Personal Testimony
As a young person I attended church regularly and did a lot of nice religious things.
Though I could repeat John 3:16 from memory as a child, I did not know what it meant.
I always knew that Jesus was necessary for eternal salvation but I did not know that
He was sufficient for my salvation.
I had heard so many sermons exhorting me that in order for me to get to Heaven that
I needed to be good, turn from sin, make Jesus Lord of my life, commit my life to
Him, etc. that I finally was about to give up trying.
As a young teenager I then attended a home Bible study where I heard from God’s word
that He loved me the way I was, not only after I cleaned up my life. (Rom. 4:5).
I was later shown 1st John 5:13:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life...”
I then realized that I had been trusting partially in my own effort to be saved.
I could know that I had eternal life because I only had to believe in what Jesus
had already done for me. It did not depend upon me trying to do something.
I did believe in Jesus and have never doubted my salvation. I then began a life-long
path of growing in the Lord. I wish I could say that I have been faithful in all
of this, but I can say that God has been faithful.
As I studied and applied more of His word in my life, I discovered more joy and purpose.
As I disobeyed Him, I knew that He would never lose any of His children, but I did
incur some of His loving discipline. (Heb. 12;6)
If you do not know for certain that you have eternal life, I urge you to just take
God at His word; believe in Jesus and receive eternal life. (Acts 16:31)
Bill Fallon
Free@freegraceresources.org