your own salvation experience

[Christ_empowered]

Not trying to get too personal, but...

...the thread on predestination got me thinking about individual salvation/getting saved experiences, and how that could play into TULIP or maybe Arminianism. My own experience makes me lean towards TULIP (OK, I also grew up with that and had a calvinist minister as a counselor...), but lots of people have different experiences.

So..if you feel like it...share about when you got saved.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I'm a believer in free will. Definitely not Calvinist, probably not Arminian. I'd say I have a pretty free thinker mindset, and have since I was...about 16. Which was when I began taking my faith seriously.
There are times where I wanted to or was very tempted to leave the faith, and I've often described it as "God wouldn't let me". Even so, free will seems to be involved, as where I am in my faith has been repeatedly dependent on choices I have made, be they poor or wise. Though, no, I don't believe these choices affect my salvation status, and I suppose it could be conceivably argued that I had no choice in my salvation.
But I wouldn't say so. I don't remember much about my first choice to accept Jesus into my life, other than it happened and I do recall this one brief moment from that. I'm not entirely sure if my salvation started there or later on, though I tend to think it did start there.
When I took my faith deeper in my teen years, it was initiated on it being challenged by unbelievers, and being overwhelmed by their arguments but not wanting to just drop the entire belief system. I would say that I chose to keep holding onto it and seeking God until He showed up and removed all doubts. But I suppose it could also be argued that the circumstances God placed me are what shaped the choices I made rather than my own free will. I wouldn't say so, but things can be looked at in multiple ways that may not even be entirely wrong.

Perhaps in reality it's a combination of both--the ability for us to make choices, but also for God to shape our choices.

 

[Eugene]

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow (because God knew I received Jesus as my Savior), he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Was I forced to choose God, and why did I?
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Again because God knew foreknew me as His son)

Why? Is it because God knew would become saved? Do any believe God had this same plan for those below.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Sounds like many scientists)
(Next thing you know they’ll attempt to give weather reports with their 0-100% probabilities)

 

[Nordica]

My mum started taking me to Protestant church when I was 10; I liked it, but I understood the importance of personal relationship with God only when I turned 18 and moved to a different country to a much bigger city than I grew up in. I was there all alone and I realised that without God I would just get lost in everything this city has to offer. Like a boat without clear direction and sails. God protected me there, guided me and poured His love onto me. As time passed, I also managed to see my imperfections as to what a wretched sinner I was, and that Jesus also personally died for me, and the need to wholeheartedly repent and cling to God.