If you are worried enough to ask this question, chances are you shouldn’t worry about being saved! Why? Because in our Presbyterian understanding of election, we recognize that God saves sinners who do not in themselves even want to be saved. As Paul writes, we were once dead in our transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1), living under the dominion of darkness (Colossians 1:13); sin had such a complete hold over us that our whole being—heart, mind, desire, and will—is utterly unresponsive to God. Asking this question indicates that God’s Spirit is at work within us; otherwise, we would not care about this question, but continue in sin, unconcerned about our relationship with God.
Presbyterian theology sees the crucial role the Holy Spirit plays in salvation to be an especially important conviction. It is the Spirit who regenerates, granting spiritual life to dead sinners (John 3:5), that we may become conscious of our sinfulness and be responsive to God’s gracious offer of salvation in Christ Jesus. If we believe in the gospel, we can be sure that God has chosen me to come to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God’s Spirit seals us for the “day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). There may be times when we sin, and sin grievously; there may be long periods where we drift away from Christ. If someone who previously confessed faith in Christ comes to denounce Christ, it is a sign that the profession of faith was not genuine in the first place. But we do not “backslide” to the point of losing our salvation. When our confession of Christ is genuine and we are united to Christ through faith, God’s Holy Spirit abides in us so that we never totally or finally fall away from God’s grace.
Moreover, those who believe are held in salvation by God’s power, not our own power or determination. The apostle Paul said, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Jesus spoke the same assurance when he said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand… no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). God who gives us the gift of salvation as an act of free grace is the same God who continues to hold us in that salvation. We can give great thanks for that!