We need Jesus, because we need LIFE! God gave us life and the devil wants to take it away. Satan is clever. He’s the wolf dressed up in sheep’s clothing. He doesn’t look like the devil. He’s either very charismatic or could even be sweet and gentle like a “wise man” or priest. Lost sheep can easily be led astray. Coming from both a Catholic and a Progressive background, I fell for the deception. I was told that all I needed to do was be a good kid, go to church, treat everyone nice and I’d have my ticket to heaven. How lost I was! I’m so glad that God kept pursuing me! I kept resisting, but He didn’t let go. He didn’t give up. (My testimony at the bottom of this post.)
Made Alive with Christ Ephesians Chapter 2
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Oneness and Peace in Christ
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
A Temple for the Lord
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2 NLT
The Gospel Truth is in Verses 8-10…
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
Grace is a Gift!
This is from one of the many excellent Bible Studies in the Free YouVersion Bible app….
The meaning of “Grace.”
It means “continual favour,” “eternal love,” “unfailing kindness,” and “tender mercy”—all those things rolled into one! Grace challenges us at every level of our being, because the Bible tells us that grace is for the graceless. It’s not grace if it is given to the deserving.
And that’s what God does:
For God so loved the world (John 3:16)… That’s grace!
This Man receives sinners (Luke 15:2)…That’s grace!
Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven to men (Matthew 12:31)… That’s grace!
Every believer in Jesus has been blessed by the grace of God that comes to us through our Lord Jesus Christ:
For the law was given through Moses; grace…came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
Grace is not some abstract theological concept. Grace is love incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. Grace came to us at Bethlehem, on the shores of lake Galilee, and on a hill outside Jerusalem. And Grace comes to us today.
Eliezer Gonzalez
Have You Received God’s Grace?
How? It’s not complicated! All you have to do is…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
It’s as simple as repenting of your sins and promising to stop sinning. That’s the first step. Then, invite Jesus into your heart. Get Baptized — Yes, you need to get baptized again! Finally, receive the Holy Spirit in your heart.
If you don’t know what to say, simply pray this prayer sincerely, humbly and wholeheartedly…
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and my life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. I surrender my whole life to you and I will follow you for the rest of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Amazing Grace


My Testimony…
- From Catholic to Prodigal: Surviving College
- From Prodigal to Progressive: Surviving Hurricanes
- From Progressive to Born Again Christian: Surviving Unemployment
Next Steps in Your New Walk with Jesus…
- Start reading the Bible daily to get to know God. If you don’t have one, I recommend the YouVersion, Bible.app and Through the Word app — both are free and have a lot of great Bible studies.
- Pray every day. Talk to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you daily.
- Find and join a Bible-believing church — preferably a non-denominational one and be baptized!
Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone Be the Glory!