My Roman Road Testimony

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Yes, pride has a way of blocking   this truth. I realize if I’m truthful with myself  that, still today I struggle with my attitude, thoughts, actions. I may not do the obvious sins like murder, steal, commit adultery…but I’m just as guilty at being selfish, feeling sorry for myself, pride, laziness, inconsistent, and lack of discipline. One sin keeps me away from God…who am I to judge anybody else?

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

I can get myself really low sometimes and talk myself into a mess. I can be hardest on myself for my short comings. I’m so grateful that God knows me down to the core of my heart, better than anybody else, even myself. God knows the worse of me…yet He still loves me just as I am. He still wants me to live with Him for eternity! I find comfort in knowing that.

“Jesus replied I assure you; unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

This was the turning point verse. That August 1981 evening at my kitchen table at 2230 Campus Drive, St Charles Missouri. The preacher telling my new husband and me about how to be “saved”. I don’t remember a word he said, but this scripture. This scripture jumped out at me. God was talking to me. God was telling me that this was it, this was the second that would change my life…that very moment. Had I chose not to believe this verse and accept this truth, I shudder to think what my life would be like now. I would’ve been a mess. I truly believe I would not be writing this right now.

“Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

God had a plan all along. I can’t say I fully explains the concept of the Holy Trinity. Just that I accept it and believe in it. Being raised a Catholic I think helped me in this area. Continually being reminded this, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I feel sometimes the Catholic religion gets a bad rap at times. I don’t believe in all the Catholic traditions, but I do know there are practicing Catholic Christians.

“If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord. And believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. Now the scripture says, no one who believes on Him will be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

         Now here’s the part I’ve been trying to tell those who think this is a religion. NO! Not a religion. A RELATIONSHIP! One God-ONLY ONE! Religion is a way people worship God…some are correct, some are not. But…whatever religion you are…without God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit…without John 3:3, you are lost and doomed for HELL..BUT with God, with John 3:3 you are a CHILD of GOD! A RELATIONSHIP! (now I’ll get off my  soap box)

 

"And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
Wow! Speaking of relationship…If we Christians…all of us would live this verse always, our world would be such a better place. I hate to admit it, but I’m the first to fail here, every day. I want to live for Christ, I really do…but I always seem to let my ‘self’ sneak through. I’m so glad God is a forgiving, patient, Holy God!

“Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and have dinner with him and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Yes! I remember God knocking at my heart when I was young. My dad would talk to me about the Bible. I looked forward to going to church and religion school. I hungered for God’s Word. I prayed for God’s help in everything. I know now that it was God seeking me, knocking and waiting for me to answer. I’m so glad He knocked on my door.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that anyone who believes in Him will not perish  but have eternal life.” John 3:16

I love this verse. I’m terrible at memorizing, but this one verse I have memorized. Really, God doesn’t want anybody to go to Hell. He didn’t make Hell for men, He made it for satan and the fallen angels. We, man, chose to disobey the one and only rule we were given. And even then God sent His Son so we could still spend eternity with Him. But, sadly, many people still don’t get it…