Testimony

[schfifty]

   There is something that I feel like I need to tell everyone. It is something that when I was 9 years old, I experience that changed my life forever. Now, I know in the past that I have probably come off a little strong on some of my ideas, but I will not press this on you. I only ask that you respect what I have to say and don't insult me.
   It is my belief that when you reach an age (different for everyone), God will hold you accountable for all of your sins and transgressions. This age varies between people, but it hit me at age 8. God will "convict" you of your sins and you can go down one road, or the other. You can either repent and be saved by God, or let it go and stay lost until you die, where you will, for lack of a better phrase, go to hell.
   My brother was lost at this point in my life and he was down in the altar praying during church a lot. While he was praying, I hit the age of accountability. Only I knew this. It was my deep dark secret for a long time. I tried to justify not praying by saying "my parents don't need the stress of two children in the altar" or "it is too embarassing". Anyways, my brother one day after praying stood up and said he was saved. I knew at this point that no matter how much I tried to reassure myself, I had to go into the altar. It was either that or live with a horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach and know that you would never go to heaven. My mom confronted me one day and said I didn't look happy when my brother was saved. I told her I was lost and under conviction. We prayed awhile and nothing happened.
   It was another year when I was 9, and church service came up every night. We call these special all week services "revival". Anyways, when the prayer call was made and everyone went down to pray for one thing or another, I dropped to my knees and started praying to God that he would accept me and that he would let me come to heaven. I started naming off things to give up but he never took them. It took another three evenings of prayer at those services. (Time is not a factor in repentance). Finally, when I thought I would never be saved from my sins by God, I surrendered my will to him. It wasn't two seconds later that my burden (meaning conviction/horrible feeling) was gone.
   I stood up and told I was saved, and since that day, I have always known that I will have a place in heaven. Hell is a scary place but I will not be going there because Jesus came and died for my sins and I repented of them. I will never lose my salvation because he has sealed my soul.
   God can and will save anyone from sin if you only ask with all of your heart. You will know when you have been convicted and you will know when you are saved. Make no mistake about it, Satan will do everything to try and convince you that you aren't lost or aren't saved. But, if you just pray about it, you will find your answer.
   If you have any questions about this or anything, don't hesitate to ask me. Be it through PM or publicly. Please, don't mock me for this. I just felt like I needed to tell everyone here. Please hear me out and think about this. Thanks


                       -Luke

[gr4nt]

Interesting....

What form of Christianity do you worship?

[UberPwner]

Man, I respect what you have done here.
And i mean.. REALLY respect you.

As a Christian i beleive that all can be saved from their sins.

Hopefully some people can learn from this

[Squeak]

Thats good Luke! Im sure no one will judge you by your Beliefs. I myself am a Catholic

[schfifty]

Interesting....

What form of Christianity do you worship?

I am protestant if that is what you are asking. I belong to the Missionary Baptist denomination. However, it doesn't matter what denomination you are, as long as you are convicted, repent, and you are saved.

[stof]

hmm, i have done some really bad *hit in my life and i feel so bad for it. I am always feeling guilty. Maybe it's time to ask to be saved from my sins  :pop: Luke, this post may have saved me...thanks mate

-SToF

[Anto]

Repenting in the name of our Lord to be saved by the fires and depth of hell is wrong, repenting in the name of our Lord to show the respect and thanksgiving for his horrible death for salvation is right. The 'not going to hell part' is a perk if you wish

[Abraham]

I don't understand people who believe in god(s) or any supernatrual being, and prays to them... althou I wish I did...

[stof]

lol? join one then xD

[Gildor]

That was a very interesting and nice anicdote, Luke.

As a Serbian-Orthodox, I do believe in God, and I do believe that repenting our sins is a way to cleanse our souls, to be at peace with ourselves, and God.

As for the "Hell" and "Satan" talk, I have a strong belief;

There is no such place called Hell, you will not be sent to this 'Hell' if you live a life of sin and do not repent. My belief is that if you live a life of sin and do not repent, you will be sent to your own spiritual Hell, consuming your soul, making you empty. There will be nothing felt, just emptynesss.


Regards,
Gildor

[schfifty]

I don't mean to come off as a "You're going to hell!" guy, but it is true. The worst thing about hell is not the fire and flames, or the smell, or the torment. It is that there will be no hope of ever getting out. No hope of any thing better, or different. And Stof, amen man. Do what you are led to do. And if you are confused about anything, just ask me. No one can pray for you, but we can pray with you. You can't go through any man to get to Jesus. It is a personal thing between you and God.

[stof]

one question...do you need to do the praying at a church because i go to church like once or twice a year and I'm a lot religious

[schfifty]

No. Everywhere can be an altar. I have heard people say that they were saved in cars on the way to work, in showers, in bed while trying to go to sleep when they just couldn't, at campgrounds, at work in a storage closet, where ever you can find a time to pray. But, understand this, no man can tell you you are saved. Again, it is personal between you and God. Only God can save you, that is why Jesus was sent here. To die for poor sinners like all of us. All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God but the good news is that he will take any one. No matter how much he/she has sinned. Just look at the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He repented, and Jesus said, you will join me in paradise.

[Hellrocker]

I'm a Christian so I know that god can do almost anything. The Lord makes his way with everyone when the time is right.

I don't mean to come off as a "You're going to hell!" guy, but it is true. The worst thing about hell is not the fire and flames, or the smell, or the torment. It is that there will be no hope of ever getting out. No hope of any thing better, or different. And Stof, amen man. Do what you are led to do. And if you are confused about anything, just ask me. No one can pray for you, but we can pray with you. You can't go through any man to get to Jesus. It is a personal thing between you and God.

Is it true that when you go to hell if you don't except the mark of the devil, there is still a chance you could be saved. I just over heard this, so I'm not sure if its true.

[schfifty]

No where in the bible does it talk about this. IF it does, it would be in Revelations and that is referring to the apocalypse, not while you are in hell. Once you are in hell, there is no way out. Again, no hope.

One more thing, God can't do almost anything...he can do everything...small or large.