You weren’t bad—you were dead, and Christ made you new

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What if your story doesn’t start with “I should try harder,” but with “I was dead, and God made me alive”? In this episode, we open Ephesians 2 with raw honesty and real hope, tracing Paul’s unflinching diagnosis and the breathtaking interruption of “but God.” We begin with identity saints and faithful by gift, not grind. Then we face the hard truth, dead in trespasses and sins, so we can finally see that grace isn’t a moral upgrade but a resurrection. This isn’t about moving from bad to better; it’s about moving from death to life and learning to live from that new center.

We talk through the traps we all know: settling for spiritual self-help, comparing our “before” to others, and the false humility that keeps us staring in the mirror. Along the way, we return to chapter one’s anchor points chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, sealed by the Spirit, and show how they hold steady when our feelings waver. We share practical ways to reclaim identity when shame shouts, how to respond when you’ve stumbled badly, and why God has zero buyer’s remorse over you. Grace doesn’t make you nicer; grace makes you new. That truth fuels humility (no boasting), hope (no one is too far gone), and urgency (our neighbors need resurrection, not advice).

If you’ve been carrying the old you like a backpack of bricks, this conversation offers freedom and a firm place to stand. Let the “but God” of Ephesians 2 reset your expectations, restore courage, and reframe your next step with Jesus.

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