Expert: Phillip Senn - 12/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey I have actually 2 questions, hopefully you can answer both as they are pretty close to each other. First let me give you a brief overview of my walk with the Lord. I grew up in a Lutheran home, and didn’t really understand Jesus entirely and I never acted like acted like a Christian at all. But I would say that that was my religion to my friends and everything. It wasn’t until two years ago I said a prayer and invited Jesus into my life. Although of course I kind of did this as an exit to get to Heaven then realizing what it meant 100%. Yet I have to say I felt a sense of peace and warmth when I said the prayer so I can’t say I was saved and got the Holy Spirit that day. My actions continued pretty similar to what it used to be, pornography, video games, movies, rock music etc. About the very end of 2008 I begin to start asking myself is my masturbation acceptable to Jesus, would he approve of this. I would like to think this was the Holy Spirit telling me about this, but I am a worrysome person and sometimes I can’t tell what comes from God and what doesn’t. So anyhow I decided to make 2009 my year I would start making myself “right” with God, again I don’t know why I felt this, I again would like to think it was the Holy Spirit telling me to get right. So this year I have struggled all year trying to break my 10+ years of masturbation and other addictions.
My question firstly is: What do you think person should “experience” when “born-again”? I never had some kind of near-death experience and had no real big life-changer when inviting Jesus into my life. Sometimes I wonder because the way I feel, thus my next question. I believe in God and Jesus and what he did, yet I find myself struggling with sharing the Gospel with encouragement. What do you think about this? Is it my faith? I WANT to do my duty as a Christian, but I just don’t know what to say to people who don’t believe. The “comfort” of witnessing is not there. I begin to question if I am truly saved or something. I wonder also that I have “quenched” the Holy Spirit so much that no “gifts” of the Holy Spirit are present. I know a lot of people have gifts of the Spirit and they say its easy for them to witness with encouragement. I have prayed of course about this, but want to know someone elses opinion. I want to get right with God if there is something I am lacking. Would be great if you could replay, THANKS.


ANSWER: Benjamin,

I appreciate your honesty in these matters. There is only one way to know whether or not you have eternal life. The Scriptures say, "These things write I unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye might know that ye have eternal life. But what does it mean to believe on Him?

I, like you, prayed a prayer asking Jesus into my heart. My Pastor at the time told me that if I prayed that prayer, and really meant it in my heart, then I was saved. This is a teaching that prevails in our society today. The only problem with that...It isn't in Scripture.

When I was 6 I prayed that prayer. Again at 11. It wasn't until I was 27 that I realized that I had never trusted (that is what it means to believe on) in what Jesus had done for me on the cross of Calvary. I had always trusted in my prayer, or in my ability to live for him. Some people trust in their baptism, or their church membership. There are many things we can trust in, but the real peace comes when we trust in His sacrifice that paid the ultimate price, that we might have everlasting life.

Once we realize that it is not about how well we perform, but about how well He did His job of redemption on the cross, that we are truly born again. We than have the Holy Spirit inside of us, teaching us that, denying ourselves, we SHOULD live godly in Christ Jesus. Notice the Scriptures say SHOULD. There are none of us that have forsaken ALL that we know is wrong. That would be a good thing to do, but "there is none righteous, no not one". Our only hope is found in the One who is righteous, that died in our place, took our sins upon Himself, was buried, and arose the third day.

As we mature in the Lord, He begins to reveal to us His Sovereignty (He has the right to full Lordship). It is at these times that we are again called upon to trust Him, not to receive Eternal Life, but to allow Him His proper place of Lordship over that area of our life, knowing that He will care for us in a way that is better than we can care for ourselves.

It is then, that we gain victory over that which so easily besets us. It is then that we move further into maturity as a Christian. It is then that we begin to trust in Him more and more. Each step, when we make the right decisions to honor Him, the closer we come to reaching that prize that is set before us... not Heaven, but that point of total surrender. This is not to gain a prize for us, but to honor Him. That is our greatest prize... honoring the One that gave His life that we might live.

I hope this has not been a rambling, but rather an encouragement to TRUST HIM, first for Eternal Life (which is a free gift to all that believe on His Name), then secondly, for deliverance and care in all other areas of your life.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn

PS. You don't have to KNOW all about Christ to share what He has done for you. Again, the message of Christ is about 1st, what He did for all (including you) at Calvary. Then secondly, what He has done for you specifically, in delivering you from temptations, and in meeting all of your needs, according to His riches in glory.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I had follow-up questions

1.When you did become born-again, did you experience anything when you received Christ? (warmth, love,& peace?)

2.And what "evidences" did you show that were saved? I am just curious because I think I do have evidences of conversion, but want to see if it is similar.

In the Epistle of 1 John is said to show that a person is saved. Love is basically the basic of what one must have. I don't know if I hate my brother/sisters, but don't show enough love towards them. What would you say about this?

Answer
Benjamin,

Thank you for your follow-up.

I did experience a sense of relief, knowing that my sins were forgiven, and that I was going to be in Heaven when I died. I think that is the greatest thing we can sense. It refers to the peace that we have with God. We are no longer His enemy, but we are His child.

There were some things that were prevailing in my life that God showed me immediately that I could and should cease doing. Unfortunately, I still, after almost 30 years, have issues that I have not dealt with completely. The Scriptures indicate that we will have some issues until Christ comes to receive us to Himself. It is then that this corruption shall have put on incorruption. When our bodies are changed, we shall be like Him.

The main thing that we have to be "evidence" of our conversion, is the trustworthiness of God's Word. Hebrews 6 tells us that God swore by an oath, secured by two things, that God cannot lie. That sounds like only one thing, but in looking at that phrase, we actually see two things. One, that God. He has sworn by Himself. It is not dependent upon anyone except Him. Then two, He cannot lie. He is completely trustworthy. Our hope, our consolation, is not based upon our ability to be all that God wants us to be. It is dependent upon God being God and being able to perform that which He has promised.

There is a difference in how I view the brethren. Where I once had a distaste in my heart for Christians, I now see that we are all in the same arena. None of us are any more worthy of His forgiveness than others. It is because I see myself as an equal with all other men, that I am able to love them. I am no better, nor any worse, than any other person that is a sinner in need of a Savior. I am grateful that He came to die for me, but also that He didn't die for me only, but for the sins of the whole world.

As we grow in the Lord, as He makes Himself known to us on a more personal basis, day to day, we will continue to grow in our love for the brethren.

I hope this has helped to encourage you to share your faith with others.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn