THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN DOE

John had come to church on a friend's invitation.   He had never been to a church like this before.   All he saw was a man standing up front talking, but he wasn't giving a speech.   John had heard many speeches before and this was different - very different.   This person was speaking with emotion.   He actually believed what he was saying.   It was real to him.   So real, in fact, that it began to be unnerving to John.    He was glad when it was over, but at the same time he was left with a curiosity that would not die.   All throughout the following week John kept thinking about what he had heard.   The next weekend found John at church and once again what he heard could not be shaken out of his mind.   He knew what the preacher was implying, but he wondered if it was true.   Week in and week out he kept attending the services and every time the feeling in the pit of his stomach grew.   It grew to the point where he no longer could sleep well at night.   "What if it's true?" he kept thinking.   A few more weeks went by and he no longer wondered if it was true.   He knew for a fact it was.   John knew what he had to do so he did it.   He asked to speak to someone at church and now they were both sitting in a room.   It was just them and a Bible. "There seems to be something on your mind, John.   Would you like to talk about it?"     "Yes, I would," said John.   "In fact, I want to get saved." "Saved from what?"     "From God's judgment and wrath." "You really don't believe you deserve God's wrath do you?"     "Yes, I have to be honest with myself.   I have sinned against God.   I'm guilty and up to now I never realized how much of a sinner I was in God's eyes." "So you don't think God is pleased with you?"     "How could He when all my life I've been ignoring Him, doing just what I wanted to do and acting as if He doesn't exist?" "So where would you go if you were to die right now?"     "To Hell." "Are you sure you wouldn't want to think about it some more and come back, say, in a few days?"     "Look!   I'm lost!!   I want to get right with God.   I could die anytime and then it would be too late. I want to get saved!!"    The man wanted to make sure that John understood God's plan of salvation.   As he went over it, the news that Jesus Christ had died in his place to pay for his sins was like music to John's ears.   Yes, God had every right to condemn John.   He was guilty, but here was this same God offering forgiveness if John would only repent and put his trust in the fact that Christ paid for it all.   So after understanding what the Bible had to say, John repented and put his trust in Christ, called upon His name and received Him as Lord and Saviour. "So John, if you were to die right now, where would you go?"     "To Heaven!!   My sins have been paid for.   They can no longer condemn me.   God says so and I'm taking Him at His Word." "Congratulations, John, welcome to God's family."     "You know all along I was trusting in my baptism and good deeds to make up for my sins, but I realize now they would not have done me any good."

"That's right, John, God's character is too holy.   He can't be bribed with the little good deeds we do once and awhile.   Sin is serious to God.   It requires death, so either we accept Jesus' death on our behalf or we pay it ourselves."     "Well, I'm sure glad Jesus paid it for me.   I finally have peace with God."    John lived the rest of his life serving God.   He had been born again spiritually and became a new creature in Christ.   Old things had passed away and all things became new (II Corinthians 5:17). *****************************************************************    This story illustrates what a person typically goes through to get saved.   That is not to say that a salvation experience has to occur word for word as described.   However, there are some common points that every truly saved person has in their testimony.   We will quickly examine all of these points and as we do please ask yourself "Are these points found in my personal testimony?" HEARING THE GOSPEL "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.   How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:13- 14.    John went to a church that preached out of God's Word, the Bible.   As he listened he learned that the world was in rebellion against God and that judgment is coming because of sin.   This judgment is coming and nothing can stop it.   However, if anyone would admit their guilt and repent, God would forgive them on behalf of Jesus Christ's death on the cross.   Salvation always starts with hearing what the Bible has to say. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."   Romans 10:17 HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTION "And when he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" John 16:8.    After John had heard what God's Word had to say, the Spirit of God began to work on his heart.   John began to feel a sense of conviction about his sin.   This may seem cruel on God's part, but he wants "...all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."   (I Timothy 2:4)   Therefore, the Holy Spirit was trying to convince John that what he heard was the truth.   Conviction normally follows the hearing of God's Word and it is up to the person how he responds to it (Hebrews 4:1- 7). "...To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."   Hebrews 4:7 SEEING ONESELF AS LOST "Now when they heard this [the gospel], they were pricked in their heart [conviction], and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 2:37.    Under conviction John finally saw himself the way God saw him - as a lost, hellbound sinner.   He was condemned already (John 3:18).   It was just a matter of dying.   It was God's mercy that kept him alive long enough to repent.   John was not about to ignore God's grace.   Like many who have come to this realization, John asked "what must I do to be saved?"

"He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light."   Job 33:27-28 REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."   II Peter 3:9    Since John's willful sinning got him condemned, it was only natural that he had to change his attitude about sinning and repent.   That is what repentance is - an attitude that says "I have resolved not to willfully sin against God anymore".   Repentance is a change of mind about sin.   It results in following God's will instead of our own. "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin." Ezekiel 18:30 FAITH IN CHRIST "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   Ephesians 2:8-9    Not only did John realize that he had to repent from practicing sin, but he also realized that the good deeds he was trusting in all along would not pay for his sins.   The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).   It required the shedding of blood.   His infant baptism or good deeds could not do it.   No, John had to repent from trusting in those things and put his trust in the fact that Jesus had paid for his sins when He died on the cross. He simply had to take God at His Word, trusting that it was paid for already. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [i.e., repent], and shalt believe in thine heart [i.e., trust] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Romans 10:9 THE NEW BIRTH "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."   John 3:3    When John repented and called upon Christ to forgive him of his sins and save him, something supernatural happened.   He was born again and God placed His Spirit within him.   This is really what God would want to do, inhabit our hearts and fellowship with us on a personal basis.   However, as long as we insist on sinning in rebellion against Him, He can't because He is holy.   Once John was born again his outlook was different.   A desire to love God was manifested as a result.   This is the result of salvation - a changed life. Without salvation there will be no lasting change and if there is no change, there was no salvation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."   II Corinthians 5:17    As a new creature John knew he would go to Heaven.   Please consider these previous six points and again ask yourself "Are they a part of my testimony?"   If there is one or more points missing from your personal testimony or if you are not quite sure about whether they are the same, please feel free to contact us at the address on the back [below].

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 2030 West Main Street Valley City, North Dakota 58072 Speaking the truth in love Ephesians 4:15 aaa.845.9220 Schedule of Services Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Service . . . . . . . 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study . . . . . . . 7:00 p.m.

[ Christian Helps Ministry (USA) ] [ Christian Home Bible Course ]