The Day You Were Saved

[Scarlett O.]

August of 1970. I don't remember the specific date.

It was at a youth revival on a Sunday morning. I was nine years old. While I watched the young man (about 18 or 19) preach, he looked odd to me.

I realized that he was probably wearing his dad's suit. It was too big on him.

I said to myself, "He can't preach, he's too young."

The voice of God spoke to me and said, (not in audible terms, obviously, but in my mind and heart)...

...He said, "That's not true. You don't have to be a grown up to be saved nor to preach nor to do My work."

God spoke to my heart the entire sermon. I can't remember the topic, but I remember God speaking to me.

During the invitation, another complete and distinct personality of God, which I believe was the Holy Spirit, spoke to my heart.

He said, "Now that you understand all of this about anyone being saved whom God calls...now that you understand, what are you going to do?"

What did I do?

I tugged on my mother's green polyester dress and she bent over. I said to her, "Mama, I think that Jesus wants me to be a Christian."

She said, "Well, you have to go and tell the preacher. Do you want me to go with you?"

I said, "No."

I went by myself and prayed with the pastor for forgiveness and salvation.

That's the day that I was saved.

Did I understand everything then that I do now? No. Not by a long shot.

Do I understand everything that there is to know about God compared with my understanding later, as my life rolls on? No. I certainly hope and pray not.

Salvation is to be "worked out" the Bible says, with "fear and trembling". That means that once you are saved, you grow and grow and grow in ways that astound you as you get older and more humbled by life's events and your understanding of the supernatural God we serve.

Peace-

YSIC
Scarlett O.
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[dclark14]

Saved in the foreknowledge and predestination of God--Yes, I know that now. Saved from the foundation of the world--Yes, I know that now. However, on a Thursday evening in November 1965 at age 29, I didn't have a clue of all that theology. I had never heard it, and was totally unaware of it.Under the preaching of John Wesley White, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, however, I- as an act of my will, and knowing what I needed to do and why-received Christ as Lord.

 

[WallyGator]

Easter Sunday, 1953 after hearing a sermon about hell from RG LEE, a guest preacher.

 

[IveyLeaguer]

I'm not taking a position here but reading the thread I am reminded of hearing John MacArthur, maybe the best known fundamentalist teacher today, talk about his salvation. And though he remembers his father praying with him one evening on the steps of a house they were visiting in out of town when he was about 10, he says he has no idea when he was actually saved. Not the day or even the month, and if I remember right, not even the year. Just cannot relate it to a time period at all.

Have enjoyed reading the posts here, they have touched me. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[Trotter]

September 30th, 1990.

I had been fighting myself, not wanting to "give in" to conviction. Oh, I believed, and had for quite a while, but I didn't want to surrender.

The pastor was a young man by the name of Allen Farris. It was in Ridgeview Baptist Church, in Cleveland, Tennessee. I held onto the pew in front of me with white knuckles the entire service. When they had the altar call, I sat there. I tried to hold it all in. But, when they started singing "The Old Rugged Cross", the tears came down and my resolve broke.

Happiest day of my life.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by Plain ol' Ralph:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by gb93433:
Can anyone point to one time when Jesus asked anyone if they were saved. What He did was to tell them to come follow Him. A true follower of Christ is saved, period.

Judas truly followed Christ, is he saved? </font>[/QUOTE]Christ was never his master. He may have walked the same foot path but did not follow and actually sold himself out for some silver.

 

[Marcia]

I don't know the exact date, but it was several days before Christmas, 1990. I was reading a passage from Matthew while sitting on my bed, and that's when I was saved.

But the process had started on Labor Day Sunday when God had given me a compulsion to go to a church, something I did not want to do (I was an astrologer at the time and did not know it was God leading me -- I thought it was something from a previous life). I was planning to leave early, but during the opening music as the ministers and choir walked down the center aisle, a young boy carrying a cross passed me and I was overcome by what I call a waterfall of love falling on me from above. I knew a personal God was telling me He loved me. This led to many other things over the next 3 1/2 mos. up to that point on my bed reading Matthew. This actually was a very liberal church and I was comfortable there, so I stayed after the first Sunday (eventually left).

The rest of the story, if interested, is at
http://cana.userworld.com/cana_spiritualjourney.html

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

Marcia...I just read the "rest of the story"....what an INCREDIBLE journey you have had...and what a blessing!! God Bless you sister!I'll look forward to meeting you in the presence of our Lord!

Greg Sr.

 

[LRL71]

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." -- Romans 8:37-39 (English Standard Bible)

I was saved by the Sovereign love and grace of God through Jesus Christ, and indwelled by the Holy Spirit on September 1, 1993. I was a senior in college (Clearwater Christian College, Clearwater, FL) at the time. The college has an evangelism week at the beginning of each school year, and many students came to know the Lord then. A friend of mine, who was also a senior, was scheduled to preach that evening (Wednesday) in our college chapel. He came to know the Lord that morning, and when he gave his testimony, I saw myself totally lost and unsaved without Christ. God revealed Himself to me and saved me through His foreknowledge in which I was predestined from eternity to be saved solely by His grace through Jesus, who is God over all, blessed be Him forever!

.....and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”-- Revelation 7:10 (English Standard Bible)

 

[HankD]

I can understand people who say they were saved slowly over a period of time. What they probably mean is that they went under conviction (reproval) of sin for a long time before they eventually came to Christ.

I was in the USAF and when I started reading the Bible.

The Book of the Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronmy and Numbers) destroyed any hopes I had of ever being acceptable to God and was quite miserable but kept on reading.

Then I got to the Book of John and yes, I remember that happy day

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
Oh when Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When he washed (when Jesus washed)
Washed my sins away (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)

La la la la la la la la la (choir echo)
La la la la la (choir echo)
La la la la la la la (choir echo)
La la la la la (choir echo)

Oh happy day (Oh happy day)
Oh happy day (Oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
When my Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
Washed my sins away

La la la la la la la (choir echo)
La la la la la (choir echo)

(He taught me how) Oh he taught me how
(To watch) To watch, to watch
(Fight and pray) To fight and pray
(Fight and prayand pray)

And He taught me how to live (And live rejoicing) Oh yes he did, Oh yeah
(Every) Every, Every day (every day)
Oh Yeah (Every Day)

Oh, happy day (Oh happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When my Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
All my sins away (Oh happy day)
I'm talkin 'bout that happy day (Oh happy day)

(He taught me how)oh yeah, how
(To watch) To watch (Fight and pray)
Sing it, Come on and sing it (Fight and pray)
And to live (and live rejoicing)
Come on now everybody (every)
Sing it like you mean it (everyday)
Oh, oh (Everyday)

Oooooh happy day (oh happy day)
I'm talkin 'bout a happy date (oh happy day)
Come on and talk about the happy days (oh happy day)
Oooh Happy days (Oh happy day)
Oooohhh, talkin 'bout a happy day (oh happy day) oh yeah
Oh i'm talkin' bout happy days (oh happy day)
oh yeah, sing it sing it (oh happy day)
(Oh happy day)
Oh happy day

And yes, I am a Baptist

HankD

 

[MissAbbyIFBaptist]

July 16, 1999 at around 10:30 that night I was amazingly birthed in to the family of God.
Some people here have heard my testimony before so I will be brief.
I made a false profession when I was seven, and for four years God had me under Holy Ghost conviction. My grandpa was reading to our family from the Bible were it talks of wars, and rumors of wars, and at that time all I saw on the news was "Desert Fox", "The Middle East", etc, and it about scared me out of my skin to hear my grandpa read those verses. I know God put it on his heart to read that scripture. I felt the Holy Spirit get ahold of me, and I felt that if I didn't get saved that night, then God would be finished dealing with me. (Whiether or not this is so, I may never know.) After my dad put me to bed, and I waited untill my brother fell asleep, I ran down the hall to my grandpa's room crying. When he asked me what was wrong I screamed "I'm going to hell! Please help me!" To which he took out the Blessed Old Book, and lead me to the Lord. Was there repentance? oh yes! I had plenty to repent of, but now I know, but I know that I am saved forever! Our God is so good! I'm so thankful He loves wicked sinners.
~Miss Abby
Proverbs 31:30 KJB

 

[Scarlett O.]

Thank the Lord for your grandfather. He sounds like a very good man.

Peace-
S.O.

 

[Marcia]

Originally posted by Gregory Perry Sr.:

Marcia...I just read the "rest of the story"....what an INCREDIBLE journey you have had...and what a blessing!! God Bless you sister!I'll look forward to meeting you in the presence of our Lord!

Greg Sr.

Greg, thanks so much for reading the story and for your encouraging comment!

 

[Bro. James Reed]

Just thought I'd give a brief statement on the experience I had leading up to my joining the church.

We were having a weekend meeting with several Elders there. Specifically, Elders Larry Webb, Garland Lyon, Elton Ramey(our Pastor), and Lic. Mark Rowell.

That summer all of the youngsters were falling like flies. Being bapitzed left and right. But, I had no desire to follow them.

When come time for our meeting, I was still feeling fine in my state outside the church. On Saturday, we were eating lunch out on the front porch and several of the youngsters, myself included since I was only 9 at the time, were talking about those who had joined the church. The experiences were being related to us and it hit me like a brick. I wanted to have that experience. I wanted to take Communion with God's people. I wanted to be a part of this church that I had grown up in. I wanted to be obedient to my God. In the middle of this discussion another of the young'uns asked me if I wanted to join the church. I now feel that God was directing them to ask me that as He had also been directing my thoughts at that moment.

I told them to go get Brother Ramey. What I didn't realize was that he was standing just on the other side, around the corner, from where we were sitting, listening to us. When he heard me ask for him, he came flying around the corner. He asked me what I wanted, so I asked if I could talk to him in the church house. When we walked inside I told him that I needed to be a part of the church. He asked me if I was sure and I told him that this is what God had told me to do, so, yeah, I was sure if He was. We went in for the afternoon service, and when they asked if anyone wanted a home in the church I walked forward and Brother Ramey met me up at the front. He asked if I had anything to say and I told the church that I loved God and I wanted to join. I was taken in there and was baptized the following Saturday by Brother Ramey.

He has since passed on, but he was a very good man who had a way with us kids like no one else I had seen before or since. He always kept his coat pocket full of bubble gum and when we would all shake hands during the song service after preaching he would stick a piece of gum in our hands. He always had a joke to tell and was very laid back. He had a very deep and somewhat raspy voice. I just loved to here him preach and pray. He loved his Lord so much that you could not be around him without feeling the Spirit be magnified from him.

When my mother was baptized at the Hubbard, TX annual meeting, 3rd weekend of July, 1971, 2 weeks before she and my dad married, there were five other people who walked forward with the same request. she said they didn't all come up at once. It seemed like each time one person would come up to the front that another person would drop that weight and come forward too. They just kept coming.

When my dad joined, Sunday, May 4, 2003, at our annual meeting, he did so while in the middle of prayer.

Before preaching started, Brother Jeff, our pastor, looked over at him and he was crying and lookedlike he was about to bust, so Brother Jeff asked dad to pray. when he started, he said, "Lord, I need to ask the church something. I need to join the church." There was shouting all over the church. One old elder said later that he couldn't tell what the shouting was for because he didn't have his hearing aid in, but when people started shouting he thought it was something good, so he shouted too. Dad had been going to church since he and mom married, for 32 years, and he was so committed that people thought he was a deacon.

The funny thing is, when dad asked to join he didn't stop praying. He just kept on going.

He was baptized the following Wednesday by our pastor. There were some 50 - 60 people there, including about 15 preachers from Houston, Beaumont, Madisonville, and even 2 from Louisiana.

we hadlong awaited the day that dad would stop struggling and give in to his true feelings about God and the church.

He was ordained a deacon April of last year.

Reading all of the stories above just got me to thinking about those experiences that I have witnessed or heard about.

It really is one of the most glorious occassions to witness when someone comes forward and asks for a home, especially when it's someone you know has had the burden for a while.

I thank God that he has placed it in each of your hearts, and mine, to cast your cares upon Him and submit to His will. I can not imagine life without my church.

 

[JackRUS]

Originally posted by donnA:
oh, yah,
March 31, 1991, Easter Sunday, on the back row at church.

Hmmmm, that's a coincidence. Mine was March 31, 1994 and it was Good Friday.

 

[amy-angel-41230]

i was saved when i was 9 years old it was in febuary of 94. i really remember it well, i said to my mom i have been set free. and when i was getting ready to get baptised, i felt the hoky spirit all over me. And when my head went into the water i saw a bright lite and angels gazing out of the heavens, and i seen a man holding his arms out and i knew that it might of been jesus. and even though i was 9 i knew what the diffrence from right and wrong where.

 

[Ed Edwards]

I remember the occurance when i was saved.
I do not know the minute.
I do not know the hour.
I do not know the day of the week.
I remember the Jesus that was there.

I asked my Mommy, she said it was in April 1952.
I was 8-years old then. I am 61-years old now.

 

[PastorSBC1303]

Sept 15, 1985

It was a great day when I realized my need for a Savior!

 

[Mommyperson]

June of 95 and I've never looked back.
What peace, joy, comfort and clear guidance the Lord gives to those who choose to follow Him.

AMAZING GRACE! PTL!

 

[Servent]

A sign, that's right a sign. I read a sign that was in front of a church and for more than a year struggled with the question is there really a God.
Then one night while I was at work it happened the scales fell of my eyes and I knew in my heart that there was a God and I needed him in my life.I called my wife at 2:00 am and told her we were going to church the next morning and have been going and serving Him since 1998.