Am I saved?...Yes you are!

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8)


“Am I really a Christian? Do I really show love to the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I really His child, because my life before wasn’t bad? Where’s the fruit that I am His child? Voices tell me I am going to hell. God hates me, He is done with my life. If I am Christian, why do I feel like I will end up in hell? I can’t understand the bible like brother so and so does, I couldn’t be a Christian? Why does Christ feel so far from me” – These are just some of the thoughts which have been expressed to me by different Christians I know. Yes, Christians have thought these things. This morning a wonderful Christian brother expressed to me his struggle with similar thinking. I thought to myself, “no way, this guy is definitely a Christian in his love that he shows the brethren, how could he deal with such a thing.” When I heard him speak, I wanted to tear up man because I wanted to help him not to think this way. Then, I had to be honest; I have thought that way to, thinking when I die, would I wake up in hell. What? Yeah, so I run to the scriptures and asked was their anybody in the bible that struggled with these thoughts? Yes.

History of the Church of Ephesus

The Gospel was likely brought to Ephesus by Pricilla and Aquila, who were a Spirit-filled couple (Acts 18:26), and for around three years pastored by Paul the Apostle. Also Timothy presided over this church after Paul as well. Ephesus location was at the mouth of the Cayster River and may have been well known for its temple of Artemis (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.) Politics, education, and big business were of importance in this area, so we can see this church probably had a lot of things going on. I feel one important aspect of Ephesus was the false teaching that lurked in this area. For example Hymenaeus and Alexander, placed some poisonous doctrine among the Ephesians’ church (1 Timothy 1:20). Because of such things, the church at Ephesus was struck with fables and worthless genealogies (1 Timothy 1:4), beyond-the-bible ideas of forbidding foods (1 Timothy 4:3) and bold statements made because of erring in understanding scripture. These things caused disputes and most likely hindered the faith of some of the Christians there at Ephesus. And this dealing with the false teachers carried on as we see Jesus Christ speak of Ephesus returning to their first love (Revelation 2:1-7).
All the garbage teaching probably brought some of the believers to question their salvation, hence why Paul in Chapter 5 alluded to the Ephesians former walk. Was there Christian church who struggled with salvation? Yes, the church of Ephesus was one of them (Check out 1 John 1 – 5 as well, because John resided in Ephesus too and wrote in context on what a true Christian is. Hmmm).

Where does it say they struggled with salvation?

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (Ephesians 5:8 NASB)

Why did Paul tell them what they used to be in darkness? Why did Paul then tell them that they are light? Why did he say what they formerly were and then state what they presently are? Why did he instruct them to then walk in the light? Could it be that the church of Ephesus had believers struggling with whether they are saved? Most definitely! The participle “formerly” Greek transliteration is pote po-te' which means once, aforetime, formerly or at some time. Paul is telling the struggling Ephesians they used to be in darkness (sinful lifestyle, under the ruler or darkness, NOT SAVED) and now they are Light in the Lord (under rulership of Jesus Christ). He is telling them plainly they are saved; now walk like you are children that are saved. He used a similar expression in Galatians which described his former life:

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, (Galatians 1:13-15)

So what’s the solution?

Let me first say to anyone who is involved with or knows someone struggling with their salvation, BE VERY GENTLE. Don’t be that forceful religious nut. Many of these Christians have been burned by bad doctrine and bad theology. The Bryant’s, Jakes, Price’s, Dollar’s and Word Network has really bruised them. Some have been on a rollocoaster of religious beliefs. We have to apply God’s word for the healing these wonderful people. A hug, and a brotherly kiss, comfort and genuine care really can show them how to walk in LOVE. That is the solution, that is what will give them confidence in knowing they are of the Lord Jesus Christ. Applying the Word “walk”, they’ll see they are children of the Most High God. Do you realize that Christ had given them the answer in Ephesians 5? Let’s look for that word walk:

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
For ye were sometimesdarkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
(Ephesians 5:8)
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (Ephesians 5:15)

In the Greek transliteration the word walk is peripateo per-ee-pat-eh'-o. This means to walk, to make one's way, progress; to make due use of opportunities. We must continuously progress in opportunities to do good to others. What? Yes to follow after the Lord Jesus Christ, builds our confidence in knowing that we are saved. Lets flip it for a minute to explain this. When you are struggling with sins that you committed, the not-saved thinking sometimes comes when you base your Christianity on these sins committed. You become confident that you’re not-saved because of that sinful action. To make even plainer, what happens when you walk towards a burning building? It gets hotter, yes, you feel hotter, yes. Why? Because your focus/sight is in the direction of the burning building you’re walking towards. Now what would happen if you turn around and walked the other way? It would get cooler wouldn’t it? Exactly. Why? Your sight is in the direction of where you’re walking. Truly only a Christian can truly repent and walk in the direction towards God. This direction is through confessing sin (1 John 1:9), walking by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and doing good to all (Galatians 6:9-10, Philippians 2:13, 1 Peter 3:11, Romans 12:9-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15). Walk in this way, O my brethren who struggle, and you’ll see that you’re saved and filled with God’s Spirit.

Give, love, and put others first, as Christ within you works, and you’ll see that you are saved. Remember this and you’ll understand this scripture:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)

Final Words

I want to encourage you who struggle with knowing whether you’re saved or not. Continue do walk in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ. Continue in your biblical theology, in your exegesis, in your consistent study of the Word of God. YOU ARE SAVED, and Christ is with in. Walk in love, and you will see that Jesus Christ is with you. I understand what you’re going through, I leave you with these words:

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (1 John 2:12-29)