Alan Sykes - I thought a Christian was someone who did good in their own eyes
I was introduced to the church by my wife, Sandi. At first I only went for her sake. Then a few weeks went by and I was asked by someone what I thought a Christian was. I replied, 'A Christian is a person who is good and does good works'. In other words, I felt a Christian was someone who felt they were good in their own eyes. How wrong I was! God is the only one who can make us a Christian. The Bible says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). How self-righteous I was! I was a lost sinner. The Bible teaches that we are all sinners. "For all have, sinned and fall short of the glory of God". (Romans 3.23)
A few months later, when I was present at my wife's baptism, I was made aware of my sinful nature. I prayed earnestly to God for forgiveness of my sins. I also prayed for understanding and the Lord answered my prayers by gradually enabling me to see that the Lord Jesus gave His own life and my sins had been forgiven by the shedding of his blood at the cross. How much the Lord must love us - how wonderful!
I cannot say when I was converted, but I can say that my heart was quietly opened to see and believe. At first I lacked assurance, so I prayed to the Lord and He showed me a very helpful passage of Scripture in John 10:28 & 29. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand".
I love Him and the word that saved me. Praise the Lord for all He has done for me. Though Sandi and I have been through some difficult times since we were converted, and there may yet be further trials, I am convinced that the Lord will keep me and bring me safely to heaven.
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