Doubt is something we all experience from time to time. Doubts can be persistent for some people, but for others, they come and go.

There are certain doubts that can solely be attributed to the circumstances of one’s life, while others have more to do with the personality of one who is naturally skeptical and pessimistic.

Sometimes a believer can lack assurance because of the strong biblical preaching in the church on God’s holy standard. Which forces people to see their sinfulness and acknowledge the holiness God calls them to.

This kind of doubt is not necessarily bad because people need to be confronted in their sins through strong preaching, leading them to examine themselves. In modern preaching, this is less and less common since many preachers believe it is their duty to make everyone “feel good.”

Good preaching may unsettle some Christians who frequently give into temptation. But, it should also give comfort and assurance to others, encouraging them to honor Christ and be like Him. A good sermon maintains that balance.

Another reason why certain people lack assurance is because they are uncertain about the exact time of their salvation or the exact moment they gave their life to Christ, and so they doubt whether they were saved at all.

Now there are many Christians, especially those raised in a Christian environment, that can’t pinpoint the exact moment of salvation. But there isn’t anything wrong with that.

It doesn’t matter WHEN you got saved it matters IF you are.

To make salvation a reality for us, we should focus on the patterns of our lives in the present rather than look to the past.

In the following section we showcase certain tests to examine if you are saved and help you incase you are struggling with doubt.

Examine if you are saved

A major question believers ask regarding salvation is how do they know their salvation is real and assured? This is a very important question in the Christian life.According to the Bible, we should examine ourselves to determine if we are truly “in the faith”:

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified.

Thankfully, the apostle John has given us ample instruction for how we can know for sure that we have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 (NKJV)

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Here are a series of tests that the Apostle John lists out that we can use to examine ourselves and our faith.

1. Do you enjoy having fellowship with Christ and His redeemed people? (1 John 1:3)
2. Would people say you walk in the light, or walk in the darkness? (1 John 1:6-7)
3. Do you admit and confess your sin? Do you repent continuously? (1 John 1:8-10)
4. Are you obedient to God’s Word & His commands? (1 John 2:3-5)
5. Does your life indicate you love God rather than the world? (1 John 2:15)
6. Is your life characterized by “doing what is right”? (1 John 2:29)
7. Do you seek to maintain a pure life? (1 John 3:3)
8. Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life? (1 John 3:5-6)
9. Do you demonstrate love for other Christians? (1 John 3:14)
10. Do you “walk the walk,” versus just “talking the talk”? (1 John 3:18-19)
11. Do you maintain a clear conscience? (1 John 3:21)
12. Do you experience victory in your Christian walk? (1 John 5:4)

If you are able to truthfully answer “Yes” to these questions (or a majority of them, and are working on the others), then your life is bearing the “fruit” of true salvation.

Another important way we can know our faith is genuine is when we persevere through trials. The testing of our faith produces endurance. When we go through life’s many trials and we persevere with endurance that experience is something that helps build a strong assurance.

As great men of faith look back on their lives, they will always tell you their faith has grown stronger because it has survived every test.

When we face hard times, we may notice our faith is supernaturally elevated and we have a great sense of grace that strengthens us. The experience of a life surrendered to Christ diminishes doubt and gives the believer a sense of security.

There are also times when a person lacks assurance because their faith hasn’t been tested enough.

You may say that having faith is difficult, but have you exercised your faith during difficult times? Are you relying on God? Have you examined your life once you have gained victory to see God’s hand at work? Do you maintain a spirit of thankfulness and contentment, even in challenging circumstances? Are you quick to cast your burdens onto God, trusting that He cares for you? These are all pertinent questions.

It is true that the faith of a believer once tested gives assurance.

From the points above, we can see that it is not the perfection of your life that demonstrates your salvation, but rather the direction. The direction of love, devotion, service, transformation, humility and righteousness.