Our brother Kent left a great message on the main blog under “Mark 3 – The Gospel.” There he explained that it has been an encouragement to review the “Gospel” in the 9Marks book. As he shared the Gospel with a work associate, he realized that this man did not fully understand the Gospel according to Scripture. We may be able to “recite” the Gospel, preach the Gospel and know the “facts” of the Gospel, yet when we give testimony to what God has done in our own lives – sometimes our own “story/history/testimony” doesn’t match up to what God’s word says about the Gospel and Conversion.
So – this story is dedicated to our own personal testimonies. It is an opportunity to worship God. To praise God, to thank God, to demonstrate that God’s goodness actually was extended into our lives. I encourage every one of you men in our groups – to post your own testimony of salvation. Don’t be afraid, give God praise. Tell other people on here, how God saved you. How you became a Christian, what happened to you that made you turn to God. Trust me – this will be an encouragement to many other men to come.
God Bless.
Drew Lepis
Here goes. I was born into a family that regularly attended a Lutheran Church. I can remember going “religiously” and rarely missing. It was a small church, smaller than Bethel Grace is at this date. While growing up I did the Sunday School thing, and then Catechism and finally being confirmed. Confirmation was basically a right of passage, if you could memorize enough verses and verbalize a few facts of Christianity – then you could take comunion with the church.
I went off to college and got involved in a few Bible Studies – being able to answer the questions, because my church taught me really well – and I had a thirst for being right. So while the other “Christians” were bashful, I tried having the right answer to the questions – and usually they were dumbed down enough anybody could answer that could read.
Then I got enticed by the party crowd. Not that I went off the deep end, but I thought – “its not so bad to have a little fun.” After a while though, Christians in my life started to really bother me. They were annoying. I had finally met some real Christians. They were fun loving people, they smiled, they loved talking about God and the BIble and had “joy.” So the more I was around them I realized they definitly were different. As I was in the Bible Study, it finally hit me – I’m a total hypocrite. I do the Bible Study on Wednesday evening and on Friday I’m partying it up, getting drunk on Friday and Saturday.
So I realized, I need to stop this drinking thing. I needed to put in some effort so that I could end this hypocrisy. About two weeks later, I fell and gave in to drinking and getting drunk. I was in Colorado Springs at the time. My relationship with my girlfriend was a mess, I was constantly sinning and I couldn’t even keep a promise with God – a simple promise not to get drunk. It was at that time that I thought about grace. Somebody recently gave a sermon on grace and it finally hit me. All these years talking about salvation by grace through faith – it all hit me. I truly needed God’s grace. I couldn’t even keep a promise. I felt so dumb. So helpless. I broke a promise to God!
I remembered that God was holy and sin against him would remain. And if I couldn’t even keep a simple promise that I wouldn’t drink – I was worthless for anything bigger. I needed grace. I needed forgiveness. Not just cheap forgiveness which amounted to “forgetfulness.” No – I needed God, his righteousness. Which led me to thinking about Jesus on the Cross – and it all made sense – God had already provided a way out, forgiveness through Christ Jesus on the cross. Oh how wonderful that cross – oh how beautiful that painful image – oh how amazing His grace that God would associate with me and forgive me!!! Oh God how Glorious He was and is and will be forever!
I gotta say, something changed. While I felt like junk – it didn’t matter. God has good – and gracious. Not everything in my life changed. I didn’t go preaching outdoors – which I now regret. I didn’t yell it from the rooftops – which I wish I had now. But something changed during that period of time afterwards.
I started to love Bible Study – not to be right, not to hang out with fun/joyful people, but because I really wanted to be there learning about God. I started attending church regularly. I broke up with my girlfriend eventually becuase I saw how distructive our relationship was. I saw how she was stealing God’s attention in my life. I started pursuing relatioships with Christians – seeking fellowship. I had a passion to see other people come to know Jesus. God dropped a few boms on me that summer. One of my friends came out of the closet and told me he was homosexual and catholic. I got a good chance to love him, tell him the Gospel, and tell him to reject his sin. He didn’t, but this time was to try my faith against my friends. Furthermore, my parents moved across the country and I felt abandoned. Yet God was more than enough to protect me and comfort me. He became my Father.
Since then, I’ve been through ups and downs. But I can say this, God has remained in my life, an object of desire, a friend, a counselor, a King. I’ve had to change, adapt, beg for mercy, look for his influence, seek His will, learn Scripture, memorize verses, evangelize others, and more. I’ve gone on missionary trips and even gone to Seminary – but those activities are nothing compared to having a relationship with Him that comes on a daily basis by reading Scripture and praying.
I’ve also sinned since becoming a Christian. I’ve hurt people, I’ve used my mouth inappropriately, I even touched alcohol since that conversion. One time I even got drunk. I’ve disobeyed, I’ve been places I shouldn’t have and I’ve done things I shouldn’t have. But amazingly – I’m not happy I’ve done some of those things. I don’t boast in my sin. Some sins followed me after conversion. But those who were Christians around me saw these sins and have helped me see them, and turn away from them. I know that all my sin is not good, and I’m constantly making effort to battle them. Rather than boast and rejoice in messing up – I’m constantly turning to God. Turning to Him to forgive me and help me fight so that I don’t ruin His holy name and His beautiful grace.
I’m not perfect in the flesh – but by God’s grace, He sees Christ’s righteousness all around me. And while I still see my fallen face in the mirror – I know one day, by the work of Christ on the Cross – I will see another man in the mirror, one that is truly righteous and glorious – with a new body and without a sin nature still attached. One that reflects Christ most gloriously.
That’s how I got saved, what happened and where I am today.
~ Drew Lepis