Have you ever wondered how some Christians have remained faithful for many decades? Some of the most influential men in my life have been saved for well over twenty years. So how does someone stay the course for so many years?

Every Christian is either in a state of spiritual building or stagnation. Those men I look up to have decided to continually build their relationship with God. Although becoming complacent and apathetic is easy, it sure doesn’t lead to a place where I want to be!

Over the next few posts, I am going to develop a list of spiritual building blocks that we must have in order to grow in our Christian life.

The first building block is confidence. Before you can grow in your relationship with the Lord, you must be confident in your relationship with Him. Like any relationship, if you are unsure of the status, it most likely isn’t going to be fruitful.

This leads me to believe that there are three groups of people in terms of confidence or assurance:

1. Christians Who Doubt

There are genuine Christians who sometimes struggle with doubt. In the back of their minds there is always the gnawing question, “Am I really saved?” They worry over this as they put their head to sleep and wake up in the middle of the night thinking “Did I believe enough?” or “Did I really mean it when I asked Jesus to save me”.

Satan loves to exploit these feelings. He knows that if he can keep a Christian in doubt that Christian will have zero spiritual growth.

2. Counterfeit Christians

There are counterfeit Christians who believe they are genuinely saved. They really believe they are Christians. They may give money and serve as volunteers for ministry. They sit alongside genuine Christians in the church pews every time the door is open.

You see, they rationalize their salvation based upon their works. They are trusting in something other than Jesus for salvation.

3. Confident Christians

There are genuine Christians who are confident and growing in their relationship with Christ. They have examined their lives to be certain they are in Christ. Though they sometimes fall into sin, their hearts are tender. They quickly repent and trust in God’s faithfulness to forgive.

They can grow in their relationship with God because they are confident.

How about You?

Are you a Christian that struggles with doubts?

If so, remember 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.”

Are you relying on your works to get to Heaven?

If so, remember Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

Are you confident in your relationship?

If so, continue to grow in your relationship and do all that you can for Jesus. Remember, we want to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:21) at the end of our lives.

This is part one of this article, click here for part two.