Re: Grace

i was born and raised in the church, thought I was a christian and did the best I could. As a young adult, got angry with god and ran away for a long time, and have only in the last couple of years really understood the concept of grace. I didn't understand how God could still love me and still care after all the terrible things I'd done, and not even as a "sinner" but as someone who was supposed to know the difference between right and wrong, that already knew how to live it. I had a real experience with my Savior a few years ago, ironically, explaing the concept of grace to a friend while we were both stoned...all of a sudden, in that moment, trying to describe the words I knew in my head, they became real in my heart, like an epiphany, I understood them truly for the first time. And my life has not been the same since. I thought it didn't matter what I did after I ran away, because i bought into the lie that i was going to die and go to hell anyway, but on that day, I was reminded that I was bought with a price, and I am not my own. That though it does matter what I do as a christian, my sins, my failures, my bitterness, mistakes, fears and all that I had been living for could still be forgiven. I cannot see that God would make such a great investment as the sacrifice of his son and then just decide that I wasn't worth it after all. If it were me, I'd do anything and everything to make sure that the death of my child meant something, including giving second chances to someone that is truly repentant....I realize for the first time my worth. There is a song by Stavesacre, called Grace, that i fell in love with because it is my story, and my heart's cry...in the end, it says from God to us " my dear, I've been standing right here, ever as before, I want nothing more than you. Stay please, come back to my arms and rest your weary head, don't ever leave again, beloved..." Hearing those words broke my heart, broke my anger, and broke my resolve to be defeated. Grace isn't about guilt for Jesus dying for us, instead, is about the love he has for us, that he was willing to give his life in exchange for ours. It is a beautiful thing and I am so blessed for finally coming to that understanding.

Re: Grace

Grace alone?
I came across an article about God’s grace, It presented the argument that Salvation by Grace alone is false.
see below: I am a bit confused! I thought once I excepted God's Grace I was forever saved. I try very hard to obey his
word, and grow as I seek and serve Him, but I faulter.
Can you clearify?

"I have suggested to you that the doctrine of "grace alone" is patently false. Stated very simply and succinctly, grace alone is false because it excuses man from any real spiritual responsibility (Heb. 5: 8, 9). When consistently applied, grace alone results in universalism or the doctrine that all men will be unconditionally and universally saved. "

Re: Grace

God's Grace...can't wrap my brain around it. It's far, far bigger than I can think or imagine. I'm beginning to think that we really can't get it. I mean, I TRY to forgive. I try, and continue trying, and think I'm really sacrificing myself by forgiving someone of something they did (according to my own perception) that caused me to be hurt. And still have to battle with the idea that I'm entitled to maintain a little bit of ...um...reserve. I know, I KNOW. Finally, (probably still more out of selfishness than obedience) I remind myself that I'm only free when I've truly "given it up". What God does...WOW.
And regarding the "Grace Only" discussion, well, it IS Grace only that gets us into heaven, isn't it? I mean, God allows us free will to live on this earth as we choose, even as Christians. The question is: Do we live in freedom or bondage? We can choose to disobey God, and live unfulfilled lives. I'm not sure that negates heaven for us. Accepting Jesus as our Savior gets us to heaven. But obedience to God while we are aliens in this world allows us heaven on earth. True freedom is only available when we are willing to live under God's umbrella of Grace, which means doing our best to obey Him. Paul lived in prison, literally, much of his walk with Christ, yet he was free. He praised and worshipped God continually. And lived joyfully. We create our own little "prisons" (like when we don't forgive). In other words, we cause our own grief by not obeying God. And ususally obeying God means doing the opposite of what we, as humans, want to do. God's nature is contrary to human nature. His Grace is certainly beyond the comprehension of human understanding. But His Spirit resides in us, and gives us the ability to do the impossible, the unthinkable and the unnatural.

Re: Grace

Printsess, I hear what you are getting at we certainly are not worthy on our own merit. When we reconcile with God we are seen by him through His Son and now can live free of sins influence. Obeying God at this point is in response to honor Him, however many still want obey God to gain His favor. Paul clearly said that Grace is all and the only way or some could boast that their accomplishments are earning their salvation. God guidelines for living are like a parent teaching their child to live safe, don’t play in the street, chew your food, eat a healthy diet and so on. Unfortunately many have turned obedience to God into what saves or the other extreme that once you accept Jesus as the Lord of your life everything will just be peaches and cream. We live in a fallen world so we will all experience difficulties, however when we make Jesus our Lord we can have hope and a positive outlook beyond our own reason because we are sure of salvation 1 John 5:13.

Re: Grace

Mylinda, sorry for the delayed response clearly I haven’t been checking my blog often enough. Every since the time of Jesus people have been trying to say that salvation is Jesus plus what we do. The only thing we have to do to be saved by Gods Grace (meaning not on our merit) is accept His offer of forgiveness John 1:12. Paul had to address this very issue several times with the early church. People kept saying things like grace yes but you have to be circumcised, or keep the laws of Moses. Jesus said that he came to complete the law and when he was on the cross he said it is done. I would suggest reading Romans chapters 6-8 and you will clearly see that we all need Grace and there is no condemnation for those who have accepted Christ.

Re: Grace

Mike,
yes, I agree that we are to strive for holiness, for the purpose of honoring our Creator. When I mentioned that if we live in obedience to God we can live as though we are in heaven on earth, what I mean is, we will be blessed with peace, joy, and a sense of God our Father being with us, that overcomes the tribulation in our lives. We can never expect a world without tribulation until after He returns to take us with Him, but I think that as we become more intimate with Him, through worship, we can begin to have a more spiritual understanding and live in more of the spiritual fruit that He offers as a gift, merely because He loves us, not because we deserve it. (Grace) I know that as I've begun to seek Him more in this manner, through worship, I have more peace even when others could rightly wonder what I have to be so peaceful about. I am so grateful that He gives peace freely, more Grace. And that we can, even in a fallen world, surrounded by things we can't control, we still can find true and lasting peace and joy, as we seek our Father's face. He is Daddy. He loves us with unbelievable mercy. Now that's Grace. When we are in disobedience to Him we are the ones building the wall between our Father and ourselves. Because we are His children, saved by Grace, (I John 5:1) our conscience keeps us from seeking His presence. Our unrepented guilt won't let us have the relationship with Him that our spirit so desires. Consequently we live without the peace and joy, etc. that He offers freely, but we can't accept freely because we know we are not obeying Him. In John 14:21 Jesus says that those who obey Him are the ones who love Him. Loving Jesus is the most wornderful gift. Because when we love Him our spirits are free to accept His love and THAT IS HEAVENLY. I'm no Bible scholar just learning as I go and really just want to dialog and hear others views of this. I love to talk about our Lord. I'm grateful that His grace is unfathomable, because if I could get my little human mind around it, it wouldn't be very big. AND He is Daddy. Ahhhh!