My Testimony - How I crossed from death to life

My name is Akpagu Chiemeziem Victor. I am a Nigerian and was born before the year 2000 to two wonderful Christian parents. Our home wasn't so religious but certain standards were set.  We went to church regularly, had devotions, dressed well and tucked in, only Jesus' music was allowed. I remember enjoying some beats so much but I dare not shake my head talk less of shake my feet with rhythm once I heard "baby" in the song- it was not a Jesus song.

I am sure you get the picture of my upbringing. We were good boys but only I knew the struggles and unrest I was having inside. Truly all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). That I was born in a Christian home didn't exclude me. I had the nature of sin.  I remember my frustration with lying, I just told myself that when I grew up I won't lie anymore. Guess what, I grew up and more fruits of that nature blossomed. I was a slave to sin and was destined for hell, death was the penalty. Romans 6:23 says "the wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus".

I was dead in sin and that I was born in a Christian home and doing good didn't mean I was saved. Titus 3:5 says "He saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us the through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit". It is never by works, salvation is a gift of grace through faith, Ephesian 2:8,9 says "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -not by works, so that no one can boast". It became a concern in my heart. The words in Revelations 3:20 (Here I am, I stand at the door and  knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and him with me) describe perfectly what God was doing in my heart. I needed a Saviour. I am thankful for the exposure to the word of God I had in my family. They kept accumulating. My parents had set the standards and they tried to always do it from God's word. I remember my Dad correcting me with his Big Black Bible, the several instructions from my mum, house fellowship meetings and church services. God was at work.

Then one day during a Sunday Service I made a public declaration to receive Jesus in my life. There had been  a series of teachings about Salvation for some weeks. The scripture I remember that was shared was John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life". That was it,  I received eternal life and got saved from condemnation because I believed in Jesus.

How do I know this? God gave me an assurance in John 5:24. It says "I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life". I have taken God's word for it. I have crossed over and will not be condemned. I now have eternal life.

What highlights do you have from this testimony? Do you have a testimony like this? If your answer is no, would you like to have a testimony like this? Please let me know.

Thank you for reading. Looking forward to hearing from you

Peace!

Akpagu V.C.