How Committed Are You?

Would you give up pursuing your own happiness (sexual, financial, material and career ambitions) for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Don’t lie! Many of you would like to think that you could give up your own ambitions for the sake of God but the truth of the matter is that your spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak.

You may think that this question is unfair but it is intended to make us examine our commitment to God and His Word.

Many, upon self-examination, are disqualified to respond to the question. We are disqualified whenever we insist upon practicing our religion rather than keeping God’s commandments. We are disqualified whenever we practice the pursuit of sexual fulfillment outside of the boundaries of holy matrimony. We are disqualified whenever we practice the pursuit of our own financial wellbeing at the expense of others. We are disqualified whenever we practice ignoring the needs of others when it is in our power to give assistance. We are disqualified whenever we have too much wealth while someone else has too little and we refuse to share.

The Bible Challenges and Instruct us to imitate Christ’s unselfish humility.

In the book of Philippians 2:1-8 we find Paul giving apostolic instructions to the church a Philippi to “have the mind of Christ. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. But rather, in humility, value others above yourselves. Imitate Christ by looking to the interests of others.” This is the challenge of every Christian.

Regardless of the countless millions who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, not many are committed to imitating Jesus Christ’s selfless humility.

How committed are you?

REPENT!

Those Who Believe...

If you ain't selling don't advertise

Where Does Your Loyalty Lie?

This week’s Word & Prayer is presented by our guest —Mother Lucile W. Prince.

Mother Lucile W. Prince is a semiretired public school teacher with over 48 years of teaching experience. At the blessed age of 79 (she will be 80 in one month) she continues to serve her State and community by teaching part-time at the Sumter Lee Adult Education Center, Sumter, South Carolina. I can truthfully say that God has called her to be a teacher and I am honored and blessed to have her as my mother and prayer partner.

May God be glorified for the things that He has done.

This Week's Word
(For an audio podcast download please visit Where Does Your Loyalty Lie)

Jesus said in Matthew 10:37:

“The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.”

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Human families are born into sin and shaped in iniquity and each individual member of a family is taught from birth that family is everything—their loyalty should always be to the family.  But Jesus challenges us to rethink that sentiment and to redefine the idea of family loyalty in the light of eternal life.  Jesus tells us that we will have to decide between following him or our human families. He is not going to share control of our lives with our families. He has paid the cost to be the boss in our lives with own precious blood. He deserves our uncompromising loyalty. (1 Corinthians 6:20 and Matthew 10:34-36)

We can never truly belong to God as long as our loyalties remain bound to our human relationships. We can never really know God unless we are willing to sacrifice our human relationships for the sake of Christ. We must be willing to deny ourselves the pleasures and comforts of relational intimacy in favor of eternal life with Christ. (Matthew 10:38)  Christ challenges us to decide whom we will serve. No one can be loyal to two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. This is what Jesus is pointing out to us in Matthew 10:37.

The Lord tells us that we must decide where our loyalties really lie; with family or with him?  He says it plainly that our priorities and ultimate loyalties must lie with him otherwise we disqualify ourselves from being his disciple.

Whenever we decide to relax God’s commandments for the sake of getting along with individual family members, we have disqualified ourselves as disciples of God.

Whenever we allow immoral family members to preach, teach or hold office in the church, we have chosen family over God.

Whenever we hear the Truth of God’s Commandment to Repent, to be baptized into water in the name the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, and we reject baptism because the family doesn’t believe in it, we have rejected God’s forgiveness in favor of the family’s approval.

Where Does Your Loyalty Lie?

Don’t let family send you to Hell.

REPENT!

This Week’s Prayer 

Father, I pray to You today in the name of *YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ. I love You Lord! From everlasting to everlasting You are God. Your Love and Your Faithfulness rescued me. There is no one who loves me like You do. There is not a family member or church member who cares for me like You. No one deserve my total loyalty and faithfulness but You. Please forgive me for the times when I put my family and friends above obeying Your Commandments. I repent to day and accept responsibility for my transgressions. Have Mercy On Me Oh LORD! Help me to a live a life in total submissive and subjective obedience to Your Word Your Way.  Empower me to crucify the needs and deeds of the flesh so that I may be counted as one of Your disciples.  This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

Today’s Sabbath Message For April 28, 2012 / TESTS OF A TRUE PROPHET – “Prophets” Part 2

“Prophets” Part 2

TESTS OF A TRUE PROPHET

Throughout history, God has spoken to His people through prophets. As we draw closer to the end of time, it should come as no surprise that there are many individuals in Christendom claiming to be prophets of God. However, nearly all of these fail to meet the scriptural requirements for a true prophet. I would like to offer a lists of ten biblical requirements for a true prophet. They are:

1) A true prophet does not lie. His predictions will be fulfilled. (Jer. 28:9) “But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true.”

2) A true prophet prophesies in the name of the Lord, not in his own name or according to his own will. (2 Pet. 1:21) “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

3) A true prophet does not give his own private interpretation of prophecy. (2 Pet. 1:20) “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.”

4) A true prophet points out the sins and transgressions of the people against God. (Isa. 58:1) “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.”

5) A true prophet is to warn the people of God’s coming judgment. Here are some examples of judgment such as portrayed in Isa. 24:20, “The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls — never to rise again.” and Rev. 14:6, 7, “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.’”

6) A true prophet edifies the church – counsels and advises it in spiritual ad doctrinal matters. (1 Cor. 14:3, 4 ) “But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”

7) A true prophet’s words will be in absolute harmony with the words of the prophets that have preceded him. (Isa. 8:20) “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”

8) A true prophet recognizes the incarnation of Jesus Christ. (1 John 4:1-3) “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

9) A true prophet can be recognized by the results of his work. (Matt. 7:16-20) “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

10) A true prophet speaks and acts in accordance with the Word, will and approval of God. (Deut. 18:19) “If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.”

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“Eat at Red Lobster but pay at McDonald’s”

It has been my observation and experience that there are many believers who are members of an organized church or assembly and who have a local shepherd but who are actively feeding on the revelations of another shepherd. They partake freely of the offerings of those outside of their church walls – the ones whom God has gifted to minister to them. However, they restrict their financial support to the one that their church has hired or denomination assigned them. They have mistakenly allowed an organization to determine who their pastor should be instead of allowing God to send them a pastor. They are practicing a sort of “Eat at Apple Bees but pay at McDonald’s” mentality. I don’t think that this is righteous, especially if you are not being nourished in the Truth and cared for in the Spirit by the one you financially support. Do you go to the doctor and receive treatment for a deadly disease then ignore the doctor bill put pay the parking attendant? That is exactly what a lot of church folks are doing. They receive the Saving Word of God from God’s True Pastors and pay the ones who are only housing them in a religious parking garage.

The preacher who you financially support should minister to your needs, visit you in your home and in the hospital, accompany you to surgery if need be, perform weddings and funeral services, counsel you when you are in crisis, provide referral services to you when your circumstances warrant them, pray for you and your family constantly, attend you children’s graduations and or school functions from time to time, watch for your spiritual growth and moral wellbeing and help develop your overall Christian life through the taught and preached Word of God as the Holy Spirit empowers Him. However, it is unfair to expect these services from a person whom you have never supported or given aid to although they faithfully shared the Word of Salvation without price and supplied your spiritual needs.

Parenthetically, according to the Holy Scriptures, financial support for a preacher is not limited to those who serve in your particular denomination or religious affiliation but is an obligation that every believer has to those who watch for their souls on a regular and consistent basis, whether they are your local pastor or someone providing godly guidance and service outside the walls of your church’s organization.

1 Corinthians 9:14
In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. (NLT)

REPENT!

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Today’s Sabbath Message for April 21, 2012 – “Prophets” Part 1

The Prophet as One Who Admonishes the Church of its Sin in Order to compel it unto Repentance

1 Samuel 10:6

⁶ The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

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Prophecy is reserved for those whom the Lord chooses to endow with His prophetic Spirit and presence. It is not an office that can be acquired through academia or political process. Prophecy is not an office that can be conferred upon one through ecclesiastical ceremony or denominational jurisprudence. It is not meant to be served but to serve. It is not meant to be a vehicle for financial growth but spiritual reconciliation. It is not exempted from obeying all of God’s Commandments nor is it excused from God’s moral code of holiness. Prophecy does not seek its own will but God’s divine purpose. It does not speak from it own mind or imagination but it communicates the mind of God. (Ezekiel 13:1-7 vs. Romans 12:2) It is only given by God for His unique purposes and goals and adheres to God’s divine order, commands and protocols. (1 Corinthians 14:40, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2:12) The Spirit of prophecy does not seek to change God’s Law but people’s lives.

The Spirit of prophecy changes an individual into a different person or a new creation. A timid person may become bold and outspoken. A cowardly person may become brave and fearless. A quick-tempered person may become patient and longsuffering. A violent person may become peaceful and reconciling. Whatever the case may be, they are changed into new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The prophetic utterances of a man of God who has the Spirit of Prophecy are to be received and believed as if they came from God Himself. (2 Peter 1:21) Belief and obedience to a godly prophecy will bring God’s will to bear upon those to whom it is directed. Godly prophecy will radically alter and bless you in accordance with the Word and Will of God – changing you and your circumstance for the better.

And we know that the Word and Will of God is Jesus Christ. (John 1:1-3) Thus, the purpose of prophecy is not to predict the future or to inflame our emotions. The purpose of prophecy is to reveal who God is through Jesus Christ – to bring human beings into an awareness of God’s saving plan for us all. 

In the Book of Revelation, John wrote that the entire purpose of Prophecy is to reveal Jesus, i.e. the Word and Will of God.

Revelation 19:10… “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

And this is God’s testimony to us…

“…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.…and the Jews in Jerusalem killed him by hanging him on a tree. But God raised Him up on the third day, and showed Him openly…after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes (Trusts and Obeys) Him will receive remission of sins.” (Act 10:38-43)

And His prophetic Word says, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Repent!

(Coming Soon – The Test of a True Prophet)

The Trayvon Martin Murder

American justice is unjust with regards to the value of a white life to that of an African American, particularly a black male. It appears that the predominantly white American Justice System considers the life of a dog (referencing the Michael Vick story) more valuable than that of a black male teenager. I can imagine if a black man had shot and killed a white teenager in the same manner that Trayvon was murdered he would be arrested immediately without question regardless of his explanation and we all know I am telling the truth.

This takes racism to a new level.  It openly and undeniably reveals how insidious racism is in America.  It exposes the American legal system for what it has been and continues to be with regards to its heinous disregard for an African American life. 

The Trayvon Martin Story is not unique to American history.  However, it is absolutely unique to the African American experience.

It has been open season on African American males for as long as I can remember.  Historically, white men and some white women have murdered and stolen the lives and destroyed the families of countless African Americans with impunity.  We are murdered simply because of the color our skin or because we dare to look a white person in the eye when we speak to them or because we have a healthy self image and do not choose to think less of ourselves than we ought or because we marry out our race or have a mastery of the English language.  Regardless of the godless and surreptitious behavior of the predominantly white law enforcement agencies in America, the majority of African Americans observe, respect and obey the law. 

Now it is time for a change.  It is time for an unprecedented reaction to the criminal injustices of our justice system officials and the cold blooded murder of our children.  Our reaction should resonate throughout history and send an unprecedented message to the powers that be that our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sisters and bothers and God loving citizens are not going to tolerate or endure the murdering of our children any longer.  There has to be a change.  The Law Enforcement officers, government officials and law makers who have allowed this injustice must be exposed, replaced and punished.

Enough is enough and the time for change is now!  Rally our legal geniuses.  Engage our socially conscience and morally righteous activists.  Respect, protect and support those who are in positions of power and influence to impact and correct the disparity in the justice system.  Help the righteous leaders of justice expose and punish those who have violated human and civil rights.  Send the message that we will not rest until justice prevails nor will we forget the heinous crimes of racism or tolerate its poisonous attitude or behavior in our society any longer.

 Let me say one more thing.  Every since President Barack Obama became President of The United States of America, racist in America lost their minds and their civility –if they ever had any - and they have raised the level of their hate for blacks to new heights.  Not since the sixties have we ever seen more incidents of racist remarks, racist cartoon caricatures, racist signs and literature as we do today.  It has all been in response to a black man becoming president.  I am only stating what is obvious to most African Americans. 

 Racist have declared war on all African American citizens of the United States of America.  They have used every conceivable method to eradicate the world of black people – from medically unwarranted hysterectomies on uninformed and unsuspecting black women to the castration, murder and unjust incarceration of black males.  I was wondering when someone will notice and say something but no one did.  Therefore, I have.

Wake up America!  There is a war going on right on American soil that is more insidious than anything we have warred against on foreign soil.  It is time that we totally demolish the white good old boys system and tear down the strongholds of the enemy – exposing them for the clandestine cowards that they are.  Let us respond in the right spirit - the spirit of unity and justice not hate and revenge.  Those are the weapons of the enemy.  Our weapons are greater.  Our weapons are superior intellect and spiritual maturity honed by centuries of real life education, abuse, hardship and suffering.  Our weapons are not of this world but mighty through God.  They are the prayers prayed by the broken hearted and crushed in spirit.  They are the righteous acts of those who champion the cause of justice and equality.   They are the heart wrenching cries of a mother weeping over her murdered son.  They are the moans of a father in anguish over the killing of his only boy.  They are the promises of God who keeps His Word.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm  34:17-21)

Amen!

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This Week’s Word & Prayer for March 19 -23

This Week’s Word

“So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons” 2 Samuel 9:11 (NIV).

Mephibosheth was a man who was living way below his potential. He was the grandson of King Saul and the son of Prince Jonathan, but he lived like a poor man. When he was a little boy, his nurse dropped him while fleeing from their enemies. As a result, he was crippled in both feet (2 Samuel 9).

When David took over as King of Israel, he wanted to know if there was anyone in Jonathan’s household to whom he could show kindness. Jonathan had been David’s best friend, and he loved him as a brother. A servant told David about the crippled Mephibosheth, and he was summoned immediately. Mephibosheth lived in a place called Lo-Debar (meaning a pasture-less land).

Mephibosheth was living below his privilege. He was the grandchild of a king, but he was living in a pasture less land like a dirt poor beggar. When he came before King David he said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

David didn’t even answer him. He simply turned to his servant and commanded that all the land that had been Saul’s be given back to his grandson and that Mephibosheth should eat at the king’s table everyday.

Perhaps you are walking around like a crippled because of something that has happened to you as a child. Perhaps you feel like a “dead dog.” And yet, God is looking for ways to bless you, to restore what has been taken away, and invite you to feast at His table everyday. Mephibosheth was a grandchild of King Saul and potential heir to the throne. However, he saw himself as nothing more than a “dead dog,” unworthy to receive even the smallest crumb of kindness from David. David’s desire was to restore to Mephibosheth all the land that would have been his inheritance and invite him to feast at his table daily. Mephibosheth didn’t see himself as he really was. In reality, he was royalty.

Do you see yourself as you really are? You are a chosen, dearly loved, child of God. You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ! You are a child of the King!

This Week’s Prayer

Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ. You are gracious and plentiful in mercies. Thank You for the invitation to sit and eat at Your table of blessings. Please forgive me for living beneath my privilege and for thinking of myself as a dead dog. I know now that through repentance, baptism in Your name and the power of the Holy Spirit, that I am a child of the King and I should act like one! Today, I accept Your hospitality and declare my kinship with You. I am a chosen child of God who has been delivered from the darkness of my past and my circumstances. I have been made a citizen of the kingdom of God and I will rejoice in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.
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Spiritual Lesbianism

Spiritual Lesbianism

"There Can Be Only One"

"Just A Simple Thought"

“Satan Deceives but God Redeems” - This Week’s Word & Prayer

This Week’s Word

I am the LORD…I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments. Exodus 6:6 (KJV)

Redeem means to be bought back, delivered, ransomed, or purchased. As our Redeemer, God has purchased our freedom in Christ from the slave market of sin, delivered us from Satan’s power, and made us His own possession. We have been redeemed from a useless life to a fruitful life; from a life of bondage to a life of freedom; from a life of guilt, condemnation, and judgment to a life of forgiveness, justification, and peace. We who have obeyed God’s Divine Plan of Redemption have been redeemed. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.

The problem comes when those who have not been redeemed begins to say and think that they are. Many so-called Christians claim to be Christians but are in fact children of disobedience. They are deceived, deceiving and being deceived. They have been deceived into believing that they can be saved through some man-made, denominationally contrived, method of salvation. They continue deceiving others by repeating the lie told to them and they deceive themselves continually by telling themselves and each other that they are saved, when in fact, they are lost.

One of Satan’s weapons that he used with Eve in the Garden of Eden was deception. He tricked Eve into believing that God didn’t mean what He said when He forbade them from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 3:2-5). Satan is still using that same weapon of deception today. Satan deceives men and women around the world through counterfeit Christian churches, hypnotic song lyrics, false preahers and worldly religions. Satan deceives many people into believing that God will accept them on their terms and in accordance with their religious beliefs. Satan has imitated God so closely that if it were not for God’s Holy Spirit indwelling in His children, Satan would deceive the very elect of God (Matthew 24:24).

And this is a crucial matter in Christendom. It involves our eternal soul’s redemption and salvation.
Revelation 12:9 says, ^“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Satan has deceived the whole world. The apostle Paul tells us that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
The Bible says that because of the spirit of the prince of the air the wrath of God is coming upon the children of disobedience. (Colossians 3:6 and Ephesians 2:2). Those who have been deceived and refuse to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ will experience the wrath of God’s Judgement and damnation.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:21 that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” And it is God’s will and commandment that all repent and be batized in the name of Jesus Christ and receive His promised gift of the Holy Spirit (John 3: 3-7, Acts 2:38-42, 2 Peter 3:9).

When I was growing up I heard an old Negro Spiritual that said, “Everybody talking ‘bout heaven ain’t going to a heaven.” The lyrics of that spiritual are constant with the Words of Jesus and still holds true today.

I can’t speak for you but I don’t want to experience the wrath of God nor do I want to be counted among the children of disobedience. I want to be saved in accordance with God’s commandments. I want to go where Jesus is. I want to go to heaven.
The Bible teaches us that to love God is to keep His commandments and His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3). It teaches us that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft to the Lord and if we reject God’s Word He will reject us (1 Samuel 15:23).

Those who have rejected or rebelled against God’s Holy commandment to repent, be baptized (submerged under water) in the name of Christ Jesus, and receive His precious gift of the Holy Spirit which shall make itself known by speaking out of them in other tongues have also rejected Jesus Christ and God’s Ordained Plan of Salvation (Acts 2:38-42).

Disobedience equals Disrespect and Disrespect equals Rebellion and Rebellion ends in eternal Damnation.

Let those who have ears to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying unto the Church.

Repent!

This Week’s Prayer
Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ. His is the name be which salvation comes. You who are Holy have hallowed His name above all names and it is in Jesus’ name I pray today. Please forgive me of my rebellious ways and of my disobedience to Your divine plan of salvation. I was temporarily deceived by Satan and enslaved in sin. The pride of religion and self-righteousness held me captive. But where I once was blind, now I see. I am sorely sorry for my sins and I earnestly repent of my disobedience and my transgressions. Have mercy on me Oh God! I seek Your forgiveness and salvation for there is no other salvation under heaven or among men whereby I may be saved. Guide me to Your anointed and effectual man servant that I may be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ—burying the dead sinful nature and rising to a new life in Christ Jesus – expecting to be fully endowed with Your Holy Spirit. Direct my footstep toward You and empower me against the deceptions of Satan. This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.
For more information on God’s Divine Plan of Salvation, please visit the page entitled, The Way Of Salvation or write us anointed@sc.rr.com and ask for the CD entitled The Danger of Disrespect and Disobedience.

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God’s Grace Defined Lesson #1

Lately it seems that the term “grace” is being used by religious folks to refer to everything but the kitchen sink. 

One of the ways it is being defined by some Christians is that grace is the opposite of the Law.  However, contrary to popular opinion, grace is not the opposite of the Law or commandments of God.  The opposite of the law is indecency or lawlessness.  But Grace is favor over the Law.  It is the favor that comes from being God’s child, and not from justifying our actions or behavior legally or otherwise.  If you sin against God and repent – demonstrating your desire for forgiveness and mercy – earnestly desiring to be in a right relationship with the Father – His favor or His grace accepts your apology even when the Law demands your punishment. 

Another way of understanding this is to say that we are always “under the law” of God but we are not always subject to the demands and penalties of the Law although we may be found guilty of a violation of the law.  I know that this seems to contradict the Word found in Romans 6:14 that says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  But if you were to look at this scripture in the light of Jesus’ teachings you would realize that Romans 6:14 doesn’t mean that God has done away with His Eternal Ten Commandments.  To the contrary, we all are subject to the eternal commandment of God and instructed by Jesus to keep all of God’s commandments. (Matthew 7:21-23, John 14:15, John 14:21, 1 John 2:4). Therefore, God’s Eternal Law abounds over us but where the law abounds grace much more abounds – admonishing us to obey God’s Commandments voluntarily and go and sin no more. (Romans 5:15, 20) 

For instance, if you were caught speeding – doing 55 miles per hours in a 35 miles per hour speed zone – you were guilty of a traffic violation but you repented and acknowledged responsibility for your offense – then the Law Enforcement Officer, instead of penalizing you as you deserve, issued you a warning ticket – he showed you mercy.  This act of kindness doesn’t justify your violation nor does it relax the law or license you to continue to speed.  It simply extended mercy toward you, allowing you another opportunity to comply with the law and obey the speed limit from here on out (John 8:10-11).  But if you practice speeding and continue to disregard the law, mercy will cease and punishment will be enforced.  However, grace accepts the penalty (punishment) for our transgressions and relieves us from the consequences of our lawlessness.  But this grace is not for everyone.

Now God may have mercy on whomever He will but His grace is reserved for His children.  

Many are under the impression that “Grace” is somehow extended to everyone regardless of their willful disobedience to God’s commandments.  Thus they believe that in order to be saved by grace all that they have to do is recite a prayer or repeat a confession of faith.  Others think that grace somehow excuses them from any obligation to observe and keep the Eternal Moral Commandments of God.  They believe that God will pardoned their willful disobedience and lawlessness on the merits of grace.  However, they are dangerously mistaken. 

Only those who obey God’s commandment to repent (die to sin) and are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ may consider themselves children of God and eligible to receive His grace. 

A good way to understand how Grace relates to one’s relationship with God is to think of God as a good parent and ourselves as children (Matthew 18:2-4).  Children have favor in the eyes of their parents.  If they obey their parents, they are rewarded.  If while obeying their parents they get into any trouble or break anything, the parents assume responsibility and pays any cost on behalf of their child.  The child doesn’t earn this grace, it is freely given by virtue of the child’s relationship to the parent.  However, a child of disobedience (a practitioner of sin) has no expectation of grace or favor from God.  God is not his parent.  His parent is Satan (John 8:44).

Let me summarize.  Mercy is not getting what you deserve although you are guilty of breaking the law.  It is withheld punishment or postponed condemnation for God is NOT willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Whereas Grace is receiving what you could not earn or deserve on your own.  It is unmerited favor and forgiveness.  Grace is reserved for those who have Repented, Kept God’s Commandments and Obeyed His will (Romans 6:1-4).  

“Mercy doesn’t save us.  It gives us time to repent.  God’s Grace Saves!“  (Ref. Matthew 7:21-23, Ephesians 2:8) All Praise Honor and Glory belongs to God the Father through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

(Order Lesson #2 Today)

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