How do I Know if I'm Truly Saved?

I think we’ve all been through a time—or will go through a time—when we’ve doubted or struggled with the question: “Am I truly saved?”

Whether it was triggered by struggles with sin, a pastor asking the question from the pulpit, or by second-guessing what it really means to be saved, doubt can creep in. Regardless of whether you’ve wandered in the past, are questioning now, or may wrestle with it in the future, it’s essential to know how to navigate that doubt.

Here’s a summarized way to help you understand whether you are truly saved.

Ask Yourself These Honest Questions

The most important thing to do when facing this kind of doubt is to reflect sincerely and ask yourself:

• Do I desire to know God?

• Do I desire that He knows me and loves me?

• Do I desire to love Him?

• Do I desire to honor Him?

• Do I desire to obey His Word?

Now, keep in mind—this doesn’t mean you perfectly perform these things. We can genuinely desire them and still struggle to live them out. The goal here is to discern whether your heart longs for God—because only someone truly saved will have a heart that seeks Him.

John MacArthur puts it well: “The way you know you are saved is by your desire.” What he means is that once the Holy Spirit dwells within us, our hearts begin to pursue God.

You're Already on the Right Path

If you’re asking these questions and genuinely searching for answers, that’s already a good sign. It shows you care—and that is evidence of God working in your heart. Even if you come to realize you weren’t truly saved before, the fact that you’re seeking now means you’re on the right path to salvation.

What Does It Mean to Be Saved?

To understand salvation clearly, one of the best summaries comes from the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Note: “catholic” here means universal, not Roman Catholic.

While the Apostles’ Creed is a helpful summary, I challenge you to go deeper: read the Word of God. Let Scripture be your ultimate creed. The Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds are simply man’s attempt to summarize what the Bible teaches—not a substitute for Scripture itself.

-Glow Up Gospel 

"The Transformation that only God can bring"