GRACE
What is grace? Grace can be a reward. Grace can also be used as an excuse. Here is an example of grace as a reward. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every intent of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:5-8. Here’s an example of grace as a reward. Noah was rewarded for the work that He did for the Lord. Noah received grace from God as a reward. He earned the grace from God, whereas the rest of the world, millions or billions of people, perished! Noah was a case of grace as a reward for work that he did for the Lord. Here is an example of grace as an excuse for doing nothing. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. Can we be saved by faith alone? No, grace and salvation must be earned. There are various ways to earn grace and salvation from God, and I don’t know them all. The apostle James said that we cannot be saved by faith alone. If we could, demons can be saved also because they believe in God too, and so does Lucifer. No, faith alone can not save us for long. God the Father said, by way of Jesus, "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:16. Even when we are already saved in His mouth, He will throw us out from His mouth if we do little or nothing for Him. We must keep earning His grace and salvation until He calls us home. Salvation is not cheap Bro, not cheap.
When the apostle Paul wrote that we are saved by faith, and not of work, Paul implied that work or following the Law doesn’t save us. Paul apparently did not know what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, or Paul did not care, "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Jesus rejected these men/women of great faith not because they have no faith. They were rejected because they do not follow the law - they practice lawlessness. Paul is teaching every Christian not to follow the law. Was that not what Lucifer did when he deceived millions or billions of angels to follow him before they were all evicted from heaven? Jesus said in John 14:15,21,23,24, "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.” Are these words from Jesus hard to understand? Do we need a translator or interpreter? No, we do not need a translator or interpreter. We need to understand what Jesus said, and repent! We have been brainwashed by the teachings of Paul. We love the teachings of Paul on grace, faith, and no work. Who doesn’t? Under “grace” Christians can live in sin under grace for decades. Some live in sin until they die. Under grace they have no incentive to repent. Where do they think they are going under “grace”? Faith? Do we know what faith implies? If we say we know, why don’t we keep His Laws and commandments? Why don’t we keep the Sabbath holy? Jesus observed the Sabbath. Do we love Him with our hearts, or with our lips only? Finally on work. Who can follow His Laws when they don’t know or remember what they are?
When the apostle Paul wrote that we are saved by faith, and not of work, Paul implied that work or following the Law doesn’t save us. Paul apparently did not know what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, or Paul did not care, "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Jesus rejected these men/women of great faith not because they have no faith. They were rejected because they do not follow the law - they practice lawlessness. Paul is teaching every Christian not to follow the law. Was that not what Lucifer did when he deceived millions or billions of angels to follow him before they were all evicted from heaven? Jesus said in John 14:15,21,23,24, "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.” Are these words from Jesus hard to understand? Do we need a translator or interpreter? No, we do not need a translator or interpreter. We need to understand what Jesus said, and repent! We have been brainwashed by the teachings of Paul. We love the teachings of Paul on grace, faith, and no work. Who doesn’t? Under “grace” Christians can live in sin under grace for decades. Some live in sin until they die. Under grace they have no incentive to repent. Where do they think they are going under “grace”? Faith? Do we know what faith implies? If we say we know, why don’t we keep His Laws and commandments? Why don’t we keep the Sabbath holy? Jesus observed the Sabbath. Do we love Him with our hearts, or with our lips only? Finally on work. Who can follow His Laws when they don’t know or remember what they are?