Grace

GRACE

In an editorial one minister declared, "There is nothing that can be added to grace to bring salva­tion to a soul. Grace," he wrote, "wrought salvation with no strings attached." Another minister stated, "Grace plus nothing equal salvation!

Is this biblical? Have these ministers gone farther than the Scriptures go? Must not the recipient of sal­vation take some corresponding action in response to grace? If there is nothing that one can do, or if no response is necessary, what about the scriptural passages that calls for action?

When guilty sinners asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" the Apostle Peter replied, "Re­pent . .." (Acts 2:37-38). When Saul of Tarsus in­quired, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" the Lord answered, "Go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (Acts 9:6). After a devas­tating earthquake, while springing into the crumbl­ed ruins of the prison in an attempt to take his own life, the Philippian jailer heard the voice of Paul call out, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." He was sure his prisoners would be gone^ When he dis­covered them yet present, he turned to¹ Paul and Si­las and cried out, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Their answer was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house" (Acts 16:25-31).

In each of these scriptural incidents, action was demanded of the inquirer. The first was, "Repent"; the second, "Go"; the third, "Believe." All three called for action, the action of the will. A command was issued in each instance. It was not "Grace plus nothing equals salvation.”  It. was "Grace plus faith plus obedience equals salvation"! Or "Grace plus obedient faith-equals salvation."

Grace is God's Act

Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favor of God bestowed on a person through the atoning: sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is the source of sal­vation. Grace means that God initiates salvation. It includes every act on God's part that brought salva­tion to mankind. God's grace caused Him to mani­fest Himself in flesh as Jesus Christ, assume human limitations, freely give Himself on Calvary and arise the third day for our justification.

God Alone is the Source of Salvation.

Salvation was initiated in heaven as God's plan. Man was not counselled concerning it. In fact man had nothing to do with its institution other than be­ing-the object of it!

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begot­ten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" {John 3:16);

"God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us..." (Ephesians 2:4).

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for yoursakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (II Corinthians 8:9).

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Romans 5:17

For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. As we look at this scripture we see the power involved to change the world. By the trespass of one man, and by the abundant provision of grace of one man.

God had bestowed all His beauty and glory upon that one garden. Everything a man could want and need was there. You can have all of it, except that one tree, don’t go there God said. you see ,the trespass was already there with them ,but it was to be avoided. So the battle was on, much like todays struggles and challenges .As that forbidden fruit began to take shape and ripen, the look to the eye became very pleasurable.The serpent saw Adam and Eves weakness and began digging in his bag of deceit and lies. We as Christians know the snares before us and must be avoided. But like a bug drawn toward that bug zapper ,we start looking and veering towards what God proclaims, "Thou shalt not”  That one place looked so pleasant and innocent, "we surely won’t die" "But by one man’s trespass, death reigned through him "No, Don’t Eat That Fruit Adam! CHOMP, and sin entered in and the world changed .A barrier had been put up between us and our Creator. And for thousands of years, man needed a way back to God.

Thank the Lord for a manger in Bethlehem.  For the Word said 'how much more" With the birth of Christ, our provision, our way back, our Salvation had come Glory.as Jesus grew our gift of righteousness reigned in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. The one who was given all power in Heaven and earth. Our redeemer was here!

As He was beaten and spit on, I was on His mind. With a crown of thorns mashed down on His head, the blood began to flow. One man on a cross: as the veil was torn in half, the world was changing. The blood flowing down Calvary was my provision from one man for me to be saved from a lost and dying world.

Romans chapter 6 says ,"my old evil desires were nailed to the cross with Him" By being baptized in Jesus Name my old sins have died out through His blood shed on that cross. One man, my great God and Savior, changed my life forever. Sin no longer need be your master. Allow God's mercy and grace to set you free. Let’s get back to the master and be won by One.

Reverend Jeff White