back to index2022-05-01 Jon Chin Baptism Testimony
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I'm a grad student, and it's a privilege to share my testimony with you today. 00:00:15.900 |
I called myself a Christian and attended church, but did not have a relationship with God. 00:00:24.240 |
I wanted to get good grades, get into a good college, and be successful by the world's 00:00:30.160 |
My junior year of high school, I worked too hard, experienced burnout, and had to drop 00:00:36.200 |
Throughout my struggle, I did not really think of God or turn to Him. 00:00:40.120 |
I was just trying to make sense of what was going on and stabilize. 00:00:44.000 |
I transferred schools, repeated my junior year, and did well at the new school. 00:00:49.440 |
I was extremely thankful to God for healing me and helping me to recover. 00:00:54.440 |
However, my relationship with God was based primarily on experience rather than belief 00:01:02.240 |
My real growth in the knowledge of the gospel started in college. 00:01:07.600 |
I attended worship services, Bible studies, and served in various capacities. 00:01:12.480 |
However, I didn't read the Bible consistently. 00:01:16.320 |
I absorbed lots of teaching about the Bible and grew closer to God, but I still desired 00:01:21.600 |
the things of this world—success, wealth, comfort. 00:01:26.760 |
I don't recall a specific moment when I received Christ, but I'll share what I came to believe. 00:01:32.880 |
I believe in the gospel, that there is a God and He is holy, righteous, and good, that 00:01:39.040 |
all mankind have sinned, fall short of God's perfect standard, and deserve eternal condemnation. 00:01:46.320 |
But God, in love and mercy, sent His Son Jesus Christ for us. 00:01:51.400 |
Jesus lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose from the dead to prove that He was 00:01:58.400 |
Jesus took the sin that was ours, and in faith we receive His righteousness. 00:02:03.720 |
And so our response should be to turn away from sin and turn towards Christ. 00:02:08.600 |
Next, I'll share when I was convicted of my sin and requested forgiveness. 00:02:15.440 |
I struggle with lust, and recently I had another relapse. 00:02:19.320 |
I felt guilty for sinning and frustrated that the struggle with lust is so hard. 00:02:27.960 |
In that moment, and others like it, I was convicted of how deep my sin is. 00:02:32.920 |
I am a sinner to the core, in need of God's love, grace, and mercy. 00:02:37.200 |
Afterwards, I prayed to God and asked for forgiveness. 00:02:40.760 |
I asked God to help me repent, turn away from sin, and turn towards Him. 00:02:46.400 |
I remembered that Christ died for my sins, and that by His blood I am forgiven. 00:02:51.480 |
I still struggle with lust, but rather than living in sin, I seek to struggle with sin. 00:02:58.560 |
Since I came to Berean, I have continued to grow closer to Christ. 00:03:01.640 |
I learned how to do inductive Bible study, which has been helpful in reading the Word 00:03:07.160 |
I have had fruitful times reading the Word where I have been challenged and encouraged. 00:03:11.800 |
I noticed interesting observations and came up with questions that I kept in the back 00:03:17.800 |
One of those questions is what it means to fear the Lord, and although I have a better 00:03:21.960 |
understanding of that now, I look forward to learning more. 00:03:26.900 |
I still desire the things of this world, but the more I love Christ, the less I care about 00:03:34.000 |
In closing, I am grateful for how God has worked in my life, and I seek to run the race 00:03:59.540 |
, and we're gonna do that in the next step. (speaking faintly)