“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

A Caveat

Before we dive into this aching question, you know the kind that curls up in the corners of our mind late at night preventing us from sleep, let’s create some clarity on the path ahead.

First, not feeling God does not mean He has left, or worse, was never there. His presence is not dictated by your perception. Read that again. He is not a vapor to be sensed only in euphoric moments or sacred hushes. He is like the sun behind the clouds; unchanging, steady, radiant, even when hidden from sight. Our hearts may fail, our senses may falter, but God remains. If your soul feels numb, it is not evidence of His absence; it may simply mean you are being invited to walk by trust, not by tingles.
Second, doubt, while uncomfortable, is often a sign of life. A man dead in faith does not wrestle; he lies still. As C.S. Lewis once suggested, the very act of doubting implies a desire for truth, a longing to know. In other words: the soul that asks “Am I truly saved?” is usually the one most earnestly seeking its Savior. This wrestling is not rebellion, it’s relationship under tension. That’s a good thing!
Third: the very fact that you care is evidence that something holy is happening. A seared conscience does not tremble. A heart wholly turned from God does not agonize over distance from Him. If you’re dissecting your faith, straining to hear His voice, longing to feel His nearness, take courage. That ache may be grace in disguise. God may be closer in the silence than He was in the noise.

So breathe. Don’t panic. You’re not adrift in the dark, you’re simply in the kind of fog that grows saints and deepens roots. Stay the course. He’s still with you, even when your feelings haven’t caught up. Now, let’s navigate this question: “Am I really saved?”

To Be A Christian, You Have To Know How To Start

One of my favorite questions to ask is this: If someone walked up to you right now and said, “I want to be a Christian,” what would you do?

Most of the time, they answer by scrambling for one of these:

“Let’s pray the Sinner’s Prayer.”
“Just ask Jesus into your heart!”
Or the classic: “Let me take you to my pastor because I’m spiritually panicking and wildly underprepared.”

I’m not judging you. I’ve been there. But let’s go ahead and unpack why these are TERRIBLE answers. (I said what I said.)

The Sinner’s Prayer
It sounds holy. It sounds right. And it’s certainly earnest. But here’s the kicker, it’s not in the Bible. Not once. Prayer is powerful, yes. But there’s no spiritual password and no celestial incantation that gets you in the pearly gates.
Salvation isn’t earned with syllables. It’s a miracle transaction; grace offered, belief received, and a soul reborn.
Ask Jesus Into Your Heart
Ah, the sentiment is sweet. But what does that mean, exactly? Are we inviting Him to set up a studio apartment in our left ventricle? Biblically, the “heart” encompasses your will, your intellect, your affections, your choices, the core operating system of your life. And while surrendering that to Jesus is essential, we must be careful not to reduce the gospel to a catchphrase that sounds more like a greeting card than the call to die and rise with Christ.
Let Me Grab My Pastor
Look, your pastor is probably awesome. But this moment isn’t reserved for professionals. If Jesus trusted fishermen, tax collectors, and a bunch of underqualified nobodies to build the Church, He can absolutely use you. Stop seeing yourself as the spiritual intern. You’re a full-fledged ambassador of the gospel (2 Cor. 5:20). Walk like it.

So, How Do You Become A Christian?

Good news: Jesus already did the heavy lifting. The cross is finished. The tomb is empty. Your job isn’t to do the saving, it’s to show the way. Here's how:

Step 1: Know the Gospel (Romans 10:14–15)
You can’t offer what you don’t understand. The gospel is not “be good and try harder.” It’s the blindingly beautiful news that Christ took your sin, paid your debt, and rose again, conquering death so you could live. Eternally. Fully. Freely.

Step 2: Count the Cost (Luke 14:25–35)
Becoming a Christian isn’t a whim decision. Let’s talk about commitment. Not the “I’ll try to make it to your party” kind, but the “I’ll risk everything for this” kind. I once had a friend from Northern Africa who shared how he approached baptizing new believers. He’d look them in the eye and ask, “Are you willing to die for this?” He explained, “I baptized three busloads of people. Today, over half of them are dead because of their faith.”

It’s a brutal example, but it drives home the point: Jesus isn’t asking for casual followers. The commitment He calls for is life-altering, all-in, and yes, potentially life-threatening. While most of us won’t face such extremes, that level of devotion, the willingness to lose everything for Christ, is the standard. It’s sobering, it’s serious, and it’s exactly what He asks of us.

Step 3: Repent (Acts 3:19)
Repentance means owning up to your sins before a holy God and making the choice to turn away from them. Instead of defaulting to your old ways, you’re committing to go in the complete opposite direction of what your flesh craves. It’s turning around and walking the other way. It’s looking your sin dead in the eye and saying, “You don’t own me anymore.” Not out of fear, but out of fierce, loyal love for the One who set you free.

Step 4: Declare Allegiance (Romans 10:9)
Salvation is a whole-person loyalty pledge. Not whispered in secret, but boldly confessed: Jesus is Lord. Lord of my time, my thoughts, my relationships, my money, my identity, everything. This isn’t casual Christianity. This is coronation.

Step 5: Be Baptized (Acts 2:38)
Baptism isn’t a photo op; it’s your first act of obedience. It’s a funeral for your old self and a birth announcement for the new you. It’s obedience with water, worship through surrender, and a public declaration that you belong to Jesus. Forever.

So What’s Your Role?

The Spirit doesn’t make you perfect. He makes you alive.

You don’t need perfect words. You need a willing heart and a clear gospel. When someone asks you how to become a Christian, don’t panic. Don’t outsource. Show up. Open your Bible. Tell the story. Remember: the Spirit doesn’t make you perfect. He makes you alive.

Lead them to the foot of the cross, and let Jesus do what He always does: rescue, redeem, and restore.

You don’t have to be a theologian.
You just have to be available.

Let’s raise up a generation of women who can look a seeker in the eye and say: “Come on. I’ll walk with you.”

Have You Pledged Your Lifelong Loyalty to King Jesus?

God made it plain, loud, and beautifully simple: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). No effort of your own, just grace: scandalous, undeserved, blood-bought grace. You don’t earn this kind of love; you receive it. And when you do, it changes everything.

So if you’ve heard the gospel and believed it with your whole heart, if you have counted the cost, if you’ve repented, truly turned from your sin, not perfectly, but honestly, and if you’ve confessed Jesus as Lord, not just with your lips but with your loyalty, … then yes, you are saved. Not “maybe.” Not “until you mess up again.” Saved. Done. Secure. Held fast by nail-pierced hands. The evidence of your salvation is that you’ve been baptized in His name. Not because of what you’ve done. But because of what He already did. You have nothing to worry about.

The Evidence of the Spirit: Not Proof of Perfection, but Proof of Presence

Now, let’s be clear, salvation isn’t a prize for good behavior. But it is a transformation that leaves a trail. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Not “keep my commandments to prove you love me,” but rather, if love is real, obedience will follow. Obedience isn’t the way to earn God’s love, it’s the evidence that you’ve encountered it. So, how do you know the Spirit is alive in you? Look for the fruit.

Obedience isn’t the way to earn God’s love, it’s the evidence that you’ve encountered it.

Paul wasn’t talking about spiritual talent shows or Pinterest-worthy quiet times when he wrote Galatians 5:22–23. He said:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

This is the kind of evidence that only the Spirit can grow. It’s not always loud. It’s not always Instagrammable. But it’s real. And you’ll start to notice:

A slow death to selfishness.
A growing discomfort with sin.
A desire for truth, even when it’s hard.
A pull toward Scripture, community, and prayer, even if you stumble in the process.
Conviction, not shame, that leads to repentance.
A deeper love for Jesus and the things He loves (even the people who test your patience).

You may not see fruit every day. Sometimes it grows underground for a while. But over time, there’s a shift. Not perfection, but direction. A turning toward God again and again.

And that, my friend, is the Spirit at work and evidence you have Him.

TL/DR

Salvation isn’t a feeling—it’s a faith-rooted, Spirit-sealed covenant with God. If you’ve believed the gospel, repented of your sin, declared Jesus as Lord, and been baptized, you are saved. Full stop. Still wrestling? That’s not failure—it’s faith under fire. And that ache? That’s grace making room.

Look for the fruit. The Spirit doesn’t produce perfection, but He does produce transformation: love, joy, peace, patience, and a growing loyalty to Jesus. You’re not disqualified by doubt or distance. You’re being invited to go deeper. And He’s still with you—even when your feelings haven’t caught up.

Define Your Terms

(some might call this a glossary)

TL/DR—Too Long/Didn’t Read
Existential Dread – A feeling of anxiety or uncertainty about the meaning of life, often triggered by spiritual struggles or doubts. It's normal to experience this, but it doesn’t change God's unshakable presence and love for us.
Salvation – The act of being saved from sin and eternal separation from God through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a gift of grace, not earned by works but received by declaring allegiance to Jesus.
The Sinner’s Prayer – A common phrase used to describe a prayer asking Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. While prayer is important, the actual "sinner’s prayer" isn’t explicitly found in Scripture and isn’t a required formula for salvation.
“Ask Jesus Into Your Heart” – A phrase often used in evangelism, but its meaning can be unclear. In Christian doctrine, it refers to inviting Jesus to take control of one’s decision-making, feelings, and life commitments, but it's not how Scripture directly describes the process of salvation.
Repentance – The act of turning away from sin and choosing to live in alignment with God’s will. It’s a conscious decision to “reset” one’s life and live contrary to former sinful desires.
Counting the Cost – Understanding that following Jesus isn’t a casual decision; it involves a serious commitment to a new identity, lifestyle, and allegiance to Christ, even if it means facing hardship or persecution.
Gospel – The "good news" of Jesus Christ: His death for our sins, His resurrection, and the offer of eternal life to all who believe. It’s the core message of the Christian faith.
Declare Allegiance to Jesus – Publicly confessing that Jesus is Lord (King) and believing with one’s entire being that He died for our sins and rose again. This declaration signifies a commitment to trust and follow Jesus.
Baptism – A public act of obedience and declaration of faith in Jesus. It symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection and is an outward sign of an inward change.
Grace – God’s unearned favor and love. It’s through grace that we are saved, not by our works or efforts.
Faith – Trusting in God’s promises, especially the belief in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection, which grants eternal life.
Lordship of Jesus – Acknowledging and submitting to Jesus as the King of your life, committing to obey and follow His teachings.