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Grace, Marvelous Grace

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Romans 3:9-24

[9] What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
[10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
[11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
[12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
[13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
[14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
[15] Their feet are swift to shed blood:
[16] Destruction and misery are in their ways:
[17] And the way of peace have they not known:
[18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.
[19] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
[20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
[21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

1 – a blessed change comes to pass in a sinners state when we become a true believer, regardless of whatever we were before. God cannot be at peace with a sinner while we are under the guilt of sin. A justification takes away the guilt, and through our justified faith in the peacemaker Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven.

2 – We were and are led into this grace, something we did not have before, and by our justified faith and undeserving grace…something happens…we stand! It creates a posture that causes us to rejoice.

3-5 – tribulation worketh patience, suffering produces endurance
and patience experience, endurance produces character
and experience hope, character produces hope

hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Ghost

Romans 5:1-20

[1] Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
[2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
[3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
[4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
[5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
[6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
[7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
[9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
[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.
[11] And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
[12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
[13] (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
[14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
[15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
[16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
[17] 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.)
[18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
[19] For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
[20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Thank God we have the peace, freely given, that goes beyond what we can understand or comprehend. Thank God for the amazing grace and access to it!

Romans 6:1-7

[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?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Paul was speaking to those that have oftentimes taken advantage of God’s grace and was saying that not only the sin must die but the man’s carnal nature.

Romans 8:35-39

[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we come into the almighty grace of God in true submitted unity we come to the revelation that there is nothing formed in the earth, whether carnal or sinful that could conquer or come against what grace performs to the soul. This passage means the world to me: it is one of the most powerful and empowering verses that encourages mankind to look within them and use the grace of God to overcome everything that would try to destroy them. Praise the most high for the abundant, undeserving and mercy-given grace for each and every one.

Love Is The Root

THE WORD

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  – Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The passage above is one of my more favorite messages of Paul’s ministry. I realize that when it comes to what he stood for, Paul was a person that was probably rejected all the time; for it was not just in what he believed but how he battled for the equality of man through the love of God. It makes me consider why people are giving Christians bad attitudes: is it us or the gospel? People never knew you before you started letting the word of God lead you. I am sure you may have been well liked and highly favored among people.

Now? As we carry the word of God in us and deliver it to the lost rejection is abundant. We are not liked as we once were, and can now understand what it means to be persecuted for the gospels sake. Bees do not like it when you stir the hive, and people especially do not like feeling uncomfortable hearing the word of God! For those of you who fit into this example, read on with me! Paul said you could speak in the tongues of men and angels, have prophetic words, and know all the mysteries of the word. Most of us have an amazing talent, but need to work on what was addressed next; for he said without love it brings no profit for the kingdom of Heaven! If you let your obedience always be done in Godly love, rejection and persecution will be endured!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Think about the top 10 people or things that you are praying for. Are they in relevance to personal blessings? Are the prayers only for those you love and not your enemies? Do you withhold prayers for people just because they upset you? Paul’s teaching was groundbreaking because it took religion out of the gifts and callings of God. Through the love of Christ we must learn to love, serve and forgive everyone equally. If you serve God without love you will be leading a very empty spiritual life. Learn to do all things with love, and with this kind of effort God moves mountains and leads us through the dark valleys!

The Power Of Life And Death

THE WORD

Proverbs 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We know through the classic passage in the bible that there is the power of life and death within our tongues. If you have gone to church any time in your life, I am sure that you have heard a message related to this subject. It was probably delivered in the context that we need to watch what we say about others, watch our words, etc. Let us discuss!

First off, we know that the passage begins with our tongue because it is one of the first outlets that our thoughts can begin to become amplified. If I am not happy about something and want to take it out on someone else, then I can use my voice to cut down someone else simply from my thoughts coming forth through my voice. We know this example, but as we know enhancements of mediums (Facebook, Twitter, Texting, etc.) to communicate have brought this to a whole new level.

The reason I talk about this is now is that our voices are becoming one of the lesser mediums used. There is more trouble caused from the outing of our thoughts through the internet because we have not learned to control ourselves and to understand just how far those words travel. As the leaders and believers of Christ we must choose to use the power of life, especially in the new avenues personal expression! A person’s thoughts and words are expressed in greatest effect by their actions. How you carry yourself and let others see you lead your walk with God makes or breaks the witness you display. Sometimes it could be very easy for me to step out and do something irrational through my words and actions, but I know it would not solve anything for anyone (not even me)! Learn to perform your actions that it promotes the power of life in yourself and those around you! Choose life!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Take a single day to make a list and write something positive for every negative thing you say or write about someone or something. You may be surprised how much you hear or read from yourself without realizing the amount of times that it happens! Try it!

What Are We Offering Up?

THE WORD

Jeremiah 33:11 – The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When I am working on the job I realize there is a Godly life that I must live so that the colleagues that I come in contact with will bear witness of it. When I am in church and am participating in fellowship with other members and visitors, it is a responsibility that I have to offer myself welcoming and receptive. When I sing praise and worship to God, I have to offer the song not just because I have to but rather present a sincere offering from the heart. Take an inventory of all the things that you may or may not be offering to God and consider that there may be more to be done. It is not painful to accomplish; you simply have to do it! And when you do it, please do not offer up something in resentment or a bad attitude. The bible talks in detail about having the tongues of men and angels yet without love it will be of no profit to anyone. To put it simply: this can only be realized in its greatest capacity of course when we finally get out of the way! When the moment finally comes that we are sincerely trying to present to God something genuine then this humble obedience becomes an offering acceptable and pleasing to God and in turn blesses others!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Try to do this one of the next times that you will be attending a church: be sincere in everything you do. From a handshake to your hands raised, let others feel sincerity from your heart, humble before God, and willing to lead anyone to Christ. This may cost you time and energy at first but is worth the investment to see the growth in others around you!