I bring you here, my account.
I grew up poor, wearing patched thrift store clothing. We went to “church” faithfully. I was considered a good kid and was constantly bullied in school. Academically, I was a failure. Now, I thank God for these difficulties. Without them, I’m not convinced I’d have my testimony to share…
Let me begin by saying, religion is a torturous thing, for someone under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and genuinely wanting to be saved. So, here is my account of how I struggled and at last was born again.
Around the age of 5, a Sunday School teacher said if we wanted to go to Heaven we should “invite Jesus into our heart.” This I did. I now assumed I was saved and would spend roughly the next 20 years trying very hard to live like a Christian but absolutely failing! Oh, what a terrible experience it is to try to be something you’re not! Later I would find that there is no such instruction in the Bible and that this is not the gospel at all. It’s no surprise to me that many walk way.
As the years went by and my sin continued to dominate my life, I became more desperate to be free and to know I was born again. I’d confess my same sins over and over and over again. I’d say this prayer and that but to know avail. I was constantly looking to myself to wonder what I needed to do - what prayer, etc. I knew Jesus had died for my sins. I knew He was raised to life. I knew He was God. I knew the Bible was true. Yet, somehow it was not clicking.
Finally I saw the simple truth - I looked and lived. We all know John 3:16 but do you know John 3:14 that leads into it? We read, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Do you remember what those bitten by snakes had to do to live? “So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.” (Num 21:9) That’s right, look - that’s it. And now we are told, not to “look” but to “believe” and we will live - have eternal life!
Why?! It is so simple! Like Saul of Tarsus - the scales had fallen from my eyes! I had been looking at myself but I was to look at Jesus and simply believe! Believe what? Believe that He was the coming Deliverer - God in flesh- who would save us from our sins - even mine - by being the Lamb sacrificed upon the altar of the cross for me! There, my sin was counted to Him some 2000 years ago. There He was condemned in my place. And now upon placing my confidence in Him alone for salvation - He credited His righteousness to me. Making me forever acceptable before the Holy God! At that moment He sealed me with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee until the redemption of our bodies and gave me eternal life. Praise God!
Now I know I am saved. How? Not by my emotions but because God says so in His Word.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
After that time, I was baptized. Not for salvation but as an outward declaration to those in attendance of what had happened within me.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)
Thank you, Jesus!
I grew up poor, wearing patched thrift store clothing. We went to “church” faithfully. I was considered a good kid and was constantly bullied in school. Academically, I was a failure. Now, I thank God for these difficulties. Without them, I’m not convinced I’d have my testimony to share…
Let me begin by saying, religion is a torturous thing, for someone under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and genuinely wanting to be saved. So, here is my account of how I struggled and at last was born again.
Around the age of 5, a Sunday School teacher said if we wanted to go to Heaven we should “invite Jesus into our heart.” This I did. I now assumed I was saved and would spend roughly the next 20 years trying very hard to live like a Christian but absolutely failing! Oh, what a terrible experience it is to try to be something you’re not! Later I would find that there is no such instruction in the Bible and that this is not the gospel at all. It’s no surprise to me that many walk way.
As the years went by and my sin continued to dominate my life, I became more desperate to be free and to know I was born again. I’d confess my same sins over and over and over again. I’d say this prayer and that but to know avail. I was constantly looking to myself to wonder what I needed to do - what prayer, etc. I knew Jesus had died for my sins. I knew He was raised to life. I knew He was God. I knew the Bible was true. Yet, somehow it was not clicking.
Finally I saw the simple truth - I looked and lived. We all know John 3:16 but do you know John 3:14 that leads into it? We read, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Do you remember what those bitten by snakes had to do to live? “So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.” (Num 21:9) That’s right, look - that’s it. And now we are told, not to “look” but to “believe” and we will live - have eternal life!
Why?! It is so simple! Like Saul of Tarsus - the scales had fallen from my eyes! I had been looking at myself but I was to look at Jesus and simply believe! Believe what? Believe that He was the coming Deliverer - God in flesh- who would save us from our sins - even mine - by being the Lamb sacrificed upon the altar of the cross for me! There, my sin was counted to Him some 2000 years ago. There He was condemned in my place. And now upon placing my confidence in Him alone for salvation - He credited His righteousness to me. Making me forever acceptable before the Holy God! At that moment He sealed me with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee until the redemption of our bodies and gave me eternal life. Praise God!
Now I know I am saved. How? Not by my emotions but because God says so in His Word.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
After that time, I was baptized. Not for salvation but as an outward declaration to those in attendance of what had happened within me.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)
Thank you, Jesus!
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