Many people live in the choking fear of doubting whether they are saved into eternal life or not. Everyone should be certain that they are going to heaven! Thankfully, the Bible makes it clear to us that we can know that we are saved, and that we can know it right now.

Can a saved person doubt their salvation?

A saved person shouldn't doubt their salvation, but it can happen. Doubt can come any time a person takes their eyes off of Christ and begins looking to their own works to see if they are saved or not.

A False Gospel

The people in the church in Galatia were happily going about their Christian lives until Paul left and some other preachers came. These new preachers taught that faith in Christ wasn't enough to save them, but they also needed to obey the law for salvation.

In came the doubts.

It is frightening just how gullible people can be. Those Galatians got busy doubting Jesus and trying to save themselves by the works of the law. Paul wrote this to them:

"…there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." - Galatians 1:7,8

Those legalizing preachers had a false message that was causing much harm in the church. They brought on doubt and claimed that the grace of God was not enough to save.

The believers were foolish to listen to them.

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you."
- Galatians 3:1

The Crippling Error

It is important to know what happened in Galatia so that we can learn from those poor doubters who lost their spiritual focus. The lesson is that there are false teachers who cause people problems by mixing works into the gospel. This will always cause problems.

The crippling error that causes saved people to doubt their salvation is the notion that we must help save ourselves by good works. Good works result in rewards for Believers, but can never help save anyone into eternal life. Wherever the heresy takes root that good works can help save us, the weeds of doubt will follow.

Doubt says, "How many good works do I need to be sure I'm really saved?"
The Bible says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8,9

Doubt says, "Am I good enough?"
The Bible says, "There is none good, no not one." - Romans 3:10

Doubt says, "Have I done enough?"
The Bible says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy He saved us…" Titus 3:5

Doubt says, "Could I do (or think, or feel) that and really be saved?"
The Bible says, "…we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10

Getting it Straight

A million good works can't pay for one sin. Obeying God's law or man's rules does not give us "salvation dollars" to spend at the gate of heaven. The payment for our sin is death; not good works, obeying the Ten Commandments, or being better than we were yesterday. Jesus paid that death penalty once and for all when He died on the cross. The Bible says that if we believe in Jesus Christ we have everlasting life.* Period. If you have never understood this, you need to believe right now. Get this straight. Good works are a good thing for believers to do, but they can't save. Only faith alone in Christ alone can save.

What If I'm Doubting Right Now?

The important thing is to know right now that you are believing in Christ and nothing else to save you. If this is true of you, then you can know that you have eternal life.

"I write these things to you that believe on the name of the son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye might believe on the name of the son of God." - I John 5:13

When you share your testimony tell people that you were confused, but then you understood what the Bible says in I John 5:13.

Win the Battle

Satan will do everything he can to make you doubt your salvation. If he wins you will be paralyzed, unable to live the Christian life as it should be lived, and the impact you can have for the gospel will be neutralized. Here are some tips to help you in the battle of doubt.

Eliminate the false teacher's influence. Get out of that bad Bible study. If your church is confusing you, find another church where the true gospel is presented.

Get in the Word. Study salvation verses like John 6:47 and Ephesians 2:8 and 9. Learn to recognize a tainted gospel by comparing it to scripture.

Memorize key Bible verses like the ones in this article.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:1

*Here are some of the many verses that say that salvation is by believing in Christ, alone: (John 1:12, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 6:47, John 20:31, Acts 10: 43, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 3:21-27).