I was told that if I repeated the following words that I would be saved: "Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for me. I am trusting Him to forgive my sins and to give me eternal life." I repeated those words but I still am not sure if I am saved or not. Can you help me?

I am so glad that you asked this question. I believe that many people want to ask this question but are afraid to. Just saying certain words, even if they are the correct words, or signing a "decision card" of similar words, will not save unless the person truly believes in his heart what he is saying with his lips or signing with a pen. When a person simply repeats the words of a good "formula" it might not always express the thoughts and understanding of that person. A person might be asked to repeat such words when he or she has not been made to realize the need of a Saviour. That need is based upon the following facts:

• I have sinned and have come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
• The wages of my sin is death (Romans 6:23).
• After death I will face God's judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
• The good news is that Christ died for my sins (Romans 5:8).
• God now offers the gift of eternal life to all those who will accept it (Romans 6:23).

How then can I be sure that I am saved? I trust that the following Bible verse may help you: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).

What do I confess with my mouth? That Jesus is Lord. Confession means "to say the same thing." When I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord I "say the same thing" that God has said (Acts 2:36). I am saying to God that the One He sent into this world to save me by His death on the cross is the One I trust as my Lord and Saviour.

What is believed in my heart? "That God hath raised Him from the dead." "Heart" here stands for the hidden springs of my personal life. Do I really believe in my innermost being that God has raised from the dead the One who died on the cross for my sins? Believing this means I believe that the penalty for my sins has been fully paid by the Lord Jesus on the cross, and that payment has been fully accepted by God who raised Him from the dead. If I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead, what does God say will be true of me? God says, "Thou shalt be saved." Am I saved? I might not feel saved, and I might not always act saved, but have I confessed with my mouth Jesus as Lord? Do I believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead? Then God says I am saved! God said it, I believe it, that settles it. Other verses that might help are John 3:16; 5:24 and Acts 16:31.