For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16
Baptismal Testimony
August 21, 2001
Do you ever write on fogged up windows? As a kid I’d write, “Jesus loves you!”—backwards—on them. I loved church: the stories, the prizes, the chaos, the singing. When I was eight, some high schoolers put on a puppet show. Afterwards a girl asked me if I was a Christian. I said no, so she explained Jesus’ love and prayed for me.
My growth as a Christian lay dormant, and I began to doubt if Jesus was really the only way to heaven. In ninth grade, I told my camp counselor that I wasn’t a Christian. As she talked, I was thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I’ve already heard all this before.” Then one day someone handed me a book titled More Than a Carpenter. After a couple of chapters, I prayed for Jesus to forgive me of all the bad stuff I’ve done and to help me change. I began to read the Bible and pray, but I felt like a hypocrite, like I was pretending to be the spiritual person I wasn’t. I didn’t feel the “victory” that others did.
This past year was extremely hard. I’d cry in bed by the overwhelming hopelessness that would wash over me unexpectedly. I emailed everyone, from nonbelievers to growing Christians. One directed me toward Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” It helped me continue to search out God. I went to a conference called Be Still and Know, where Pastor Daryl talked with me. As I listened, part of me said, “It’s such a simple thing, why can’t you just let God transform you?” but another part said, “No. You gotta resist and not fall into the trap that billions have fallen into.” Then the mission trip came up, but I was still unsure of my faith. Grace Hsiau talked to me, and just letting go of my disbelief freed me to see the wonderful things that God can do, especially on the mission trip.
It was foggy at first, but now I see that like any other kid, growing up as God’s child is a gradual process. Now whenever I begin to doubt, I’ll remember the historical proofs, that Jesus is already my Savior, and that, like any other baby, growing up as God’s child is a gradual process. I have to wait on His timing. I’ve noticed that I talk about Jesus more, I worry less, and I even go up to newcomers (although it might take thirty minutes). This past camp I learned that I didn’t feel victory because I didn’t maintain my freedom in Christ. I let Satan mess with me. But I read a verse that helped me realize that the more we do God’s work, the more we’ll grasp the depth of His love for us. Philemon 6 says: “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Thank you.
The Romans Road to Christ
- 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
- 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
- 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
- 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Explanation of the above verses
1. Everyone is guilty before God.
2. We deserve punishment for our sins, but Jesus can give us life.
3. Though we’ve sinned, Jesus loved us enough to die for us.
4,5. God will save us if we believe in Christ (and what He’s done for us) and are willing to confess Him as our Savior.
6,7. When we accept Christ, we should surrender ourselves to His will and start being transformed as God renews our minds.
Example prayer to trust Jesus as Lord
Dear Lord,
1. Forgive me.
2,3. Thank you for dying for my sins.
4,5. I trust you as my Savior.
6,7. Make me the person you want me to be.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
