Bible Question: The minister in my church closes each service with an invitation to believe in Christ. He is very adamant about being able to identify the moment you were born again. In fact on the membership sheet, there is a place where you are to put the month year of your conversion. Although I remember the general period in my life where I began to shift my trust from myself to Christ, I do not have a memorable defining moment that I can attest to. Can someone comment on this dilemma? |
Bible Answer: Dalprad, I appreciate your question. It is a good one. First, I would like to state that I believe salvation is by faith through grace and is not earned through works of righteousness. This is what the Bible teaches. Having said that, I would like to point out some other Bible teaching on how we can identify the moment we repented and followed God in faith. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 22:16 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.' 1 Pet 3:20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 1 Pet 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, This is not an exhaustive list, but it points out some Biblical teaching on identifying the moment that God forgave our sins. |