Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Why do people think they can work their way into Heaven? They think that there is something they can do to find favor through works to get God's attention to prove they are worthy to get into Heaven. Lets look at Scripture and see what God says about it, because it's not the fact that you are a good person.....haven't robbed any banks, murder, adultry, lying, etc. The benchmark is not comparing yourself to your neighbors and friends, it's comparing yourself to Jesus. How do you look compared to Jesus Christ? I fall so short.
Websters Dictionary says about Grace: b : a virtue coming from God c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
Divine Grace comes from God. We don't deserve it, but God extends Grace to everyone and we accept His gift by faith. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:!
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Grace is accepted by us through faith, meaning I believe that God extended faith to me by His Grace, the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Now I couldn't see it....evidence of things not seen.....but I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that His gift was real. Jesus died on the cross and paid for my sin instead of making me pay for them. I mean, when it happened to me, I cried for 3 days. Why? Because my 5 dumptruck loads of sin was GONE. I was forgiven of everything up to that moment. It was like Heavenly acid was poured on these truck loads and everything was gone including the trucks! I was different. The old me died and Jesus created a new and improved me....I was born-again. That is what that phrase means. That was in 1985. It hasn't changed. Jesus is everything to me. You could tell without a doubt if you came to my house!!!!
'Not of works, lest any man should boast.' What does that mean? Okay, say we went to clean the church...dust vacuum, what have you. Say you cleaned the church 10 times and I only did it 5 times. You turn to me and say, "Hey, I'm going to Heaven because I worked harder than you!" You are telling me your works meant more than mine and I'm just out in the cold while you boasted and made me feel inadequate.
Thank You, Jesus, for taking the penalty for my sin, my mistakes, my ugliness, my debt. Thank You for a 'paid in full' gift of Grace. I don't deserve it, yet I am so thankful. I love You, Lord and I Praise Your Name for the many blessings You have bestowed upon me. You are so wonderful to think of me....a speck on the huge earth. I adore You, Lord. For it's in Your Precious Name I pray, Amein!
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Why do people think they can work their way into Heaven? They think that there is something they can do to find favor through works to get God's attention to prove they are worthy to get into Heaven. Lets look at Scripture and see what God says about it, because it's not the fact that you are a good person.....haven't robbed any banks, murder, adultry, lying, etc. The benchmark is not comparing yourself to your neighbors and friends, it's comparing yourself to Jesus. How do you look compared to Jesus Christ? I fall so short.
Websters Dictionary says about Grace: b : a virtue coming from God c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
Divine Grace comes from God. We don't deserve it, but God extends Grace to everyone and we accept His gift by faith. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:!
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Grace is accepted by us through faith, meaning I believe that God extended faith to me by His Grace, the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Now I couldn't see it....evidence of things not seen.....but I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that His gift was real. Jesus died on the cross and paid for my sin instead of making me pay for them. I mean, when it happened to me, I cried for 3 days. Why? Because my 5 dumptruck loads of sin was GONE. I was forgiven of everything up to that moment. It was like Heavenly acid was poured on these truck loads and everything was gone including the trucks! I was different. The old me died and Jesus created a new and improved me....I was born-again. That is what that phrase means. That was in 1985. It hasn't changed. Jesus is everything to me. You could tell without a doubt if you came to my house!!!!
'Not of works, lest any man should boast.' What does that mean? Okay, say we went to clean the church...dust vacuum, what have you. Say you cleaned the church 10 times and I only did it 5 times. You turn to me and say, "Hey, I'm going to Heaven because I worked harder than you!" You are telling me your works meant more than mine and I'm just out in the cold while you boasted and made me feel inadequate.
Thank You, Jesus, for taking the penalty for my sin, my mistakes, my ugliness, my debt. Thank You for a 'paid in full' gift of Grace. I don't deserve it, yet I am so thankful. I love You, Lord and I Praise Your Name for the many blessings You have bestowed upon me. You are so wonderful to think of me....a speck on the huge earth. I adore You, Lord. For it's in Your Precious Name I pray, Amein!
