Before I discuss my thoughts on this idea of a 'moment', it would be wise to first clarify what salvation is, and how it comes to a person. Once you are clear on this, then I'd like to present a particular conviction I have regarding experiencing a 'moment' when salvation presents itself.
The gospel is received by hearing the message of Christ's cross work.
(Hearing means, "having the message communicated and understood".)
Redemption does not happen just because you responded to an altar call after a prosperity message. Redemption does not happen after being scared into a confession for Christ by a hell-fire preacher. Redemption is not reading a baseless gospel tract that asks you to invite Jesus into your heart. When you try to argue someone into faith, they may concede to the strength of your argument, but faith was not produced. Please understand; God can use all the above to get their attention and bring them to a "receptive" state, but without a genuine presentation of the message of the gospel of grace, and without the faith that comes from that message, men are blind. Redemption is first hearing (understanding) the Gospel message of the cross-work of Christ, and then recognizing and responding by faith to God's conviction on your heart.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"
God prepares our hearts for the Gospel; God alone draws and convicts us.
Salvation "by grace through faith" requires God's enablement – "it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:9). An unsaved person cannot pump up (or create in themselves) genuine faith to believe; Why not? Because they are spiritually dead. (1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 2:1).
No person arrives at the point of genuine "saving faith" by or of their own mental ascent. It is the result of God's work/grace in our spirit by His Holy Spirit conviction. (see also Romans 10:14-16)
Galatians 1:15-16 But WHEN IT PLEASED GOD, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME...
John 16:7-11 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He [the Holy Spirit, not the pastor or evangelist] will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Scriptural examples of God's grace at work
Through God's grace, the Holy Spirt draws you into a godly conviction where your response is heartfelt and real, where there is a needful desire or wanting to draw near to Him.
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
1 Corinthians 1:30 ... but of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
Ephesians 1:18 ...the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 12:2 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What is this 'moment' I have been alluding to?
I cannot put this idea down to a scripture reference, but I can chalk it up to personal experience; not that I promote any experience, or feelings, or emotions as important when it comes to spiritual details. However, I find it relatable to present it as experiencing a spiritual 'moment' that comes to you by the workings of the Holy Spirit.
Think of it this way. When the gospel of grace is presented, a hearer will come under conviction of the message (Acts 16:14). This conviction is the workings of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of that person (John 16:7-11). The conviction felt in the heart is effectively that 'moment' experienced. In this moment, truth becomes real. In this moment, faith is present to believe. In this moment, one recognizes one's guilt before a Holy God, but at the same time is flooded with love and acceptance. It is in this 'moment' where you are faced with a choice. Either one believes and responds to this moment, (in which salvation occurs instantaneously), or one brushes it aside and rejects that experience.
Because God creates these moments, He will continue to impress on one's heart more moments through His love, His patience, and His will for a person to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). But, these moments can come to an end. In other words, there will come a day and an hour where one would receive their last opportunity to respond to God. Only God knows that day and hour, and His righteousness and judgement is true and cannot be questioned. It is of great importance and of eternal value to respond to God while His grace and salvation is available.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured [sustained] thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
With this said, let me present you with a video example of this 'moment'. I realize this is just a movie clip, but it is my opinion that it presents this moment in a way that can be related to and understood. It is just a practical way of showing an instance of what this moment might look like.
Video Example of Presenting the Gospel
Scene: Paul is talking to a Roman soldier and having probably shared the good news over a series of days or weeks shares this dialogue with him:
I wasn't trying to convince you ... (was not trying to influence, sway,
persuade or argue the message) ... Listen to me ...
There's only a moment ... It's not me; It's Christ Himself that looks upon you and shatters
your defences ... And in that moment, you will know that you are completely known by God, and completely
loved. I will pray
that moment
comes for you ...
(this is all we can do; deliver the gospel and pray for the person to
experience that moment of God's love).
Note: Paul does not lead him in prayer, he does not press him for an answer, he does not try to convince him. Why! Because Paul cannot save him! The conviction of the soldier will be the work of the Spirit. The decision he makes is between himself and God and would be in response to the faith that God puts on his heart at that moment when his heart is contrite and receptive. Again, this is a moment entirely between himself and God and not a man-made outcome. All Paul can do is pray for that moment to come.
Click here to view a clip from the movie "Paul, Apostle of Christ*" when 'Paul' says, "there's only a moment".
*Paul, Apostle of Christ is a 2018 American biblical drama film written and directed by Andrew Hyatt. It stars James Faulkner as Paul and Jim Caviezel as Luke.
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