Christians...does salvation always happen in one defining moment? please read details?

Question

i hear a lot of born again Christians saying that they were saved at one special moment that changed their lives. i didn't have this. i prayed to God that He would show me the truth, and he slowly opened my heart up to Jesus Christ. it was a process, i didn't have one defining moment where i was saved. i read the Bible and God showed me its truth over time, and then i accepted Jesus as my savior.

Answer 1

You stated that you " prayed to God that He would show me the truth". There it is. When you prayed that prayer was your defining moment. We all need to work out our salvation from that defining moment in our lives whenever that might have been.

Answer 2

I understand your question - and I am going to answer by sharing something that God taught me, through many years of being a believer. Salvation does happen in a moment- the moment that you accepted Christ as your Savior, you were born again- the process that leads up to that, like praying for God to show you truth, and slowing opening your heart to Jesus, is the process that God used to seek you out. Most people that I know never accept Christ the first moment they think about Him. I was raised going to church, however until I began to hear the truth for myself I did not become a believer. It took almost 18 years before I actually accepted Him as Savior. From that moment I was saved, and now 30 years have passed, and I am still learning more about my Savior and Lord- and desiring more each day to follow Him. Does that help?

Answer 3

I had a defining moment at the age of 3 that God was the Creator of the Universe. Later on I had more defining moments which all led me to one big moment when the veil was lifted off my spiritual eyes and suddenly I understood and with that understanding gave my heart to Jesus. Then God revealed Himself to me in many ways, through His presence and for 7 years I felt like I was high in Jesus. Then He took His presence away and I had to start walking my life in faith and no-longer by site.
I believe that God reveals Himself to each person in the way that He knows is best for them. After all, He knows each of us intimately, even the number of hairs on our heads. He knows us because He designed each one of us. He knows every incident and crucial moment in our lives. For some people, they need a definite moment to remember, for others, not.
But as long as they know that they're saved by Grace and not by works or anything they do. And also that Church or being baptized into a church is not what saves people either.
Only Jesus can save.

Answer 4

Many people know exactly when they responded to God's call and gave their lives to Christ. In my own experience, I can still vividly remember the night I got on my knees after reading a Gospel tract and committed my life to Jesus. However, God was also dealing with over a period of about 2 weeks. Friends were giving me Bible verses to look up, and I was doing so every night. And God was revealing Himself to me.
Paul had a very decisive conversion experience; on the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him and from that moment on he dedicated his life to Christ's service. But Peter, on the other hand, wavered in his faith, and the Bible doesn't tell us exactly when he "crossed the line" and decisively committed his life to Jesus.

The most important question for you (or anyone else) is this: Are you now trusting Jesus Christ alone for your salvation? Do you know that if you were to die tonight, you would awaken in Christ's presence? The Bible is clear: "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12). If you are trusting Christ, your salvation is secure.

Answer 5

It works in all different ways to different people. But the Bible says to work out your own soul salvation with much fear before the Lord. That means to be careful what you believe is right, because it may not be. To judge and weigh the odds of things. See the good and bad in all things before you decide on what to say or do. Ask yourself, would Jesus really do that, or say that. What is OK for some, may not be OK with others. Don't do as the next person, work it out between you and God, what for you to do. Learn to use your conscience. If you think bad over something, then it is. If you think good over something, then most likely it is.

Answer 6

Salvation is an on going process and must be worked on daily. Just saying you believe in Christ does not save you. With faith comes works and part of our works is to work on our salvation. God will never take the gift of salvation from us, but we can surely walk away from it and reject it The bible says "those who endure til the end shall be saved"


"As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)."

Answer 7

The Bible is the only authority to give an answer to your question my friend. It says in Acts 16:30-31... Sirs what must i do to be saved? Believe on the lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. It says the moment this guy believes the Lord he will be saved. John 1:12 But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Friend the moment you belived and received Christ you became His son. This is the defining moment you are saved. It is the time you realized that you need Christ to save you and trusted him as your saviour then you are saved. From that moment onwards to eternity. May God bless you!

Answer 8

I read the New Testament for the first time with understanding, and my hands started shaking uncontrollably with this understanding and I had one thought "Today, March 13, is the day I have been saved". The understanding of God and Science, that there are no contradictions, and the awesome beauty of God's plan to save us through Jesus Christ yet allowing for human development and reaching our human potential with this realization, and that we are evolving towards God. 18 hours later, spontaneously and involuntarily, God gifted me with a Baptism of the Holy Spirit with wisdom and fire where I was united intimately with Him in untold bliss and joy, in eternity. After this, I changed from negative to positive, angry to love for all, upset to untold joy, etc.

So yes that 18 hours was a life-defining moment, and two separate events, my salvation came before my Baptism, but God's gift of my Baptism wouldn't have happened without my salvation 18 hours earlier.

Answer 9

actually no"but you say you hear alot of 'born-again'christians saying this or that implying you are different-etc...scripture only says you must believe GOD*is&Jesus is His*son and you will be saved because we can't see nor get to GOD* by no-other means than His*son Jesus*...the ways each of us gets saved is as varied as the stars in the heavens*don't allow nobody to downplay your salvation'if you know for sure you repented for your sins and love Jesus*and He*saved your soul,...nomatter how long it took you to realize the truth...John:3:16,is the basics:)

Answer 10

They can say it was one moment, that is what sticks in their mind, usually it happens over time, God leads you to himself. Your defining moment was when you prayed what God wanted you to. Once a Christian, it is a lifelong struggle. The Bible, in the old testament God sent his angel to lead a group and God told them the angel would lead them to their enemies and if they obeyed, the would concure them. In Psalms 23, written for the living not the dead, it says He prepareth a table before mine enemies....well, if we obey God, we fight the enemy as he prepares our table. In the new testament, over and over again it talks about wrestling with spirits and wickedness in high places, not against flesh and blood. So, as a Christian, we are promised warfare not welfare. You have to fight all the time. That is why we are to learn to pray always, that we enter not into temptation and are able to fight the fight of faith. You be fine!