His grace, who saves us, no one or no other thing can save us.
You Cannot Lose Your Salvation
Your greatest comfort is to know that if you are a genuine Christian, you are one of Jesus’ sheep, and He will never leave you. John 10:27-29 is where Jesus says, “‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall 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.’”