For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11-12 NKJV
Grace--what a wonderful word! GOD, in His mercy, offers grace to those who accept Him and live life according to His Commandments. Grace is often defined as "GOD's riches at Christ's expense." As a means of providing a ransom for our sin-ridden souls, GOD sent Jesus into the depravity of our world to sacrifice Himself as the atonement for our sins. John 1:14 tells us, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Then, in Ephesians 1:7 we hear, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace..." Salvation is possible because of a compassionate and merciful GOD of grace as indicated in Lamentations 3:22, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not."
We don't deserve mercy & grace. We deserve death & Hell as the penalty for our transgressions. We are filthy sinners & GOD cannot fellowship with us if we are not cleansed. Through the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are offered redemption. His blood cleanses us and our sins are no longer held against us but are covered by the blood and remembered no more. Jesus Himself, took the penalty for our sins on the cross of Calvary. "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21) We simply need to confess our sins and repent, turning from the things of the world and to the things of GOD. I am reminded of a passage in Titus 2:11-14, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."
Let us live for Him, remembering the words of the old song "Marvelous Grace"...
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled...
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin...
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Blessings!
Tony
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