When I was growing up, I struggled a lot with being sure of my salvation. I doubted a lot whether or not I was really a Christian. I grew up agreeing with the truths of Christianity, but I struggled knowing if I would really go to heaven when I died.

Some people may hear that and think it's strange, but throughout the Bible, it's clear that becoming a Christian is a spiritual transformation, not just heritage or a decision you make. (John 3:3 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.") So there was this constant struggle in me about whether or not I was saved.

Part of that struggle was that I made a decision when I was a child, around 10 years old. I had a good friend of mine at the time who had gotten baptized, and I really wanted to be baptized as well. After talking to my mom about it, she tried to explain to me that I needed to be saved in order to be baptized. So, I said sure. I'll do the saved thing so I can be baptized. That following Sunday I walked an isle and talked to the preacher, and he led me in a short prayer and filled out a card. Then, I was saved.

But was I?

I honestly had no clue about what Jesus dying on the cross was about or why my sin was a big deal. As I look back, it's clear to me that I had no clue about what it meant to follow Jesus or to be saved.

A few years later, when I was 15, after hearing the gospel in a state of honesty and brokenness, it hit me in an unexpected way. I had heard the Bible stories before, but I had never understood the good news of Jesus coming to save undeserving sinners like I did that day. I surrendered my life to Jesus and have followed Him everyday since.

Over the years, I have spoken with quite a few people who have struggled with that same issue that I did. As I reflect back on the difference between my two experiences, I noticed three significant things that made all the difference in now knowing that I am truly a child of God. And even better than that, the Scriptures agree with these. Here are three significant evidences that you are truly saved, belong to Christ, and will spend eternity with Him. There is really not a more important question for us to ask than do we truly belong to Jesus?

1. Jesus is Savior.

The first evidence is that we must come to a realization that Jesus Christ is the only hope for humanity to be reconciled with God. This is a loaded realization, but if we are truly saved, if we are truly Christians, we understand and believe that without Christ, we are desperately lost, ruined, and guilty before God because of our sin.

Saying Jesus is Savior is easy, but this is not just an idea to check off a list. This is a deep-rooted rest in Jesus alone to pay for your sin and to receive forgiveness for your sin because of what He did on the cross.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7

Is Jesus your Savior? Is He your only hope? Have you put your faith in Him alone as the one who can rescue you from sin and make you right with God?

2. Jesus is Lord.

I grew up in the south, in and around Memphis, TN. Just about everyone would say they were a Christian. But if Jesus is your Savior and not your Lord, there is a significant problem with your faith.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

What does it mean for Jesus to be Lord? It means that He owns my life. I belong to Him. What He wants for me is what I want. What He says is what goes. What He commands is what I obey. It means in every sphere of my life, I follow Jesus. This is huge.

Salvation is not just this badge you wear; it's a brand new allegiance. If we are children of God, then we are no longer living for ourselves or living for things and systems of this world. If we are rescued from sin, then we have been rescued for something. We have been rescued and saved so that we might live for Jesus in this life and for all eternity.

There is no way to say that Jesus is your only hope and then to live and set your heart on the things of this world. When you are awakened to understand that Jesus is Savior, you submit to Him as Lord. He is the one who rose again from the dead. He is the King, He is the overcomer, He is the victorious one. One day every knee will bow and confess that. But the child of God joyfully confesses and submits to Jesus as Lord. And out of that confession, we obey Him and seek Him.

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26

3. Jesus is treasure.

Many people stop with the first two. If Jesus is your Savior, and if you submit your life to Him as Lord you are saved, but there is something extremely important that also gives us evidence that we are truly saved and children of God. Do you love Jesus more than anything?

When asked what the most important command in the whole Bible was, Jesus responded:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." Matthew 22:37-38

God is not a stoic, joyless judge that wants to command you around or throw you into hell. It breaks my heart that so many people think of Him that way. The God of the Bible is actually the most joyful being that exists. His joy is so perfect and so full that He created a universe to share it with. That's why over and over again, we are commanded to be glad in Him, to love Him, to rejoice in Him.

His purpose in salvation is to make a people for Himself who love Him and delight in His infinite glory above all else. In other words, Jesus didn't come to just be your Lord; He came to be your treasure. Your delight. Your greatest joy. Your deepest satisfaction.

That's because there is nothing greater and nothing better for us. When Jesus becomes our Savior, and we submit to Him as Lord, then we have the awesome privilege of knowing Him and loving Him and finding in Him the fullness of everything our hearts long for.

Is there a desire in your life for Jesus? Do you love Him? Do you long to know Him more? Is He your treasure?

These are three evidences that a true child of God should find in their lives to help them know that they belong to God. This is what faith exercised looks like in our lives. This is what it looks like to put your faith in Jesus. This is the heart of a true Christian. This is what it looks like to be born again: Jesus is my Savior, He is my Lord, and He is my treasure.