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If you're trying hard NOT to sin, you don't understand what grace is. Grace is God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God that we don't deserve
. You have to come to a conclusion: You are going to sin. No question about it. You will sin. I will sin. The next person who will post in this thread will sin. You will sin. However, there is grace which is a gift. And all you need to do is accept it. Maybe pray, 'God, please forgive me for the sins that I've done. I know that once I ask for forgiveness, you will forgive me. And I know I will mess up yet again tonight, or either tomorrow, and I know that you will be ready to forgive me then, as well. Your grace is a gift, and your grace forgives me. Let me no longer live in embarrassment, in shame. Let me feel bad about what I did, about the sin that I did, but do not let me dwell on it once I ask for Your forgiveness. Because it is finished, it is forgiven."
I would like for you to reconsider your statement about Grace... If Grace is what you say it is please answer these questions using your definition of Grace.
Many people have been taught that Grace is God’s ‘favor’ or ‘undeserved pardon’. Some think it is ‘forgiveness’, others say it is just God overlooking how wretched people are because He loves us... Ephesians 2:8 says that we are saved by this Grace, so we better know what it is! What is your definition of Grace? Why? If you believe that Grace is any of the above, try to answer the following questions for yourself and see if your answer makes sense. If Grace is some kind of pardon, undeserved favor, or even forgiveness, explain these verses: (Scriptures are all KJV)
Why do we have to be born again in order to ‘enter’ into the kingdom of Heaven if we have a pardon or favor? (John 3:3)
Why did Jesus say ‘repent’ and ‘believe’ if we get a free pardon or favor? (Mark 1:15)
Why did Jesus say those who do ‘the will of the Father’ enter into the kingdom if we have favor or a pardon? Matthew (7:21)
Why Did Jesus say that you must be ‘converted’ and become ‘as little children’ to enter into the kingdom? (Matthew 18:3)
Why do we have to ‘work out our salvation with fear and trembling’: (Philippians 2:12)
Why did Jesus say that ‘not everyone who calls Him Lord’ will enter into the Kingdom? Are there some who call Him Lord but don’t get in? If so…why ( Matthew 7:21)
How are we ‘stewards’ of Grace? Are there manifold or differing kinds of favor or forgiveness?(1 Peter 4:10)
How do we ’minister’ favor, a pardon, or forgiveness to the hearer?(Ephesians 4:29)
How could we receive ‘unmerited favor’ or ‘forgiveness’ in vain? (2nd Corinthians 6:1)
How can we ‘grow’ in undeserved favor or pardon (2nd Peter 3:18)
How does an undeserved ‘favor’ or pardon ‘reign’ unto righteousness (Romans 5:21)
Does ‘favor’ or a ‘pardon’ have a throne? How does favor or pardon help in a time of need? (Hebrews 4:16)
How did they ‘perceive’ a pardon, favor or forgiveness? (Galatians 2:6)
How does our ‘speech’ have favor or a pardon? (Colossians 4:6)
Is favor or a pardon really what the prophets diligently sought and prophesied about?(1 Peter 1:10)
How do we ‘fall’ from favor or undeserved pardon? (Galatians 5:4 )
How do we ‘frustrate’ favor, a pardon or forgiveness’? (Galatians 2:21)
How is it possible to ‘fail’ favor or pardon or even undeserved love from God? (Hebrews 12:15)
Why do we have to ‘earnestly contend’ for the faith, if Grace is free? (Jude 1:3)
How could we turn ‘favor’ or a ‘pardon’ into lasciviousness? (Jude 1:4)
Are we all given different levels of favor, love or forgiveness? (Ephesians 4:7)
How could favor, forgiveness or an undeserved pardon be ‘in our hearts’ (Hebrews 13:9)
How does God’s favor or pardon make us what we are? (1 Corinthians 15:10)
How are we quickened (made alive) by a pardon or unmerited favor? (Ephesians 2:5)
How does favor, a pardon, or forgiveness ‘abound’? (2nd Corinthians 9:8)
Why would favor, a pardon, or forgiveness be taken from the Lukewarm? (Revelation 3:16)
Why do we have to pray that we will be found ‘worthy’ if we have grace? (Luke 21:36)
Grace is not unmerited favor...God's Grace is so much more than that! There is a reason that we are saved by Grace...it is the power of God to those who believe . It is the Holy Spirit! It is a free gift. The Comforter, a a helper in a time of need( especially overcoming sin and the devils temptations). I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. The gospel of Grace is the most beautiful thing you can ever imagine! We are to be good stewards. We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit by which we are sealed until the day of our redemption, We are to grow in Grace and the knowledge of our Lord. No man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Spirit...the list is endless..study the Bible and apply the Holy Spirit to every verse that talks about Grace and the Word of God will come alive. Grace is a promise and our keeper:
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Eph 2:8 For
by grace are
ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
It is called the throne of Grace for a reason!
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The Holy Spirit is how we call Him Lord:
1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord,
but by the Holy Ghost.
1Co 12:4 Now there are
diversities of gifts, but the
same Spirit.
That is also why there are manifold or differing types of Grace:
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God.
Manifold in the Greek means diverse or differing...
1Co 12:4 Now there are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Jesus can set you free...
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
In fact that is why He was sent:
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God
doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and
he cannot sin, because he is
born of God.
That is why Grace reigns unto righteousness:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
This is just a small sample of how the Word of God and His Grace are so amazing...That is why He is our blessed hope and our saviour!!
If you are in the beginning of your walk with Him, do not be discouraged. He is faithful. Believe in the power of Christ and He will set you free...it won't happen over night but it WILL happen...if you feed your spirit with the Word of God and study to show yourself approved.
Jesus will circumcise your heart with His Word:
The Holy Spirit is a surgeon...and uses the Word of God like a scalpel or a sword:
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace,
but a sword.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God:
Heb 4:12 For the
word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Holy Spirit performs heart surgery and writes the Word of God into your heart:
2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that
of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Performed by none other than Jesus Himself...
Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Php 3:3 For
we are the circumcision, which worship God
in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh
by the circumcision of Christ:
The circumcision of your heart is what makes you a believer in your heart.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The Holy Spirit writes to Word of God into it and Jesus becomes a part of you.
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
That is why His Grace is sufficient for us:
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Grace is the power of God..Grace is Jesus in our hearts. Read the Word of God and feed your Spirit. Be diligent, forget about the world as much as you can and focus on the Word. He will teach you, comfort you, help you, admonish you, and correct you...
Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life..Jesus IS the Word of God made flesh. Get to know Him and He will give you Grace and Eternal Life.
For more information on the truth about Grace is and how to apply Grace to your life, as well as what is in store for this world, or just to comment on my post, send me an email at:
[email protected]
God Bless and Grace unto you!