"SOMETIMES I DON’T FEEL SAVED”
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:11-13 (HCSB)
One of the common laments I have heard over the more than fifty-five years in the pastorate is: “Sometimes I don’t feel saved.” Thanks be to God we are saved by grace through faith and not by feeling. John wrote the words of our text so that we might know we have eternal life. The Holy Spirit witnesses to the four great aspects of our salvation. Our salvation involves:
ACCEPTING THE FACTS OF THE GOSPEL
Believing the facts: "After that He appeared to Peter, then to the other apostles. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, He appeared to me also." I Corinthians 15:5-8.
The great truths of the Gospel are confirmed facts of history: His virgin birth; His sinless nature; His atoning death; His bodily resurrection and His ascension back to heaven.
From the facts of the Gospel, we are able to establish these great truths:
1. God loves and wants to save sinners: John 3:16 and “The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9
2. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” I Tim 3:9
3. God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36
4. Salvation can only be had through the blood of Jesus: “You were not redeemed by corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:18-19
EXPERIENCING SAVING FAITH AS A BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER
After accepting the facts of the Gospel, you must act upon that Truth. The Bible says that we must do the following things:
1. Recognize our need of salvation: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
2. Repent of our sins: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19.
3. Professing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus [literally: "Jesus as Lord"] and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:8-9.
ALSO: “Now, I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which you are saved.” I Corinthians 15:1-2a.
When we have done the things God’s Word says for us to do “We will be saved.” It does not say we will “feel saved” but that “we will be saved”. You will not receive a printed, signed and sealed “New Birth Certificate” but you have something far more reliable…you have the Word of God on that!
EVIDENCES THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ETERNAL LIFE
1. The witness of the Holy Spirit in our heart. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16.
It is very important to understand that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit, not with our body (the flesh). Paul told the Corinthian Christians that they were “still carnal” (I Corinthians 3:3). When a Christian becomes carnal-minded, many doubts will arise in his mind including the doubting of one’s salvation. Indeed, the carnal mind is the devil’s workplace. Don’t give space to the adversary; keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus and your thoughts upon the promises of God and doubt will find no place to take root.
2. The witness of a changed life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17.
As Christians, we may not be all that we ought to be, but praise be to God, we are not what we used to be! Yes, in Christ, all things have become new!
3. The witness God’s love filling our heart and touching the lives of others. Paul wrote "…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given unto us." Romans 5:5. John corroborates this in I John 3:14 when he wrote “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.”
NURTURING THE FEELINGS THAT ACCOMPANY SALVATION
Although it is true that we are not saved through feelings, there are certain feelings that are associated with becoming born-again children of God.
1. The peace of God which fills our life produces a feeling of inner peace: "And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." Philippians 4:17.
2. A God-given joy in our heart which is endures even in times of trials and adversity. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, but believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." I Peter 1:6-8.
CONCLUSION
Having the assurance of God’s Word; manifesting the evidences of the new birth in our lives; and feeling the peace and joy that a right relationship with God brings us, we should rest in the promise given to us. That promise is clearly stated in Ephesians 1:11-14. There we read, “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
With such a marvelous guarantee as this, we should always exult in the victory that is our through Jesus Christ our Lord. May His name be eternally praised! Amen.
