Post by Leigh on Dec 7, 2015 22:36:04 GMT -5
Here is my simple testimony of salvation:
I grew up in a home with dedicated Christian parents. They were active members of a Southern Baptist church and we were there every time the doors were open (minimum of Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night), so it was natural that I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my heart to be my Savior at an early age ... not sure exactly how old, but maybe 6 or 7 (did this several times over the years, in fact). I wanted to join our church and be baptized at age 7, however my parents were convinced that I was following the example of my little girlfriend, so they made me wait a couple of years.
At age 9 I was asking about baptism again, so Mother made an appointment for us to talk to the pastor about it. I remember telling him that on Sunday mornings, during the song of invitation when people were asked to come forward to join the church, "It's like a fight going on inside my heart, where God is telling me, 'Go down,' but the devil is saying, 'Stay!'" Anyway, the pastor deemed me old enough to understand that baptism didn't SAVE anyone, so the next Sunday morning with my heart beating out of my chest, I walked the aisle, "joining the church" officially, and was immersed next time a baptismal service rolled around.
At times during my teens, and then later in my 20s, I did go through several spells of doubting my salvation. After all, having become a Christian at such a young age and never experiencing backsliding, there was never a night-and-day change in my life as some people experience when they come to the Lord at an older age. It kind of became a crisis during a revival at our church; I was maybe 24 or 25 and a friend who'd heard the evangelist speak previously had jokingly warned me, "He's such a convincing preacher he'll make you think you're not saved!"
Well, with THAT seed planted in my brain, sure enough by the end of his sermon I was certain I'd never been saved, so putting my pride aside, walked down the aisle again and was taken into a side room with one of the older ladies who was counseling that day. As I sat there in despair with tears running down my face, telling her my testimony, I realized that Jesus had, indeed, saved me the first time I'd asked, all those years ago, that we don't have to BEG & PLEAD with God to save us -- He WANTS to save us, and that, according to I John 1:9, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Subsequently, several years of Bible Study Fellowship, and more recently, listening to Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible Radio show off and on over the last 12 years, solidified in my mind that God has saved and sealed me, and HE is completely trustworthy. Thank You Lord!
I grew up in a home with dedicated Christian parents. They were active members of a Southern Baptist church and we were there every time the doors were open (minimum of Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night), so it was natural that I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my heart to be my Savior at an early age ... not sure exactly how old, but maybe 6 or 7 (did this several times over the years, in fact). I wanted to join our church and be baptized at age 7, however my parents were convinced that I was following the example of my little girlfriend, so they made me wait a couple of years.
At age 9 I was asking about baptism again, so Mother made an appointment for us to talk to the pastor about it. I remember telling him that on Sunday mornings, during the song of invitation when people were asked to come forward to join the church, "It's like a fight going on inside my heart, where God is telling me, 'Go down,' but the devil is saying, 'Stay!'" Anyway, the pastor deemed me old enough to understand that baptism didn't SAVE anyone, so the next Sunday morning with my heart beating out of my chest, I walked the aisle, "joining the church" officially, and was immersed next time a baptismal service rolled around.
At times during my teens, and then later in my 20s, I did go through several spells of doubting my salvation. After all, having become a Christian at such a young age and never experiencing backsliding, there was never a night-and-day change in my life as some people experience when they come to the Lord at an older age. It kind of became a crisis during a revival at our church; I was maybe 24 or 25 and a friend who'd heard the evangelist speak previously had jokingly warned me, "He's such a convincing preacher he'll make you think you're not saved!"
Well, with THAT seed planted in my brain, sure enough by the end of his sermon I was certain I'd never been saved, so putting my pride aside, walked down the aisle again and was taken into a side room with one of the older ladies who was counseling that day. As I sat there in despair with tears running down my face, telling her my testimony, I realized that Jesus had, indeed, saved me the first time I'd asked, all those years ago, that we don't have to BEG & PLEAD with God to save us -- He WANTS to save us, and that, according to I John 1:9, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Subsequently, several years of Bible Study Fellowship, and more recently, listening to Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible Radio show off and on over the last 12 years, solidified in my mind that God has saved and sealed me, and HE is completely trustworthy. Thank You Lord!
