Setting Biblical Standards

Using the Testimony of St. Paul as an example, and using common sense that our every breath and action should be calculated to advance the message of the gospel, a testimony of one's conversion and salvation through Jesus Christ should include, as a general guideline:

i)          What one understood about man, with particular emphasis on what one understood about their condition in the sight of a Holy God;

ii)      What one understood about God and Jesus Christ before coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ;

iii)     What circumstances or beliefs existed in one's former life that impeded one to understand, or believing the gospel;

iii)     What events and circumstances of one's former life prepared one to receive the gospel or to perceive in their life a need for a Savior;

iv)     How one came to hear the gospel; and

v)      How one came to believe the gospel, including motivations that drew one to consider the gospel, and how any impediments to faith were overcome.

A clear presentation of the gospel message should be woven into a conversion testimony, both for the salvation of unbelievers, and the edification of believers.

In any presentation of the gospel, great care should be taken to ensure that the hearer does not misconstrue works as being a necessity for salvation or assurance of salvation.  The Christian "testimony" is no exception.

An invitation to faith, given with humality, is a reasonable conclusion to the presentation of one's testimony.