My name is Erin.
And I am a sinner.
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home, hearing the gospel from a very early age. We had nightly Bible studies as a family, attended church every week, and I even went to a Christian school. During our family Bible study time, we would occasionally play this old board game called
Bible Trivia and I just loved it. I felt like it was my time to shine and I took so much pride in how much from the Bible I could remember. But knowing my Bible facts, stories, and even living an outwardly “good” life did not
make up for the fact that my heart had not been changed and my eyes had not been opened. I might have been able to say the right answers from my head, but my heart was dead.
I spent many of my teenage years into my twenties searching for the emotional response to God that I saw in others. I thought this must be what true faith was, what salvation was. But the momentary emotions that I thought were the closeness to God that I longed for, would soon fade. Leaving me searching again.
I remember quite clearly when God saved me. I was speaking with a friend, proudly thinking I was giving them advice, and nonchalantly said, “Well, the Bible never said it would be easy.” That friend gently directed me to Matthew 11:28-30, which says Jesus said “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
It was in that moment that my eyes were opened. No amount of prideful trivia knowledge would make up for not really knowing God, for my sinfulness, or for my dead heart. My outwardly “good” life could not hold up to the perfect standards set by God in His word. How fitting that the verses right before, Matthew 11:25-27, say At the same time, Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Here I was thinking I was so wise, yet I knew nothing. God had to open my eyes so I could truly see. And it became so very evident to me, that
I am a sinner. And the penalty for my sin, to our perfect, holy God, who created the heavens and earth, is death. But God in His mercy, sent His Son to this earth, to live the perfect life that I could not. Jesus took my sins upon Himself, even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He endured separation from the Father, suffered a death I would not wish upon anyone, and died in my place. I know my debt of death has been paid by Christ, because He rose VICTORIOUS over sin! The grave could not hold Him! HIS perfect sacrifice was accepted as payment for MY sin.
I am a sinner, but I am forgiven.
Through Christ’s sacrifice, God sees me as something I could never be on my own no matter how hard I tried —perfect. Hebrews 10:14, “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” I did absolutely nothing to deserve this, but it was a gift from God for His glory (Ephesians 2:8-9).
I long for the day that I get to join my Saviour in heaven and see Him seated triumphant on the right hand of the Father. “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen” 1 Timothy 1:17
My desire to be baptised was in response to my salvation from sin, as an act of obedience to my Lord because I love Him and want to keep His commandments. (Romans 6:1-18)