Who or What Do You Turn To?

You’re reading your Bible on the train. The person next to you curious, friendly, and unexpectedly open strikes up a conversation. Before long, they say, “I’ve never really understood why people get so into reading the Bible and going to church. I mean, I’m a Christian. But for me, it’s about living ethically and treating people well. The Bible? Seems like it just causes arguments.”

You know the moment matters. You’ve prayed for one just like it. And here it is.

Now what?

God’s Book, God’s Word

You begin gently: “That makes a lot of sense. People do argue about religion. But for me, reading the Bible isn’t about taking sides. I figure if anyone truly knows what it means to be a Christian, it would be God. And this is His book.”

The man nods. He’s listening.

There are just a few train stops left. You don’t have time for a full theology lesson. But you do have time to show him one passage. One clear, powerful Scripture that explains who Jesus is, what God has done for us, and how we should respond.

Where would you turn?

A Clear Gospel Summary

One of the clearest, richest, and most accessible passages for a moment like this is Ephesians 2:1–10. It explains the gospel in just ten verses:

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us… made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved… not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Ephesians 2:1–10)

Here’s how you might break it down, simply and sincerely:

• “We were dead.” That’s where the passage starts. Spiritually dead not just unmotivated or misguided, but separated from God because of sin. That’s every one of us.

• “But God, being rich in mercy…” This is the turning point. God steps in, not because we earned it, but because He loves us.

• “By grace you have been saved… not a result of works.” This shatters the common idea that Christianity is about being good enough. It’s not about what we do it’s about what Christ has already done.

• “Created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Our changed lives matter. But they come after grace, not before. Good works are the result of salvation, not the requirement.

You pause. Your train stop is coming up. You smile and say, “That’s why I read the Bible. It tells me the truth about who I am, and more importantly, who God is and how He’s made a way back to Himself through Jesus.”

Why This Matters

According to Barna Group, only 34% of U.S. adults know that salvation is by grace alone not by works. That means most people around us, even many who identify as Christian, don’t actually understand the core of the gospel.

In another study, 60% of Americans believe that if a person is good enough, they’ll earn a place in heaven. But that’s the exact opposite of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2. This passage is urgent, because it speaks against one of the most common and dangerous misconceptions in our culture: that being a Christian is about being nice.

But the gospel is not about being nice. It’s about being made new.

Ready at Any Moment

1 Peter 3:15 reminds us, “Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” You don’t need a seminary degree. You just need a passage that explains the gospel clearly, and a heart ready to speak when the opportunity arises.

Maybe Ephesians 2:1–10 will become your go-to. Or maybe for you it’s Romans 5:6–8, John 3:16–18, or Isaiah 53. The exact passage doesn’t matter as much as this: have it ready. Know how you’d explain it in a minute or two, using simple words. Pray that God gives you those moments and the boldness to take them.

Because someone, somewhere, will say, “I don’t get why you’re so into the Bible.” And in that moment, you’ll smile, open God’s Word, and say, “Let me show you why.”

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