Many of us question our salvation after we’ve accepted Jesus as Savior. At some point many of us wonder if we are still saved. I had those moments at one time in my life, and today I’m going to talk about my story about finding eternal assurance.

Dance practice seemed the same as always that day. We girls were talking as we changed and stretched and transitioned from school to practice.

But then the conversation turned to more spiritual matters. I can’t remember how or what was said now to get it started. I just remember a comment one of my friends made: “Of course you can lose your salvation.”

Of course. Like everyone knew that it was so obvious.

I’d made my decision with Christ years before and felt secure in that decision. I knew I didn’t know a whole lot, but I tried to do what I thought God wanted me to—including reading my Bible every night and being a good example to others.

The idea of losing salvation was foreign to me, and at first, I was pretty incredulous. That conversation played in my head a lot after that, though, and eventually I was pretty shaken as I entertained the possibility.

I had lots of questions. Had I already lost my salvation? I messed up all the time. How did I know if I’d lost it? How could I get it back? Did it work the same as the first time?

Doubting Salvation

That one day of dance practice threw me for a loop. I struggled with so many things already, but I didn’t know I had to worry about losing my very foundation.

What a scary world. The one thing—one Person—I thought I could trust wasn’t even a guarantee.

I can’t really tell you the exact thought process I went through at the time. That was probably twenty years ago, and I’ve never been known for my memory, but I do remember that my doubts led me back to the basics.

Over several years of looking, praying, thinking, and studying, I found my answers in the only place I really knew was reliable—the Bible I read every night.

The Answers I Found To My Doubt

I think a lot of issues that trip us up can be easier when we take them back to the basics. Like lying for example. Lying is lying even when you try to cover up something in the hopes of “helping” someone.

The issue of losing salvation is easier to understand when you take it back to what you know.

SO WHAT ARE THE BASICS OF SALVATION?

FIRST: UNDERSTAND THAT APART FROM CHRIST I’M BASICALLY A FILTHY RAG.

SECOND: BELIEVE THAT CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, CAME TO EARTH, DIED FOR MY SINS, AND ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY.

THIRD: CONFESS MY NEED FOR A SAVIOR AND ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD.

SO THEN WHAT?

Then I asked myself a few questions, all of which are answered by the basics of salvation.

QUESTION: WHEN DID I GET SAVED?

Answer: When I was about eight, I was sitting in church listening to the preacher’s sermon when I understood he was talking to me; I was lost and had no hope of salvation on my own. I confessed my need of a Savior soon after that and surrendered my life to Jesus.

QUESTION: WHAT DID I DO TO BE SAVED?

Answer: Nothing. No actions per se. I believed and accepted Christ’s sacrifice for my life, but I didn’t earn it.

QUESTION: SO HOW COULD I LOSE SALVATION BY MY ACTIONS IF I COULDN’T EARn it BY MY ACTIONS?

Answer: I can’t.

Security

It’s been a long time since I first came to that conclusion. Although the issue really has been settled in my mind, every now and then a comment or fear will creep in and try to make me question again.

When that happens, I just do it again. Get back to the basics.

Honestly, it hasn’t been that much of a problem for me since that day. I may struggle with a lot of things, but I can always cling to the fact Jesus saved me when I didn’t deserve it.

I pray today that if you’re struggling with this issue, you’ll find hope in my journey.

Sometimes the easy part of identity is knowing that in Christ we are X, Y, and Z, but Satan’s really good at hitting us at the center of the issue. We can’t be anything in Christ if we’re not in Christ.

I pray today you’re secure in the fact that you are in Christ. You don’t have to know the exact date and time of your salvation (I don’t know my own), just that you made that decision.

If you’ve never made it, then you should visit my page Weary Sparrow. As I said earlier, you can’t be anything in Christ until you are in Christ.

*** This post was revised from the archives. Check out the original here. ***

In The Spirit Of “Back To The Basics,” Here Are More Verses That Have Helped Me In My Journey In Place Of The Usual Additional Resources.

I frequently link up with the following: Grace & Truth with Embracing the Unexpected, Tell His Story with Jeanne Takenaka, and Let’s Have Coffee with Joanne Viola.