I grew up living in a Christian home. My father was a full-time Baptist pastor and my family and I attended church every Sunday morning, evening, Wednesday night and any other time the doors were open. I felt like I was a good person. I not only heard how much Jesus loved me at church, but my home life was filled with the Bible and teaching as well. But sadly, I never understood the Gospel of Christ until I was in my early 20’s, married and with a child. During this time of raising a family I began to experience doubt and fear in my life. So, I began attending more worship services and volunteering for more opportunities in my church, thinking that would cure what was ailing me.

It was in the middle of all this busyness I realized I was a sinner who was separated from God and would be for eternity (Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23). But thank God for godly influences in my life. It was through these influences I soon began to understand how much God loves me by sending His Son into the world to die for my sin and the sin of the entire world so I could be forgiven (Romans 5:8) (John 3:16). I saw clearly for the first time in my life that I could never do enough to work my way to heaven. (Romans 3:10) says no one is good. Salvation is a gift that is received by faith by trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for my salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

When I finally understood salvation explained through Scripture, I had a calm assurance of what Christ had done for me. Now I no longer struggle with doubt of fear on the level I had before. I have experienced ultimate freedom just in knowing God loves me and wants what is best for me. This journey with Christ has been an awesome ride. I know His Holy Spirit is living in my life, teaching, and leading my daily. You can experience this same freedom if you will trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins. 

(Acts 22:1-21) CSB

¹“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”²When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. ³He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.⁴I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, ⁵ as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. ⁶“As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. ⁷I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

⁸“I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ ⁹Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰“I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’¹¹“Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus.¹²Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there, ¹³came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him.

¹⁴And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, ¹⁵ since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’¹⁷“After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance ¹⁸and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’¹⁹“But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. ²⁰And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’ ²¹“He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

How do I tell my story? 

1. Tell about your life Before You Received eternal life in Christ 

The Apostle Paul tells his story three times in the book of Acts, but it is in Acts 22 that a pattern of how to do it emerges. In verses 3-5 he told what he was like before he received eternal life in Christ. He was an educated Jewish man who was passionate about the Law of God so much so, that he persecuted those who disobeyed it, especially those who followed Christ. 

You can learn from Paul here and do the same thing in telling your story. Pick a time in you life that illustrates what it was like for you to be without the assurance of eternal life. It could be that you had feelings of guilt, fear or simply felt there was nothing to live for. Follow Paul’s example and be as specific as possible and keep it short. None of us are born into the world as believers, so all of us have a preconversion experience.

2. Tell How You Received eternal life in Christ 

Verses 6-11 give the account of how Paul came to Christ. He was on his way to arrest Christ followers and all of a sudden, he was blinded by a bright light. He heard the voice Jesus tell him that He was the One Paul was persecuting and to get up and go to Damascus and he would be told what to do from there. Although blind, he obeyed Jesus and was led to Damascus. 

Paul had a life changing experience. If you have encountered Christ, then you have had a life changing experience too. This is an awesome statement to use in your story to describe your conversion. It creates a desire in others to know how to get to heaven. But remember, you probably will not have had the same blinding experience that Paul had. It doesn’t mean your story is not powerful. Every salvation experience is powerful because it is a miracle of God. Tell about that miracle!

3. Tell about the Recent Benefits of Receiving eternal life in Christ 

The last section of these verses tells how Paul’s life changed. He went from being a persecutor of believers to one of the most passionate witnesses for the Gospel. Although a Jew, he would be a witness to the rest of the world, the Gentiles. 

Just like Paul you need to include statements and recent events that have reflected God’s forgiveness in your life. By doing this you are helping others see the evidence in your life of your assurance of salvation. Let those around you know that you are assured of your salvation and that if you died tonight, you know where you would spend eternity.