What should I do if I'm questioning my salvation? How can I know for sure if I’m saved?

TL;DR:

Salvation isn’t about how we feel or what we do—it’s fully secured by faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. When we believe and accept God’s promises, the Holy Spirit seals us, transforms our hearts, and guarantees we are eternally His.

what does the bible say?

Assurance of salvation comes from trusting in what Jesus has done, not from our actions, feelings, or perfection. Salvation has always been by faith in God, as seen with Abraham, Noah, and others who trusted God’s promises (Genesis 15:6; Genesis 6-7). The promise of salvation was fulfilled through Jesus’ death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Now, all who respond to Jesus’ offer of salvation are saved (John 1:12). Salvation is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and secure because of His work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). Nothing can take away our salvation once we are saved (John 10:28-29). We can be assured of our salvation by knowing and trusting what God’s Word says about salvation (1 John 5:13). We can also be assured of our salvation by the ongoing heart transformation that the Spirit produces (2 Corinthians 5:17). We desire to sin less, our heart desires what God wants, and our words and actions follow (Galatians 5:22-24). Doubts, struggles, or sin do not negate our salvation; what matters is our belief in Christ as our Savior and the acceptance of His forgiveness. Maintaining fellowship with other believers and spending time in God’s Word helps our spiritual growth, even when we are struggling. Ultimately, confidence in salvation rests on faith in God’s promises and the truth of biblical salvation, not on fleeting emotions or personal performance.

from the old testament

Salvation has always been by faith in God, as seen when Abraham believed the Lord, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6), and when Noah, by faith, built the ark to save his household (Genesis 6-7).
The Old Testament focuses on trusting God’s promises and obeying His commands as evidence of a heart aligned with Him (Deuteronomy 30:6).
Faith in God’s provision and steadfastness points to reliance on Him rather than human effort (Psalm 34:18; 37:5).
God reassures His people that He is near to those who seek Him sincerely, showing that relationship, not perfection, matters (Psalm 145:18).

from the new testament

The Bible says that salvation is a grace of God through Jesus' work that He gives us because of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not works, and is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; John 3:16).
The Bible assures us that since our salvation is dependent on what Jesus has done for us, He will never lose any that belong to Him (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 1:13-14).
Jesus promises eternal security for those who believe in Him: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish” (John 10:28).
Assurance of salvation can be seen in the ongoing transformation of the heart, growing obedience, and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Confessing and believing in Christ brings forgiveness and a restored relationship with God (1 John 1:9; Romans 10:9-10).

implications for today

The Bible tells us that salvation is by grace through faith. Faith is the understanding, belief, and acceptance of what the Bible says is the grace of God that saves. So what does the Bible say about what saves us:

We are sinners; we do, think, and feel things that are not what God wants from us.

God will judge sinners—punish them for their sins.

Sin is wrong, and we don’t want to be wrong or associated with sin anymore.

We need forgiveness from God so He will not judge/punish us.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to Earth to become human.

Jesus lived a perfect life.

Jesus died on the cross, voluntarily taking the judgment/punishment for our sins.

Because Jesus was sinless, He was the perfect sacrifice and rose to life again.

Jesus offers forgiveness to us.

We accept Jesus’ offer to forgive us and lead us away from sin.

If you accept these truths, the Bible says you are saved. That doesn't mean you won’t struggle from time to time to truly believe you are saved. However, just because we doubt or have sinned does not mean we are not saved. As we grow in our faith and remind ourselves of what God’s Word says, we can see the Holy Spirit at work, reminding us of the assurance we have in Christ. He will also continue to transform us from the inside out, aligning our heart better with His, providing us with more assurance of our salvation. In church, we learn more about Jesus, His Word, and can support each other. When you're discouraged or even doubting, other believers can build you up again.

Assurance of salvation doesn’t depend on your actions or emotions—it rests on your faith in the truths of biblical salvation: Jesus died for our sins, and if we believe in Him, we are saved and cannot lose our salvation. If you truly believe and accept these truths, you can be confident that you are saved.

understand

Salvation is by faith in God and His promises, and is not dependent on our actions or feelings.
Assurance comes through trusting God’s Word and knowing that salvation comes from Jesus’ work, not our own.
We can know we are saved by seeing the Holy Spirit’s transformative work in our lives, even if we still sin, struggle with sin, or doubt.

reflect

How does the truth that Jesus has secured your salvation shape your faith, regardless of your feelings or actions?
Where do you notice the Holy Spirit transforming your heart, desires, or behavior?
When doubts arise about your salvation, how do you remind yourself of God’s love, promises, and grace?

engage

How do we distinguish between emotional doubt and genuine questions about our salvation?
How can we help others recognize if they have genuinely trusted in God for salvation when they are wrestling with knowing if they are saved?
How can fellowship, studying God’s Word, and practicing other spiritual disciplines strengthen our assurance of salvation?