Have you ever felt your need for guidance in spiritual matters? Thomas, a man of doubts, spoke for all the disciples when he asked the Lord, "...how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). Perhaps you are a person of doubts like Thomas, unsure of your eternal destination. Another man, the Ethiopian eunuch, a man of dignity, acknowledged that he did not have a clear understanding of the way to eternal blessedness when he asked, "...How can I, except some man should guide me..." (Acts 8:31). Maybe you are a person of dignity like this man, respectable, successful, and even religious, yet you still lack guidance on how to have peace with God and the assurance of everlasting happiness. In your quest to reach this safe haven, the only guide that should be relied on, is grace.
|
Grace"For by grace are ye saved through faith..." (Ephesians 2:8). What does this word grace mean? If you have a hard time explaining grace, it is highly possible that you have never experienced grace. Grace simplified is the undeserved love of God. When you think of grace, think of the word undeserving. Another way to remember the meaning of grace is to understand a similar word, mercy. Mercy and grace are parallel terms. Grace is God giving us something we don't deserve. Mercy is God withholding what we do deserve. We deserve punishment, but God in mercy withholds it from us. We don't deserve eternal life, but God in grace offers it to us.
The main message that grace reveals, is that we stand guilty before a Holy God. The fact that we need God's grace implies that we are guilty of offending God's holiness. If we had no guilt, we would not need grace. Grace is for the guilty. The scriptures continually emphasize our need for grace. Isaiah 64:6 is a very sobering scripture that describes how God views our real condition. "But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags;" In this verse, God likens our best works unto filthy, putrefying rags. If God views our righteousness in this light, what must our rebellion be? Romans 5:8, in vivid terms explains the graciousness of God. "But God commendeth [expressed, proved] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners (enemies against Him Vs. 9), Christ died for us." He proved his love was no farce by dying for His enemies. |
Isaiah 53:6 describes our rebellion. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way..." Would you not have to confess that your life has been characterized by a selfish desire to have things your way rather than God's? This verse speaks plainly about the rebellious attitudes and actions that we harbor toward the ways of God, but thank God for grace. In spite of our corruption, in the face of our sin, in the light of our unworthy condition, understanding our wretchedness, knowing our abominable state, being fully aware of our guilt, He still offers grace.
Have you come to the realization that you need the grace and mercy of God? Friend, have you ever seen yourself as undone? Have you ever felt that you deserved hell? Have you ever seen yourself as an unclean, vile and vulgar sinner needing the grace and mercy of God?
Have you come to the realization that you need the grace and mercy of God? Friend, have you ever seen yourself as undone? Have you ever felt that you deserved hell? Have you ever seen yourself as an unclean, vile and vulgar sinner needing the grace and mercy of God?
Salvation
"For by grace are ye saved through faith..."
What does this word saved mean? As grace implies that we are guilty, even so salvation implies that we are in great danger and need to be rescued. Salvation presupposes that we are saved from something. It assumes that we are under the awful wrath of a just and mighty God. Men today have lost the sense of guilt and the fear of God's wrath. You will not admit your need for grace until you see your guilt. Neither will a man cry out for salvation until he realizes he is in danger of hell fire.
What does this word saved mean? As grace implies that we are guilty, even so salvation implies that we are in great danger and need to be rescued. Salvation presupposes that we are saved from something. It assumes that we are under the awful wrath of a just and mighty God. Men today have lost the sense of guilt and the fear of God's wrath. You will not admit your need for grace until you see your guilt. Neither will a man cry out for salvation until he realizes he is in danger of hell fire.
Saved From Hell's Torments
Hell is a literal place of unending torments. Jesus tells us in Luke 16, the fate of a rich man who died without being saved. He gives a brief description of his earthly lifestyle. He lived in luxury, was fitted with the finest of clothes, and feasted himself with the most excellent of delicacies. Christ then pulls back the veil as no other biographer can do and lets us peer into the world beyond the grave. This affluent man took no serious thought about God or eternity, and then he died. The rich man had enough money to live sumptuously every day, but not enough money to buy off death. After death, "in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments... And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."
This rich man was denied even one drop of water. He was told that the consequences of his neglect had landed him in this awful place of fiery torment, with no chance of escape. To imagine dying trapped in some car as the flames engulfed my body is simply horrifying, but to envision burning forever and forever without the least hope of even one drop of relief, is more dreadful than I could ever describe. Friend, with tears in my eyes, as I write this simple message, I beg of you to call upon Christ to save you from such condemnation while there is still hope!
This rich man was denied even one drop of water. He was told that the consequences of his neglect had landed him in this awful place of fiery torment, with no chance of escape. To imagine dying trapped in some car as the flames engulfed my body is simply horrifying, but to envision burning forever and forever without the least hope of even one drop of relief, is more dreadful than I could ever describe. Friend, with tears in my eyes, as I write this simple message, I beg of you to call upon Christ to save you from such condemnation while there is still hope!
Saved From Sin's Bondage
|
On the other hand, salvation is more than being saved from hell; it is also salvation from sin.
In Matthew 1:21, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him that Mary is going to have a son, although she is a virgin. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." A person cannot be saved until he is willing to turn loose of his sin. |
The term that the Bible uses to describe a turning away from our sin is "repentance." |
Luke 13:3 says that "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Without this repentance, unless there be a turning from sin, one cannot be saved.
We are given a command and a promise in Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Are you sick of your sin and willing to forsake it? Is there any sin that you would rather have than Jesus?
Do not misunderstand; repentance is not a promise to never sin again, but a willingness to turn from our sin. If you are willing, the Lord will see the sincerity of your heart, and He promises to give you the power needed to overcome your besetting sin. However, I do not want to deceive you into thinking that you can be saved by saying a simple prayer for forgiveness when you have no intention or desire to turn from your sins.
Are you willing? Is there a desire in your soul to be free from sins bondage? Would you rather have the pleasure of sin that lasts only for a short season, or will you turn to the Lord and enjoy pleasures forevermore? The choice is yours, but you can have true freedom from sin's bondage today!
We are given a command and a promise in Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Are you sick of your sin and willing to forsake it? Is there any sin that you would rather have than Jesus?
Do not misunderstand; repentance is not a promise to never sin again, but a willingness to turn from our sin. If you are willing, the Lord will see the sincerity of your heart, and He promises to give you the power needed to overcome your besetting sin. However, I do not want to deceive you into thinking that you can be saved by saying a simple prayer for forgiveness when you have no intention or desire to turn from your sins.
Are you willing? Is there a desire in your soul to be free from sins bondage? Would you rather have the pleasure of sin that lasts only for a short season, or will you turn to the Lord and enjoy pleasures forevermore? The choice is yours, but you can have true freedom from sin's bondage today!
Faith
“For by grace..." The undeserved love of God. “...are ye saved..." Saved from hell and saved from sin. “...through faith..."
WHAT IS FAITH?
Faith is simply taking God at His word. One of the most important truths about saving faith is that it is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that saves. Strong faith in a rotten bridge will not give you safety but weak faith in a strong bridge will.
SO WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF OUR FAITH?
1 Peter 2:24 declares, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree..." Friend, He suffered the cruelty of man, He endured the agony and shame of the cross, so that you, through faith, could be saved.
1 John 2:2 says, “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation (The appeasement of God's wrath) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world."
2 Corinthians 5:21, again confirms this same truth... "For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." He who was perfect gave that perfect record to us, and our imperfect record was given to Him. God has done what we could not do so that we could be what we dare not dream: perfectly righteous before God.
2 Corinthians 8:9 describes this wonderful provision in the most beautiful language, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." I can understand someone desiring to go from rags to riches, but to choose to go from riches to rags is baffling to the imagination. This is exactly what Jesus has done for you! He traded Heaven's royalty for earth's poverty. He took your deformity to give you His beauty. Oh, what love! He saw your condition. He had compassion. He knew what it would cost to redeem you. He made His decision. He chose the cross. He willingly laid down His life; no man took it from Him. He would rather go to hell for you than to go to Heaven without you.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I PUT MY FAITH TOTALLY IN CHRIST?
Through faith in Christ, the most wonderful transaction of your whole life takes place. We actually make a trade with God. We trade our sin for the righteousness of Christ. It is the best trade I have ever made!
In Romans 4:8, we find an important word rich with meaning. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Impute is a word that Paul often uses to explain the transaction that takes place when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Impute is a banking term that means to charge. Our sins were imputed, charged to Christ's account as if they were His sins, although He had no sin of His own. Now through faith in His shed blood, we can have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us as if it was our own!
Friend, we have learned about the guidance of grace. Grace will first guide you down the avenue of confession, (confessing your unworthiness of Him). Grace will then pilot you through the bitter waters of contrition, (forsaking your sinful ways). Then grace will lead you in the way of confidence: confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ.
WHAT IS FAITH?
Faith is simply taking God at His word. One of the most important truths about saving faith is that it is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that saves. Strong faith in a rotten bridge will not give you safety but weak faith in a strong bridge will.
SO WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF OUR FAITH?
- The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ declared in John 14:6 “...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus Christ is the only way! The lost jailer questioned in Acts 16:30, "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Verse 31 is the reply of Paul and Silas. “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." - The Promises of the Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the most glorious promises He has given us is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Romans 10:9 states so clearly, 'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Again, in John 6:37 “...him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." In John 6:47 He promises again, "Verily, verily, (Truly, Truly) I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." You can bank with confidence on His promises. The promises that He has given us are abundant, and He that promised is faithful and true. You can trust Him. - The Provision of the Lord Jesus Christ.
His provision is best seen in what He did on the cross. The cross reveals God's hatred for sin (sin must be punished) and His love for the sinner (He took that punishment). It was not the nails that held Him to the cross; it was His great love for you. By the cross, His holiness was honored. He did not compromise His standard nor relax His demand for perfection. He did not lessen sin's wages, it was still death. Instead of condoning our sin, He carried our sin. He assumed our guilt. He took our sentence. He shed His blood. A way is provided for us to be redeemed.
1 Peter 2:24 declares, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree..." Friend, He suffered the cruelty of man, He endured the agony and shame of the cross, so that you, through faith, could be saved.
1 John 2:2 says, “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation (The appeasement of God's wrath) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world."
2 Corinthians 5:21, again confirms this same truth... "For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." He who was perfect gave that perfect record to us, and our imperfect record was given to Him. God has done what we could not do so that we could be what we dare not dream: perfectly righteous before God.
2 Corinthians 8:9 describes this wonderful provision in the most beautiful language, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." I can understand someone desiring to go from rags to riches, but to choose to go from riches to rags is baffling to the imagination. This is exactly what Jesus has done for you! He traded Heaven's royalty for earth's poverty. He took your deformity to give you His beauty. Oh, what love! He saw your condition. He had compassion. He knew what it would cost to redeem you. He made His decision. He chose the cross. He willingly laid down His life; no man took it from Him. He would rather go to hell for you than to go to Heaven without you.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I PUT MY FAITH TOTALLY IN CHRIST?
Through faith in Christ, the most wonderful transaction of your whole life takes place. We actually make a trade with God. We trade our sin for the righteousness of Christ. It is the best trade I have ever made!
In Romans 4:8, we find an important word rich with meaning. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Impute is a word that Paul often uses to explain the transaction that takes place when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Impute is a banking term that means to charge. Our sins were imputed, charged to Christ's account as if they were His sins, although He had no sin of His own. Now through faith in His shed blood, we can have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us as if it was our own!
Friend, we have learned about the guidance of grace. Grace will first guide you down the avenue of confession, (confessing your unworthiness of Him). Grace will then pilot you through the bitter waters of contrition, (forsaking your sinful ways). Then grace will lead you in the way of confidence: confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Will you be guided by grace?
Will you acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of God's forgiveness?
Do you realize the awful danger that you are exposed to because of your sin?
Are you willing to turn from your sin to the Lord Jesus Christ?
Will you, right now, in faith, call upon His Holy Name, and ask Him to save you?
If you will, you have God's promise that He will save you. Romans 10:13; “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Call on Him like a drowning man wanting to be rescued. In your own words, tell Him of your unworthiness, ask for His grace, and then you will experience what a supernatural transformation God's grace can make in your life.
