Grace

Grace ..... Such a missed used word in the hearts and minds of most Christians today that the truth of the word has lost its value and power for most.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [‘faith’ is] not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

But let’s not stop reading in the middle of a thought...

"For we are HIS [God’s] workmanship [‘achievement’], created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS, which God has before ordained that WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM" Ephesians 2:8-10

God’s power is my only source of Life and He will accomplish in me the GOOD WORKS that He has willed for me to walk in. 

See it is God’s grace, not a so called free will of mine, but God choosing me to come to Christ; and I bless Him for His faith that He has gifted me with, for I know it only comes from Him and Him alone.

I see and I know it is His goodness that has brought me to repentance, not an act of mine in any way. And s time passed His goodness consumed my heart with Truth that I saw my sins needed to be removed and in the waterly grave I had remission of sins in Jesus name for I am “baptized into Christ’s death” Romans 6:3

Baptism into Christ’s death put my old man away and I am now MADE free from me to be a son of His.

"For he that is dead is freed from sin... For SIN SHALL NOT have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under GRACE" Romans 6:7&14

Nothing I can do or say will save me from death, but the giving of myself to Him and Him alone for His grace to work in me His Life.

"For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, TEACHING US [‘to train, educate, discipline, punish, chasten, instruct, learn, teach’] that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly [with a sound mind], righteously, and GODLY, in this present world” Titus 2:11-12

When I allow my lusts to rise, I find my time is so consumed with my self that sin starts to take ahold of me and it is then that I know grace shall abound much more for His love towards me is as a Father’s love for His son.

“ ... My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:5-11

It is His grace that keeps me and it is His grace that enables me to follow His Word.

"Whosoever will come after Me, let him DENY himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and FOLLOW ME" Mark 8:34

I know by His Spirit that to enter into His Kingdom I must allow His grace to keep me in His salvation for it is His requirements I follow now, not my own.

His Word teaches me that this world has much to offer my flesh for indeed there is fame, materialism, vanity, and to walk after the flesh is to present myself as one of worldliness. To walk after His Spirit by His enabled power is to be presented before all as His son.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should FOLLOW his steps: ... 1 Peter 2:21

"He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He [Jesus] walked" I John 2:6

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He IS, SO ARE WE in the world" I John 4:17

That is God’s requirement for His children and He is the One that gives power to walk in the good works He has destined for us to walk in.

"To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES" Revelations 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21

Seven times we read and we see the truth that one needs to overcome something that will hinder that one from being with Him in the New Jerusalem.

"To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even AS I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" Revelations 3:21

Is one’s eyes open to see that overcoming is denying the sins of the flesh, the pleasures of this world and being as Jesus was when He walked this earth?

“... but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

"These things I have spoke unto you, that IN ME ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have OVERCOME THE WORLD" John 16:33

In Him is our peace, in this world is our tribulation; but we are not down and out but we are of good cheer for He has overcame the world and as long as we abide IN Him we too shall share in that victory.

This walk is not about us in any way and if we think or act like it is we are than OUTSIDE OF GRACE and dead in the works of the law. YES! The law that can not give any His righteousness only they IN HIM will have His gift of righteousness.

“... For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. ...” Romans 5:17

This walk we are in will have its fare share of much persecution and many trails for that is the walk of the cross.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. Matthew 10:22-26

The ones that allow grace to keep them in Him and to walk as He did will be the ones to face much opposition. However! It will be grace that brings them to the end and in the end they shall see God and tabernacle with Him for all eternity.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3

Lets not be as the foolish ones that act like the children of darkness thinking they are going to make it to the end in the flesh. Jesus said “...but he that endures TO THE END shall be saved" Matthew 10:22 and Jesus said “he that endures NOT to the end will NOT be saved!”

This walk is a walk of grace, the very power of God that wants to make us overcomers; and yes persecution is our friend and trials is our path, HOWEVER the end is eternal Life with Him!!!!!

Let this truth ring in our hearts and minds that “By GRACE ARE ye saved THROUGH faith ...”

Grace is the saving vessel of God’s for them that in the past “are saved”; those living now “are saved” and they that shall come in this truth in the future “are saved” There is not another ARK, there is no other way, there is ONLY ONE WAY! And that is THROUGH CHRIST!

That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7