How do we know we are saved?

Looking at Christ to see what is guaranteed for all humanity

How do we know we are saved?

Some say its by faith…some says its by faith and works…some say its by not sinning…and on and on based on your persuasion and religion. But, what is faith? How many works is enough? Are there sins I can commit that disqualify me?

For me, I start at the end and look to see what in scripture is guaranteed to all mankind and to those in Adam. I am dying in Adam and am a card carrying member of mankind. Therefore, anything promised to ‘all mankind’ or to those ‘dying in Adam’ is guaranteed for me.

Therefore, I have come up with an acronym to fall back on whenever people accuse me of being an unbeliever, condemning me to hell, or when my faith is low and I really don’t know where I stand with God. The acronym is J.I.L.L. and it is an absolute guarantee for me, you, and all mankind.

The death, entombment, and resurrection of Christ Jesus gives us many things, however, I am focusing on three of these things that are for ALL HUMANITY. Therefore, no matter where you stand…faith or not…good works or not…sinning or not…you know you have these things because Christ did them for all humanity.

So, the ‘J’ in J.I.L.L. stands for justify or justification. I know I am justified in the eyes of God and one day, I will be constituted just. This is a guarantee because scripture says its a guarantee for all humanity. Wait! What if my faith, works, righteousness are not up to par? DOES NOT MATTER! This justification is guaranteed for you because of CHRIST’S ACTION and NOT YOURS.

Check out Romans 5: 18-19:

18 Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life’s justifying.
19 For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just.

Notice that these verses teach that ‘all mankind’ is condemned in Adam, THAT’S ME, and also all mankind is justified by Christ, THAT’S ME. You cannot, as Christians try to do, apply the ‘all mankind’ to condemnation and not apply the ‘life’s justifying’ to all mankind.

In verse 19, the ‘many’ is referring back to the ‘all mankind’ is verse 18. Therefore, ‘the many’ also means ‘all mankind.’ Less, you think that not all of mankind were constituted sinners by Adam. The same ‘many’ that were constituted sinners by Adam shall be constituted just by Christ. That’s all mankind. That’s me. My JUSTIFICATION is an absolute guarantee.

Second, the ‘I’ in J.I.L.L. stands for immortality. My future immortality is guaranteed by Christ’s work because all those dying in Adam will be made immortal by Christ. This ‘immortality’ given to all humanity is Christ’s immortality. The very same immortality that Christ has now will be shared by all those that die in Adam. I have to say that because there are many that think God will give immortality to people just to torture them in hell. NOT TRUE. NOT POSSIBLE. The only immortality given to humans is that of Christ’s.

Check out 1 Corinthians 15: 21-22:

21 For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.
22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.

Verse 21 says that ‘through a man (Adam)’ comes death…not through our sin, lack of faith, or lack of good works. Also, ‘through a man (Christ)’, comes the resurrection of the dead…not through our faith or good works.

Verse 22 says that in Adam, all are dying, THAT’S ME. I am in Adam and I am dying. So are all of us. Thus also, the verse continues, the same ‘all’ in Adam are the exact same ‘all’ vivified or made immortal in Christ. Notice this verse does not say, again like Christians suggest, that only those ‘in Christ’ will be vivified. No sir, no mam. This verse says in Christ, ALL shall be made immortal. That’s me. That means that my future immortality is guaranteed and so is yours.

Let me remind you that there is only one way we are made immortal and it is explained in 1 Corinthians 15:54 below: The mortal must put on immortality and the corruptible put on incorruption. This is what Christ is doing to ‘all mankind’ in 1 Corinthians 15: 21-22.

54 Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory.

This is the only way to abolish death…and remember, Christ reigns UNTIL He abolishes death. All death is abolished. Whether it’s the Lake of Fire, which is the SECOND DEATH, the first death, or even the un-scriptural ‘spiritual death’ used by those in religion. All death is abolished for all those that die in Adam by the process of Christ making them, me and you, immortal.

25 For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy is being abolished: death (I Corinthians 15: 25-26).

So, I know that I will be justified and immortal one day by Christ’s death for sin, His entombment, and His resurrection. This is guaranteed for me because it is guaranteed to all humanity, all those that die in Adam, in which I am a member.

The last two letters, both ‘L’s’ in J.I.L.L. is also a guarantee for all mankind and that is ‘Lack of Lack.’ This comes from 1 Corinthians 15:28 in that the same ‘all in Adam’ in verses 21-22 are the same all that God will fill up. There will be a lack of lack because we will lack nothing when God becomes all in us.

Every broken dream, every sin, every pain, every moment that could have been good but wasn’t, every treasure that could have been discovered but remained hidden, every experience of failure and missed opportunity will be filled by God in all creation when He becomes All in all. How could we possible lack anything when God is our all. Not possible, so there is the lack of lack. This is a guarantee for all creation.

So there it is, J.I.L.L, justification, immortality, and the lack of lack is what I know for certain I have because all humanity has it. How do I know I’m saved? J.I.L.L. is for all mankind, all those that die in Adam…this includes me, you, and everyone else.

Nobody can ever take this away, including myself. Why, because Christ is the only One that achieved this for me. Its not up to me nor anybody else, so those people cannot take it away.

So, what about faith? Faith is given to us by God to realized the J.I.L.L. is true. Faith is not given to us to make J.I.L.L. true for us. Salvation is based on Christ’s work and not ours. Faith acquaints us with this truth.

Those who do not have faith still have these promises but they will come to a realization of the truth later and will not experience the ‘special salvation’ like those given faith now. However, they will come to the realization of J.I.L.L. and ultimate salvation later, through judgement. Thus, making 1 Timothy 4:10 true:

10 (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers.

So, what about good works and sin? God causes us to walk in good works because we are saved, not in order for us to be saved. Ephesians 2:10:

10 For His achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them.

As far as sin goes, we are instructed by Paul not to grieve the spirit, refrain from sinning, and to walk worthily because we REALIZE that we are saved by Christ’s work and not our own, knowing that nothing we do or don’t do can effect our position in Christ. We walk worthily because we are saved, not in order to be saved. Therefore, if we do ‘sin’ and we do walk ‘unworthily,’ our position and salvation is still guaranteed. Why? Because every promise we have is based on Christ’s work, His death for sin, His entombment and His resurrection…NOT our behavior or our work.

So, no matter what anyone says, we can be sure of the promises of J.I.L.L. because this is for all mankind because of Christ’s work on the cross alone. Nothing we do or anyone else does can take this away from us. That is how we know we are saved. That is how I know I am saved. Guaranteed!

Having the faith to realize this is a gift from God. Faith brings us in to these benefits early before the rest. After judgement, at God’s appointed time, the rest will be brought in as well. Christ is the guarantee for ALL.

Grace and peace.