How do we know that God saves and transforms us?

The assurance of God's transformative work in us comes through the clear proclamation of Scripture. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has passed away and the new has come. This signifies a profound change in identity and being — that God does not merely reform us, but actualizes a new life within us through regeneration. The act of salvation not only implies justification before God but also an internal change where the old reign of sin is overthrown. It's important to remember that while our outward appearances may seem the same, inwardly, we are radically different. The preaching of the Gospel effectively slays our old selves, putting us under Christ's lordship, resulting in a transformed life that is evident in our beliefs and actions.