I've written quite a bit over the past several years but have never told you how I came to know the Lord. I'd like to do that now. Better late than never, I guess.
My testimony isn't as dramatic as some. I didn't come out of the drug culture or any kind of self-destructing life style. Nor did I go through a long period of searching for the true meaning of life before coming to Christ. You see, I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as my savior when I was about 6 years old.
After church one Sunday I had a lot of questions about becoming a Christian. My father very patiently answered them by showing me verse after verse in the Bible. He explained to me that I could become a Christian by placing my faith in what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross and not by doing good things.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
Then my father prayed with me. My faith was very simplistic because I was so young, but I still remember it very plainly.
Over the years I've had spiritual growth spurts as well as plateaus and valleys, just like every other believer, as I constantly battle this old nature of mine. But how freeing to know that I stand justified ("just as if I'd never sinned") before God because — and only because! — of His Son's death on the cross and resurrection!
It took me a while to fully comprehend this fact, though. Too many times I had been told in church that I must constantly confess my sins to God, that I must "keep short lists" of my sins with Him, so that I wouldn't forget to ask for forgiveness for each and every one. Of course this made me worry that I might actually forget to confess some of them...and then what? I wasn't sure. So I got into the habit of not only constantly focusing on and confessing every sin I could think of, but also, just for good measure, of saying a "blanket" prayer asking forgiveness for any sins I happened to forget. Whew, I was covered! But what a tremendous burden I lived under.
I remember coming across a book sometime during my high school years in which a young married couple talked about how joyful their Christian walks had become since coming to realize what Christ's death and resurrection for them really meant. They seemed so happy, so free. I didn't understand what they were talking about, but I knew I wanted to.
It was still several years after that — during my college years — before I finally understood that God had forgiven me — not only for my past sins, but also for my present and future sins — from the moment I placed my faith in His Son's death and resurrection on my behalf. And now, because I'm in Christ (Col 2:8-12), I stand before God just as if I'd never sinned. Isn't that amazing?!
You've probably noticed that I frequently post this quote from Bob George based on Heb 10:1-14. I like it because it explains so vividly where I was then and where I am now:
When the Israelite who hears that Christ's sacrifice has taken away his sin continues to go on the Day of Atonement to offer animal sacrifices, what is he saying about the blood of Christ? When the Catholic continues to rely on his priest for forgiveness, what is he saying about the Spirit of grace? When the Protestant continues to send up prayers of confession to bring about forgiveness, what is he saying about the blood of the covenant? The Christian world tells the Israelites, "You no longer have to offer animal sacrifices." The Protestants are saying to the Catholics, "You don't have to confess to a priest, you can go directly to God." And God in heaven is saying to all of us, "IT IS FINISHED."
I wasn't going to the confessional per se', but I might as well have been.
I still struggle with my old sin nature, of course, just like every other believer. The Apostle Paul talked about these struggles:
So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Rom 7:17-8:2).
But now I know that in Christ I'm clean!
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
I've also come to learn that it's in fully understanding God's grace towards me — not confession — that helps me to say no to sin.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).
I look forward to the day when I no longer have to struggle with my old sin nature and we are all together in heaven with our Savior. What a wonderful day that will be — AND, it's going to be forever!
justme ("just as if I'd never sinned" me)
My testimony isn't as dramatic as some. I didn't come out of the drug culture or any kind of self-destructing life style. Nor did I go through a long period of searching for the true meaning of life before coming to Christ. You see, I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as my savior when I was about 6 years old.
After church one Sunday I had a lot of questions about becoming a Christian. My father very patiently answered them by showing me verse after verse in the Bible. He explained to me that I could become a Christian by placing my faith in what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross and not by doing good things.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
Then my father prayed with me. My faith was very simplistic because I was so young, but I still remember it very plainly.
Over the years I've had spiritual growth spurts as well as plateaus and valleys, just like every other believer, as I constantly battle this old nature of mine. But how freeing to know that I stand justified ("just as if I'd never sinned") before God because — and only because! — of His Son's death on the cross and resurrection!
It took me a while to fully comprehend this fact, though. Too many times I had been told in church that I must constantly confess my sins to God, that I must "keep short lists" of my sins with Him, so that I wouldn't forget to ask for forgiveness for each and every one. Of course this made me worry that I might actually forget to confess some of them...and then what? I wasn't sure. So I got into the habit of not only constantly focusing on and confessing every sin I could think of, but also, just for good measure, of saying a "blanket" prayer asking forgiveness for any sins I happened to forget. Whew, I was covered! But what a tremendous burden I lived under.
I remember coming across a book sometime during my high school years in which a young married couple talked about how joyful their Christian walks had become since coming to realize what Christ's death and resurrection for them really meant. They seemed so happy, so free. I didn't understand what they were talking about, but I knew I wanted to.
It was still several years after that — during my college years — before I finally understood that God had forgiven me — not only for my past sins, but also for my present and future sins — from the moment I placed my faith in His Son's death and resurrection on my behalf. And now, because I'm in Christ (Col 2:8-12), I stand before God just as if I'd never sinned. Isn't that amazing?!
You've probably noticed that I frequently post this quote from Bob George based on Heb 10:1-14. I like it because it explains so vividly where I was then and where I am now:
When the Israelite who hears that Christ's sacrifice has taken away his sin continues to go on the Day of Atonement to offer animal sacrifices, what is he saying about the blood of Christ? When the Catholic continues to rely on his priest for forgiveness, what is he saying about the Spirit of grace? When the Protestant continues to send up prayers of confession to bring about forgiveness, what is he saying about the blood of the covenant? The Christian world tells the Israelites, "You no longer have to offer animal sacrifices." The Protestants are saying to the Catholics, "You don't have to confess to a priest, you can go directly to God." And God in heaven is saying to all of us, "IT IS FINISHED."
I wasn't going to the confessional per se', but I might as well have been.
I still struggle with my old sin nature, of course, just like every other believer. The Apostle Paul talked about these struggles:
So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Rom 7:17-8:2).
But now I know that in Christ I'm clean!
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
I've also come to learn that it's in fully understanding God's grace towards me — not confession — that helps me to say no to sin.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).
I look forward to the day when I no longer have to struggle with my old sin nature and we are all together in heaven with our Savior. What a wonderful day that will be — AND, it's going to be forever!
justme ("just as if I'd never sinned" me)
