Testimony of Conversion
Summer 2022
Bible text: “[Jesus] saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19).
The theme of conversion meanders through this issue of Current. By conversion, I’m referring to the truth that by grace individuals are saved by God. They are turned from darkness to light. It is my conviction, based on the Word of God, that the gospel changes people’s lives. You should see that truth in these pages. You can read a biblical story of conversion and a modern story of God changing a life. You can also read about the threat to the Christian gospel from legal challenges regarding conversion.
It is an astounding thing to claim that the Almighty God, who made the world, works in an individual to bring them out of sin into salvation. We shouldn’t minimize the boldness of that claim. The Christian can say, “The God who holds the world, changed my heart!” The fact that God works in us individually gives us a personal testimony. It is a privilege to share that testimony. God is pleased to encourage us in that task by recording the practice of converts in the Scriptures. The Psalmist gives the invitation, “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). Though the blind man had much to learn about the Lord, “one thing” he knew and witnessed: “Whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). The Lord instructed the delivered demoniac, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19). Finally, Luke records the methods of Paul who, on various occasions, used his testimony of saving grace to demonstrate the power and truth of the gospel.
We should ask the Lord for opportunities to wisely tell others about how we have been converted by the power of the gospel. Our testimony should reflect the biblical doctrine of salvation. We should explain what God has done for us by emphasizing that it is the Lord who has done all the work in our salvation. Sometimes people talk in a way that draws attention to their works. Now undoubtedly someone who rests in their works doesn’t understand the gospel. It is also true that we are responsible to believe and be active in believing. But the biblical Christian will emphasize that their confidence of being right with God rests in Christ’s work alone. They will also make much of the grace of God in changing their heart and giving them the desire and the power to call upon the Lord.
In telling our testimony we should honestly explain the way that the Lord has dealt with our souls. It is possible, as we want to be orthodox, to fail to do justice to the confusion that may exist when we first come to Christ. Our faith is often weak and marred by flaws. In our honesty we ought to be careful to show the glory of Christ and the horror of sin. Some, out of an understandable desire to show how God has worked, almost glorify their sinful past and say little of the attractiveness of Christ. Remember that in testifying we want to bring glory to God, telling others of the power of God to save and to change. Let us not be shy in witnessing to the work of God in our souls.
From the past
“If we have anything to tell others about Christ, let us resolve to tell it. Let us not be silent, if we have found peace and rest in the Gospel. Let us speak to our relations, and friends, and families, and neighbours, according as we have opportunity, and tell them what the Lord has done for our souls. All are not called to be ministers. All are not intended to preach. But all can walk in the steps of the man of whom we have been reading, and in the steps of Andrew, and Philip, and the Samaritan woman. (John 1:41, 45; 4:29) Happy is he who is not ashamed to say to others, ‘Come and hear what the Lord has done for my soul’ (Psalm. 66:16).”
From J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on Mark (Chapter 5:19)
Rev. Stephen Pollock