AMAZING GRACE

[fish153]

I had recently spent time on a similar post that was lost due to a computer glitch. Unfortunately, I didn't save it, so I have to
re-post again from memory. The post has to do with the utterly amazing Grace of God, and how much we take it all for granted,
or simply forget about all that we have in Christ as Christians.

Our very physical existence is a GIFT of God.  Our consciousness, senses, emotions and temperament are all something God
has GIVEN to us.  How often do we truly thank God for just being alive at all? Life is an amazing Gift of Grace. But then we con-
tinue in life, and we experience nature around us, which is a GIFT of GOD. Sometimes the beauty of the mountains, streams, forests,
and other wonders we behold are almost overwhelming to us in their very beauty! We did nothing to deserve to see these things! It is pure
GRACE that has allowed us to be alive and enjoy life.

But we then have relationships. We are able to experience and comprehend LOVE when we meet and marry our spouses, and when we have the marvelous experience of having children. These are all GIFTS OF GRACE to us.  I have listed but a few things in our NATURAL lives that come from Grace alone, and in which we should be truly grateful, though the list goes on and on and on.

But, even though we enjoy these things, we are all in a FALLEN state. God revealed in many ways, especially in the last Covenant with man that we are failures. We are sinners unable to approach God. There was no way we could be redeemed unless HE HIMSELF did something. And what is truly amazing is that God waited 4000 thousand years (of recorded history) to come to earth Himself. By this time so much wrath was stored up that we ALL should have been destroyed! But while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!!

Remember the Host of the Wedding in Cana?  Jesus turned the (6) water pots of water into wine and then had it served to the guests. The host said "You have saved the best for last!" And indeed, God really did save the best for last when he came to this earth to redeem us.  We did not DESERVE this in any way. But God left his throne of glory, and came to earth, to be incarnated as a man just like us. This was AN ABSOLUTE GIFT OF GRACE from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. None of us could ever say that they were worthy enough for Jesus to die for them---no one.

And by doing this Jesus bore our sins, and tore the veil in the Temple in half, opening a way for us to come to the very throne of God Himself! "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life". (John 3:16) This was a GIFT given purely from the love of God to us.

When we open our hearts to Christ, and believe in Him, and what He has done for us, we become NEW CREATIONS in Christ. We receive new hearts, and turn from what we did in the past--we can no longer practice what we did before. We stumble at first, but as we begin to walk, the former things we did have less and less power in our lives. This is also a GIFT OF GRACE.  We are "born-again" at salvation (Titus 3:5-7, Eph. 2:8,9), and become children of God (1 John 3:1,2), and we are given the Gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).  God now deals with us as HIS DEAR CHILDREN--we have been "transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light".  He begins to lead us as a Shepherd with His rod and His staff, chastising us when necessary, but pouring upon us GRACE IMMEASURABLE. We absolutely do not deserve one drop of this Grace---but he pours an ocean of it upon us in forgiveness, restoration and life.

But----after all of this Grace has been bestowed, God has still more Grace to bestow upon us as PROVISION for our walk as Christians. Here are just a few of these AMAZING things:

1. THE WORD OF GOD; This is ENTIRELY A GIFT OF GOD TO ALL MEN, but especially to believers. The Word itself leads us to become believers, but is also "manna" for us in our daily walk. This book contains 'EXCEEDINGLY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES that by these ye may put on the divine nature and escape the pollution that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4).  God has also Blessed us with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN THE HEAVENLIES IN CHRIST" (Eph. 1:3)   The Word of God is entirely a Gift of Grace to us----it is God's own word--it is nothing we deserve, and we should praise God daily for this gift.

2. THE ARMOUR OF GOD: Please note that it is "God's Armour" and not ours. As a gift of Grace God gives to each believer His own armour. We can be protected in no other way. If we attempt to construct our own armour we will fail. We have to put on the armour GOD HAS GIVEN TO US: SALVATION, RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH, THE GOSPEL, FAITH AND THE WORD OF GOD. This armour is an amazing provision, and can only be a GIFT OF GOD.  Will we use the armour and one day receive reward, or will we be lazy and not use it, resulting in shame before the BEMA seat? We have the opportunity to do great things for God---and He wants us to do just that!  That is why he would provide us with such provisions!

3. THE ANGELS: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation? (Heb. 1:14) Not only does God freely give us His Word, and His Armour, he also sends forth spiritual helpers and protectors to help us on our way. Read Psalm 91 and see what huge provision God has made to us through these beings.  Do we deserve in any way that these beings be sent to watch over us? Absolutely not.  IT IS A GIFT OF GRACE ALONE.  But God so greatly wants us to live victorious lives, that he sends helpers to strengthen us along the way.

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT: UTTERLY AMAZING GRACE!!  God Himself comes to LIVE WITHIN ME! "Greater is He that IS in you, than He that is in the world" (1 John 4:4) When we are born-again the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us and we are regenerated as His Children. He then comforts, convicts, causes us to remember Scripture, gives wisdom, guides and enlightens us.  He does far more than this--he is an INFINITE GOD living within me!  Now---think of that----God gives us eternal life, salvation, regeneration, the Word of God, The Armour of God, and the Angels (besides myriads of other things I have not listed) completely as GIFTS OF GRACE.

5. OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST: HOSANNAH! PRAISE THE LORD FOREVER! WHAT WONDERFUL AND STUPENDOUS GRACE IS GIVEN TO US IN JESUS!  Jesus, RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, is at God's right hand PRAYING FOR YOU! Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus is "able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, seeing that HE EVER LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM".  The same Lord who prayed for Peter is praying for you!  He knew Peter would stumble and deny Him, but he prayed for him anyway that "his faith not fail". We may all stumble in many different ways, but if we truly belong to God as one of His children we can never fall eternally. How can I say that?  Because Jesus is praying for every believer!  "All that the Father gives to me WILL COME TO ME" and "He that comes to me will in no wise (not for any reason) be cast out"!: (John 6:37)

Have you just become a Christian? REJOICE! Look at the GRACE God is pouring out upon you!  God doesn't want us to fail! God isn't looking for loopholes to keep us from the Kingdom.  "He that spared not HIS OWN SON, but delivered him up FOR US ALL, how shall He not also through Him give us All things?" (Romans 8:32)

Are you someone that has been a Christian for a while, and may have backslidden or lost your joy?  Meditate on the things listed above--look at all that GOD HAS FREELY GIVEN TO YOU.  God will pardon and forgive---He did not leave His throne in Heaven so that you could believe and then be lost------NO----he came from Heaven to ETERNALLY REDEEM YOU!

"I know the thoughts I think towards you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jer. 29:11)

Rejoice my Christian brother and sister! Rejoice! God did not start something in you and not intend to finish it.  Be thankful to God! Look at all the AMAZING OUTPOURING OF GRACE he bestows on each one of us! Take hold of these amazing promises of God. God WANTS you to have assurance. God WANTS you to KNOW that you HAVE eternal life! (1 John 5:13)

"Through God WE SHALL do valiantly, FOR HE IT IS that shall tread down our enemies!" (Psalm 108:13)

Praise the Lord. As Paul said "WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US".

[MeMyself]

Thank you for re-posting this...

My dh and I have been SO captivated afresh by God's deliriously amazing grace and we are SO blessed though so totally undeserving.

  He is such a wonderful, loving Father.

[fish153]

I forgot to list one more GIFT of God to us as Christians (though I know there are hundreds more):

"AND GOD HAS PLACED in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues". (1 Cor. 12: 28)

Please note that GOD HAS PLACED these people into place to encourage and strengthen his church.  It is a GIFT of God that we have such people placed over us as shepherds and teachers.

The Lord is so very good to us!    One more thing to rejoice about!