All humans share one heart-rending truth: we are born into sin. “For all have sinned…” (Romans 3:23). Even after we place our faith in Jesus for salvation, we discover that sin’s effects constantly push to the surface of our life.
I used to say, “We are sinners saved by grace.” And while this may sound noble, it does not express what the Bible really teaches. After accepting Jesus as our personal Savior, we are no longer defined by sin, but by His righteousness. I love what British evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said: “To say that you’re a saved sinner is like saying you’re a married bachelor. You can’t be a saved sinner. You’re either saved, or you’re a sinner.”
If we continue to see ourselves as sinners after we come to Christ, we possess what we confess. I was converted at age fourteen, and like most teenage boys, I struggled. I lived in a state of perpetual condemnation, not fully understanding my dilemma. I was saved, but obviously still broken.
Everyone, of course, has a story. The only way I know to explain the terms “brokenness” or “soul wounds” is by sharing mine. Negative experiences attach themselves to our soul — mind, will and emotions — and create what is called “soul wounds.” Painful memories produce negative emotions which download into the deep recesses of our mind.
Generally speaking, my boyhood home was characterized by the presence of fear. This became my number one nemesis during my early years. Close behind were feelings of rejection. I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome when I was twenty-three. The doctor said, “My best guess is that you have suffered from this malady since your boyhood.”
Fear also came from childhood traumas. I almost drowned when I was nine years old, and the enemy placed upon me a dreadful fear of water. For this reason, it took me four years to get water baptized after I was saved…