One of the questions that has haunted believers for generations is also one of the most personal: “How do I know I’m really saved?”
That is the issue explored in a thought-provoking new teaching by Randy Kay titled “Am I In? The Question That Keeps You Awake at Night,” which argues that many Christians are living with unnecessary fear because they misunderstand the difference between the Old and New Covenants.
Opening with the anxiety many believers quietly wrestle with, Kay describes Christians lying awake wondering whether one failure could separate them from God forever. He contends that this struggle is not new, but reaches all the way back to the earliest days of the church.
The message traces the biblical storyline from the Law of Moses to the finished work of Christ, arguing that the Old Covenant sacrificial system was never intended to permanently remove sin. Instead, it revealed humanity’s inability to attain righteousness through personal effort. Quoting Galatians 3, the speaker notes that Paul described those relying on the works of the law as being “under the curse,” before pointing to Christ as the One who redeemed believers by becoming a curse on their behalf.
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Central to the teaching is Hebrews 10, where Christ’s sacrifice is presented as a once-for-all offering that accomplished what repeated animal sacrifices never could. Kay argues that Jesus did not merely improve humanity’s standing before God but completely secured salvation through His finished work on the cross.
The dramatic transformation of the apostles serves as another key example. The disciples who fled in fear before the crucifixion later willingly faced martyrdom after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. According to the teaching, this demonstrates the difference between external religion and inward transformation through the indwelling presence of God.
The message also tackles several passages frequently discussed in debates over eternal security, including James 2, Matthew 25 and Hebrews 6. Rather than viewing good works as the basis of salvation, Kay argues they are evidence of genuine faith already at work within a believer. He likewise interprets Hebrews 6 as a warning against abandoning Christ to return to the Old Covenant sacrificial system rather than as proof a believer can lose salvation.
Toward the end, Kay addresses Christians burdened by constant fear of falling away. He contends that salvation rests not on human performance but on Christ’s completed work, pointing to passages such as Philippians 1:6 and John 10:28 as promises that God finishes what He begins.
While Christians have long differed over doctrines such as eternal security and perseverance, the teaching ultimately invites believers to anchor their confidence not in their own ability to maintain salvation but in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s finished work.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
