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QUESTION 205
Is it possible for a person to be (saved, redeemed, born-again) and not know it?

ANSWER:
This is a very difficult question. It is rather impossible to answer it for all those that profess salvation through Christ.

In a general sense everybody that is saved should know it, however, there are exceptions.

No two people have the same initial experience or knowledge of salvation. Those that are privileged to hear the Gospel many times before accepting it usually get full assurance of what they have when they accept Christ. Others who find the way of salvation by more indirect means usually get more knowledge of it after they accept Christ.

Then again, Bible terminology for some new believers is quite limited. I well remember when I was saved that I had some thought of whether being saved and being born again was exactly the same thing. I know now that it is.

So there are exceptions, I would say that it is possible for a new believer to be born again and not too clear about the full assurance or understanding of it.

Secondly, there are those that are saved and go on well for several years that get away from the Lord. If they were ever born again they still are, but they lose the joy (assurance) of it. I remember a dear sister that went on well for many years in an assembly of Christians. She got away for many years and when we visited her she was completely devoid of knowing she was saved. Thanks be to the Lord she got restored and is happy in the Lord now.

We must be careful that we don’t judge everybody’s experience and knowledge by our own. None of us had a full knowledge of salvation when first saved. There is till much that we do not know. It is a sad commentary on our spirituality if we do not know more about Him after being saved for several years.

Dear reader, do you know whether you are saved or not? 1 John 5:13, 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.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen