Margie Raborn Testimony

Considering the Event of Salvation

Do you know without a doubt that the event of salvation has occurred in your life?
If you are not absolutely sure, it is my prayer that your consideration of this collection of thoughts and the study of these suggested scriptures, might help this event to happen for you....today.
Some people take a strong stand against evolution. They understand that no matter how many millions of years are allowed, it takes the creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, to change nothing into something! The scripture makes it clear, there was a time when there was nothing and then in a moment of time, an event occurred, the act of creation, and there was something! Even those who embrace evolution acknowledge that in a moment, “the big bang” things changed from there being nothing to there being something and they say the process of evolution began.
In much the same way, there comes a moment in time, when the work of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is received by the individual and that person is changed from a lost sinner into a saved child of God. Salvation occurs in a moment of time. It is an event. Doesn’t it seem like people would remember when such an important event happened in their lives?
I believe most everyone has a desire to be saved, and even more, we have a desire for the assurance of eternal life. We live our lives as human beings aware that death is all around us. We see death of plant life in the changing seasons. We understand the death of animals to provide meat for our own diet. We experience the death of our pets, and the most heart rending of all, is when we experience the death of our loved ones. We know, death is certain! We want to want to be equally certain that there is life after death and that there is hope of seeing our loved ones again. How can we be sure? In I John 5:13, God had John write “These things have I written unto you... that ye may know that ye have eternal life...” Now God who created us and who provided us a Savior, his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, did not want us to be ignorant of these truths. He had all the information and instructions on this matter that we will ever need, written down for us and has preserved it for us. Psalm 12:6 and 7 tells us the words of the Lord are “pure words” and that the Lord shall preserve them “ forever!” II Peter 1:21, tells us holy men of God ...were moved by the Holy Ghost.” These truths are not just some man’s idea or opinion, these are the very words of God, so that you can know you are saved, by the word of God, not by any dependence on any individual or any religious system.
If your church or denomination has already opened God’s word to you to show you your need for a Savior and showed you clearly that Christ died for your sins and all that is necessary is for you to trust in what Christ did for you on the cross and you know without question that you are saved and just when that event occurred in your life, then praise the Lord! However, if you have any questions or uncertainly, I beg you to go the word of God right now, pray that God would show you the truths of what Christ has already done for you and that you might come to the saving knowledge and blessed assurance of eternal life in Christ!
First it seems nessary that we understand and acknowledge our lost condition. Romans 3:23, declares “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23, tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 5:12, is clear that, “Wherefore by one man sin entered the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.” There is no question all men are sinners, we are lost and separated from the glory of God and we are going to die.
However, equally clear, II Cor. 5:19 shows us, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” Col. 2:13, tell us, he (Christ) “...hath forgiven you all trespasses.” Romans 4:25 tells us again, Christ “...was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.”
I Cor. 15:3 and 4 assures us, Christ died for our sins and was raised again according to the scriptures. Romans 5:18 tells us, “Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Finally Romans 6:23 confirms that, “...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Now the question is, since we are all lost sinners, and Christ died for sinners, just how can we receive this free gift of eternal life?
I believe, the clearest explanation of this process whereby salvation is accomplished is recorded in Eph. I:13. One must first hear the truth that Christ died for their sins. Then one must believe that truth. Then one must put their trust in what Christ did for us on the cross, and in that moment, God through his holy Spirit seals us until the day of redemption. Just what is that day of redemption? I Thess. 4:13 thru 18 and Phil. 3:20 and 21 explains that there is a day coming, whether it happens while we are alive or after we die, that the Lord shall come in the clouds and with a shout, call all those who have put their trust in him, and him alone, and change our weakly and vile physical bodies into glorified spiritual bodies, like unto Christ’s very own body and than we shall be with the Lord forever! Wow, that is so marvelous and incredible, why would anyone not gladly receive this free gift of salvation?
I can give you one reason...that being from personal experience. Paul warns against those who have, “believed in vain” in I Cor.15:2. Many of us who have experienced this condition, have called ourselves “lost believers.” Eph.1:13 described a process where one must hear that Christ died for their sins, then one must believe that Christ died for their sins. Up until that point, this can be called a process, or evolution...it may start in Sunday School as a child, continue as one attends church and Bible Study, ever learning more and more truths and believing them all; but sadly, belief is not enough. The process comes to a point when an event must take place. A decision must be made in a moment of time. The individual makes a conscience decision to no longer trust in themselves, nor trust in parents or family tradition, nor trust in their church or denomination or preacher, but simply to trust in the pure words of God, that Christ really did die for all their own sins and according to Romans 10:13, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” with the full assurance that at that moment, one has been sealed by the holy Spirit and nothing at all can ever separate you from the love of God. This is magnificently described in Romans 8:28 thru 39. What a joyous moment, what a glorious eternity. Please be sure you don’t miss it by being stuck in the process of “vain belief!” There are many who say, “I’ve just always believed in Jesus,” not having any knowledge of a moment in time when they made a consciences decision to place their trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and passed from being lost to being saved and eternally sealed.
There is a story about a stunt man who had a high wire stretched across Niagara Falls and had promised he would walk across that wire pushing a wheel barrow. A cheering crowd gather to witness this feat. Before starting he asked the crowd, “Do you believe I can do this?” They all assured him, “We believe.” Then he asked, “Who in the crowd trusts me enough to get in the wheel barrow?”
Certainly you can see there is a big difference in belief and trust? Do you simply believe in Christ in vain, or has there been a moment in time when you have placed your trust in Christ and in him alone, for all eternity? You may fool others...but don’t fool yourself. Only you can know the answer to this question, but it is the most important answer you will ever give!