Nicolaou....I have the maximum freedom that will ever be attained in this universe. And yet, while there is tremendous freedom in Christ, I am paradoxically also a slave.
But nontheless, I have been set free from sin, and it feels AWESOME!
And yes, knowing is a sign of the new birth. If a person doesn't know they are saved, they probably aren't. The Holy Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
I can tell you that this internal witness of the Spirit is profound. While God may at times speak a word or phrase into the spirit of a person directly, not all Christians have this experience. It has happened to me three times. In 60 years of ministry, my pastor stated that on only two occasions could he say God spoke to him.
But, all Christians do have the internal witness of being part of God's family. This is not self delusion, it is tangible, measurable and memorable for the individual. I never had this confirmation as a Witness, even though as a witness I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit a time or two.
Saved JW - Welcome!