What should we do when we’re doubting our salvation? When we’re not 100% sure we’ll go to Heaven when we die? We still believe Jesus Christ existed, that He died and rose again to save us all from our sins, but deep down inside we remain uncertain, worried about where we’ll spend eternity? (2Pe 1:10)
Salvation is by grace, the power of God enabling us to have faith in Christ (Ep 2:8), to receive Him and believe on Him (Jn 1:12-13), that He died for us individually (1Co 15:3), personally, that He became sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2Co 5:21) If we’re doubting our salvation, it’s because we’re not convinced He has done this work for us, that He has paid our sin debt to God and completely satisfied God on our behalf. (Is 53:11) Why might this be? What can we do about it? (Mk 9:24)
There are two main root causes, which we can overcome in God. (1Jn 5:4)
Firstly, we may not understand the Gospel itself. (2Co 4:3) There are many perversions of the Gospel; they sound like the truth on the surface but are mixed up and diluted with lies and half-truths. For example, we may have been taught Christ died for everyone, but that His death actually saves no one, that He only makes it possible for us to be saved if we do such and such.
There are many versions of this particular lie, but they’re all missing the main point: Christ saves us by dying for us: this is how He justifies us and makes us right with God. (Is 53:5-6, 11) Everyone Christ dies for is immediately, completely and permanently justified before God because of what He has done for them. (Ro 5:9-10) No one can be saved any other way. (Ac 4:12) This is the only way anyone can be right with God.
Since very few are saved (Mt 7:14), it is evident that Christ has not died for everyone in this way; His atoning death is certainly available to everyone to trust in (1Jn 2:2), but He has not paid for everyone’s sins (or then everyone would be saved). The key is to become convinced Jesus has died for us and paid for our sins. Something is blocking our hearts from believing this simple truth (2Co 4:4), blinding us so we won’t come to Christ and be saved. (Jn 5:40) This is something only God can do in us (Mk 10:26-27), but He does promise to do this for us as we diligently seek Him. (He 11:6)
The other root cause of unbelief is sin, which is breaking God’s Law. (1Jn 3:4) When we continue in willful disobedience to God we are not seeking God; rather, we grieve and anger God (Ro 1:18) and deceive ourselves (Ja 1:22); we lie to ourselves and corrupt our ability to perceive the truth. (He 3:13) Even true believers who are not careful to pursue holiness can forget that we were purged from our sins. (2Pe 1:5-9) We deliver ourselves from spiritual captivity (unbelief) when we repent and acknowledge the truth (2Ti 2:25-26) and live accordingly. (Ja 1:21)
We overcome spiritual darkness and unbelief by seeking the truth and obeying it as best we can. (Jn 8:32) We recognize where we are violating God’s law and turn away from this pattern of life, choosing to obey God to the best of our ability. (1Jn 3:8-10) We memorize and meditate on scriptures that explain the Gospel from many angles and perspectives. We saturate our minds and hearts with these truths and prayerfully ask God to open our eyes (Ac 26:18), give us faith (Ep 2:8) and spiritual life. (Ps 119:107) As we earnestly pursue God in this way, He helps us find Him and believe on Him unto everlasting life. (Mt 7:7-8, Je 29:13)