Isn’t it presumptuous to claim to “know” that you’re saved? Wouldn’t that mindset lead to sin and “living any way you want?” The question is not, what do I think? But rather, what does the Bible say? “…He that believeth not God hath made him a liar…” (1 John 5:10).

So what does God say about knowing that you’re on your way to Heaven? Paul called himself the chiefest of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and yet writes, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Notice the words, “we know.” Paul knew – present tense, before he died – that when this earthly body was done, he had another, heavenly one waiting for him. Do you?

1 John 5:13 says, “…These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” Notice that Bible faith is not designed to take us to the grave “strongly hoping.” God’s faith produces definite assurance as to our eternal state, “that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” We love the song “Blessed Assurance,” written by Fanny Crosby for a reason.

How do we know that in the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth? We take God’s Word for it (Gen 1:1). How do we know that we will be like Christ some day? We take God’s Word for it (1 John 3:2). How do we know that Jesus was sinless? We believe what God has told us in 1 John 3:5. Why do we believe that when we pray God hears us? Because we believe the Bible (1 John 5:15). The “know” that tells us we can “know” these things is the same “know” that tells us we can “know” that when this life is over we will be in the presence of our Lord. We can know it by believing what God said (cf. 1 John 2:3; 2:5; 2:29; 3:14; 3:19; 3:24; 4:13; 5:13; 5:19-10). “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Cor. 2:12)

Our assurance rests on what we are trusting. If we are trusting in our own efforts then we have every reason to doubt. That is why the Word of God tells us not to trust or rest in our own good works (Galatians 2:16), “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law…for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Are you trusting in your own works or in God’s Word on the matter? Peace only comes when you are trusting wholly in the finished work of Christ on the cross (John 14:27). What is our part in salvation? “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29).

Is the idea of “assurance” foreign to you? Read 1 Thess 1:5, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance…”

1 John 5:10 says, “…he that believeth not God hath made him a liar…” Please dear friend, don’t try to reason-out salvation. Simply believe. You say you can’t believe. Then read your Bible because, “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).