A common question Christians often ask one another is, “When did you become saved?” Although I say my “moment of salvation” occurred on December 23, 1999, it was an evolution of sorts, a gradual attraction to “godly” things that led me to Christ. I believe I was in the process of being saved years before that date.
In an article titled “Hour of Decision” in the December issue of Christianity Today, theology professor Erik Thoennes explains what being saved means and what the Bible teaches about the process. An excerpt:
The term saved is popularly used to refer to regeneration and justification. But when the Bible uses the word salvation in a spiritual sense, it describes the broad range of God’s activity in rescuing people from sin and restoring them to a right relationship with himself. Salvation in the Bible thus has past, present, and future tenses. A believer has been saved from the guilt of sin (justification, see Eph. 2:8), is being saved from the power of sin (sanctification, see 1 Cor. 1:18), and will be saved from the judgment and presence of sin (glorification, see Acts 15:11).
While the subjective experience of being saved may look very different from person to person, the objective state of being saved is definite and absolute. From God’s perspective, there is a definitive point in time when those who have trusted in Christ pass from death into life (1 John 3:14).
Indeed, all you have to do is believe Jesus is Lord and Savior, that he died for your sins, and that he rose from the dead. The saved person may give in to doubt from time to time and question his salvation, but he will never lose it. If the blood of Christ has washed away his sins, he is saved for all eternity, even if he backslides.
There’s more to the salvation story, of course, but that’s the gist. The experience is different for each Christian, but the effect is the same. It doesn’t matter whether the story of how you came to Christ was dramatic or subtle; it’s a story worth telling over and over.
Are you doubting your salvation? The Bible admonishes us to become more Christ-like even as we work out our salvation “with fear and trembling.” As Thoennes writes, “[T]he ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in making a person more like Jesus is the clearest indicator that one has been made a new creation in Christ.”
What’s your salvation story? If you’re not a Christian, are you drawn to Christ in some way? I assume you’re a little curious if you’re reading a Christian’s blog. Erroneous assumption, perhaps.
Update: As a point of clarification, the Bible also teaches that we must repent of, or turn away from, our sins. It’s what I believe, but I neglected to say so in the post.
Related posts:
{ 1 trackback }
{ 19 comments }
The Lord saved me in the summer of 1972. He changed my heart so that I desired to serve Him rather than serve myself.
Jesus Christ became my Savior in the early 70’s in my junior year in college. I had always thought I was Christian growing up. I attended church services sometimes. I attended Sunday School all the time. When I was very young, my grandmother took me to her church.
When I was in high school, my mother accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. She did this after listening to several of the Late Oliver Green radio programs. She kept after me, my father, her mother and sister to make a decision for Christ.
Going to church and trying to live a good life was not enough. They all thought she was a little crazy.
While in college, my family joined a strong bible teaching church. It was through my mother and the
bible teachings at the new church that I knew the Lord was calling and telling me that I needed Jesus as my Savior.
I understood then that my goodness was not good enough. Jesus took the punishment for all that I had and will do wrong. My Father accepted Christ as Savior around the same time that I did. He is now experiencing everlasting life with the Lord (as of last September).
John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Thank you, ladies!
I am a Christian, but I am not an evangelical. I generally (for the sake of clarity) describe myself as a Wesleyan. I don’t believe that all one must do is “believe” or “accept Jesus as their personal savior”. I believe that the Bible calls men and women to “repent and believe”. Thus, when we do these two things, we become saved. I don’t believe that you can be saved while you are lacking in one.
Furthermore, I believe that a constant state of repentance and belief is needed to “maintain” salvation. That is, when Christ said, “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy” He meant it. I don’t believe that grace is for us to stay in sin, but rather for us to come out of it.
With such a viewpoint on the wonder of salvation, I have had to rely on the Lord to help me out of my past sins. And He is still helping me. Because I believe in holiness and separation from this world, I’ve given up many things that I used to hold dear: television, movies, cursing, homosexuality to name precious few.
I believe, like you guys, that salvation is instant. But I also believe it is conditional. Two great books that explain this are Life in the Son by Robert Shank and The Believer’s Conditional Security by Dan Corner.
“But praise be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus the Messiah!” I Corinthians 15:57
I don’t really know what date is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life for when I was saved. I was baptized when I was 11, because all the other kids were doing it, but it wasn’t a real faith, and in high school I stopped going to church or even paying attention to God.
In 1983, my husband & I took a 4-month bicycle trip to Europe, where we learned how to “read” the cathedrals, and God began speaking to my heart and wooing me to Him. I started attending church, and numerous times over the years I asked Jesus into my heart but never believed He would have me.
Finally, in November of 1990, I wrestled with the Lord, my faith, my sense of worthlessness, my doubts, and all of it… and finally, fully, believed that the Lord wanted even me as His own, and I was changed forever. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
I know when I knew I was saved, but only God knows when He knew it.
this is obviously not my blog and i wouldn’t think of changing the topic. however=), i can’t help but ask a question(s) sparked by reading the aforementioned comments: have you ever prayed for someone’s salvation and seen your prayer answered? or, has the way you’ve lived your christian life influenced an unbeliever to consider hearing/learning about the gospel?
I too, have questioned whether salvation is just fire insurance for some people. I really think we are supposed to “stay in the vine” so that Jesus will not say, “I never knew ye”. I want to hear “Well done, my true and faithful servant” one day. So I’m sticking with trying to be more Christ-like although I think I’m way short.
Anyway, I was a Catholic for a while but not a good one. Then, in the spring of 2003, I ran out of my own steam and had no where else to go. I decided I did not want to keep living like I was and decided to listen to a friend who told me Jesus would take my burden for me and had already paid for my sins. I got down on my knees and confessed my sins and asked for forgiveness and guidance. Instantly I felt a warm cloak over my shoulders.
It is not an easy journey and I still have a lot to learn on my walk. But it is gratifying beyond words to know that I will not die as nothing.
Thomas:
I have prayed for the salvation of many people and am confident that the Lord has answered those prayers for at least two of those people. I also know I was not the only person praying for those two folk. I have never had anyone tell me that anything about my life led them to consider hearing the gospel. I do like to consider and talk about ultimate matters and I am always thrilled when others want to speak and think with me along those lines.
Some people aren’t exactly sure when they passed from spiritual death into eternal life; others, like my wife and I, can pinpoint an exact time and date: mine at age 23 in 1972, hers at age 24 in 1976. Each person experiences it a bit differently, but salvation is the same for everyone – much like each of us is different in gender, appearance, ability, etc. but all share identical characteristics which define us as human beings. I do not base my salvation upon the spiritual experience I had 35 years ago — as a pastor of mine once said, the real issue is right now, at this minute, is my faith in Christ for the forgiveness of my very real sinfulness not in anything of myself. You can know for sure whether or not you are saved by seeing if the description of the believer contained in the book of First John reflects you and your lifestyle. John’s main points are that you love Christians and you obey God’s commandments (such obeying ranging from tendency/inclination/regret-when-you-fail all the way up to passionate adherence).
I was raised a Christian, was baptized and committed myself to Him at age 16, but I fell into sin in my late teens/early adulthood years (18-21). It was a matter of my mismanagement of my newfound freedom as a young adult. I had led a sheltered life and went wild as a deer when I got out on my own. I finally woke up morning and didn’t like that woman whose hair and make-up I did every morning. I told her she was disgusting; that she knew better. I was restored and rededicated myself to Him and I haven’t looked back. That’s precisely why I’ve taken it upon myself to start a teenage girls ministry at our church starting the first of this year. I will be GEMS (Girls Exemplifying Mindful Spirit). I’ll have 13 to 18 or 19 year-olds. I feel drawn to them. This 41 year-old woman hasn’t forgotten how I thought and felt about things as a teen. I’m not going to get preachy with them and say, “Don’t do this or that!” They’ll only rebel. I’m going to aim at developing their character. If I can keep one girl from becoming the next Spears sister, Paris Hilton, or Li-Lo, it will have all been worth it. I covet your prayers on my behalf.
I may be a bit late on this post, but my husbands testimony has me crying every time. I thought we were both born again Christians until 1 Jan. 2005. Bill was a deputy sheriff in a very remote county in Nevada. He had worked the New Years eve and there was an incident so he did not sleep for 27 hours. On the drive home in his patrol car he wrecked and nearly died.
He was so broken and torn…now he is the shell of the man he was…using a cane and has permanent back and neck injuries…but 2 Sundays after his accident he asked to stand and speak at church. Not a sound came from the pews as we all knew how close Bill was to dying. Bill stood and confessed that he pretended to be a Christian, so he could have his cake and eat it to philosophy. Then on the night of the accident he reflected awaking to metal scraping the guard rail. He was not able to enact his plan…(call on God at the last moment) instead all he kept thinking about was “How am I going to explain the dents on the patrol car?”
You see he thought he had it all figured out. Live for self…loving being a cop…church sometimes.And then it dawned on him that God said ” It is time to stop” Now Bill is a pastor in training soon to be ordained(1-2008) and has totally given his life to the Lord.
As his wife I cry thinking every day, his closing sentence…if I had died on 1 January 2005 I would be in Hell right now…
Oh Praise God for this chance for Bill.
Thanks Lashawn for this opportunity to share.
Jennifer
Thomas,
I carpooled with a friend for a while, and both she and I were having rocky marriages. We talked a lot, and she knew my faith but didn’t share it. When she said she wanted to divorce her husband, I told her the Bible said divorce was only OK for adultery, and that wasn’t going on in her marriage.
After a while, she started coming to church with me and going to Bible studies, and she made some changes in herself that helped her marriage. Then her husband started coming, and then her teenage daughters. And one Sunday they all confessed Jesus as their Savior and were baptized. The youngest daughter has since fallen away, but my friend and her husband and their oldest daughter are still Christians, active in their church.
God is so good!
I was living abroad, and because I was out of my comfort zone with the usual things and people to rely on, I started seeking out God, and on the way got involved with dark spiritual stuff. After some major spiritual battles, I was given a choice: follow Jesus or continue down the dark, destructive path. I chose Jesus and received the Holy Spirit, which made me a new creation. That was in 1993.
I’ll be honest: once you get saved and are on the path of sanctification, it can be a very lonely road because you’re not supposed to compromise or conform to the world’s standards. And God can keep you in the desert for years before you find where you’re supposed to be.
After hearing the gospel preached for a couple of months I believe and was baptized for the remission of my sins. Next week the first Sunday of the New Year it will be 17th years since the Lord added me to his body.
Thanks for the post LaShawn. I was saved on June 22, 1998 at the age of 35. To the previous poster who stated that salvation is conditional, I submit Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL be saved” (emphasis mine). Not “could be”, not “might be” not “will be if…”, but “shall”.
If a person who truly means it in their heart calls upon the Lord to admit he is a sinner and that he deserves Hell for his sins, that Jesus Christ came to earth to live a sinless life and die on the Cross for his sins, and asks that God forgive him of his sins and asks for Jesus Christ to live in is heart — he is at that moment saved and made a child of God. God does not ever let go of His children. Once saved, always saved.
Thanks,
LC
Though I never tell it, I have one of those spectacular salvation stories. Don’t feel bad if you don’t because I suspect that you have to make a terrible mess of your life to have one. I never use it as my experiences are so far from most people’s that I don’t want it to distract anyone from what is important, the gospel.
hot topic. my sisters and i were all discussing the “eternal salvation” question today. i recently read 23 minutes in hell and my mom is reading 90 minutes in heaven. i’ve heard numerous testimonies from christians who have died and gone to heaven and/or hell. including the man who was dead 3 days and was in the mortuary. in looking for clarification in the bible it can be confusing because of the above mentioned scriptures. although only God’s opinion matters, i believe that, as God alone knows our hearts and, as He is so merciful and not wanting that any should perish, that He will give you ample opportunity to make Him your first love – even on the deathbed as the thief on the cross. in reading the gospels the other day i noticed that the scripture before the oft quoted “to whom much is given much is expected” states that the punishment is greater for him that knows better but does not do better than for the one that does wrong but did not know. add to that the scripture in romans that basically says that you are judged by the amount of light you had – if you knew better and didn’t do it – uh oh. i believe that in His mercy, God gives us more and more light to walk in and as we walk in it, we are, by the power of the Holy Spirit, made more and more Christlike – yet if we don’t hunger after the things of God, if we are lukewarm, even as He continues in His mercy to woo us, we risk having our name blotted out of the book of life as it says in revelation. i mean if you are hungry, you may mess up but you repent because you want to continue to be fed by His Spirit. so then He will not let anyone snatch you away. but if you are not hungry for your first love, you won’t listen, you won’t obey and you may fall away and be blotted out. i’m just trying to understand myself. but i know this much for sure. He is so AWESOME and His presence is the greatest thing that i have EVER felt in my life!!!!!!!!!!! His power in my life has been more than i could have ever dreamed and feeling His presence is more undeniable, unexplainable, incredible, addictive, full of goodness and awesomeness and power that i wish that i could tell everybody. and i tried but people (some in-laws and friends) thought that i was wacko until some of them felt Him themselves. (smile)
did anyone say the testimony of the guy who was an agnostic and when he was dying, God told his mom to pray for him and when she did God gave the young man a vision of his mom praying? so when he saw this, he started praying to the “Christian God” as before he felt he should pray but did not know to who. well, God put the words in front of his face to pray the prayer of repentance and forgive others as he had been forgiven. the testimony is an awesome example of God’s mercy on the deathbed of agnostic.
http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org is the website and the video is a beautiful testimony. when i hear stories like this i am reminded of God’s mercy.
if you look at ian’s video, check out the reenactment on google because it’s the full testimony. don piper’s “90 minutes in heaven” testimony is interesting in that he had been dead for hours and a pastor had obeyed God’s instruction to pray for the dead man regardless of his (the pastor’s) theology (not praying for the dead). i mention these things just to say we don’t know it all. God is not in a box.
Comments on this entry are closed.