Is It OK to Doubt Our Salvation?

Three factors elicit this question: 1) a very helpful post from Challies Dot Com. Please read it. 2) nearly 5 decades in the evangelical/fundamentalist world, and 3) experience teaching this in Church and hearing the serious concerns of God's people. We were always taught growing up that "it is a sin to doubt," that to doubt one's salvation is tantamount to "calling God a liar." I'm sure I've said the same to questioning converts. But I'm careful about that any more. Why? 

First, the Bible urges that we test or examine ourselves to see whether we are "in the faith" (2 Cor. 13:5). This necessitates some careful doubt. Also, the whole of 1 John is given for precisely the same reason (5:13), viz., that we may know we are saved. But to do so requires there be doubt to drive such a concern. Further, Scriptural examples expose those who seemed to have been saved, but time and subsequent actions convincingly disproved their profession. Consider the "believing" Jews of John 8:31 who a few verses later wanted to stone Jesus (v. 59). Also, consider Simon Magus in Acts 8:13, who though Scripture asserts that he had believed, earns Peter's opprobrium, 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Other Scriptures are devastatingly powerful and cannot lightly be dismissed, for example: Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (see 1 Cor. 13:1-3). What conscientious Christian can read these verses without it producing a strange shiver in his soul?

Second, in addition to Scripture, there is a human frailty, a weakness disguised as a strength with which we must contend, namely a sense of entitlement. Preface this entitlement with a gospel presentation like this, "All you have to do is . . ." and you've practically cauterized the seeker against ever considering that he may be lost, even if all evidence points in that direction. We would not have people doubt unnecessarily. We would promote a deeper, more robust faith, of course. Conversely, we would not want to so present the Gospel as to ossify a sincerely inquisitive soul to his need for valid biblical, self-examination. Man needs enough modesty to admit his depravity and enough humility to accept God's grace. 

  

In 1908, G. K. Chesterton wrote:

What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert - himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt - the Divine Reason. . . The old humility made a man doubtful about his efforts, which might make him work harder. But the new humility makes a man doubtful about his aims, which makes him stop working altogether. . . . We are on the road to producing a race of man too mentally modest to believe in the multiplication table. (Orthodoxy, 29-30)

Now, consider this, we are NOT set free by the truth, even though Jesus is often partially quoted as saying, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32). This well-known statement is the second half of what Jesus said. His complete verdict was directed to the Jews who had believed in him (v. 31a), viz., "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples" (v. 31), laying the groundwork for, "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." My point? Jesus IS saying that the truth sets people free, but only as they "abide in his word." There is a contingency clause in this grand promise. If we obey, or love Christ then we are in the right spot to hear and follow him. If I am not even committed to obeying him, then the truth, far from freeing me, will actually shackle my soul, leaving me blinded and confused. I think what we are finding today is folks who want assurance of their salvation without the commensurate grace of obedience and expressions of love toward Christ. Indeed, Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). 

So, in answer to the question, "Is it OK to doubt our salvation?" I must answer, Absolutely! More often than not, evangelical questions are not leveled against the character of God, but against our own frothy, ineffectual brand of Christianity. Any concern that reveals our substandard passion for Christ is far better being surfaced on this side of eternity than on the other! Believe, yes. But let that belief be demonstrated not by profession, but by fruit, and by persevering faith as our Lord designed (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:14).