When we talk about being saved, Christians generally believe that they have been saved from the penalty of their sins and assured a place in heaven.  Denominations vary as to the details of what salvation means and of how we get saved.  Perhaps Roman Catholic churches have the most deliberate system of training children that begins with the baptism of infants and then lead the children through the catechism and the sacraments of confession, first communion, and confirmation.  Records of participation in these sacraments provide evidence of salvation, and membership in the RC Church.

Some Protestant denominations baptize infants while others dedicate infants and their parents to raise them in the faith.  Training of children is through Sunday School, leading to a confirmation class before they graduate and leave their parent’s home.  In my youth, the confirmation class produced a letter, testifying that I was a bona fide member of the “Church Universal” that could be transferred to another protestant church. Some protestant churches close each service with a brief message and prayer to receive Christ as savior and offer baptisms as people respond to those altar calls. 

If the message of salvation was prominent in Sunday school, youth group, or sermons that I attended in my youth, my hard heart, did not hear those invitations.  I responded once to an altar call at a Christian summer camp and in high-school I completed a confirmation class.  Neither of those events seemed to have altered my faith or life, at the time.  

Words are very powerful.  Jesus tells us that we will be condemned or justified by our own words at our judgement (Matthew 12:37).  Being confirmed, I surely spoke words of commitment to Jesus and to God.  Perhaps that gave God permission to pursue me and to make the fruit of my poor choices bitter until I began living for Jesus.  I clearly remember four times during my college years, when people tried to return my attention to God. 

Finally, as a new believer, at the age of 35, I started attending church, Sunday School and Bible studies religiously.  At that point, hearing the Word preached and taught had a huge impact on my life and behavior.  I changed from a fearful, angry, critical, and harsh mother and wife and grew in the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galations 5:22).   Gradually, I learned how to be good servant of God.   Frequently I heard the message that we are all children of God, Jesus is our friend, and we are His Bride, and even a royal priesthood.  The implication seemed to be that these relationships are an automatic result of being saved.  In spite of that, my personal relationship with God grew more distant, not closer.  I no longer heard God’s voice clearly.   I had become dependent on what others said about Him and about who I am and how I am fit to serve Him.  There were no sermons on how to become a friend or child of God or how to prepare to be the bride or a royal priest. 

A few days before His crucifixion, Jesus addressed His disciples at the Passover supper, saying, “No longer do I call you servants…but I have called you friends” (John 15:15).  They had devoted three years to living with Jesus, learning to trust and obey Him in all things.  It takes time to develop the closeness and trust of a friendship.  We expect even more from our relationships with our parents, children, and brothers or sisters.  The level of intimacy and loyalty needed in marriage are so great that the bride and groom enter into a legal contract and a covenant before God.

II Peter 3:9 says “The LORD is not slack concening His promise, … but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  All people are offered the free gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus.  New believers are expected to become His servants, which requires transformation by the Holy Spirit and training through fellowship with other believers. After the LORD pushed me out of the nest, I began to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, to hear God’s voice again, and exercise the authority that Christ bestows on His followers. God invites every believer to more: to become His child, to be a servant of Jesus, our great High Priest, to be a friend of Jesus who matures to become His Bride.  True discipleship teaches us to have our own, intimate relationship with Elohim, the Three in One.  We can learn to wait, to listen, and to submit our will to His will.  It is a personal choice, but if you say “Yes,” expect Him to take you at your word.