My Answer: Nothing Can Take Away Your Salvation

Q: I asked Jesus to come into my life at a church camp this past summer, but I’m not sure if He’s still there. I haven’t lived up to what I know He expects of me, and now I’m afraid I’ve lost my salvation. How can I get it back? — J.R.

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A: One of the devil’s oldest tricks is to try to convince us that God doesn’t really love us, and that even if we have given our lives to Christ, God may change His mind and abandon us. In other words, Satan wants to rob us of our assurance and make us doubt our salvation.

But it isn’t true! If you sincerely asked Jesus to come into your life and save you, then He did — and nothing can ever change that. Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). He also promised, “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:26). Put your trust in what God has told us in His Word, not in Satan’s lies.

When you gave your life to Christ and trusted Him for your salvation, He adopted you into His family. Think of it: You are now His child forever! If you sin (and you will), your fellowship with God may be broken — but your relationship is unchanged, and you are still His child. The Bible says, “This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life” (1 John 5:11-12).

Never forget: Your salvation does not depend on you; it depends solely on Christ and what He did for you through His death and resurrection. Make it your goal to grow closer to Him through reading the Bible and prayer and fellowship with other believers. The closer we get to Christ, the stronger our faith becomes.

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Affectionately known as the “World’s Preacher” for more than 60 years, the Rev. Billy Graham is one of the most influential and respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century. He has been a friend and spiritual advisor to ten American presidents and has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history — nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories — through various meetings. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.

©2007 Billy Graham. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.