The time and place of conversion.

[mikeuk]

A genuine question here. I am new to this forum. My own history is varied, I started anglican, tried a couple of evangelical groups, and ended up RCC Ok, Ok, this is not the place to discuss that. I am here to find out about others, rather than talk about me.

So When I read people are "saved" and give a date often, what act of "conversion?" do you consider was the point at which you were saved. I am genuinely interested in the answer, also if you broadly belong to a congregation that has a denomination (eg southern baptist, presbyterian) whatever. I read a lot of disagreement here on different factions eg over OSAS, but that is not the purpose of the thread.

My question is what specific action do you consider saved you - or defined the specific date on which you were saved? What did you actually do, or consider that christ did in you on that date? And if that links directly to one particular scripture which is it?


Am genuinely interested.

 

[Jimbone]

I can't remember the exact date because I already thought Iwas a Christian at the time, but it was around 9-27-13 (little more than a yearago. It happened in my room while I was all alone, and I didn't even call outJesus name, nor did I even pray directly to God, heck it took a week or so toeven figure out what happen to me (all details are in my testimony here My testimony toGods glory in my life. It's long but worth a read.) .

What I KNOW happen this day was my pridewas killed along with my “old man” and I was regenerated and reborn in JesusChrist fundamentally changing who I was overnight. I mean BIG changes likelifelong habits I never even saw as bad disappearing overnight, porn and videogames as small examples, but still have touched neither since that day 16months ago (like I said that’s a small example and Gods done amazing things inmy life and family since). I can answer anything else you have any questions onanytime, but that’s a very summarized answer to the question.

 

[Elin]

A genuine question here. I am new to this forum. My own history is varied, I started anglican, tried a couple of evangelical groups, and ended up RCC Ok, Ok, this is not the place to discuss that. I am here to find out about others, rather than talk about me.

So When I read people are "saved" and give a date often,
what act of "conversion?" do you consider was the point at which you were saved. I am genuinely interested in the answer, also if you broadly belong to a congregation that has a denomination (eg southern baptist, presbyterian) whatever. I read a lot of disagreement here on different factions eg over OSAS, but that is not the purpose of the thread.

My question is what specific action do you consider saved you - or
defined the specific date on which you were saved?
What did you actually do, or consider that christ did in you on that date? And if that links directly
to one particular scripture which is it?


Am genuinely interested.

For me, it was after many years of unbelief in the Scriptures, when certain events
caused me to decide to try them again.
I did make a prayer in my heart before I started, "God, I will believe them until I just can't."

And so I began at Gen 1:1.
And I never got to the point where it was just too much to buy.
Rather, they were light and power to me, from the very mouth of God, overwhelming me with their authority.

The deal was closed in Leviticus, starting in chp 19, where inserted in from time to time
among all those various regulations, God says, "I am the LORD your God," "I am the LORD," over and over.

And every time I read that. . .my heart just said, "Yes."

I read straight through to "Bonded Leather" and have been a student of the Scriptures ever since,
and just love the book of Leviticus, it is the seedbed of NT theology.

 

[notuptome]

I should think every believer should be able to say how they got saved. For me it was long ago July 1976. A number of people were witnessing to me and praying for me in the weeks leading up to that night. I had always accepted the fact that the bible was Gods word and that Jesus was Gods Son. I also knew that Jesus was crucified and died was buried and rose again from the tomb. I had been taught theses things from a child but they were not of any great importance to me.

Well it's hard to be real brief but I was working with some Christians and they were witnessing to me and giving me tons of gospel tracts. I was being made aware that I was a sinner which was no great revelation and that my sin would send me to hell. That was uncomfortable since I wasn't as bad as some people who really deserved to go to hell but the bible told me I too was hell bound.

Any how the Holy Spirit was bringing conviction in my heart on this matter. So one night I finally said to God that I did not want to go to hell even though I certainly deserved to go there. I said to God that I thought it was too good to be true that He would save me if I asked Him to do so but He did. It didn't make any sense and my intellect struggled with it but when I gave up all my reasons not to trust Christ and asked Him to save me He did. The burden of my sin was taken away right then and there. I still had moments of doubt but as I grew in the word of God even the doubts disappeared.

Ups and downs since then but way more ups than downs. I have witnessed God do many great and wonderful things in my life. Things only God could do and still does.

I hope the same is true for many here as well.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[john832]

I believe conversion to be a process...

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Therefore it is difficult to pinpoint a specific time. Perhaps when one answers God's call and is Baptized.

 

[Jimbone]

I agree with you on this point,but I personally had a Paul-like, biblical style, overnight, hand of God saving me conversion. It shocked me, and I had called myself Christian for years atthat point. I can see how it could work more like a process for most of us. I find myself getting frustrated sometimes because I don't know how to even begin to tell someone how to go about doing this. I mean do I really tell them to go buy a motorcycle, drive it into an SUV in a way that causes you lose full function in your dominate arm, let that eat you up to the point you want to die every second of every day for a few years until you realize YOU can't do anything for yourself, kill all your pride and submit to His will. I mean it took a lot to get over my pride and I'd imagine it's not easy for anyone.
I guess basically I agree with you, but have no idea how to explain how to go about starting that either, but it did not happen to me that way at all, I was reborn literally overnight.

 

[notuptome]

Salvation is an event. Sanctification is a lifetime process. The Holy Spirit of God enters not on a piecemeal basis but like Christ gave the Spirit in the upper room. Breathed out and received.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

My question is what specific action do you consider saved you - or defined the specific date on which you were saved? What did you actually do, or consider that christ did in you on that date? And if that links directly to one particular scripture which is it?

Specific action? God accepted my confession of being a sinner who needed a Savior. That's the only "action" that was necessary for me to be saved.

Specific date? I came to the end of myself. I lived a difficult life to that point: 20-year military career, PTSD, alcohol abuse, disordered gambling, adulterous affairs -- but also hearing the gospel multiple times when a friend of mine scooped me up and started taking me to church. On the day I made that valid confession before God -- the one He accepted as genuine -- it was because I had nothing left in myself or my bag of tricks to keep going. I had deceived myself, deceived others, and thought I was deceiving God. I wasn't. I was as lost as the day is long, and I finally realized that.

Do? I prayed. That's it. Didn't know what to say, but I told God I couldn't take this anymore, couldn't do this anymore, that I was tired and sad and angry and I wanted relief, and I had come to believe He could give it to me.

Scripture? Lots of them. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5, 6) " ... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). " ... if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believer in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9i, 10). To quote a few ...

 

[Jimbone]

Specific action? God accepted my confession of being a sinner who needed a Savior. That's the only "action" that was necessary for me to be saved.

Specific date? I came to the end of myself. I lived a difficult life to that point: 20-year military career, PTSD, alcohol abuse, disordered gambling, adulterous affairs -- but also hearing the gospel multiple times when a friend of mine scooped me up and started taking me to church. On the day I made that valid confession before God -- the one He accepted as genuine -- it was because I had nothing left in myself or my bag of tricks to keep going. I had deceived myself, deceived others, and thought I was deceiving God. I wasn't. I was as lost as the day is long, and I finally realized that.

Do? I prayed. That's it. Didn't know what to say, but I told God I couldn't take this anymore, couldn't do this anymore, that I was tired and sad and angry and I wanted relief, and I had come to believe He could give it to me.

Scripture? Lots of them. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5, 6) " ... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). " ... if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believer in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9i, 10). To quote a few ...

Amen brother to "it was because I had nothing left in myself or my bag of tricks to keep going.", that was where I was before I was saved too. Realizing I alone was just plain incapable, and had nowhere left to hide, and no way out.

 

[Elin]

Amen brother to "it was because I had nothing left in myself or my bag of tricks to keep going.", that was where I was before I was saved too. Realizing I alone was just plain incapable, and had nowhere left to hide, and no way out.

Sounds like God often brings us to the end of ourselves, so that he is all that is left.

That some effective program, if you ask me.

 

[Joidevivre]

I believe I was saved when I first had to memorize John 3:16 and believed in Jesus at probably 4 years of age. I always knew He lived in my heart. I sang about Him - prayed to Him.

Yet:
There was the moment as an adult when I felt the Holy Spirit flooding my soul with such a strong feeling of the love of God for me and I entered a new spiritual dimension with the Holy Spirit's reality and power in me.

Yet:
There was another moment when I "died" to my own life and desires. Totally gave myself up to Him to take away from me or give whatever He chose for me. I completely surrendered to what His plans might be with total acceptance. At that point I had peace like I had never known it.

So... when was I saved?

 

[mikeuk]

Thanks all. Interesting.
For some a process, for some an event. Thanks very much for sharing.

I had got the idea from the date on everyones profile that there was some common event or action that determined it, the reason for the question. And the relative focus or obsession (depending on how you look at it) of the forum on OSAS, hinted that at least everyone seem to consider there was an event that made you saved, even if others disputed whether it could be lost. It seems the views are more varied.

For many years I was searching. Peer pressure resulted in my attending anglican rite till the age of 10 or so, it was after that I felt a hunger for god and began the journey to try to find him. Whilst I remained there for some years after, Hymns and church music were elevating, but at least in those congregations, I did not feel his presence there.

As part of my search later I became part of a couple of evangelical groups, their entire doctrine seemed to be "you are saved when you ask jesus into your life" - which as far as they were concerned was done in front of the group. That is what prompted my question here.

I felt it all very strange: because there seemed to be little biblical basis fo what they were doing, that I (or when challenged, they) could point out as an authority for it. They said " well it is not in the bible quite like that, but it is an act that symbolises jesus becoming part of you".

To me they were using the language that describe a sacrament, an outward sign of inward grace, whilst not actually using one recognisable in scripture. The two obvious ones visible in scripture to me then were baptism, and the laying of hands, the basis of confirmation in anglican tradition. But I did not get confirmed in anglican, because I had seen it there, and it did not feel right.

These groups were ostensibly bible christians, and slammed the established congregations (like happens here in some degree) but the scripture had very little place in their worship, just a few verses the subject of a sermon and that was it.
Mostly they seemed to to cherry pick verses with which to brand others as unsaved, or unbelievers - using the scripture as sticks to beat everyone else with. Much like the pharisees it seemed to me
For all their fervour, in spreading the word, it seemed phony to me, and had little to do with what I could see in scripture.

The rest of my journey I will keep private, because my present is unacceptable to some.
And I really do not want to argue on that. Suffice to say it feels right to me. But life is a journey of discovery, and I welcome hearing about the journey of others.

For all that my own answer is I share with those the belief that salvation is a process, at very least including baptism, not an event and not decided until the journey is complete, and then by grace I hope to be saved. So if asked the question am I yet saved, I would say not yet , although I have done my best to oblige what I believe the scriptures ask of me, knowing that by myself I fall way short, and can only hope. I agree with all the redeeming power of confession.

Thanks all.

 

[breno785au]

Cant remember time and date but I do remember feeling conviction of sin and and sudden revelation of Gods existence and then I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and for me to know who Jesus is. I believe at that point I was saved.

I felt a strong urge 'that I need to do this (confess and believe)' once I did, I gave up on myself, felt myself let go of myself and comfort and peace come upon me.

Just remembering all these details again now, it was a good 6 years ago now lol

 

[mikeuk]

Cant remember time and date but I do remember feeling conviction of sin and and sudden revelation of Gods existence and then I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and for me to know who Jesus is. I believe at that point I was saved.

I felt a strong urge 'that I need to do this (confess and believe)' once I did, I gave up on myself, felt myself let go of myself and comfort and peace come upon me.

Just remembering all these details again now, it was a good 6 years ago now lol

Thanks. I agree with all the spiritual uplift of sincere confession and contrition, the weight it lifts from you, indeed that true confession can only come from recognising how far you have sunk to begin with. Keeping the promise to not repeat is the hard part! But to me that is a necesary part of the journey. That alone is not sufficient for salvation.

 

[breno785au]

Cant say I promised I wouldn't sin again but I am learning to this day how to rest in what He has done and not what I can do or not do Meditating and renewing my mind according to the spirit of the new creation that the Lord has made me is an on going process.

 

[Angela53510]

I lived in an area of many cults, and investigated them all. Then a few people became Christians, and spent a lot of time witnessing and driving the rest of of crazy. More and more people seemed to be dedicating their lives to Christ, and so I decided to continue to run in the opposite direction.

I was drinking heavily, an emotional mess, confused, frustrated and suicidal. My husband (future) was the final person to talk about God, and he talked to me about my need to repent! Seriously, I was that bad and wild!

So after we talked about David, and Paul and Peter and Mary Magdalene, I realized that Jesus was the Saviour of the world.
Then I realized Jesus was my Saviour. I repented, and totally was delivered from drinking, and basically found a new direction walking with Christ.

I started in independent charismatic churches, went to Pentecostal churches, then realized I didn't think much of the noise and nonsense going on was actually from the Holy Spirit and finally ended up Baptist, where I am quite content, doctrinally and liturgically to stay. I also got my MDiv from a Southern Baptist Seminary, and I am ordained by an independent organization.

It took me many years to realize that one verse stayed in my mind and brought me back to God, memorized in Baptist Sunday School as a small child.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

 

[Angela53510]

Thanks all. Interesting.
For some a process, for some an event. Thanks very much for sharing.

I had got the idea from the date on everyones profile that there was some common event or action that determined it, the reason for the question. And the relative focus or obsession (depending on how you look at it) of the forum on OSAS, hinted that at least everyone seem to consider there was an event that made you saved, even if others disputed whether it could be lost. It seems the views are more varied.

For many years I was searching. Peer pressure resulted in my attending anglican rite till the age of 10 or so, it was after that I felt a hunger for god and began the journey to try to find him. Whilst I remained there for some years after, Hymns and church music were elevating, but at least in those congregations, I did not feel his presence there.

As part of my search later I became part of a couple of evangelical groups, their entire doctrine seemed to be "you are saved when you ask jesus into your life" - which as far as they were concerned was done in front of the group. That is what prompted my question here.

I felt it all very strange: because there seemed to be little biblical basis fo what they were doing, that I (or when challenged, they) could point out as an authority for it. They said " well it is not in the bible quite like that, but it is an act that symbolises jesus becoming part of you".

To me they were using the language that describe a sacrament, an outward sign of inward grace, whilst not actually using one recognisable in scripture. The two obvious ones visible in scripture to me then were baptism, and the laying of hands, the basis of confirmation in anglican tradition. But I did not get confirmed in anglican, because I had seen it there, and it did not feel right.

These groups were ostensibly bible christians, and slammed the established congregations (like happens here in some degree) but the scripture had very little place in their worship, just a few verses the subject of a sermon and that was it.
Mostly they seemed to to cherry pick verses with which to brand others as unsaved, or unbelievers - using the scripture as sticks to beat everyone else with. Much like the pharisees it seemed to me
For all their fervour, in spreading the word, it seemed phony to me, and had little to do with what I could see in scripture.

The rest of my journey I will keep private, because my present is unacceptable to some.
And I really do not want to argue on that. Suffice to say it feels right to me. But life is a journey of discovery, and I welcome hearing about the journey of others.

For all that my own answer is I share with those the belief that salvation is a process, at very least including baptism, not an event and not decided until the journey is complete, and then by grace I hope to be saved. So if asked the question am I yet saved, I would say not yet , although I have done my best to oblige what I believe the scriptures ask of me, knowing that by myself I fall way short, and can only hope. I agree with all the redeeming power of confession.

Thanks all.

Our walk with Christ has three stages:

1. justification - the legal process by which we are made legally right in the eyes of God. This is permanent, and a work of God. We do not have to worry about losinf it.

2. sanctification - this is the process you were talking about. We walk with Christ, learn and grow, make disciples, and God changes us into the image of his Son.

3. glorification - When we see Christ face to face (he returns, or we die) we are like him.

I think you are mixing up justification and sanctification, as the Catholic church has done since forever!

 

[psychomom]

I can't remember the exact date because I already thought Iwas a Christian at the time, but it was around 9-27-13 (little more than a yearago. It happened in my room while I was all alone, and I didn't even call outJesus name, nor did I even pray directly to God, heck it took a week or so toeven figure out what happen to me (all details are in my testimony here My testimony toGods glory in my life. It's long but worth a read.) .

yours is one of the most powerful testimonies i've heard,
and i'm so glad you shared it.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

A genuine question here. I am new to this forum. My own history is varied, I started anglican, tried a couple of evangelical groups, and ended up RCC Ok, Ok, this is not the place to discuss that. I am here to find out about others, rather than talk about me.

So When I read people are "saved" and give a date often, what act of "conversion?" do you consider was the point at which you were saved. I am genuinely interested in the answer, also if you broadly belong to a congregation that has a denomination (eg southern baptist, presbyterian) whatever. I read a lot of disagreement here on different factions eg over OSAS, but that is not the purpose of the thread.

My question is what specific action do you consider saved you - or defined the specific date on which you were saved? What did you actually do, or consider that christ did in you on that date? And if that links directly to one particular scripture which is it?


Am genuinely interested.

Hi, mikeuk.

I was converted some time in October of 1988 and although I cannot recall the exact date, I can certainly recall the circumstances. I was basically a maniac who did drugs (marijuana every day, hash occasionally, opium a few times, acid once, cocaine every now and then, speed, etc., etc.) every day except for one (I couldn't get any that day) during an 11 year stretch of my life. I was also a drunk (I drank a bottle of Sambuca BEFORE going out to drink), a compulsive gambler, a thief (I even embezzled money from a bank), a liar, a pervert (in a heterosexual sense), etc., etc., etc. Here's the weird thing, though...

The last thing that I did every night before I went to bed was to kneel down and pray.

IOW, God was striving with me via the Holy Spirit during this whole time and I actually wore a dangling cross earring in one of my ears at that time (I've since removed it) because it made me think of Christ. Well, my final warning came when I almost overdosed on cocaine back in October of 1988 and I had to be strapped to a gurney and rushed to the hospital by ambulance. I never thought that I'd even make it to the hospital and I remember clinging to my cross earring during the entire ride as it was my only semblance of Christ at that time and I also recall thinking of how my nieces and nephews were going to find out that their uncle was dead. It took the doctor about 5 hours to get my heartbeat back to normal (nitroglycerine under my tongue, etc.) and I still remember what the doctor said to me and my response back to him. He said, "You're going to do drugs again!" and I replied "I'll never do drugs again!" Well, shortly after this ordeal, when I went back to work, one of my coworkers asked me, "What's that lump on your neck?" I was like, "What lump?" I went to the men's room and there was a lump about the size of a golf ball that had just appeared out of nowhere. At this time, my mother asked me if I would like to go with her to her church (during the morning when there was no service) to talk to one of the pastors there and I said "yes". In hindsight and based upon my current understanding of scripture, I really don't even think that the pastor properly told me what I needed to do to be saved. However, since God had been striving with me for so long already by His Spirit, I repented before Him and received Christ as my Lord and Savior and I've never looked back since. I can tell you that I truly was "born again" that day. The lump? It turned out to be a fatty tumor which was removed. Anyhow, that's the beginning of my journey...

 

[psychomom]

and just love the book of Leviticus, it is the seedbed of NT theology.

and it might be time to revive that thread! ♥