Life gets complicated.  We get distracted.  Discouragement rises.  And then we forget.

We forget the disaster we were before Christ.

We forget the grace and mercy of God.

We forget what Jesus saved us from and what He saved us for.

The apostle Paul was perhaps the most successful Christian the New Testament church has ever known.  He was a deep theologian, skilled teacher, effective evangelist, and aggressive church planter.  Yet he never forgot his story.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.  And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus—1 Timothy 1:12-14.

Just like Paul never outgrew his salvation story, here’s why our story still matters:

Our story stands against false teaching.

The simple yet profound Gospel changes lives.  Intellectualism, philosophy, or tradition just can’t do that.  Our salvation story stands up to the test.

Our story turns attention to God.

Apart from Christ we were desperately wicked and in big trouble.  Yet God showed us mercy.  Our story attacks personal pride and exalts the God of our salvation.

Our story provides assurance.

Insecurity and a sense of inferiority often creep into our lives.  Paul knew Timothy struggled with that (2 Timothy 1:7).  But our story reminds us that God’s grace is “more than abundant.”

Our story empowers evangelism.

Jesus “came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).  If He can save us, no one is out of God’s reach.  We are trophies of God’s grace and our story encourages others to “believe in Him for eternal life (verse 16).

Our story exalts Jesus.

If we ever think our salvation story is boring or of little value, we have missed the point.  Paul ended his testimony with a doxology giving Jesus glory (verse 17).  His story compelled unhindered worship, and so does ours.

When was the last time you shared your salvation story?  Do your kids know how you were saved?  Have your friends heard your story?  You may not have the gift of evangelism or be an accomplished apologist, but you if you are in Christ you have a simple and profound story to tell.

How has your salvation story made a difference to someone else lately?  Click the Comment button to share.