As a short term missionary in St. Petersburg, Russian, it was my privilege to have a very well trained interpreter.

     The Lord opened doors for me to share the gospel and Alla became convinced of her need for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. She knew that she was a sinner. But she had a problem. How could she be made fit for Heaven without doing something? How could it be free. She simply did not understand.

     One day, coming out of a Bible class at the hospital, Alla said: "I am trying so hard to believe, but there must be something for me to do". "No, the bible teaches that believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to get to Heaven".

     Two weeks later, walking down the same corridor, I asked her if she was still trying hard to believe. "Yes", she said quickly," but I still think there must be something that I must do, it is just too simple to just believe". Again I assured her: "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved". She answered very positively, "I DO, I BELIEVE IT", and her eyes lit and I knew that she saw and understood salvation. Alla found assurance of salvation when she confessed her faith 'with her mouth'. The Lord had already seen the faith in her heart.

     "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him (the Lord Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved.

                                                                                        Lillian Benner

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