Comments on: Do You Know When You Were Saved?

By: Michael D. Moore

Michael D. Moore — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:12:21 +0000

A few years back, I was using our Wednesday evening service to train our church for the G.R.O. W. outreach program. As we neared the end of the training, one of the last topics of training was to teach the participants in how to share their conversion experience. I began by simply asking the people to write out their experience in a spiral notebook we had provided for them to keep notes on the training.
One of our dear ladies, asked me a few days later if she could have another notebook. I replied in the affirmative, but wondered and inquired at why she needed another book. “Well, she said, “You asked us to write out our testimony of salvation, and I ran out of room.”
Subsequently, I called “time out” in the training session and launched a more detailed training on how to share your testimony.
For me at least, the most important value of our remembrance of our salvation experience lie in two areas, first that of assurance, second that of bringing others to Christ. The most effective way I have found to share Christ with others is to tell them how we came to know Him. However, as we stressed in our G.R.O.W. training, brevity is always the rule is sharing our story. When we are not brief in sharing our story of grace, we most often are glorifying ourselves rather than the One Who did the saving!

By: Michael D. Moore

Michael D. Moore — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:54:38 +0000

Amen, wonderful story of truth, God’s glory, and Jesus power to save in the simplest factors, synonymous with those like experiences told in the New Testament. What good purposes are served by the greatly embellished dramatic tales of conversion, other than to enhance confidence in the teller. So often we here these experiences told with tremendous skills of oratory within the walls of our sanctuary’s, only to witness a much different tale told by the same individual in their lifestyle at work, and at home during the remaining six days of the week. The great Apostle Paul had by far the most dramatic conversion of any of the twelve. However, we must note, that in all of the records of inspired words, not one time does he date his experience other than with the setting of the occasion. Another truth is this, only one out of the twelve Apostles had such an experience, without the remaining eleven, Paul could have accomplished very little, and even at that, he looked up to them for they had even a more noble experience than he, and that was to have walked and talked with the Lord in the flesh and to have eye witnessed His signs. Strangely enough, each of those eleven simply heard the Master call out to them, “follow me”, they obeyed and that was the beginning fo their story. The most important factor of any salvation experience, however dramatic or undramatic it might be, the truth remains, it is only the beginning point of activated grace in a believer’s life. There are many who today, live totally on that one experience. I do praise my dear Lord that, as precious as that beginning experience is to me and ever shall remain, He has by His mercy led me from “faith to faith” and from “grace to grace” over these many years since that wonderful Sunday evening, sometime in April, 1964.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:24:39 +0000

While I completely agree with the article, I do wonder why this is the case. Since the Bible describes the glorious act of justification as a heart turning from stone to flesh, death to life, slave of sin to a slave to Christ… it does seem a little funny that one does not recognize this since justification takes place in an instance, not a progression. I can understand why a child cannot remember the season, but it seems a little strange when talking about adults who have greater clarity of events. All that to say, I completely agree with the concluding statement, “The critical thing is whether you hear His Voice, maybe somewhere out there in the dark in front of you, calling you forward, right now”

By: Moore to the Point – Christ and Children’s Curricula

Moore to the Point – Christ and Children’s Curricula — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:03:49 +0000

[...] couple of weeks back, beneath a commentary I wrote on my salvation testimony, one of you asked the question: “Do you have any articles or resources that you would [...]

By: Friday Five « Naming Animals

Friday Five « Naming Animals — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:25:06 +0000

[...] Do You Know When You Were Saved? As one with a “less dramatic” testimony, I think Dr. Moore makes a great point. And I [...]

By: adam

adam — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:41:22 +0000

thank you for the article. very encouraging to read those words because of how much we do hear about a ’specific date’.

By: Sabine Leppanen

Sabine Leppanen — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:07:24 +0000

I just finished reading John MacArthur’s book ‘Saved Without a Doubt’. My pastor kindly let me borrow his copy after a conversation about this very topic.

I “prayed the prayer” when I was 10 and I am sure that’s when my conversion started… My spiritual life has had its ups and downs. I “prayed the prayer” many times, was christened and confirmed in the Lutheran Church although I attended several other denominations through the years. In my 20s, I become convinced about Believer’s Baptism and was baptized. Still, I was sometimes tormented by the thought that I might not be saved. Maybe that was a good thing…? I’m not sure.

As I began to develop assurance, my faith, and my faithfulness, increased. Or, maybe it was the other way around? I don’t know, honestly.

All that to say: I can’t pinpoint an exact moment.

For anyone who has doubts, John MacArthur has some excellent sermons at gty.org. Just type “assurance” into the search box. Because, if you’re saved, in John MacArthur’s words, “You might as well enjoy it!”

By: John Metz

John Metz — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:40:59 +0000

I can pinpoint the time I opened to the Lord and was reborn but that does not become the standard. I know there are many who cannot be so precise and that’s fine.

Although I had a singular regeneration experience, I also had a few brushes with the Lord prior to finally opening to Him. Some were significant. There are many ways in which people come to Christ including some pretty bizarre or unusual ones. Even the Bible shows us Paul, the jailer, and others.

By: Do You Have to Have a Dramatic Conversion? | The Apollos Project

Do You Have to Have a Dramatic Conversion? | The Apollos Project — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:18:14 +0000

[...] may or may not. Russell Moore has some helpful words here. As Christians, we often emphasize the date of a dramatic conversion experience. Others (including [...]

By: Sarah Affleck

Sarah Affleck — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 06:24:35 +0000

Dr. Moore, Thank you so much for this article! My conversion happened when I was very young and I have struggled at times with not having a specific date to pinpoint, but I know that I am a follower of Jesus. Please say hello to your family! Also say hello to the Stinsons!! We miss our days at CBMW, but are also very thankful to be serving Father here in East Asia! He is good and worthy to be praised among the nations!! Blessings!

By: Weekly Links (10/28/2011) « The Beacon

Weekly Links (10/28/2011) « The Beacon — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:01:45 +0000

[...] last but not least, Russell Moore has written a helpful post which puts one’s awareness/knowledge of the date of their salvation in proper [...]

By: What I Read Online – 10/28/2011 (a.m.) | Emeth Aletheia

What I Read Online – 10/28/2011 (a.m.) | Emeth Aletheia — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:34:33 +0000

[...] Moore to the Point – Do You Know When You Were Saved? [...]

By: MarieP

MarieP — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:51:24 +0000

This reminds me of the story of the girl who asked the Bishop of Durham (no, not that one…BF Westcott!) if he was saved. His reply was, “Do you mean, ‘I was saved,’ ‘I will be saved,’ or ‘I am being saved?’”

By: David

David — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:12:52 +0000

Dr. Moore,

Do you have any articles or resources that you would recommend to Christian parents on how to view the spiritual status of their young children? Would you hold to an “age of accountability” doctrine in which all children too young to profess personal faith in Christ are automatically saved if they die? What about a 10-year-old who dies before they make a personal commitment to Christ? What is your understanding of how the Lord deals with such children?

These are serious questions for many Christian parents.

Thanks for your time.

By: Susan Maas

Susan Maas — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:01:37 +0000

I was raised Lutheran, and Lutherans didn’t talk about salvation experiences or being “born again.” We were baptized as infants and reaffirmed our baptism through confirmation–after two years of classes–in 8th grade. I have been a Christian all my life, but don’t have any particular “salvation experience.” (even though I now attend an evangelical church) I do, however, have a number of experiences where God was particularly close to me, answered a prayer, or provided for me in what I see as miraculous ways. I know I am His and will always be, and that’s good enough for me!

By: Staci

Staci — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:49:43 +0000

After thinking about my earlier comment: Salvation is always dramatic, just not dramatic in a way the world would consider dramatic. :)

By: Your “Conversion Experience” Isn’t All That Important « huiothesian: adopted as sons

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:37:31 +0000

[...] Russell Moore: Many believe if they really have embraced the gospel, they ought to have a moment, a date, they can point to as the instant they passed from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. [...]

By: Steve Sanders

Steve Sanders — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:06:32 +0000

I’ve grown up in the evangelical “bible-belt” of south Mississippi. Only 25-30 miles north of Dr. Moore and it’s a common thing here to place your assurance of salvation in a “time and place” remembering. If you can’t go to a “time and place” that you were saved then you likely aren’t. I struggled with this for years and years. I was baptized at 10 but I can’t really see any evidence of salvation until about 10-12 years ago which I believe is my actual time of conversion. But notice I say “10-12″ years ago. I can’t get it any closer than that. A dear elder, who could remember not only the time and place but which pew and EXACTLY where on the pew he was when converted, once told me that he put much more trust in the evidence he could see of God’s presence in his life yesterday than he did in any experience from 30 years before.

By: David R. Brumbelow

David R. Brumbelow — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:58:21 +0000

Good article. I can’t remember the month or day (other than a Sunday), but I was saved at five years old. I was a warlord.
David R. Brumbelow

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:31:34 +0000

Thank you. I have wrestled at times with this for years. I can’t pinpoint a specific date, but I do know for a fact I am saved and walk daily with Him. But, nevertheless, I have struggled with guilt because I couldn’t pinpoint it, almost as if I had let Him down somehow. Personally, ungratefullness in people’s lives bothers me and I have felt that not remembering that date meant that I was somehow ungrateful. (Although I am definitely grateful for His redeeming love). Thanks again.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:30:09 +0000

When I get that asked the question “where and when did you become saved?” my answer is “In the hills above Jerusalem, almost 2000 years ago.”

I know the date of my infant baptism in a Roman church. I know the dates of my last drug use, my last drink, and the last time I surrendered to lust. I know the date of my adult baptism in an evangelical church. Somewhere in between there, I accepted Christ’s forgiveness, turned my life over to Him, and became a new creation. I don’t know the exact date of that, if there even was one.

But as it says in Hebrews 10:10, Christ’s sacrifice was “once for all time.”

By: Mel Stull

Mel Stull — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:19:50 +0000

Thank you so for this statement: “The point of the gospel isn’t celebrating an experience; it’s believing a Man who is your crucified, resurrected, reigning Life.”
Thank you King Jesus for being this Man!!!

By: Don Sartain

Don Sartain — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:27:54 +0000

You just had to go an use the word “Ebenezer” didn’t you? Now I’ve got “Come Thou Fount” stuck in my head.

By: Mark Drzycimski

Mark Drzycimski — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:18:46 +0000

As one who has never been able to pinpoint my exact “rebirthday,” I’ve always appreciated this line from Doug Wilson (not entirely sure if it was his): “A man does not need to know what time the sun rose in the morning in order to know that it is up.” Thank you for the reminder. And happy birthday!

By: Staci

Staci — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:49:03 +0000

A good reminder. One of my children has particularly wrestled with not having a dramatic salvation story. The important thing is walking with Him right now.

By: Lauren du Bois

Lauren du Bois — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:48:05 +0000

9/14/2001. Praise God for redeeming my sin. Let me never forget the glory of the cross. Celebrating with you.

By: Chris Schwab

Chris Schwab — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:41:54 +0000

Amen! I knew a girl in college who reminisced about being pressured to go ahead and “pray the prayer” because she didn’t know the exact date and time of her salvation. How awful! My wife can point to about 3 crucial, defining moments in her calling. She’s not entirely sure at which point she crossed over that line as a citizen in the kingdom, but that’s a beautiful thing about God; he is creative even in how he calls us. Sometimes citizens in the kingdom are brought in by official invitation; some start as resident foreigners who like it so much they ask permission to stay; some even smuggle themselves into the kingdom as illegal aliens who are shown great mercy, amnesty, and citizenship. These metaphors should not be taken *too* far, theologically! Sometimes we’re attracted; sometimes not. Sometimes we dwell a long time in and among the kingdom without being a part of it. Sometimes, almost like a “natural born citizen,” we know nothing else. God is great like that.