Personal Testimony, Steve Amato

I appreciate having been raised a Catholic, which although it did not give me a complete understanding of Christ, did prepare me by introducing basic concepts of God's existence, sin, judgment and an appreciation of the deity and Lordship of Christ. I had a crucifix hanging on my wall and remember at one time looking at it and praying that God would help me understand what practically did Christ's death really accomplish for me personally.

Twenty some years ago, while at college, I ran into a Christian campus group the Navigators-who were doing a religious survey and talking with people about the Bible. This was new to me, as I had learned to respect the Bible, but as a Catholic I had never been encouraged to actually read it. We kept a large Bible at home, gathering dust on the shelf. But here were young people actually carrying around Bibles and excited to share their observations with others.

As they shared with me, I realized that I hadn't previously understood what the Bible had to say about salvation. In all my years of going to church it was never made clear to me what a person actually must do to go to heaven, or more generally how exactly one can have their sins forgiven in a permanent and secure manner. I hadn't realized that eternal life can be gained now in this lifetime in a permanent manner, as Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24): And this is gained, not by one's performance, but simply by faith: “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:4,5)

It took me about a year of study before I was fully convinced. But having believed, I can tell you for the last twenty years I have yet to have my faith significantly shaken, for I have a continual sense of God's presence.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life which I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)