Genuine Salvation:
How Do You Know It’s Real?

You can grow up in church.

You can know the songs.

You can walk an aisle at youth camp.

And still not understand genuine salvation.

That isn’t meant to shake you for the sake of drama. It’s meant to steady you with truth.

In a recent conversation on The Published Pearl, I spoke with Pastor Dustin Lambert about something many believers quietly wrestle with: How do I know my salvation is real? Not just emotional. Not just inherited. Not just assumed.

Real.

This question matters because eternity matters. But it also matters because peace matters. Assurance matters. And clarity frees us from the exhausting cycle of doubt.

Let’s talk about it.

The Difference Between Belief and Transformation

In the South especially, many of us grow up believing in Jesus. We know the story. We affirm the facts. We might even serve in church.

But Scripture makes something very clear: belief alone is not the same as genuine salvation.

James 2:19 says that even the demons believe—and tremble.

So what’s the difference?

Genuine salvation includes repentance and faith.

Repentance means turning away from sin. Faith means trusting fully in Christ—not just as Savior, but as Lord. It is surrender, not just agreement.

That surrender changes you.

Second Corinthians 5:17 calls it becoming a new creation. That means something old passes away. Something new begins.

If nothing has changed—no new hunger for God, no conviction of sin, no desire for obedience—it is worth asking honest questions.

The “Lostness” No One Talks About

Pastor Dustin used a word that might create uncertainty: lostness.

Lostness is when someone believes they are saved but shows no evidence of spiritual rebirth. It often happens when salvation is treated as a one-time emotional experience instead of the beginning of a lifelong transformation.

Maybe you prayed a prayer.

Maybe you cried at an altar.

Maybe you felt something powerful.

But genuine salvation is not anchored in a memory. It is anchored in Christ.

And over time, it produces fruit.

A new affection for God.

A growing awareness of sin.

A desire to belong to His church.

A willingness to obey, even when it costs you.

Assurance does not come from replaying an emotional moment. It comes from seeing God’s ongoing work in your life.

You Cannot Separate Jesus From His Church

One of the strongest themes in our conversation was this: you cannot claim Christ and reject His bride.

Genuine salvation creates a desire for community.

Not because church is always easy. It isn’t.

But because belonging to Christ means belonging to His people.

Discipleship matters. Teaching matters. Growth in understanding matters.

If your faith has remained isolated and unaccountable for years, it may be time to step back into community and let someone shepherd you well.

Salvation is personal, but it is never private.

Salvation Is Free — And It Will Cost You

There is a phrase that has stayed with me:

Salvation is a free gift, but it will cost you everything.

Ephesians 2:8–9 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith. We do not earn it. We cannot earn it.

But Jesus also calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him.

Following Christ reshapes priorities. It confronts idols. It exposes pride. It reorders relationships. It changes how we live.

If Christianity has added comfort to your life but not surrendered control, you may have embraced religion rather than repentance.

That realization is not condemnation.

It is invitation.

If You’re Wondering…

If this conversation stirs something in you, here are gentle but honest questions to consider:

• Have I repented of sin, or just felt bad about consequences?

• Do I desire obedience, even when it costs me?

• Am I growing in love for Christ and His Word?

• Am I connected to a local church and under biblical teaching?

Genuine salvation produces growth. Not instant perfection. But movement.

And if you discover that your faith has been more cultural than converted, the answer is not despair.

It is to come to Christ fully.

He receives those who truly repent.

He restores.

He transforms.

There is no shame in clarifying what is real.

There is only freedom in it.

If you want to hear the full conversation with Pastor Dustin Lambert and explore this topic more deeply, you can listen to the episode of The Published Pearl linked below, or grab a copy of Pastor Lambert's newest book, out February 10, 2026, Saved: A Practical Guide to Understanding Your Commitment to Christ.

Your soul is worth certainty.

Your faith is worth clarity.

And genuine salvation is too important to leave assumed.

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