Hi Rev. How do I know that I am saved? Is it when I do something wrong and I start thinking of the Lord? Also, when I sin and pray to God and repent is there only so many times I can repent on that same sin? Thank you for your time.

Let me begin by explaining God’s plan of salvation. We are sinners by nature and God sent Jesus Christ to die on a cross to pay for our sins. Our part is to turn from a life of sin and ask Him to forgive us for all our sins. Once we’ve done this, Jesus becomes our Savior. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” – John 5:24. The Bible also says, “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. Therefore, when we sin, we should always ask for forgiveness. There’s no limit to how many times we can ask for forgiveness for the same sin, but if it’s habitual we need to deal with it.

Please don’t misunderstand, we don’t get to heaven by trying to be good or perfect. God already knows we are sinners. The Bible says “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “there is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:19). Therefore, our only hope is in Christ who died to save us.

In short, a person knows they are saved when they’ve accepted Christ as their personal Savior from sin and have experienced a changed life where they no longer want to sin, but to please God. The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” – II Corinthians 5:17.