These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. – 1 John 5:13

Recently I heard about an elderly churchgoer who was certain she would go to heaven because her husband was righteous. Another churchgoer is certain her husband will go to heaven because of her righteousness. Uncounted masses wonder whether they’re actually saved at all. Are they among the elect? Were they sincere in their prayers of salvation? Have their ongoing sins disqualified them from receiving salvation? Our pews are filled with such people.

In this era of perpetual bad news, I come with good news: You can be confident of your salvation. But so we’re all on the same page, let’s clarify what it means to be saved.

And this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. – 1 John 5:11-12

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. – John 14:6

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

No fellow human can pray, pry or pay your way into heaven. Nor can salvation be gained by acknowledging the existence of God or even accepting the historical reality of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. If that were the case, heaven would be teeming with some very unlikely characters.

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder. – James 2:19

The question of our salvation is often the devil’s playground. The enemy of our souls enjoys causing God’s children to wile their years wondering whether they are genuinely saved because such people are ineffective and of little consequence to him. But he also delights in give people a false sense of security.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test? – 2 Corinthians 13:5

Salvation has but one Name, and that Name is Jesus. It is through Jesus plus nothing that we are saved – not Jesus plus works, not Jesus plus baptism, not Jesus plus church membership. If your faith is in His completed work on the cross on your behalf, you are safely and eternally in His hands. God says so.

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. – John 10:29

These things have been written, my friends, so that you may know. Now walk in the truth.

“No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;  and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord. – Isaiah 54:17