This question, "what is grace" plagued me more into
knowing the answer and being sure beyond a shadow of a
doubt.
In the beginning of time, It was God's intention to be in
fellowship with His people. We all know that sin took us
right out of that equation. But, since God is always way
ahead of Satan, He already had a plan set in motion to bring
us back to Himself, all was not lost.
He told Satan that the seed of the woman would crush his
head. That seed was Christ who would be sent to redeem
God's children and set them free from captivity to sin.
Through Christ's sinless life, death and resurrection, He
alone healed all our diseases and freed us from Satan's
trap of death. This is the doctrine of Atonement.
Christ came to earth as God in a manly form to show us the
way to become "at one" with Him. This atonement increases
our desire to enter into God's Kingdom with righteousness
and virtue. This "at one" experience is God's free gift of
grace. Yes, it is undeserved, it's unmerited but He gave us
His all in order to humble us and give Him all our praise.
God gives this free gift of grace to those who are truly
repentent of their sins. Not everyone will take it. This is not a
gift for the faint of heart. God is just and holy and therefore
He will not wince at our sins, He will punish those who do
not accept this gift.
We can either pay for our own sins, but that would take
forever and then some as we would spend our eternity in
hell. It is a serious crime against God. Or...we can let
someone else pay the price for our sins. We all have them
and Jesus is the One Who paid that price already.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but
have eternal life." John 3:16
This is the ultimate gift of unconditional love that God so
freely gives us. It's ours for the taking when we truly confess
Jesus with our mouth and mean it with our whole heart.
Upon this confession, God then makes new creatures out of
us. His grace isn't ever having to go through life on our own.
Even though things seem overwhelming, His grace is
sufficient to carry us through the tests so that they may
become our testimonies in giving Him all the glory.
Salvation is not to be presumed however. It's not just doing
good works. Being a good person who has no faith will not
earn you a place in God's Kingdom. Only true faith through
His gift of grace will get you there.
"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, that no one should boast. For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in
them." Ephes. 2:8-10
In the end times, people will listen to false doctrine and they
will ask "Where is God?" But know this, He is in you, He will
never leave you nor forsake you.
"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on
your guard lest, being carried away be the error of
unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but
grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day
of eternity. Amen" 2 Peter 3:18-19
We will have to face God on judgement day, first those of us
who are saved through grace. We will have to answer for the
deeds we did while here on earth and then those who
remain unrepentant will have to answer to Him at the Great
White Throne of Judgement before He casts them into the
lake of fire forever.
Just as He did in the days of Noah, those who weren't
prepared were destroyed in the flood. The second time
around He says He will destroy us with fire. This is
something I don't care to test Him on.
He is giving us all a chance to come into fellowship with
Him by giving us His grace and mercy. He is very patient, but
make no mistake, His patience is going to run out and when
we hear that blast of the trumpet, it will then be too late as
Christ will be on His way to collect His bride, the church,
those who accepted God's grace through repentance of
sins.
God's grace covers our sins, they are thrown away in the
Sea of Forgetfulness, and never shall they be remembered.
But it doesn't end there. We may still fall into sin and God
can't keep us from sinning, but He can give us the power to
resist them. We can't blame God for our shortcomings, they
are our own fault. But He will give us the grace to be
released from the sins.
His grace is also a divine protection. His grace gives us
peace in the middle of life's storms, it's walking in holy
sincerity with Christ and among humanity. We are God's
pioneers. We are willing to leave all, in order to gain all!
His grace also gives us knowledge and wisdom to do what
is right and then leave the rest up to Him and rest assured
that He will meet all our needs.
"I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I
perish, I perish." Esther 4:16
God's grace was shown throughout the book of Esther
although His name was never mentioned. His hand was
throughout the pages. God had hidden Esther away until He
could use her for His glory and purpose to save His beloved
children. When the time came, He positioned Esther in such
a time as this, and used her for His divine plan. As it turned
out, Esther saved her people from destruction in order that
Christ could come. All throughout history, God protected His
chosen ones for the very purpose of saving us all through
His grace. The whole Jewish nation could have easily been
wiped off the face of the earth before Christ came but for this
reason, God kept His covenant with Abraham.
God's grace is truly amazing, it's truly undeserved, it's truly
unmerited, and to knowingly turn aside from a Creator Who
loves us all without measure is truly a mystery.
I write this in hopes of reaching anyone who has not been
saved by grace and doesn't know what that undeserved,
unmerited love is truly like in their lives. God doesn't care
what you've done, He doesn't measure a man by his deeds,
He measures them by what's in his heart. Only God can fix
the mess that you made, just ask Him and leave the rest up
to Him. This is His job.
If you are need of healing and need grace just say this
simple prayer from your heart. God's gift of grace will be
delivered immediately.
"Dear Lord, I have sinned, I am a sinner. I can't do this on
my own. I recognize Your Son Christ Who died and rose
again to pay for these sins as my Savior. Please come into
my life as I give it totally unto You. I accept Your free gift of
grace for my life and will continue to live for You. Amen."
Jesus took our place that we might have His peace.
What is grace? It's Amazing!!!
Vivian Gordon inspired to teach and write by the power of the
Holy Spirit. She has been called to be a warrior for the Lord
in bringing lost souls and ones who have fallen away back
to the Lord.