Are you Saved?
William Perkins (1558–1602), known as the Father of the Puritan Movement, was a theologian and preacher who shaped generations of English Protestants. With clarity and pastoral urgency, Perkins laid out ten steps that describe the soul’s journey into true conversion. These were not intended as cold doctrines but as spiritual markers to help ordinary believers examine their hearts.
As Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…” Genuine salvation is not merely a profession but a Spirit-wrought transformation.
Here are Perkins’ ten steps, explained, supported with Scripture, and expounded upon for today’s reader:
- Hearing the Word of God with Conviction
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” —Romans 10:17
True conversion begins when the Word of God is heard—not only with the ears but with the conscience awakened. The Word pierces the heart and lays bare the soul. Regular engagement with Scripture uncovers sin, corrects the mind, and begins the inward work of grace.
Exegesis: Paul teaches that faith is not self-generated; it arises through the Spirit’s work as we encounter Christ in the gospel. Conviction is evidence that the Word is taking root.
- Learning to Discern Good from Evil
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” —Hebrews 5:14
As a person continues in the Word, their conscience becomes sharpened. Sin loses its disguises. Holiness becomes beautiful. This step marks spiritual growth in wisdom and an increasing alignment with God’s will.
Exegesis: The writer to the Hebrews rebukes spiritual stagnation. Discernment is not automatic—it grows through consistent exposure to God’s truth and obedience.
- Conviction of Personal Sin
“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips…” —Isaiah 6:5
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23
Genuine conversion brings a realization that sin is not just a concept but a personal offense against God. It produces humility, confession, and a sense of one’s need for reconciliation.
Exegesis: Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness exposes his sinfulness, just as God’s Word does for us. Paul, in Romans, universalizes the guilt—all must reckon with this reality.
- Fearing God’s Wrath
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” —Hebrews 10:31
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” —Proverbs 9:10
While modern thinking often softens God’s justice, Perkins reminds us that true conversion does not ignore the reality of judgment. A holy fear drives us from sin and into the arms of mercy.
Exegesis: Hebrews speaks to professing Christians who are tempted to turn away. God’s wrath is not a medieval myth—it is a biblical warning that reveals His justice and calls us to repentance.
- Seriously Considering the Gospel
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation…” —Romans 1:16–17
To consider the gospel is not a passing thought—it is to weigh it, to meditate on it, and to seek understanding. The gospel reveals both our ruin and God’s remedy. The more deeply it is considered, the more clearly Christ’s beauty is seen.
Exegesis: Paul highlights that the gospel reveals God’s righteousness. This is not man’s work for God, but God’s work for man. We receive this righteousness through faith.
- Beginning to Trust Christ
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned…” —John 3:18
“The life I now live… I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” —Galatians 2:20
The convicted soul turns from self to Christ. Trust begins. Faith reaches out—not with perfect strength, but with genuine dependence. Christ becomes not just the Savior, but my Savior.
Exegesis: Faith unites us to Christ. John makes the contrast clear: belief brings life, unbelief brings condemnation. Galatians shows the personal nature of saving faith.
- Overcoming Doubt and Unbelief
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” —Mark 9:24
“I have been crucified with Christ… and the life I now live… I live by faith…” —Galatians 2:20
A growing believer does not live in constant despair. Though doubts arise, the heart increasingly rests in God’s truth. This assurance is the fruit of spiritual maturity and the Spirit’s witness.
Exegesis: The father in Mark shows that imperfect faith is still true faith. God meets us in our weakness. As we grow, faith replaces doubt—not by our strength, but by God’s promises.
- Resting on the Promises of God
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.” —2 Corinthians 1:20
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5
A converted heart learns to cling to the promises of God—not as vague hopes but as personal assurances. The “I wills” of Scripture become the foundation upon which we stand.
Exegesis: God’s promises are secured in Christ. Every covenant word finds fulfillment in Him. The believer lives not by sight, but by trusting these sure promises.
- Evangelical Sorrow for Sin
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” —Matthew 5:4
“Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.” —Psalm 119:136
As one grows in grace, sorrow deepens—not only for personal sin but for sin in the world. This is not despair, but a Spirit-produced grief that leads to intercession, repentance, and hope.
Exegesis: Jesus blesses those who mourn—not with self-pity but over sin. Psalm 119 expresses a heart so aligned with God’s holiness that it weeps over unrighteousness.
- Seeking to Obey God
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” —John 14:15
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22
True conversion produces obedience. Not to earn God’s favor—but because we have received it. The new heart delights in God’s law and longs for His name to be honored.
Exegesis: Jesus makes obedience the fruit of love, not legalism. James warns that hearing without doing is spiritual self-deception. Real faith works through love.
Final Exhortation: Examine Yourself
Perkins’ list is not meant to create fear, but clarity. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.”
These ten steps map out the Spirit’s work in the soul. Have you experienced them? Do they reflect your own journey? If not, don’t delay. Run to Christ. Ask Him to grant you a new heart. There is no sin so great that His grace cannot cover.
As Perkins once warned and encouraged:
“Let us not content ourselves with the outward show of religion, but labor to have the truth and power of it in our hearts.”
Submit yourself to the test—and above all, submit yourself to Christ.
Reformed Faith Insights 