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SCRIPTURE – Eph 2:8                                                                                                                                                                 APRIL, 2025

For by GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

SUBJECT – WHAT IS GRACE???

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The message for this month, has to do with what I would say is the most misunderstood attribute about God's plan for our salvation.

And, because of it, many saints are missing the blessings that God has for His saints. And, it is highly possible, that they will miss out on the greatest Blessing of all, 'Eternal Life!'

Imagine that for a moment. Here you are, having accepted Christ as your Savior, living your life as any Christian should be living, and yet, you don't seem to be reaping the benefits of being a child of God, in this life. Then to top that off, you depart this life, and miss Heaven as well.

Could something like this really happen??

Well, let's see what God has to say about it. Notice, I said God, and not me, your pastor, bishop, your denomination, family and friends, but God!

First, Grace, as it is defined in the Word of God, is 'God's unmerited favor towards mankind.' All of mankind!!

This part of it, man has nailed it on the head!!

What it means is, God has, on His own accord, decided to give all of us one more chance to make it back in to His 'Good Graces', by setting up a plan of instruction for us to live by.

That plan, that was put together before He even created man, was for His Son, Jesus Christ, to follow the dictates of it, in order for it to be implemented.

While we, after the Church was established, are the beneficiaries of that plan, it was not the case for those that lived and died before it.

Before the Church age was established, the conditions under which the people lived, were a lot more perilous.

Back then, God's reaction to those that sinned against Him, was usually to punish them, almost immediately.

His Laws and Statutes, left little 'wiggle room' to go against, without some type of action being warranted from Him, almost immediately, depending on the circumstance.

These laws extended to everyone, especially those that were His messengers, including the priests.

Being who He was, and is, He destroyed the enemies of His people. But, He was just as quick to make an example of His own people, including the priests, if need be.

One example is, if the priests did not follow the strict statutes of how to approach Him, in what was called the 'Holy of Holies', they were struck dead immediately. They had to go in there, 'sinless' [according to the Law back then].

Part of the statute concerning going in there, was that they tie a rope around themselves, that was long enough to extend outside of it, so that if they were struck down, the priests outside, could pull him out. If they went in to get him, they would be killed as well.

That was how God responded to the disobedience of His priests back then. They were required to be 'perfect' back then, just like they are required to be today.

However, in this day of Grace, He has updated, and not 'changed' how He responds to our disobedience, both in ministry and in the Church and nation.

He didn't have to do any of this, as I mentioned earlier, because there was absolutely nothing that we could have done in our sinful state, to be worthy to even approach Him, let alone, ask Him for anything, especially forgiveness.

That is why it is called His unmerited favor. It is a gift. It is something you can't earn, as verse 9, after the subject text states.

So, just how does all of this play in to our lives today??

It boils down to the idea that most people think that 'Grace', being something that you can't work for, means that it is automatic.

People believe that they do not have to live by rules, because that constitutes 'work'. And since you can't earn God's Grace, then, you don't have to live by His commandments and statutes.

Big Mistake!!!

Hence, this is why we have the problems that we have today. Including the danger of missing Heaven.

You see, as I mentioned earlier, God extended His 'Grace' to us. That Grace was to give us another chance to be what He requires us to be, if we want all of what He has in store for those of us that are His Children. And that is Perfect/Holy!!!

As both Jesus, and God say, Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Lev 11:45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am

holy.

Both of these scriptures, and there are others that say the same thing, are not suggestions. They are commands!!

This, as I said earlier, is why there is a misinterpretation of what God means/says, and what most of mankind thinks it means.

However, man's interpretation, will get you eternal damnation, when the time comes. And in this life, you will not be seeing many of His Blessings, other than the ones He extends to mankind in general, like food and clothing, and maybe a place to live. That's about it!!

You see, as the subject scripture tells us, 'we are saved by Grace, through faith!!'

Now that part of the scripture, lets us know that we have to be doing something, in order to be the recipients of His Grace.

It's like me handing you a $100.00 bill, for which you have done absolutely nothing to earn it. However, until you actually reach out and grab hold of it, it will stay in my hand. When you reach out, then you have done something to receive it. Right??

Well, in like manner, God's Grace, is being offered to you, and, until you reach out by 'faith', to receive it, you are essentially, rejecting it!!        

So how do you, by faith, receive Grace, through faith?? You do that by being obedient to Him.

And that my friend, is where the problem comes in.

Most of us tend to believe that being obedient to Him, constitutes us having to work for it, and they don't want to do it.

A lot of those that call themselves Christians, are calling themselves that, while at the same time living lives that are in total rebellion to what God/Christ says needs to be the case.

We are told to be Holy, and Perfect [without sin]. Yet, they are engaging in the types of things that will cause them to end up in hell when they die, irrespective of what they claim to be.

Now, here is where God's Grace comes in.

Instead of just striking them down, like He did in the old testament times, He sends us people, and provides other means, to tell us what we are doing wrong, and what we need to do to correct the situation.

Look at it like this.

If you are looking for a job, and get hired by a company that you applied at, that company, for the most part, hired you without you having to do anything but ask for a job. Their hiring you, was an example of their grace towards you.

Now, once you get hired, there are certain things you were hired to do. And, if you want to keep that job, you will have to do what is required of you. Otherwise, you won't be on that job very long, will you?

You can't go in there and just sit back and do nothing, unless that is what the job is, and engage in behaviour that is counter productive to the company, and remain employed.

Well, the same thing goes with what you do, as being a Child of God.

As His Child, you are required to be the 'spitting image', of what God/Christ is like. You are to love God, and hate evil!!

Jesus put it like this, Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

If you are not going to follow the directions of God/Christ, that means you are not putting your faith in them. And as a result, no Grace, other than that, that is extended to mankind in general, is extended to you.`

You would be surprised at how many people, including most Christians, just don't get it. They think that Grace, is to be a sort of 'get out of jail/sin free' condition, that affords them the opportunity to live any way they feel like living, especially after having gotten 'saved', and, without making any effort or acknowledgment of wrongdoing, they are automatically washed clean.

We are presented with a condition like this in the Bible, when the apostle Paul, penned these words, Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

When you get saved, you are essentially taking on a whole new position in the spiritual realm [Kingdom of God], in which there are only 2 choices. And notice, I said choices. They are Godliness, or ungodliness.

It ticks me off, when I hear supposedly saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, baptized in Jesus' Name, people, talking about how, because we are under Grace, that it makes no difference how they live their lives, that they, without having to 'repent', are somehow still saved and on their way to Heaven.

One would have to ask, what spirit is it that these people are actually being led by??

I can't see anyone being led by the Spirit of God, making some of the absolutely bone-head choices that these people make, when it comes to what is acceptable, when it comes to the Church.

We have pastors, choir members, deacons, bishops, and others, that are living lives totally out of line with what Christ has said they should be living.

How can anyone convince a 'sinner', that they need to take advantage of God's Grace, get saved, and separate themselves from the lifestyle they are living, if, once they get in the Church, the leadership is still acting like it is okay??

That is why this nation is in the mess it is in today!!

When politicians of this nation, top to bottom, go in to a church, and can get support for things that are an affront to God, what do think that says about God??

I'm thinking about things like killing God's babies in the wombs of their mothers. Supporting the LGBTQ+ agenda. Not to forget things like shacking up, adultery, liars and all the other 'works of the flesh',[Gal. 5:19-5:21] that we are told to abandon. Yet Church leadership, especially in the black community, in most cases, have thrown that condition, out the window. And for what?? Money!!

Is it any wonder that God says, 2Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Notice who He said had to do the Right thing. It wasn't the ungodly, but the Church!!

The other thing is this. When talking about 'land', that also talks about your personal body.

Your body/flesh, is where you/your spirit, lives. That is your personal residence. So, if you are sick in your body, then your land needs to be healed.

Well, that is another reason for the above scripture. A lot of Christians are suffering needlessly, because they are misinterpreting God's Grace, and thinking that He will heal them, in His own time. When in reality, He will heal them, when they get their lives together.

That means they have to do something, first!

So, as I said, God's Grace is extended to everyone. But, it is not meant to give people license to continue living in sin, or supporting it. The consequences of doing so, is hell!!

And who wants that???