What is Grace? Grace is an unmerited favor, or an unmerited Love. Mercy is letting the guilty go free. Ponder these verses of scripture. Romans:5:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Romans:14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Psalms:32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Proverbs:17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs:30:15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. There was a time when there was only one man in all the world that found grace in the eyes of God. (Amplified Bible) Genesis:6:7 So the Lord said, I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground--not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air--for it grieves Me and makes Me regretful that I have made them.8 But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord. If it had not been for Noah, Mankind as we know it today would probably have perished. Do you realize that every person to be born on this side of the flood was in Noah. By Grace you, and I, while everyone one else was drowning, flooded safety across the flood on Noah's ark. We were in Adam. 1Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. When did we, as saints of God, find grace in the eyes of God? Before the foundation of the world. The soul and spirit of all of God's children were created before the foundation of the world, and God elected, selected, hand picked us to be His very own children. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Ephesians:2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Can we, as saints of God be saved by faith alone? Absolutely not. Faith without works is dead. James:2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. When you work; work as if your salvation totally depends on you. Fill your life with good works. Revelation:20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. When it comes to Grace and Faith believe that your salvation totally depends on God. Example: You want a garden, you plow, you plant, you water, but the increase depends on God. God's children where predestinated before the foundation of the world, to eat of the tree of life, to live forever, to walk the street of gold in the heavenly city New Jerusalem. God planned in love for us, as we pilgrimage through this present world, so that all things that happen are for our good. Romans:8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us. Let me give you and example of Grace. Jacob and Esau where twins, before they were born, before they had done any good or evil, God said, " Jacob I love, but Esau I hate. Romans:9: 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Why do bad things happen to the children of God predestinated to spend eternity in the heavenly city New Jerusalem? It is only through much tribulation, suffering, do we enter Heaven. Acts:14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 1Thessalonians3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. Concerning "Mercy" is letting the guilty go free. With one temptation Satan caused all to sin, and sin brought death. For we were all in Adam when he transgressed the commandment of God. 1Corinthians:15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans:3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; From the time that Adam willfully transgressed the commandment of God, until Christ hang on Calvary's tree we as Gentiles were without hope of eternal life. Ephesians2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. God has concluded all of His children in unbelief that he might have mercy on all. Romans:11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. With one sacrifice Jesus has perfected all that are sanctified for ever. Hebrews:10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. If a man willfully sins after he has been called to repent, baptized into the Body of Christ, after he has received the Holy Ghost, and came into the knowledge of the truth he is like this proverb 2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. Where is eternal life? Eternal Life is in the Body of Christ. 1John:5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. How do we get into the Body of Christ? We are baptized into the Body of Christ. Acts:2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Galatians:3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. You can recognize your brothers and sisters in Christ, because they will not willfully sin. 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. The bible is actually two wills; the Old Testament, and the New Testament. If a man makes two wills, then dies it is only the Last will and Testament that is valid. Therefore, since the death of Christ Jesus the New Testament is in force, valid. The Old Testament is history and prophesies. According to the New Testament there are certain thing God's Children must do to inherit, and certain things we must not do. To inherit we must be of the Elect, we must repent, we must be born of water, baptized, and born of the Spirit, we must receive the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. We must be obedient to the commandments of God. We have all sinned but we do not continue in sin after we are called to repentance, justified, glorified, translated out of the world and into the Body of Christ after that we have received the knowledge of the truth. Romans:6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? When a person comes into the knowledge of the truth, knows about the willful sin. Hebrews:10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? We avoid sin, even the appearance of sin. 1Thessalonians:5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. There are men that preach once you are saved you cannot lose your salvation; but that is heresy. If a person circumcises themselves with the intent to keep the law that God gave to Moses, they will fall from grace, and Christ will not profit them anything. Galatians:5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. When we the Elect of God are baptized into the Body of Christ, and receive the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost we become a member in the Body of Christ. We are not saved by our life, but by the life that Jesus Christ lived. Romans:5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. When we, as saints of God, place our faith in Christ Jesus for our salvation, place of faith, and trust in the blood He shed on Calvary's cross for our redemption, God allows us to declare the righteousness of Jesus for the remission of sins pass. Romans:3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
|