This is a question that many professed Christians are asking. Their happiness and their peace of mind depend on the correct answer to this question. It is like a man who buys a lottery ticket, hoping to win a million dollars. He cannot start planning how to spend this money until he is sure that he has won the prize. There is also a false security. Many believe that there is a God in heaven, they believe that the Bible is His word, they also believe that Jesus died for their sins and they leave it at this, without further investigation, but what they are lacking is the peace in their hearts and the joy of heaven.
The happiest person is he who knows that he is saved, that his sins are forgiven. The most miserable and unhappy person is a lukewarm professor of religion. He does not enjoy the peace of heaven, nor the joy that comes from God, neither the pleasure that the world is offering. Satan is the most unhappy being in the world. He cannot give true happiness to his followers, because he does not have it.
David writes, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalm 32:1–2
This blessing gives us happiness and joy, also a perfect peace, something that the world can never give us.
When we confess our sins to God, what will He do for us at that same time? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
At that time we are justified and there is nothing in the books of heaven against us. Now sanctification begins in us. You know that your sins are forgiven because you have received power from God not to sin anymore. Now you know that you are saved; but if you, for some reason, fall back into sin, then you are not saved any more.
Then you need to go back to repenting your sin and confessing it and making a promise to God that you will not sin anymore; then you are saved again. If you would die at that moment you would be saved to eternal life. Satan will double his temptations to everyone who is in a saved condition, and receiving sanctification. In this condition we are to rejoice and be in perfect peace.
Sister White writes to us, “You need not stand where you say, ‘I do not know whether I am saved.’ Do you believe in Christ as your personal Saviour? If you do, then rejoice. We do not rejoice half as much as we should.” –General Conference Bulletin, April 10, 1901
The Apostle Paul was sure of his salvation. He said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7–8
The only happy life is when we know that our sins are forgiven and we have a crown of life waiting for us in heaven.
The Apostle Paul tells us, “Rejoice evermore.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16. Not only sometimes, but always. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4
Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:11–12
Even if we must go through fiery trials, we are still to rejoice. To be saved and have an expectation of eternal life are treasures more precious and valuable than if we gained the whole world and lose our heavenly treasure. Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
While we are forgiven all our sins and we are justified we still need to go through fiery trials and tribulations.
These trials have a purpose. God does not make us suffer trials for no reason. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
When we go through trials and tribulations, we know that God loves us and is preparing us for heaven and for eternal life. It is a lack of faith, if after confessing our sins, we still are not sure if we are forgiven and justified.
Sanctification is a process that begins after we are saved from our sins and are born again, and this process requires fiery trials.
When you are saved you have the Holy Spirit within you (1 Corinthians 6:19). You feel His presence. He comforts you and makes you feel happy in all circumstances. He tells you what to speak, what to write, and even what to think. A saved person never feels lonely, or depressed, even if he is in prison for his faith or if he is sentenced to death; he feels it an honour to him.
We cannot claim that our salvation is for eternity, because we can lose it through Satan’s temptations. We read of King Saul, “And the spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” 1 Samuel 10:6. But later we find that the Spirit of God left him and Satan took control of him.
Adam and Eve were living in a perfect, happy condition, but they lost it through Satan’s temptation. And Satan has become very skilful in his work of deceiving souls from salvation to perdition in the past 6,000 years. We all will face Satan’s temptations, but we read, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” James 1:12
Jesus said, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13
If we endure all the trials, and temptations, we will not lose our salvation, but it will lead us into eternal life. Salvation is progressive, first we are saved from sin, and then we are sanctified, that is being made holy, and finally we are saved from death into life. May the Lord help us all in this sanctification process to remain firm and to endure to the end. AMEN.
Timo Martin