You Think You're Saved...But Are You Really?

You may feel confident about going to heaven because, perhaps years ago, you said a prayer inviting Jesus into your heart. However, you live a life with no change. There is no evidence and no interest in the things of God. You never truly repented or turned from your sin. You do not go to church, do not read the Bible, and you do not even talk about God. Your friends are all unbelievers. In addition, there is no spiritual fruit in your life, meaning you never share Jesus with others or have a heart to serve.

Jesus warned us, “Do not be deceived” in the last days. That includes deceiving yourself. John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:8 to prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Acts 26:20 teaches that all must repent of their sins and turn to God, and prove they have changed by the good things they do. Jesus said in Luke 8:21, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” He also said in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

You may mentally agree and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, but that is not enough. You may also believe you are a good person and that God would not send you to hell. My wife and I know someone who fits this description exactly. They feel safe from hell because God is good. He is good, but that does not mean He changes His word. The way of salvation is clear. Sorrow for sin and turning from it are required. This takes humility. Inviting Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior is the only way of salvation. This includes a commitment to Him through a life that desires to learn about Him and obey Him.

When you do this, the result is a changed heart, a new nature, and a desire to serve God with your actions. This is the evidence that you are truly saved. I believe many people who have no desire for God were never saved in the first place. Head knowledge of Jesus is not enough. It takes a relationship with Him, which produces works. To repent means to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” In Luke 13:3, Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

In Luke 24:47, Jesus said that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Once we truly repent, we no longer desire to sin and we feel conviction when we do. Genuine repentance means a changed heart. When we are born again, God gives us a new heart and a new spirit that is alive to Him. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”

Before we come to Christ, our spirit is dead to God and has no desire toward Him. Colossians 2:13 and Ephesians 2:1 tell us we are dead in our trespasses and sins. Romans 5:12 explains that sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, spreading to all because all have sinned. Many are deceived into thinking they are saved and secure with God. Revelation 12:9 tells us that Satan deceives the whole world, and the main area of deception is the way of salvation.

These individuals also live without awareness of eternal life. They rarely think about heaven or eternity. As Christians, how do we help these people wake up when they do not realize they are on the road to hell? We must first pray for them daily. God may allow difficult circumstances to get their attention. We can pray that God sends other believers they respect to share the truth, that He softens their hearts, removes pride, and brings them to repentance. We should also pray that darkness and deception are broken over their minds in Jesus’ name.

If, after some time, they remain unchanged, God may allow His hand of protection to be lifted, giving Satan an opportunity to afflict them. There are several verses that indicate this. First Corinthians 5:5 speaks of delivering someone to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit may be saved. Job 33:18–19 describes God allowing suffering to turn a person from destruction. In Luke 22:31, Jesus tells Simon that Satan has asked to sift him as wheat.

If this describes your life, I urge you to wake up before it is too late. You do not know when your time will come, and after that, it will be too late. Hell is eternal. Make the Lord Jesus first in your life, and you will have the assurance of an eternity secured with Him.