Several years ago, my wife and I visited a new home Bible study in our area. We sat in a circle in the living room and the leader began by asking everyone to introduce themselves and share a little bit about what they hoped to get out of the study.

Early in the introductions a young woman said she wanted to be sure she was saved. She said that sometimes she felt like she was, but at other times not so much. She had placed her faith in Jesus Christ, but sometimes—especially when she messed up—she wondered if she had fallen out of favor with God and lost her salvation and the promise of eternal life with Jesus. Several other people nodded their heads and shared similar concerns when they introduced themselves.

When it was my turn I said I was happy to report that the Bible says clearly that you can be sure of your salvation, and shared 1 John 5:13, which says: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” The verses just before this lay the foundation for this assurance. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)

When we trip up as Christians—and we all do—it doesn’t take away your salvation, but it breaks your fellowship with God which can make you doubt you’re saved. But the Bible says that if we confess our sins God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) God will never fail to restore you to fellowship and confidence when you seek him.

I love the analogy John uses in John 1:12-13 when he writes, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” This analogy of being “born again” when you receive Jesus as your Lord and savior is wonderfully assuring as to its permanence.  After all, once you are born you can’t be un-born, no matter how you feel at any given moment.

May you live with full assurance in God’s saving grace.