Are You Really Saved?

VII. Having a saving faith is key because it determines our eternal destiny. Many people are deceived. They think because they go to church, are baptized, and tithe regularly, they are saved. They know Jesus intellectually, but they don’t have a relationship with Him.

• A. A person who has saving faith both knows the truth of Scripture and practices it (Rom. 1:32).
• B. Even demons and the devil have intellectual faith. We must both believe and bear fruit (James 2:18-20).
• C. Jesus is addressed as “Lord” 185 times in the gospels. This is important to note because it shows that the disciples recognized His lordship. This truth is the foundation of our faith, the bedrock upon which everything else is built.
• D. Those who believe must also express repentance for sin if we truly acknowledge Jesus as our Savior (Luke 24:45-48; Acts 2:36-38). Repentance and faith go hand in hand.

VIII. Conclusion: A saving faith in Jesus Christ means that we accept Him as the Son of God, the only sacrifice that could atone for our sins. As a result, we desire to repent and to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him. He will then transform us and conform us to His image. As we walk with God, the more He will bless each of us with perfect assurance regarding our salvation and our relationship with Him. -Dr. Charles Stanley


In the School of Faith, Part 1: A Saving Faith (click to watch video)