Posted on 02/19/2017 5:01:22 AM PST by metmom
The Lord, the Lord God, [is] compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (Exodus 34:6).
Gods grace is His undeserved favor shown to sinners.
Gods grace has always been a focus of praise for believers. Todays verse is quoted several times in the Psalms and elsewhere in Scripture (for example, Neh. 9:17, 31; Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8). Paul is grateful for Gods abundant grace in 1 Timothy 1:14, and John writes, For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace (John 1:16). Today some of our favorite hymns are Amazing Grace, Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord, and Wonderful Grace of Jesus.
What exactly is grace? It is simply Gods free, undeserved, and unearned favor. It is a gift given by God not because we are worthy of it, but only because God, out of His great love, wants to give it.
Grace is evident to Christians in two main ways. The first is electing, or saving, grace. God has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2 Tim. 1:9). By grace [we] have been saved through faith (Eph. 2:8). This is Gods grace to sinners, for where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Rom. 5:20).
Another grace in our lives is enabling, or sustaining, grace. We didnt just receive grace to be saved; we now live in grace. It is the grace of God that enables us to live the Christian life. When Paul asked that some debilitating thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7) be removed, the Lord told him, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness (v. 9). Paul elsewhere says, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).
Remember, we have earned neither saving nor sustaining grace. Nothing we can do can make us worthy of one more bit of grace. God says, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious (Ex. 33:19). This truth should make us all more grateful because He saved us and sustains us despite our sin. It should also make us humble because we have no worthiness to boast about (Eph. 2:9).
Suggestions for Prayer
Thank God for His grace in saving and sustaining you.
For Further Study
Read Genesis 9:8-19.
How did God extend grace to Noah and his family? What was the visible sign or symbol?
Show us where she said that>
Or stop putting words in her mouth and misrepresenting what she said.
No one denies that the apostles passed on some tradition.
What is not accepted as fact on the Catholic church's say so, is that they have held and passed down all that tradition faithfully and without corruption for 2,000 years, and that what they teach now that they claim is *sacred tradition* is what the apostles actually taught or passed down.
No Catholic has EVER been able to verify that what is claimed as *sacred tradition* is actually what is taught.
So let me ask you these questions and see if you can or will answer them.
Just what are those traditions Paul was referring to that he handed down that we are to keep that were not included in Scripture?
How do you know?
How do you know theyre from the apostles, Paul in particular?
How do you know theyve been passed down faithfully?
Show us where Paul says that tradition trumps Scripture.
What oral tradition do you keep that is not found in scripture but that you can prove the apostles taught?
What is your source for verifying all of the above?
Please provide the sources for verification purposes.
Didn’t think so.
Chalk up another non-answer to those questions.....
“I don’t know that Corinthians says you go directly to Heaven. I have always been inclined to believe that there will be a judgement day before we join God in Heaven.”
Well first I must ask you what are you being judged for? IAW Scripture if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ you have already been forgiven and justified and YOUR sins are forgotten and completely cast away.
Romans 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 5:11
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Hebrews 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:11
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Micah 7:19
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Justification
Justification is the declaring of a person to be just or righteous. It is a legal term signifying acquittal,
Will you be judged for rewards... YES, but not for sin as you have NONE. Our great Savior Jesus took EACH and EVERY single sin to the Cross where they were nailed once and for all.
As for as going directly to Heaven upon death I say yes, but if the Scripture doesn’t say that to you I’m sorry.
Colossians 3:1
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Romans 6:5
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Colossians 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Mark 16:19
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Colossians 3:1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Quit beating yourself up and accept the grace given to you by our Father through Jesus Christ. If you have placed your faith in Christ YOU are forgiven. The thought that you are not is the Devil trying to tell you that you’re not good enough and he’s right you’re not, but Jesus was, is, and will be forever more.
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