Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
Overcoming Doubt
I
by Stephen Baker
f you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, the
John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to
Devil will try to get you to doubt that you are saved.
Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for
When a believer doubts his salvation, he cannot enjoy
another?” But Jesus said that there had never been a greater
the Christian life nor serve God effectively. I doubted my
prophet of God than John the Baptist! If John could doubt
salvation for years. God has assured me, but it didn’t come
the Savior, then any saved person can doubt that he or she is
instantly. It came over time. When I was younger, it got to
truly saved.
the point where I was asking Jesus to save me every day,
Next, let’s examine the word “believe.” This is the most
several times a day. I just couldn’t be sure that I really
important word in understanding salvation. Ephesians
trusted Him.
2:8 explains that we are saved through faith, and the Bible tells us repeatedly that the way to be saved is to believe in Jesus Christ. For example, Acts 16:31, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The word “believe” in the Bible means “trust.” The Word of God teaches that I will be saved if I “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” I could say, “I believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.” In other words, I am saying that I believe they exist. That is not what the Bible is talking about. People are not saved because they believe that Jesus exists. They are saved because they trust in Him for their soul’s salvation. Finally, to “call upon the name of the Lord” in Romans 10:13 is just a way of expressing faith.
Lost people do not doubt their salvation. They don’t
Read verses 13 and 14 together to get the full meaning. “For
have any salvation to doubt! Only a saved person can doubt
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
his or her salvation. The Holy Spirit does not cause you to
saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have
doubt. The Devil does that. If you have received the Lord
not believed…?” (Romans 10:13-14 a.). We cannot call unless
Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit will show you, from the
we believe, or trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. When I was
Bible, that you are saved. The Bible says, “These things have
young and wanted to be saved, I thought that there was a
I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of
certain prayer that I had to pray. But prayer will not save
God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye
anyone. Prayer is an outward expression of inward faith.
may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
Putting our faith into words is good, but faith alone in Christ
First, there is the false idea among some that a saved person cannot doubt his or her salvation. It is easy for a
saves! “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15).
because many Christians doubt their salvation. John the Baptist was saved, but he doubted. Luke 7:19 says, “And
6 // April 2022
About The Author
preacher to get lots of people “saved” when he teaches this Pastor Stephen Baker is the pastor of Harmony Baptist Church in Dalton, Georgia. www.harmonybconline.com
