#9 Grace!
Before we talk about justification, we have to talk about grace. How can anyone understand fully the Grace of our Great God? I cry just thinking about it. Here are some definitions:
Grace is what you get when you don’t deserve it. Grace is God’s unmerited favor to those who are under condemnation. Grace is God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace is God’s Riches At Christ's Expense Grace is what someone else does to benefit you that you do not deserve.
We cannot, and will never be able to work for God’s grace. It ceases to be grace once work is demonstrated. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace:” – Rom 11:6
We do not deserve God’s grace. The Bible says to honor your father and mother. Your parents are deserving of honor by virtue of their position. This is not grace, it’s your duty, and their due. It’s your responsibility to honor them on the grounds that they are your parents. If a person merits the honor, then it is not grace but an obligation.
Grace is a benefit to the recipient! The Grace of God is a blessing that offers and brings salvation! “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” – Titus 2:11
Grace is given only to those who do not deserve it. (Hint: That includes all of us!) (Rom 3:10).
The greatest example of grace in human history is found in the preaching of the cross, whereby Christ’s death, burial and resurrection accomplished the work we could not do for ourselves. It is to our eternal benefit that this grace is given.
God’s Grace is offered freely to everyone! Your only condition is that you are a sinner, who doesn’t deserve it, but believes in the finished work of the one that offers it. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom 4:5)
Rom 3:23-26
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: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Do you fit this criteria? If so, receive your gift of grace and salvation by the finished work done on your behalf at the cross of Jesus Christ.