How To Know If You Are a Christian: Am I Really Born Again, Saved?

I. Introduction: The Most Important Question You’ll Ever Ask

One topic that comes up quite a bit with those who seek God is “How to know if you are a Christian?” Maybe you prayed a prayer years ago, but now you wonder if it was real. Maybe you’ve been struggling lately, and you don’t feel very Christian. Or maybe you’ve heard people talk about being born again, and you’re not even sure what that really means. You aren’t alone – at all. The topic of “How to Know that I am a Christian” or similar terms are searched quite a bit online.

I get it. I’ve been there, and I know plenty of others who have too. Some of the most sincere, Jesus-loving people I know have wrestled with this question: How do I know if I have truly trusted Jesus as my Savior? How DO I know if I am a Christian?

Different churches use different words to describe salvation. Some talk about being born again, others say accepting Christ, or trusting Jesus as Lord. But no matter how we phrase it, the heart of the matter is this: Have I repented of my sins and put my faith in Christ Jesus?

That’s not just a theological question—it’s personal. It’s about your soul, your eternity, your relationship with God. And the good news? God doesn’t want us guessing. He wants us to know we have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

So in this post, we’re going to walk through what it means to be a Christian, how we can be sure of our salvation, and why feelings aren’t a reliable measure of faith. If you’ve ever struggled with doubt, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about it.

II. Salvation: What It Means to Be a True Christian

If you ask ten different people what it means to be a Christian, you might get ten different answers. Some will say it means going to church. Others will say it’s about being a good person or following the teachings of Jesus. But according to the Bible, being a Christian is not about good works, church attendance, or trying to live a moral life. It’s about one thing: faith in Christ Jesus.

Jesus made this clear when He told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). That phrase—born again—confused Nicodemus, just like it confuses many people today. What does it mean? It means experiencing a complete spiritual transformation. When we put our trust in Christ, God gives us a new heart and makes us a brand-new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So how does this happen? The Bible tells us that salvation is a gift, not something we earn. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). In other words, we don’t become Christians by trying harder or doing good things. We are saved by God’s grace when we repent of our sins and believe that Jesus died and rose again for us.

Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). There is no other way to eternal life. Being a Christian isn’t just about agreeing that Jesus existed or admiring His teachings. It’s about personally trusting Him as Savior and Lord.

If you’ve ever wondered how to know if I am a Christian or questioned whether your faith is real, the answer isn’t found in your performance but in your trust. A true Christian is someone who has turned from sin and placed their faith fully in Christ. It’s not about what we do—it’s about what He has done.

III. Signs of a True Christian: What Does the Bible Say?

One of the biggest questions people wrestle with when trying to figure out how to know if I am a Christian is whether there is any evidence in their life to prove it. If we’ve truly been saved, shouldn’t there be some kind of change?

The Bible teaches that when a person is saved, their life begins to reflect that transformation. This doesn’t mean instant perfection—far from it. But over time, a true Christian will begin to show signs of spiritual growth. Here are a few key indicators:

• A changed heart – When we come to Christ, we become a brand-new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• A desire to obey God – True believers want to follow God’s commands, even when they struggle. Certainly, sometimes the desires of our flesh can scream very loudly and Christians can make wrong choices. But, we need to look at what is at our core. Do we have desire to please God? Does it grieve us or are we convicted by the Holy Spirit when we sin? Even if we blow it, do we have desire to do His will and obey Him? “By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 John 2:3-6)
• The fruit of the Spirit – As we grow, we develop qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. These don’t always show in our life as they should, but does it appear that they are present within our inner man? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
• Love for others – A true Christian loves God’s people and desires to live in unity with them. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.” (1 John 3:14)
• A growing faith – Salvation is the beginning, not the end. A true believer continues to grow in their faith. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Jesus also used a powerful illustration to describe the difference between true and false believers. “Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17-18). In other words, a life transformed by Jesus will begin to show good fruit.

If you’re wondering how to know if you are a Christian, don’t just look at a single moment in your past—That can be extremely important – but look at the overall direction of your life. Do you see any evidence of spiritual growth? Do you have a desire to follow Jesus, even when you fall short? If so, that’s a good sign. Are there times where you go through a dryness of weeks, months, or even years. Yes. But, does it appear that God changed your desires? As a Christian, if you are living in sin, is there a weight or struggle within you where you know you are called away from that sin and back to obedience to Christ?

Growth takes time, and every believer is a work in progress. The question isn’t whether you’ve arrived—it’s whether you’re on the right path.

IV. But What If I Don’t Feel Saved? Why Feelings Can’t Be Trusted

If you’ve ever thought, I don’t feel like a Christian today, you’re not alone. Many believers struggle with doubt because they rely on emotions to tell them whether they are truly saved. One day, you might feel close to God—maybe you’ve been reading your Bible, praying, and going to church consistently. Your emotions tell you, You’re doing great! You’re definitely a Christian!

But what about those other days? The days when you lose your temper at work, snap at a family member, or realize you haven’t prayed all week? That’s when your emotions might turn on you: Look at you! There’s no way you’re a Christian. A real child of God wouldn’t act like this.

The problem with this way of thinking is that we are basing our assurance on our own performance instead of on Christ. But here’s the truth: we didn’t receive salvation because of our good works, and we don’t keep our salvation by doing good works or avoiding sin. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Our Emotions Are Not Always Trustworthy

Emotions are fickle. They are constantly changing, reacting to whatever we focus on. Paul reminds us to set our minds on what is true: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2). If we focus on our failures, our emotions will condemn us. If we believe we have to live a nearly perfect life to stay saved, our emotions will scream, You’re not measuring up!

But God’s Word tells us something different. Our assurance isn’t based on how well we perform—it’s based on the promises of God. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8). If His Word never changes, then neither does His promise of eternal life to those who trust in Christ.

The Holy Spirit Assures Us, Not Our Feelings

One of the greatest comforts for a believer is knowing that we are not left to figure this out on our own. The Holy Spirit Himself reassures us. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16). Even when we doubt, even when we don’t feel saved, the Spirit reminds us of the truth: we belong to Him.

Now, I do want to acknowledge that there are good, Bible-believing churches that teach you can lose your salvation if you sin badly enough. While I don’t hold to that view, I respect those who do because there is nothing more important than our salvation. At the same time I do believe that those of us who believe in the doctrine of Eternal Security must carefully teach it and not give the impression that just because someone prayed a rote prayer that they didn’t mean years ago that everything is ok.

When you have time you might want to check out my article about Eternal Security – Once Saved Always Saved: The Pitfalls God’s grace doesn’t give us a license to sin. We don’t not a license to sin. As a matter of fact, I seem to sin quite easily without a license!

Faith Over Feelings

If you’re wondering how to know if I am a Christian, don’t let your emotions be the judge. Feelings come and go, but salvation is based on faith in Christ. Did you come to Jesus in true faith and repentance, place your trust in Him for salvation, believing in his death and resurection for you sins?

V. How To Be Sure You Are Saved: Trusting in Christ Alone

I can’t look into anyone’s heart and say with certainty whether they are born again. That’s not my job anyway—it’s God’s. But what I do know is that Jesus doesn’t want His followers living in constant fear, wondering if they truly belong to Him. He wants us to have assurance.

The Apostle John wrote, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13). That verse is so important. God doesn’t want us guessing—He wants us to know we are His.

What About the Fear of Not Being Chosen?

I’ve had people tell me, I’m afraid I wasn’t chosen. What if I’m not part of the elect? That’s a heavy fear to carry. Some respected scholars hold to a Calvinistic interpretation of salvation, believing that God sovereignly chose who would be saved and who would not before the foundation of the world. I respect my friends who hold to that view, but I firmly do not. I believe there’s ample scriptural evidence that God gives people free will to accept or reject Him and you shouldn’t have to worry that God decided your fate before you were ever born and therefore can’t receive Him. I think that’ an unfortunate rending of scripture.

Okay, so – this isn’t the article to debate election vs. free will, (and I really don’t want to deal with that in the comments … 🤣, but I will say this—if you have a desire to be saved, that’s a strong indication that God is already working in your heart. Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37). If you come to Christ in repentance and faith, He will not turn you away.

Three Questions to Ask Yourself

Instead of overanalyzing past experiences or relying on feelings, ask yourself these three key questions:

1. Have I put my trust in Christ Jesus alone? Not in my good works, not in my ability to be “good enough,” but in Him?
2. Do I believe that Jesus died and rose again for my sins? Am I trusting in His finished work on the cross?
3. Am I seeing any spiritual growth, even if it’s slow? Do I have a desire to follow Jesus, love others, and obey God’s commands?

If you can answer yes to these, those are good signs. Salvation is about faith in Christ, not about living a perfect Christian life. We all struggle, we all fall short, but our security is found in Jesus, not in ourselves.

Keep Growing in Faith

If you’re wondering how to know if you are a Christian, the best thing you can do is to keep seeking God in your daily life. Looking back to a decision that you made as a child is okay, but I don’t think that’s the best way to have assurance. Are you actively in a relationship with Him now? That’s a better question in my opinion. Keep growing in faith. Stay in the Word of God so that truth, not feelings, shapes your assurance. Stay connected to a local church where you can be encouraged and grow alongside other believers. And above all, keep trusting in Christ—because He is faithful, even when we struggle.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28). If you are in Christ, you are secure. Don’t let doubt steal the joy of your salvation. Trust in Him, and rest in His promises.