As I grew up our family was one that centered upon serving our Lord Jesus.  My parents were very actively involved as lay-people in Mukwonago Baptist Church (MBC).  The Bible was passionately taught at MBC which helped me realize at a young age (10 years old) that I was a sinner in need of someone to save me.  The focus of the Bible points to the fact that Jesus alone is able to save people from their sin and its penalty. As all this began to make sense in my 10 year old mind I felt the need to discuss this matter with my parents.  They wisely took God's Word, the Bible, and showed me that Jesus bore my sin penalty through His death on the cross.  Then three days later He rose from the grave demonstrating His power over death and sin.  That day (September 12, 1984) I personally called upon Jesus to be my Savior because there is no one or nothing else in the world a person can depend upon to save us from our sin.  The following year (when I was 11) I chose to publicly testify of my salvation by being baptized by immersion and joining MBC.

Even though our family was VERY religious that was not enough to save me.  A person cannot be saved just because his parents were good or religious people.  My parents were good but certainly not perfect.  The Bible says in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  It is because of this sin problem that we need a Savior.

Also in John 3:3 Jesus told a very religious, Jewish man, "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."  This man named Nicodemas had to do something more than just be religious in order to enter God's kingdom.