Is it really about grace?

For some time now, God has been prodding me to blog here about grace. To be honest, life is so incredibly crazy full with homeschooling my 10 kiddos, bible study, fellowship with the King, ministry work, keeping house, shopping, house keeping, etc. that my time to blog takes a back seat.

This morning after my time of fellowship with the Lord again, I once again had that distinct thought to blog here again on grace.

So, I guess I need to follow thru on what God is clearly pushing me forward to share, eh? Lord Jesus, may my words be acceptable to You!



My church is studying the book of Romans for bible study. Awesome, amazing stuff in the book of Romans! I am thoroughly enjoying the study and learning so much!

Last night, we studied Romans chapter 10 & 11.....( some of my favorite chapters in the entire book) .......

This passage jumped out at me and I knew I needed to share it here.

" And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace otherwise work is no longer work. " - Romans 11:6

If we believe we are saved by grace + _________ ( fill in the blank) then it's no longer grace, friends.

Abraham, the "father of the Jews" was justified by God because of His faith, not because of his good works.

" For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. " Romans 4:2-3

" If" Abraham had been justified by "his works" he has nothing to boast about before God.

" Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." -- Romans 4:4 & 5

If we are saved by "works" or by "grace + works" then the wages of our works is not counted as grace. The wages of our works then are counted as "debt".


The whole awesome amazing thing about grace is that it has nothing to do with our works... but on the whole entire work, life, and blood of JESUS Christ the Messiah!

Abraham was made right with God even before he was circumcised. It had nothing to do with circumcision and "works". Romans 3:10

As a born again believer, I am made right with God thru my faith and belief in the *work* Jesus did . More specifically, the work He did on Calvary.
It has nothing to do with my good works. Sure, God cares about our good works. The purpose of our good works was clearly defined by Jesus when he said :

" By this is my Father glorified, when you bear much fruit." John 15:8

Our "fruit" or "good works" are to bring glory and honor to God. Not to seek favors or to gain something from God, and definitely not to be able to "gain" or "work out" where we will end up in the eternities.

Jesus worked out our salvation on Calvary.

His blood is what justifies us.

" Since we have now been justified by His blood. " Romans 5:9

Grace is not grace if we add works or anything else to it.

It is solely the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that saves us, and allows us access us to the throne of God to live eternally is His presence.

Anything else, simply put.... is not grace.

That's the message I have today here for those who stop by and read. That is what God has led me to share. I hope it leads you to think deeply about grace... for those of you who already understand how awesome and amazing His grace is, I say to you, Praise God.. and to those of you who are still wondering if the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is enough... I say to you, YES, YES, YES! His blood is enough.

Amen & Amen it is enough ,



Gloria

Spiritual Scales

" And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and he
received sight forwith..." Acts 9: 18

This morning I re-read the account of Paul's conversion. It never ceases to amaze me "how" the Lord "chose" him and changed his heart in such a dramatic manner.
Paul was truly not seeking a relationship with Jesus. In fact, he was travelling to Damascus on "business". His business was to collect Christians and have them bound.

" And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went unto the High Priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues that if he found any on this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." Acts 9:1 & 2

Although I did not experience a "Damascus" experience, I can relate to Paul's experience of being "blind" and then receiving his sight! I love the passage that describes how he received his sight -- and not just physically but spiritually........ he was once blind to Jesus, and what Jesus had done, and there fell from his eyes " as if it had been scales" and he received sight forwith.........

After Paul received his spiritual and physical eyesight..... he ate and "straightway" he preached Christ in the synagogues. He went first to those of his church.. the Jews. His heart was to first proclaim the message of grace & salvation to the Jews!

When I came to the Lord Jesus and completely surrendered my life to Him in the fall of 2007 -- I too experienced a "falling away of scales"..... not real physical scales, but spiritual scales that had been blinding me for years. It was an amazing experience..... I kept telling my husband over and over again that it was like 'scales were coming off.... layers were coming off my eyes.... I literally felt as if I was being released from a prison I had been in for so many years and my chains were removed." It was incredible. Of course these were spiritual manifestations that I experienced as a result of being born again in Christ, but none the less there was to me, an apparent release from bondage and removal of scales from my eyes.......

For once I was blind and now I can see!
I was lost, but now I am found,

I love the old hymn Amazing Grace -- it speaks volumes to my heart........ I also love the new rendition to that old hymn by Chris Tomlin -- Amazing Grace, My chains are gone..... beautiful.

I also can relate to Paul's desire to go his friends in the Jewish Synagogue and share the good news of Christ! I too have that same desire to share the good news with those in the LDS faith. Paul spent years as a Jew.. I spent years as a Mormon....... Paul would often go to the Synagogue first when he stopped in his missionary journeys ........ he has a "soft spot" for the Jews and longed to share Christ with them.

Many former LDS, including myself, also feel that "soft" spot for LDS to share the message of grace and salvation! That is why some of us have blogs or websites dedicated to sharing that GOOD news , and that is why some of us do continue to maintain ties with our loved ones in the LDS faith -- with hopes of sharing the news of our Lord with them!

For my LDS readers, this is one of the primary reasons I began this blog ... that is for YOU. To share the news that Jesus , His blood shed on Calvary is enough to guarantee you eternal life in the kingdom of God. That is it's all about Him, and not about a "church"....it's about a personal and saving relationship with the Son of God.

My heart's desire is to see many LDS come to taste of His goodness and that they too may have the scales removed and shed, and yes perhaps even have their own "Damascus" experience!

That is my constant prayer for the LDS.

God bless,

gloria