Pierrette Chen 陳語曦

Editor’s Note: Salvation was never something I could earn by being good enough; it was a free gift of God’s grace that I could receive by putting my faith in Jesus.

I grew up in a Christian household and went to church every Sunday. I grew up learning about God and reading the Bible. I learned about how Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again three days later. In the Children’s Ministry, I remember learning about A.B.C. : Admit, Believe, and Confess. 

• Admit means recognizing that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death (6:23). 
• Believe means trusting that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, died on the cross for our sins, and conquered death (Romans 10:9; John 3:16). 
• Confess, to declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10) and that God raised him from the dead and to accept the free gift of salvation. 

Transitioning to middle school, I was faced with many temptations. I recognized that I was a sinner and fell short of God’s expectations. I thought that I could overcome them through my own strength, but was unable to and gave in to many temptations, sinful thoughts and desires. I think my relationship with God started to become more and more distant as the years passed. I was still going to church and participating in church activities and fellowship, but my heart and attitude were not in the right place. 

But I think this past year, God really gave me a change of heart. I was still doing the same things but I was beginning to see God work in my life. I was also able to reflect on the recent years and I realized how much I had sinned and how far I had strayed from God. My relationship with God seemed unfixable. It felt like God didn’t want me. It felt like I wasn’t good enough and didn’t deserve the free gift of salvation. My sins seemed so great that I struggled to believe they could truly be forgiven. 

One day, during the First Fruits fellowship, Ryan was leading a discussion. Through that discussion, my doubts began to fade as I was reminded that God does want me, that He loves me, and that Jesus had already fully paid the price for my sins. I began to believe that my sins were not greater than what Jesus had done for me on the cross. 

A few days later, I prayed to God, asking whether He truly accepted me and if my sins were fully forgiven. I felt God’s presence reassuring me. As the days went on, I prayed to God a little each day about my doubts, and each time I felt more assured that God loved me and my sins were all paid for. I began to realize that salvation was never something I could earn by being good enough; it was a free gift of God’s grace that I could receive by putting my faith in Jesus. 

I repented of my sins and received the free gift of salvation. I am willing to turn away from all the sinful desires of the world, not through my own strength, but through the strength God will provide me. Although there are still many temptations in my life, I know I am able to rely on God to help me face them. For example, at home when I was annoyed by my siblings, I prayed to God and he helped me to be calmer and to walk away from the situation. This means that although my sins will not disappear completely, I can ask God to give me the power to turn away from these temptations. 

By believing that Jesus came and died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again, my sins are fully forgiven for. I will continue to pray to God and talk to God, read the Bible, fellowship with other believers, and strengthen my relationship with God.