How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian?: What the Bible Says about Assurance of Salvation

Author Donald S. Whitney explores the issue of assurance and outlines how Christians can experience a satisfying certainty of eternal life. Includes discussion questions.

The acclaimed author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life now offers a book for all Christians whose doubt and fear are interfering with the joy and peace that faith could provide, and for pastors and counselors who wish to help them.

NEARLY EVERYONE HOPES TO END UP IN HEAVEN ONE DAY. In fact, a whopping 99% of American believe they’ll eventually reside there. Yet the Bible claims that only a few will find the “road that leads to eternal life.” So how can anyone be sure of spending eternity with Jesus Christ? In How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian? Donald S. Whitney explores the issue of assurance and outlines how Christians can experience a satisfying certainty of eternal life. If occasional doubts prevent you from fully experiencing the security and peace that Christ offers, you’ll enjoy the clear assurances offered here. By countering a broad range of doubts with a clear, scriptural basis for confidence, Whitney provides encouragement for believers and gentle warnings to those who base their confidence in themselves rather than in God.

Since 2005 Don Whitney has been Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville Kentucky where he also serves as Senior Associate Dean. Before that he held a similar position (the first such position in the six Southern Baptist seminaries) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City Missouri. He is the founder and president of the Center for Biblical Spirituality.

Don grew up in Osceola Arkansas where he came to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He was active in sports throughout high school and college and worked in the radio station his dad managed.

After graduating from Arkansas State University Don planned to finish law school and pursue a career in sportscasting. While at the University of Arkansas School of Law he sensed God's call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He then enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth Texas graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1979. In 1987 Don completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield Illinois. Currently he is completing his Doctor of Theology with Specialization in Christian Spirituality at the University of South Africa.

Prior to his ministry as a seminary professor Don was pastor of Glenfield Baptist Church in Glen Ellyn Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) for almost fifteen years. Altogether he has served local churches in pastoral ministry for twenty-four years.

He is the author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (NavPress 1991) which has a companion discussion guide. He has also written How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian (NavPress 1994) Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church (Moody Press 1996) Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health (NavPress 2001) Simplify Your Spiritual Life (NavPress 2003) and Family Worship (Center for Biblical Spirituality 2006). His hobby is restoring and using old fountain pens.

Don's wife Caffy ministers from their home in Louisville as a women's Bible study teacher an artist muralist and a freelance illustrator. The Whitneys are parents of a daughter Laurelen Christiana.

Don's website address is www.BiblicalSpirituality.org.