We who are saved know it

We who are saved know it.

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.... 
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” 
Romans 8:6-8,16
Over the years I’ve been asked how we know we are going to heaven. This is the answer I give.
We know, if we are children of God.  We know if we have truly given our lives over to God.  Our relationship to God is between Him and us.  It is a personal thing.  No one can truly judge if you are a Christian or not.  If you have given your heart and life to God, only you can know that.
Paul states,
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” 
                                                                              Romans 8:16
             Over the years, I have had people say to me “such and such a person can’t possibly be saved because he or she is this or that.”  When my wife was a librarian at the church we attended at the time, I even had one person, who didn’t know I was my wife’s husband say to me “she can’t possibly be saved because she reads Star Trek, and she actually recommended reading the Tales of Narnia.”
I simply laughed the incident off.  I hadn’t the nerve to tell her who I was, and that one of our pastors had just bought the Narnia series for his children.
On other occasion, I was talking with a group of people, most of whom I knew quite well, at a conference.  Someone asked how my illness was doing ( have Bi-polar effective disorder).
I told the person, that the meds were starting to keep things in check.  Proof being, I was at the Conference.  Immediately, someone else standing in the group whom I didn’t know said, very seriously, “How can you be saved and have such an illness.  Mental illness is demon possession.  .”
I appreciate prayer, at any time, but I was floored that anyone could doubt my salvation.  I’ve had no doubt that Christ has been my Saviour, since I was nineteen.  I have seen God working within my life, and what He has done through me.  As Paul stated,
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” 
                                                                            Romans 8:16 (NIV)
Sometimes, I truly believe that some people in the church are a hindrance to someone’s salvation.
My point in all of this, is to say, only you know for sure if you are saved.  It is between you and God.
For me this is what I believe, and most Christians believe is the way to heaven.
The Way to Heaven
1/ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 
                                                          John 3:16,17.
2 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                     John 14:6
 3/ Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
4/ Isaiah telling us, 
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” 
                                                                                             Isaiah 64:6
 5/ John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
       1 John 1:9,10.
6/ Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating, 
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9
7/ Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                              Hebrews 11:1
What do you believe?
Think about it.