This doubt is something all believers face at one time; especially in the early times after receiving Salvation through Christ. Let’s look at a few important Scriptures and then a very important doctrine taught by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7 which is vastly under taught in the pulpit, yet is so vitally important to the faith.
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye BELIEVED, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of PROMISE, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-16 KJV)
“There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1 KJV)
Jesus talking about Salvation said this,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, because he hath not BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)
BELIEVE BELIEVE BELIEVE!
Salvation is NOT something we work for. It is not by being a good person nor never sinning. It is not what we do that saves us but what Christ DID on the cross.
SALVATION IS A GIFT to be RECEIVED through belief.
“For BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
“These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13 KJV)
“WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH that Jesus IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep HIS COMMANDMENTS (Don: this is not talking about the Ten Commandments. It is the commandments Jesus gave to love others as God loves you and to love God.) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even OUR FAITH. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD?”
(1 John 5: 1-5 KJV , with my comments added in brackets)
“These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13 KJV)
Rest in the Lord.
He will never fail you though we fail all the time still in this Body of Flesh. All who believe on Christ are SAVED and HAVE (present tense) eternal life because the Spirit of God indwells a person from the very moment of belief.
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED with that holy Spirit OF PROMISE, Which is the EARNEST (Don: in Greek means ‘guaranteed down payment’) of our inheritance (Don: eternal life/heaven) until the redemption of the purchased possession (Don: until our bodily resurrection), unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV, with notes by me)
Once a person believes on Christ and the atonement for sins through His sacrifice on the cross as the Son of God, who is God in the Flesh that person is a new creation in the Spirit. This new spirit in the person is now the NEW REAL US. It is the seed of God which is perfect and never sins. However, a believer still has this bodily corrupt and sinful Flesh nature until our bodily resurrection when Christ returns. As a believer on Christ, the new you in the spirit wars with the Flesh and it is a real struggle. We do at times fall into sin as believers but that is the Flesh and not the spirit. Our spirit is eternal and our sins will not prevent a believer from keeping their eternal life. Apostle Paul is clear, yet so many believers miss this important truth that believers have TWO NATURES now; the Newly Created Spirit (the new you!), and the Flesh nature (corrupt body with sin nature).
Read Romans 7 Carefully
Apostle Paul is a saved believer, just like you and me right? (that is, if you accepted Christ for Salvation.) Read Romans 7 VERY CAREFULLY. I am adding some info in brackets to help in understanding this vital passage that so many believers do not yet understand.
“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold UNDER SIN.
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would (Don: I WANT to do good and not sin), that DO I NOT (Don: yet, I sin instead); BUT WHAT I HATE, THAT DO I. (Don: I hate sin, yet I still find myself sinning)
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
>>>Now then it is NO MORE I THAT DO IT (Don: My newly created spirit does not want to do it and so, because the spirit is the new me, it is not me doing it), BUT SIN THAT DWELETH IN ME (Don: It is the Flesh nature doing the sin. Sinning comes naturally to this nature)
For I know that in me (that is, IN MY FLESH,) DWELETH NO GOOD THING (Don: we are completed wretched! All are sinners!) : for to will is present with me (Don: I WANT to do good and not sin); but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Don: Yet I still fail utterly and sin.)
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
>>>Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Don: The sin nature is the one sinning, not my perfect newly created spirit which can never sin)
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man (Don: the inward man is the newly created spirit of God which is eternal and perfect and has the very righteousness of God in Christ;2 Corinthians 5:21):
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. (Don: belief on the atonement for sin He provided, not our works) So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; (Don: with the REAL us, our Spirit and inner man) but with the flesh the law of sin.”
(Romans 7:14-25 KJV, with my own notes in brackets)
This is why Paul goes on to teach that he rather boast in his weaknesses because it is ALL Christ that saves us. In John 15, Jesus Himself tells us that we can do NOTHING without Him abiding. That is, without the Holy Spirit (God) indwelling us. And that happens by belief on Jesus Christ in faith in the only atonement for sin, Christ crucified, which He provided to us as God in the flesh; the only begotten Son of God. In other words, we must be born again of the spirit (John 3) and believe on Christ alone for our Salvation. By doing so, all the sins of a person’s life are forgiven and penalty paid by Christ.
Once a believer our focus should be on walking in The Spirit which is the ‘new us’ and abide in the Word of God. By doing this, we renew our mind to God’s truth and worldview. And by doing such, we find a peace in our Salvation through God and avoid the lusts of the Flesh.