How Can We Know if Someone Else is Saved?

Summary

Grace in Focus — "How Can We Know if Someone Else is Saved?"

Date: October 31, 2025
Host: Grace Evangelical Society (Philippe Sterling, Sam Maher)
Episode Length: ~13 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this episode, hosts Philippe Sterling and Sam Maher tackle a foundational question in Free Grace theology: Is there any way to know if someone else is saved? Using the Epistle to the Galatians as a lens, they examine common assumptions about assurance, the relationship between belief and works, and the proper pastoral response to believers who may not always reflect their faith in outward behavior. The discussion emphasizes keeping grace at the forefront of community life and pastoral care.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Question and the Galatians Example

• Listener asks: How can we assess if someone else is truly saved, especially when erroneous beliefs or behaviors are present, using the Galatians as an example? (00:54)
  • Galatians church included people misled by legalistic teachings, yet Paul addresses them as believers.

2. The Simple Criterion for Salvation

• Salvation is by faith alone.
  • "The only criterion for having everlasting life is simply believing the promise of Jesus for it. And the only criterion that we have in conversation with someone concerning that is simply their assertion of it." — Philippe Sterling (01:46)
  • Assurance is based on a person's testimony of faith, not their current behavior or growth.

3. Groups in Galatia: Legalistic Beliefs and Their Implications

• Two groups among the Galatian church:
  • Group 1: Claimed one must follow the law for everlasting life.
  • Group 2: Accepted faith for salvation but insisted on law-keeping (e.g., circumcision) for fellowship with God.
  • Both positions are incorrect; salvation remains based on faith alone, and legalism misapplies freedom in Christ.
    (03:54-05:33)

4. Fruit and Assurance: Not Our Role to Judge

• Works or lack thereof are not proof of salvation.
  • “That’s a determination that is never our responsibility to make... There’s no fruit or lack thereof that is a determiner of whether somebody has believed or not.” — Philippe Sterling (07:05)
• Community response: If someone falls into sin, restore them with humility—not as a judgment of their salvation, but out of love and care (07:05-09:09).

5. Pastoral Practice and Church Discipline

• Pastors should not question a person’s salvation on the basis of performance or participation.
  • Philippe Sterling shares from pastoral experience: “It’s never been my responsibility to ever make the determination individually or corporately saying, you all must not be believers or you must not be a believer because you’ve not engaged properly in the support of the church or in the service of the church...” (07:05-09:09)

6. Sharing the Gospel: Our Role vs. God’s Role

• We plant and water; God brings growth.
  • “So we help plant the seeds, we help water the seeds, but we have no part in the growth...” (09:43)
  • Our job is not to continually question another's faith after they confess belief, but to move forward in discipling them (10:16).

7. On Assurance: A Message of Hope

• Constantly questioning others’ salvation is counterproductive and depressing.
  • “I think assurance that we can feel for ourselves, I think that’s a blessing that God gives among believers...” (11:49)
  • Believers should trust others’ testimonies of faith and focus on community, discipleship, and restoration—not suspicion.

8. Practical Application: Living Out Grace

• If we see a fellow believer straying, the response is loving restoration, never condemnation regarding their status before God (11:08-11:49).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The only criterion for having everlasting life is simply believing the promise of Jesus for it.”
  — Philippe Sterling [01:46]

• “There’s no fruit or lack thereof that is a determiner of whether somebody has believed or not.”
  — Philippe Sterling [07:05]

• “It is never... my responsibility to ever make the determination individually or corporately saying, ‘You must not be believers because you have not engaged properly in the support of the church or in the service of the church.’”
  — Philippe Sterling [07:05-09:09]

• “We plant the seeds, we water the seeds, but we have no part in the growth, the actual growing of the plant or the fruit.”
  — Unidentified Host [09:43]

• “If they say, ‘I believe that I have everlasting life because Jesus is the Christ and he promises everlasting life,’ then I believe you. I don’t have a reason to not believe you.”
  — Unidentified Host [10:16]

• “A life of constantly questioning, ‘Do these people believe?... Are they really gonna go be with the Lord for eternity? Are they gonna go to hell?’ — I think is miserable. I think that’s depressing. I think assurance... is a blessing.”
  — Unidentified Host [11:49]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54 — Introduction of listener question and context from Galatians
• 01:46 — Main criterion for assurance in others: their stated faith
• 03:54 — Groups in Galatia and modern parallels
• 05:33 — Christian liberty and walking by the Spirit
• 07:05 — Fruit, assurance, and the limits of pastoral responsibility
• 09:43 — Our role: planting, watering, not determining salvation
• 10:16 — Move from questioning to discipleship
• 11:08 — Proper church response to a straying believer
• 11:49 — Assurance in the church is a blessing, not a burden

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Conclusion

This episode underscores a distinctively Free Grace approach: We cannot determine anyone else’s salvation based on performance, fruit, or ongoing belief; rather, we trust their testimony of faith in Christ. The call is to focus on grace, discipleship, humility, and hope—resisting the temptation to act as arbiters of another's eternal destiny.

Transcript

[Philippe Sterling]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.

[Sam Maher]

Is there criteria, Is there any way to know if someone else is saved? Obviously God knows, but what is the proof, if any, to us of someone else's eternal salvation? That is our topic today here on Grace in Focus. We are so glad you are joining us. And this is the radio and podcast ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. Our website is faithalone.org Many things to learn about us there, including our national conference coming up next May. And also we have a bookstore where you can find Bob Wilkins latest book, the Gospel is still under Siege. Come and see [e-mail] and now with today's question and answer discussion, here are Philippe Sterling and Sam Maher.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

We have a question from a Russian listener and I'm not gonna try to pronounce the name because it's written in Cyril, so I can't even pronounce it. But we do appreciate the question. Essentially his question is we see from the Epistle of Galatians that that church in Galatians is being written to was carried away by false teachings as believers. So then for us, what is the criterion for assessing a person's salvation? Goes on to say, after all, it turns out that if salvation is only through faith, we may already be saved. Just an error like the Galatians who were bewitched by false teachers. So basically what he's asking is if someone is believing the gospel plus something else plus works plus legalism, then how can we know whether they're saved or not?

[Philippe Sterling]

The only criterion for having everlasting life is simply believing the promise of Jesus for it. And the only criterion that we have in conversation with someone concerning that is simply their assertion of it. Like Sam, I'm sure you will tell me that however many years ago you heard the message of life and you believed it, you believe the promise of it. So on that basis, that's the only one that I have for evaluating whether or not you're a believer. And that's simply that you said that you have believed the promise. There was a moment in time where you believed it. And then for anyone else, regardless of how they may have erred in their walk with God or however they may be faithful in their walk with God, and neither one is the criterion by which we determine whether or not they're a believer. It's simply that they have believed at a moment in time the promise of Christ forever lasting life. So that's the important question to deal with, right?

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

That's the first question. And that's if we're using Galatians, the church in Galatia, as our example for now. Let's analyze modern day churches. Then we were talking before we started, but there were two groups in, well, I guess three groups in the Church of Galatia. There were those who were faithful to Paul's teaching, but then there were the secret brethren that crept in. And among these Judaizers as they're called, they were some who were saying, you have to follow the law in order to maintain salvation or to be saved. The Gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to receive everlasting life or to be justified. But then there were others who weren't going that far, but they were saying, okay, God gave us the law, so we need to follow the law in order to please him. Even though Christ died, were no longer slaves to the law, but we should still have all the Gentiles be circumcised in order to please God.

[Philippe Sterling]

Yeah. So there's two groups, one group of Jewish people who are coming in, who are saying in essence that to have everlasting life, you needed to follow the law, otherwise you will not have everlasting life. And then that second group who are saying, no, it's simply believing the promise of Christ for everlasting life. But it still was. The Gentiles still needed to follow the law of Moses, particularly the whole matter of circumcision and perhaps some other matters as well. So not to simplify it too much, one group was saying the law needed to be followed for having everlasting life. The other saying that the law needed to be followed to be in harmony with God and to be in fellowship with God. And both are wrong. Both are, you know, it's simply believe the promise of Jesus for everlasting life and then we're to walk in liberty. As the book of Galatians developed that whole aspect. And now to allow ourselves to be drawn back into legalistic type of matters, the important things become to walk by the Spirit. And if we walk by the Spirit, then we want carry out the desires of the flesh. And as we set our minds on the Spirit and that the Word of Christ richly dwell within us, and ultimately the fruit of the Spirit is developed in us, which is of course love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control. And then Paul makes that point. Against such things there is no law. So the important thing is walking by the Spirit and allowing the word of Christ to transform our minds. And that's the path of liberty which.

[Sam Maher]

We'Re called to did you know that the Grace Evangelical Society offers an M. Div. Degree through our online seminary and tuition is free to those who maintain a 3.0 grade average. It is a three year degree program and you could submit your application now to gain acceptance. Then stay apprised of our registration periods for upcoming semester terms. Program and application details can be [e-mail] have a look at our MDIV degree. Become an approved workman. Find out how GES Seminary.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

And so back to the question. I think this is part of the question. This is something I hear people talk about a lot is if I don't see you living out your life like that, I don't see those fruits, or I don't see you walking in the light, then how do I know that you're really a believer? Because that's what people say a lot and some people worry about that for themselves. They say, I've been living in sin and I'm questioning did I ever really believe? Because if I truly believe, then I wouldn't be living this way. I would have defeated my sin and I would be, you know, living according to the Spirit. But then others will say, and I think this applies to some pastors is they look at other believers or even their congregation and say, well, how do I know these people are really saved? They say they are, but it doesn't look like it because they're not living the way that the New Testament outlines for us or that Christ commanded us to live. So how do I know they're really saved?

[Philippe Sterling]

And that's the point. That's a determination that is never our responsibility to make. The only matter is if a person simply has believed, that's all, and there's no fruit or lack thereof, that is a determiner of whether somebody has believed or not. But now, as we're part of a community of believers in fellowship with each other and fellowship of the Lord, as we worship together and serve with him as we're engaged with each other, believer to believer. If we do notice that someone who is part of that community with us, who is overtaken in any trespass, as Paul brings it in Galatians, chapter six, then we who are spiritual ought to restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself, lest you also be be tempted. So in humility if we there's a brother in Christ that is caught in a pattern of behavior that is destructive, that is sinful, then in love and in humility we're to approach them and seek to restore them and by so doing, we are bearing each other's burden. But we don't do so, you know, with any kind of determination, making a determination, saying, oh, you must not ever have believed because you have erred. Not at all. But the matter of sowing and reaping is there. And in the matter of reward, in the matter of the God's temple, judgments enter in for believers generally. But it is never. I'm a pastor, I've been a pastor 40 years, and it's never been my responsibility to ever make the determination individually or corporately saying, you all must not be believers or you must not be a believer because you have not engaged properly in the support of the church or in the service of the church and never questioning whether or not someone is a believer by their lack of work or whether they have sufficient work.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

And I think that's because it's not our job to save anybody. We can't save anybody. It's between God and that individual. So we share the promise of life. We share the good news with as many people as possible, and we pray that God will open their hearts and their minds and that they will be receptive to that word and that they will believe and that they will receive everlasting life. But.

[Philippe Sterling]

And then we provide instruction and encourage them to grow in their grace and the knowledge of Christ. But that's a journey for many ups and downs.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

So we help plant the seeds, we help water the seeds, but we have no part in the growth, the actual growing of the plant or the fruit. So it's not our job to question, okay, I shared the gospel with this person and they said they believe it, but did they really believe it? Do I need to keep sharing it with them? That's not the purpose. The purpose is we share the gospel. They believe. They say that's where confession comes in. They confess, they get baptized, maybe. And that's a public profession to all the other believers around them that says, look, I've believed and now I want to become a disciple.

[Philippe Sterling]

And.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

And then our job is to disciple them. It's not to keep questioning. Going back to the first thing of, are you really saved? Are you really saved? Are you really saved? It's okay, let's move on and get you into being a good disciple. And then I think that's where part of what the church in Galatia was struggling with is, now that you're a believer and you're a disciple, let's not return to the things that you lived your life by beforehand. So for these Jewish believers, It was the law. But for people today it's, it can be a different belief system or sin or anything else. So let's not return to what we escaped. Let's live in the law of liberty. And we, like you said, we take believers word for it. If they say, I believe that I have everlasting life because Jesus is the Christ and he promises everlasting life, then I believe you. I don't have a reason to not believe you.

[Philippe Sterling]

Right. And I don't have a grid to impose upon someone to say, okay, now can check off these things or that prove that you're a believer. That's never our will.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

But if we see someone who's straying, then again it's not our job to say, okay, they're living a pretty cruddy life. They're probably not a believer. No, they said they're a believer, but now they're straying. So now I don't want them to live in God's wrath or God's judgment.

[Philippe Sterling]

Or his in a self destructive manner.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

Exactly.

[Philippe Sterling]

Or to involve others in this kind of self destructive way. So in love and in humility, we approach them to try to restore them.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

And I think that's good news because living a life of constantly questioning, do these people believe? Do my family members believe? Do my church brethren believe? Are they really gonna go be with the Lord for eternity? Are they gonna go to hell? I think is miserable. I think that's depressing. I think the assurance that we can feel for ourselves, I think that's a blessing that God gives among believers that we can know. These people I spend my time with and I love, they also are going to spend eternity with Christ. So to me that's hopeful.

[Philippe Sterling]

Absolutely. And that's how we keep grace in focus.

[Unidentified Host or Moderator]

Exactly. And let's all keep grace in focus.

[Sam Maher]

We would love to know where you are when you are listening to us. Please take a short minute to send us the call letters of this station and the city where you are listening and how many times a week you listen. Thank you. You will be helping us with our stewardship. Send it to radioaithalone.org that's radioaithalone.org we are so thankful for our financial partners who keep us on the air. Every gift is tax deductible and very much appreciated. If you'd like to find out how you can give, go to faithalone.org on our website. We have a church tracker. It's an easy to use map that will help you locate those other free grace churches that might be in your area. So come visit us at the website at the Take Advantage of our Free Church Tracker. It'[e-mail] that's faithalone.org thank you friend for joining us all this week here on Grace in Focus. We'll be back on Monday. Hope you'll join us then. I hope you have a great weekend. And let's keep Grace in focus.

[Philippe Sterling]

The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.