I've heard people give as evidence of their salvation, smacking themselves on the chest and saying, "I know that I am saved because of the feeling I have right here in my heart." This attitude places one's feelings ahead of what the Bible teaches on how one can know that one is saved. We have examples of conversions in the book of Acts that show how people were saved and the rejoicing came as a result of salvation. The man of Ethiopia, according to Acts 8:39,went on his way rejoicing because he had just obeyed the gospel plan of salvation taught him by Philip, the very plan Jesus said was to be taught to every creature (Mark 16:15-16).

Another example is found in Acts 16, the story of the conversion of a jailer in Philippi. This man, a pagan no doubt, had likely never heard about Jesus. However, due to an earthquake that freed the prisoners the jailer was willing to hear what Paul had to say. Paul preached to the man and his family about Jesus and the same hour of the night he and his family were baptized (vss.30-33). The next verse says, "And when he (the jailer) had brought them (Paul and Silas) into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." He rejoiced because he knew he was saved. He did not say that he knew he was saved because of the way he felt.