Jesus said, “You must be born again,” (John 3:7) and Paul said, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is the miracle of the new birth. Christ actually enters our lives, and we are made new because He begins to live in us. This is not accepting a religion; this is accepting CHRIST. He is a PERSON, not a philosophy.
When I was married and accepted my wife into my life, I did not get the “marriage-RELIGION”;” I received a person – my wife. And when I was SAVED or REBORN by receiving Christ into my life, I did not get the “Christian-RELIGION;” I received a person – the Lord Jesus. My conversion was as definite an experience as my marriage. On both occasions I accepted another PERSON into my life.
When you understand what SALVATION means, then to say, “I do not know for sure if I am saved”, is as unreasonable as to say, “I do not know for sure if I am married.”
Those who do not understand the full, Biblical meaning of salvation, when asked if they are saved, may reply: “I think so – I try to be – but I am not sure about it.” This is like saying, “I think I’m married; I try to be, but I am not sure about it.”
John said, “We KNOW we have passed from death unto life. (1 John 3:14) There are many things which you may never know, but you can KNOW you have Christ’s life in you. You can KNOW that you have been saved – that you are born again.
Some may ask: “How can I KNOW that I am saved? How can I be sure that my sins are forgiven?”
The Philippian jailer asked that same question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And Paul and Silas said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and THOU SHALT BE SAVED.” (Acts 16:30-31)
Jesus said, “He that believeth (the Gospel) and is baptized, SHALT BE SAVED.” (Mark 16:16)
Paul said, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth… Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.” (Romans 10:9)
Peter said, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED.” (Acts 2:21)
Every one of these Scriptures contains the promise, “YOU SHALL BE SAVED.” Do what these Scriptures say, and you can KNOW that you have received Christ – that you have passed from death unto life – that you are born again – that you are saved. This is not accepting religion; this is Christianity.
A real Christian is anyone who [A] has come to God as a lost sinner, (Romans 3:23) [B] accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her personal savior, (John 1:12, Revelation 3:20, Luke 2:11, John 4:42) [C] surrendered to Him as Lord and Master, [Matthew 17:5, Acts 2:36, Romans 14:9, Colossians 1:18, 1 Peter 3:22] [D] confesses Him before the world, (Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32, 1 John 4:15) and [E] strives to please Him in everything, every day of his/her life. (Hebrews 13:21, 1 John 3:21-22, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 2:13-16, Colossians 3:1-17)