Do well-meaning people keep assuring you of your salvation but you still have doubts?

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You shouldn’t doubt your salvation if you’re saved through repentance and belief in Jesus’ sacrifice:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ²⁷Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:1, 27

When your heart feels doubt, well-meaning people will ask if you ever prayed the “sinner’s prayer.”  If you asked Jesus to save you, they’ll say, you’re saved and on your way to Heaven.  They’ll quote this verse:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans 10:13

That's true, but John 3:16, the best-known verse in the Bible, shows that belief is also needed:

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.  John 3:16

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  John 3:36

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Isaiah 26:3

The prayer isn’t enough.  God wants to take everyone to Heaven, but He has conditions:

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  Ezekiel 33:11

I [Jesus] tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ⁵I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Luke 13:3, 5

Salvation requires that you choose to call on the name of the Lord as described in Ro. 10:13, but the very next verse tells us that calling on the name of the Lord to save you without belief in Him is worthless:

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  Romans 10:14

Just praying the sinner’s prayer leaves out belief and repentance which are essential for salvation:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:9-10

Your prayer has value only when you have belief in your heart.  John wrote “unto you that believe.” Those who believe on the name of the Son of God know they have eternal life, the rest have doubt:

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.  I John 5:13

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. ²For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.  Hebrews 4:1-2

You can’t rest in Jesus, you can’t have the belief God requires for salvation without understanding the saving knowledge of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.  You must believe that His death paid the price for your sins, my sins, and for all sins ever committed and that His resurrection proves His power over death.

You must agree with God about the utter evil of your sins, believe that you deserve the punishments of Hell because of your sins, believe that you must repent and turn away from your sins, ask Jesus to wash your sins away with blood He shed on the cross, and believe that He will clean away all your guilt and shame.

God gave you a conscience to show you what is right and what is wrong:

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)  Romans 2:15

“Work of the law” means that everyone has enough of Moses’ law “written in their hearts” by God to know right from wrong.  Your conscience shows you that you have sinned against the law of God.  Instead of letting others excuse you from having to repent because you said a prayer, you must admit your sins, turn away from your sins, and call on the name of the Lord in the same way as the thief on the cross:

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. ⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. ⁴²And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. ⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  Luke 23:39-43

The thief met the conditions of Ro. 10:9-10.  He believed in his heart in the evil of his sins.  Saying that he was receiving the proper punishment for his sins was his “confession unto salvation” of Ro. 10:10.  He then called on the name of the Lord.  In asking Jesus to remember him “when thou comest into thy kingdom,” the thief showed that he believed that Jesus would rise from the dead.  Jesus accepted him into Heaven.

Asking God to clean your heart after recognizing the seriousness of your sins is also in the Old Testament:

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:9-10

God wants you to believe, “But without faith it is impossible to please him (Heb. 11:6).”  A father prayed, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief (Mk. 9:24).”  Ask God to help you believe and to help you repent.

Why You Might Doubt

Doubt will be rare if you’re truly saved:

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.  Isaiah 32:17 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  Romans 8:16

There are Biblical reasons for doubt, however, and you need to know how to deal with them.

1)      You may hear a false gospel.  Paul’s letter to the Galatians reminded them that they did not have to be circumcised or keep Moses’ law in order to be saved.  If someone tries to add a salvation requirement beyond repentance and belief, be sure to check the Scriptures!

2)      Satan may remind you of your sins to cause you fear or doubt.  In such times, remind God of His promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9)” and ask Him to help you conquer your unbelief.

3)      You may forget your need to lean on the Lord during the storms of life.  Peter became so afraid of the authorities that he forgot that Jesus had warned him that he would deny Jesus.  When the cock crowing reminded him, “he went out, and wept bitterly (Mt. 26:75).”  Nourish your mind and soul daily by reading His Word, think about what you read, and “Pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17).”

4)      You might be on your way to Hell.  Jesus promised that the Spirit of God would reprove the world “Of sin, because they believe not on me (Jn. 16:9).”  If the Holy Spirit tugs at your heart no matter how often you repeat the sinner’s prayer, rejoice!  God is drawing you to saving faith through repentance!  The thief on the cross humbled himself, admitted his guilt and the justice of his punishment before calling on the Lord.  Being too proud to admit you aren’t saved has sent many to Hell.  Don’t join them!