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The Gospel

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​The word “gospel” means “Good News”! The good news Jesus Christ brought the world was that God was offering salvation from sin. What does this mean?
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God created humankind to be his children and to share his love with them. Love, however, requires freedom and cannot be coerced. Unfortunately, the first humans used their freedom to rebel against God which caused their spiritual separation (“death”) from him (Genesis 2).
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​This was the first, or “original” sin. Sin is acting against God’s loving will for his creatures. After this original sin, the human race lost its divine life (the one God shared with humans) and this made it virtually impossible to live according to God’s love (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8)
We remain God's beloved creatures, but we begin our human life outside of God's divine life. This state causes weakness of body, intellect, and will – all resulting in suffering. God did not make us for this kind of life (Romans 7); however, he does not force us to turn away from it and toward his love. Those who willfully persist in a life apart from God will spend forever apart from him after death (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:15). But what of those who wish to end the spiritual separation we are born into?
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​God the Father’s solution to this sad state was to send his divine Son, Jesus Christ, into the world as a human being just like us (only without the stain of original sin –John 1:14; Hebrews 4:15). At his incarnation, Jesus assumed a human nature in the womb of Holy Mary. Why did the Son of God unite his divinity to humanity? So that humanity could become reunited to God!
​Salvation from sin is not just a “ticket to heaven” – it is becoming a child of God, partaking in God’s divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4)!
Jesus ultimately made this possible through his own suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-5). His sacrifice was of infinite value for our salvation, and we can attain it by baptism (Romans 6:3-11; 1 Peter 3:18-21). This is known as being “born again” or “born from above” (John 3:3-18).

It is by God’s grace that we are saved, through faith and for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). After baptism, we grow in God’s grace through the process of becoming holy - more and more conformed to the image of God by becoming more and more like Jesus (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2). Because of the effects of original sin, this process will involve numerous failures to be perfect. We can even choose to turn our backs on God and commit grave sins that once again cut us off from the divine life (“mortal” sins - 1 John 5:16-18 ). Because of his love, God gives us grace through the Eucharist and provides for ongoing reconciliation through the sacrament of confession (John 20:23; James 5:16; 1 John 1:6-10).
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By means of the sacraments of the Church, God can restore us to his divine life from spiritual death, unites us to his body the Church, and forgive us when we fail. In this manner we can approach the life of perfection we were made for (Matthew 5:48).

St. Joseph's Catholic Church
​A Stewardship Parish

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Location

1813 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355
​Fax (209) 551-3213

Privacy Policy

Office hours

Monday         8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday         8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday   1:00pm - 5:30pm
Thursday       8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday             8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday        Closed
Sunday           Closed

St. Joseph's phone numbers

Main Office:                                 (209) 551-4973
Faith Formation Office :              (209) 661-8817 
RCIA:                                             (209) 661-8803
STJMOD Help Line:                      (209) 551-0229


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Copyright © 2021 St. Joseph's Catholic Church,  Modesto, California. All rights reserved.
STJMOD, St. Joseph's Modesto, The Holy Family and Live the Faith Logo are registered trademarks of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
  • Our Parish
    • Mass Times
    • World Youth Day 2023
    • Sacraments >
      • Holy Eucharist
      • Reconciliation (Confession) >
        • Examination
      • Confirmation >
        • Confirmation (Adult)
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Baptism >
        • Pre Baptism Class English
        • Pre-Bautismo Clase en Español
      • Marriage >
        • Marriage
      • Holy Orders
    • Consecration to St. Joseph
    • St. Joseph's Library
    • About Catholicism >
      • The Gospel
      • The Church
      • The Faith
      • Stewardship
      • Becoming Catholic/Returning to the Church
      • Defend the faith
      • More >
        • Novena to blessed Carlo Acutis
        • Holy Spirit Novena
        • Mother of Perpetual Help Novena
        • Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena
        • 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
        • Beatitudes
        • Catechism of the Catholic Church
    • Live Stream
    • STJMOD APP
    • Share your story
    • Prayer Request
    • Scholarships
    • Parish History
    • Bishop Cotta
    • Child and Youth Protection
    • BMA 2022
  • Faith Formation
    • Sacrament Preparation
    • Family Faith Formation >
      • Circle of Grace
      • Program Information
      • Why Family Faith Formation
      • Online Resources
    • Adult Faith Formation >
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
      • STJMOD Daughters of the King (Women's Faith Study)
      • St. Joseph's Workshop (Men's Faith Study)
    • Teen Faith Formation >
      • Sacrament Preparation
      • Becoming Catholic
      • High School Youth (Grade 9-12)
      • Middle School Youth (Grade 6-8)
      • Retreats
    • Children's Faith Formation >
      • Sacrament Preparation >
        • First Holy Communion Guidelines
      • Becoming Catholic
      • Adoration for Children
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word
      • Vacation Bible Retreat
    • Homeschool Families
  • News
    • Funerals
    • Events
    • About Voting as Catholics
    • Fr. Sam's Blog
    • Publications >
      • Parish Bulletin
      • Live the Faith Magazine
      • Promote your event
      • Stewardship Resources
    • World Record Attempt
  • Get Involved
    • Stewardship Renewal!​ 2023
    • Traveling Chalice Family Sign-Ups
    • Ministry Pages >
      • Josephs Juniors
      • Men's Workshop
      • Daughters of the King
      • STJMOD Young Adult (Ages 18-25)
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    • Stewardship
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Community Life Stewardship
    • Youth Volunteers
    • Parish Leadership
    • Militia of the Immaculata
  • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Registration Inquiry
    • Homeschool Info
    • Job Opportunities
    • Survey
  • Donate Now