Captivated by His Grace

     Hello everyone, and welcome to Jonra's first official blog! My name is Jonathan Ramirez for those who might not know(Jonra is my music business name).  It is a blessing to be able to write about what God has been doing in my life. I believe that what I will share with you all today will benefit you greatly. 

    

     As you can see, the title of my blog site is Grace Without Limits.  My life has never been the same ever since God began to reveal the riches of His grace in my life. I am very thankful for my spiritual father, Pastor Alberto Santiago, who has been instrumental in my life and many others in the understanding and revelation of the grace and unmerited favor of God. 

     

     Grace is not a lesson, or message, or teaching; it is the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus IS the grace of God.  

John 1:17 states: For the law was GIVEN THROUGH Moses, but grace and truth CAME BY JESUS CHRIST. In other words, Moses GAVE the people of Israel something that came from another place, almost acting as a "third party". On the other hand, grace and truth  CAME BY Jesus Christ. You can not separate grace and truth apart from Jesus. JESUS IS GRACE AND TRUTH PERSONIFIED!  Grace is the unmerited favor and kindness of God.  It is a gift.  It can not be earned; otherwise it would no longer be grace!  

     In my personal life I have struggled with condemnation for years.  I have always believed in "doing right" which actually led me to be quite hard on myself. Don't get me wrong, I BELIEVE IN DOING RIGHT, LOL. The problem was that when I did wrong, I would go into this condemnation frenzy in my mind. I would put myself down constantly.  I would think that God was completely angry and ashamed of me which led me to distance myself from Him.  It was almost like I was expecting something terrible to happen to me in order for me to learn my lesson. I knew that Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins, but I thought that righteousness was something I had to maintain. I thought I had to do x,y, and z in order to be blessed. If you are in this state my friend, know that this is not God's will for you! 

     

So what has changed me and still working in me?? THE GRACE OF GOD! It is not anything of me, but all about HIM! 

Check this verse out from Ephesians 2 verses 8-9:  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

     Today I am saved, blessed, and at peace with God not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus did for me and you at the cross!! He paid the ultimate price for the forgiveness of our sins, and was raised from the dead for our justification. I am experiencing victories like never before because His grace is my strength in my weakness. It is all by His grace. Open your heart to receive God's abundance of grace  today! You will be captivated by Him!