Learn what will happen during the tribulation period from beginning to end
Your comments and questions are always welcome. To send comments and questions please click here to go to our main page. Updated February 27th, 1999 Dear Pastor Malone: I read your section on those who'll be left behind and totally agree that there are many who believe that living by the golden rule will earn them eternal life. But do you believe that a person can be unsure of his salvation and still be saved? Have you ever met someone who you believe to be saved and yet was having doubts? Thank you. Dear Sir/madam: Sin in a person's life causes them to doubt. But that does not mean they are not saved. I meet people like that all the time. If a person is living a lifestyle of sin they have very good reason to doubt because they're probably not saved. A lot of people today are living a deceived life, thinking they are saved when they really aren't. But don't get worried about what I have just said. I can give you the answer to your question. Your probably thinking, "How do I know I'm not one of the deceived?" If you are living a life of sin you are deceiving yourself. Of course no bodies perfect, but you don't have to sin, it's your choice. When a person comes to the realization of that and truly turns their life over to the Lord they will live a successful Christian life...without doubts. Will they discontinue sinning? Absolutely not! But they will not stay in that sin. They will confess it and turn from it. The Bible says, if you do sin, and that is an important IF, you have an advocate with the father, Christ Jesus the Lord (I John 2:1). If sin was a natural part of a Christian's life that Bible passage would have said "WHEN any man sin". How can we know we are saved? Because we keep His commandments and we seek to do the will of the Father. Many claim to be saved today, but only those who live in and do the will of the Father are truly saved. Here are a few verses to live by: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (I John 2:3-6) Yes, we can know for sure we are saved and it's not based upon feeling or good works. You can't do anymore to be saved than what Christ has done on the cross. It's accepting Jesus as Lord of your life plus nothing. As a result, the Holy Spirit will come and indwell you and a spiritual transformation will begin. Then the symptoms of salvation will begin to flow from your life. You will begin to read the Word, pray, and attend a Bible believing church. You will seek to do the will of the Father and to do those things that please Him. These are the spiritual growth symptoms of a born again Christian. Just saying a prayer without change is like planting a fruit tree seed that yields no fruit. In time the fruits of salvation must come forth. Many today are soothing others into thinking they are saved just because they said a prayer but their lifestyle denies it. I fear many will stand before God at the judgment, thinking they are saved, and hear Him say "…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:23) I can't imagine the horror that will resound through their heart and soul when they hear those all to final words. For at that time, there will be no second chances. I hope I have answered your question. I would recommend also reading my article in the feature section of my webpage "How We Can Know We Are Saved". It's question 18. Pastor Malone
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