[I am reposting this testimony with a little more words,as I could not find an edit or delete option on the earlier post]
My name is Michael.I live in Mumbai,India.My family is roman catholic and as far as I know almost all of my relatives are roman catholic as Link it goes without saying that I was brought up with roman catholic traditions and rosaries etc.I had gone through confirmation ceremony and was a confirmed member of the Church.
When I was in High School I began to distant myself from Church and stopped going to Church and eventually decided to leave the Church.I was basically an atheist and also got involved in heavy metal and hard rock music.I also used to listen to anti-Christian songs.
Sometime after High School,one day while watching tv,I happened to tune into a tv preaching channel and the person was talking about the book of romans and how everyone was a sinner in need of salvation.Now I opened the book of romans.By the way I had never read the book of romans before.And as I was reading,everything seemed so new to me.I did not hear much about this in Church before.Now,I did not have a computer,but I had a phone through which I could access the internet.So I would go online and I used to read commentaries online of romans and everything was so new to me.I remember that I was glued to my phone almost all night studying.Some days I would sleep just 2-3 hours.I learned that all men and women are sinners.Infact,all descendants of Adam and Eve are born sinners;and it is impossible for us to obey the law of GOD perfectly and it is impossible for us to keep the law of GOD perfectly and so we come under HIS just judgement and we deserve eternal death in hell.So no one is able to be justified by the law.The only way our sins can be forgiven and we are able to be justified,saved and be reconciled to GOD is,through faith in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST,who is both fully GOD and fully man and in what JESUS did for us through HIS perfect and sinless life,death,resurrection and ascension into heaven.It was an amazing experience to know all these truths.
Now,I used to continue to listen to these tv preachers and they were word faith teachers.Now at the same time GOD was leading me and teaching me more and more through the online resources and slowly but surely I came to the realisation that the word faith teaching and also the prosperity gospel teaching was not sound doctrine.Maybe GOD used them to bring me close to HIM.
Now while studying more and more online,I soon came to the arminianism and calvinism debate.And I wrestled with this a lot,and I really mean a lot.Until one day while I was reading to through romans again,I came to the verse Romans 9:16 which reads:
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of GOD who shows mercy.
Now I had read this verse before,but this time it hit me like a ton of bricks.And I realised and came to believe the Sovereignty Of GOD in salvation and I firmly believe in the Doctrines of Grace also known as the five points of calvinism.And I fell on my knees and praised GOD for the grace,mercy and love HE had shown to me in saving me,a wretched sinner and for revealing all these truths to me.
And as GOD taught me more and more,I realised and came to firmly believe in GOD'S total and absolute sovereignty over all HIS creation.And I was very much into reformed theology after that.And GOD has led me to good and sound preachers and teachers of the Link I marvel at the amazing grace of GOD that has transformed these wretched sinners and given them the spiritual gifts to be able to teach and defend the faith and so HE uses them for HIS glory.
Also I stopped listening to heavy metal music and other changes started coming in my life,as I looked to please GOD.I also realised that Christians do not want to please and obey GOD and do good works in order to be saved or in order to stay saved,but they want to please and obey GOD and do good works because they ARE saved.Obedience and good works are the fruits of salvation flowing from love and gratitude in knowing who GOD is and what HE has done for us and what HE continues to do for us every moment of our lives in HIS grace,love,mercy and providence.And the obedience and good works are empowered by GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT who indwells us.
As it says in Galatians 5:22-23:
But the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Yes,I still struggle with sin,but the HOLY SPIRIT always convicts me and brings me to repentance before GOD ABBA FATHER.The HOLY SPIRIT sanctifies me and strengthens me and HE helps me to grow in holiness and be more pleasing to GOD.
I also wanted to say that once while meditating,I realised that many situations in which I was involved,some of which were some years ago, were actually traps set for me by the devil and I did not realise it when I was actually in those situations.But I managed to avoid those traps.And I realised that it was GOD'S hand and providence that kept from falling in those traps.HE held my hand and HE kept me from falling.And I realised that if I was on my own,I would have been in a deep pit of filth and would have willingly rebelled against GOD and would have been on my way to eternal death in hell.I fell on my knees and praised and thanked THE HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD for all that HE has done for me.
And while I was still continuing to study online,GOD led me to discover the hymn Amazing Grace.I wondered how I never heard this beautiful hymn ever before.And those words are true indeed for us Christians-'Through many dangers,toils and snares we have already come.It is Grace that has brought us safe thus far and Grace will lead us Home'.
I came across other beautiful hymns as well that I never heard before.
I also want to point to Psalm 131 which reads:
LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
That is what I want to be like.I just want to be like a weaned child walking beside ABBA GOD My FATHER,GOD JESUS-My ELDER BROTHER and LORD and SAVIOR and with GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT forever.
Now,in Mumbai there aren't many Churches which are in line with the Reformed tradition and also not many who hold to the Doctrines of Grace.I am currently going to an Anglican Presbyterian Church.
I also pray to GOD daily for my Catholic family members and relatives,that HE would have mercy on them and show them grace and open their hearts and their minds and guide them in HIS word and truth and let the truth set them free.
And of course,now we all also eagerly await for the glorious coming of our LORD AND SAVIOR AND KING JESUS CHRIST once again,when HE will make all things new-sending all HIS enemies to hell,bringing in the New Heavens and New Earth and sealing us in sinlessness by blessing us with our Glorified Spiritual bodies.And so,we will be able to render perfect praise,worship,service,thanksgiving,adoration and love to our HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD.And so,our love for our HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD will be perfect,just as HIS love for us is perfect.And our love for our fellow brothers and sisters will be perfect as Link a blessed state that is going to be!!!
GOD IS TRULY AWESOME,AMAZING,GLORIOUS,BEAUTIFUL,LOVELY,ALMIGHTY ,MAJESTIC,MAGNIFICENT AND INFINITELY PERFECT!!!
I have created a website with some resources that GOD has used to edify me and i would like to share it with others.The site is:
https://godisourgreatesttreasure.wordpress.com/
Now,I am not a theologian and I believe I cannot get involved in theological debates.I am just a person to whom GOD has made HIMSELF known and I want to share this knowledge.
Thank You.
My name is Michael.I live in Mumbai,India.My family is roman catholic and as far as I know almost all of my relatives are roman catholic as Link it goes without saying that I was brought up with roman catholic traditions and rosaries etc.I had gone through confirmation ceremony and was a confirmed member of the Church.
When I was in High School I began to distant myself from Church and stopped going to Church and eventually decided to leave the Church.I was basically an atheist and also got involved in heavy metal and hard rock music.I also used to listen to anti-Christian songs.
Sometime after High School,one day while watching tv,I happened to tune into a tv preaching channel and the person was talking about the book of romans and how everyone was a sinner in need of salvation.Now I opened the book of romans.By the way I had never read the book of romans before.And as I was reading,everything seemed so new to me.I did not hear much about this in Church before.Now,I did not have a computer,but I had a phone through which I could access the internet.So I would go online and I used to read commentaries online of romans and everything was so new to me.I remember that I was glued to my phone almost all night studying.Some days I would sleep just 2-3 hours.I learned that all men and women are sinners.Infact,all descendants of Adam and Eve are born sinners;and it is impossible for us to obey the law of GOD perfectly and it is impossible for us to keep the law of GOD perfectly and so we come under HIS just judgement and we deserve eternal death in hell.So no one is able to be justified by the law.The only way our sins can be forgiven and we are able to be justified,saved and be reconciled to GOD is,through faith in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST,who is both fully GOD and fully man and in what JESUS did for us through HIS perfect and sinless life,death,resurrection and ascension into heaven.It was an amazing experience to know all these truths.
Now,I used to continue to listen to these tv preachers and they were word faith teachers.Now at the same time GOD was leading me and teaching me more and more through the online resources and slowly but surely I came to the realisation that the word faith teaching and also the prosperity gospel teaching was not sound doctrine.Maybe GOD used them to bring me close to HIM.
Now while studying more and more online,I soon came to the arminianism and calvinism debate.And I wrestled with this a lot,and I really mean a lot.Until one day while I was reading to through romans again,I came to the verse Romans 9:16 which reads:
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of GOD who shows mercy.
Now I had read this verse before,but this time it hit me like a ton of bricks.And I realised and came to believe the Sovereignty Of GOD in salvation and I firmly believe in the Doctrines of Grace also known as the five points of calvinism.And I fell on my knees and praised GOD for the grace,mercy and love HE had shown to me in saving me,a wretched sinner and for revealing all these truths to me.
And as GOD taught me more and more,I realised and came to firmly believe in GOD'S total and absolute sovereignty over all HIS creation.And I was very much into reformed theology after that.And GOD has led me to good and sound preachers and teachers of the Link I marvel at the amazing grace of GOD that has transformed these wretched sinners and given them the spiritual gifts to be able to teach and defend the faith and so HE uses them for HIS glory.
Also I stopped listening to heavy metal music and other changes started coming in my life,as I looked to please GOD.I also realised that Christians do not want to please and obey GOD and do good works in order to be saved or in order to stay saved,but they want to please and obey GOD and do good works because they ARE saved.Obedience and good works are the fruits of salvation flowing from love and gratitude in knowing who GOD is and what HE has done for us and what HE continues to do for us every moment of our lives in HIS grace,love,mercy and providence.And the obedience and good works are empowered by GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT who indwells us.
As it says in Galatians 5:22-23:
But the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Yes,I still struggle with sin,but the HOLY SPIRIT always convicts me and brings me to repentance before GOD ABBA FATHER.The HOLY SPIRIT sanctifies me and strengthens me and HE helps me to grow in holiness and be more pleasing to GOD.
I also wanted to say that once while meditating,I realised that many situations in which I was involved,some of which were some years ago, were actually traps set for me by the devil and I did not realise it when I was actually in those situations.But I managed to avoid those traps.And I realised that it was GOD'S hand and providence that kept from falling in those traps.HE held my hand and HE kept me from falling.And I realised that if I was on my own,I would have been in a deep pit of filth and would have willingly rebelled against GOD and would have been on my way to eternal death in hell.I fell on my knees and praised and thanked THE HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD for all that HE has done for me.
And while I was still continuing to study online,GOD led me to discover the hymn Amazing Grace.I wondered how I never heard this beautiful hymn ever before.And those words are true indeed for us Christians-'Through many dangers,toils and snares we have already come.It is Grace that has brought us safe thus far and Grace will lead us Home'.
I came across other beautiful hymns as well that I never heard before.
I also want to point to Psalm 131 which reads:
LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
That is what I want to be like.I just want to be like a weaned child walking beside ABBA GOD My FATHER,GOD JESUS-My ELDER BROTHER and LORD and SAVIOR and with GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT forever.
Now,in Mumbai there aren't many Churches which are in line with the Reformed tradition and also not many who hold to the Doctrines of Grace.I am currently going to an Anglican Presbyterian Church.
I also pray to GOD daily for my Catholic family members and relatives,that HE would have mercy on them and show them grace and open their hearts and their minds and guide them in HIS word and truth and let the truth set them free.
And of course,now we all also eagerly await for the glorious coming of our LORD AND SAVIOR AND KING JESUS CHRIST once again,when HE will make all things new-sending all HIS enemies to hell,bringing in the New Heavens and New Earth and sealing us in sinlessness by blessing us with our Glorified Spiritual bodies.And so,we will be able to render perfect praise,worship,service,thanksgiving,adoration and love to our HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD.And so,our love for our HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD will be perfect,just as HIS love for us is perfect.And our love for our fellow brothers and sisters will be perfect as Link a blessed state that is going to be!!!
GOD IS TRULY AWESOME,AMAZING,GLORIOUS,BEAUTIFUL,LOVELY,ALMIGHTY ,MAJESTIC,MAGNIFICENT AND INFINITELY PERFECT!!!
I have created a website with some resources that GOD has used to edify me and i would like to share it with others.The site is:
https://godisourgreatesttreasure.wordpress.com/
Now,I am not a theologian and I believe I cannot get involved in theological debates.I am just a person to whom GOD has made HIMSELF known and I want to share this knowledge.
Thank You.