What do you mean, “Saved by grace?”
Romans 3:22-24
We sometimes use words when we do not really understand their meaning in that particular application. “Believe”is one of those words, We may say, “I believe this is true.” Is that an emphatic confirmation of the truth? No, It only says that we think it is so. However, Biblically, “belief” is a fact, not only our conviction. If we really believe something should be done, we will show that by what we do. We may say, “I believe this chair will support me” and we sit on it. I remember when a man thought a weak chair in our home would support him, and it collapsed under him when he sat on it. When this verse says,”by faith” and “all them that believe” it is stating facts. These are people who believe that Jesus is the Lord Christ the Son of God, and they live by his teachings, obeying his commands.
The meaning is shown by the action. When our daughters were in school yet, they had some Afrikaans speaking teachers who used perfectly good Afrikaans, but applied it to English, so they said “borrow me your pencil” and “ons is” instead of “lend me your pencil” and “we are.” In English we do not say “we is.” So keep in mind, our faith is shown by our actions, and it does not just mean I think.
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(Romans 1:17, Romans 9:30, Romans 4:5, Acts 3:16, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 2:22, Ephesians 3:12, Romans 4:11, Romans 4:16, Romans 10:4, Romans 10:12, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11)
ALL HAVE SINNED AND NEED A SAVIOUR
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
It was not just those who had cried out “Crucify him” who were sinners that first Pentecost after his return to his Father in heaven, but it was, and is, everyone. For all have sinned. Everyone who has not repented of that sin, simply says everyone is condemned to die. That is what Peter preached, and that is what Philip told the Ethiopian. When they came to ford a stream the Ethiopian asked, “See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Philip’s answer was what we all must answer, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” He believed, he repented, and now he was ready to obey. “And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptized, (immersed), him. This was a burial in water signifying death, burial, and resurrection. It was not the water that saved him, it was the death of an old life, and the beginning of a new life in the Lord that it showed his obedience to Christ his Lord and Saviour.
When we have sufficient faith in Christ to obey his commands, we are ready for baptism, but not before. A loving parent can not make a decision for his child, but neither should he stand in their way when they come to ask
(Romans 3:9)
GOD GAVE HIS OWN SON TO SHOW GRACE TOWARD THE FALLEN
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.” John 3:16-19
Note that this is God’s grace, and not ours. God took the first step to meet us. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God started to prepare a people who would serve him. Like all people, they were sinners. Over and over, we read of Moses’ frustrations as the children of Israel slipped back into sin. Even he, himself, because of his own lapse in obedience to the Lord, was not able to enter the promised land.
MOST REJECT HIS UNMERITED GOOD FAVOR TOWARD US
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
There is no other way to be eternally saved than through Jesus. He described the church as being his body and he the head. Without a head we are nothing. We have no life at all. We are eternally lost, for “no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” At least two of the numerically great groups actually change the subject or suddenly remember another appointment rather than face the divinity of our Lord Jesus. None of the numerically large religions of Asia and North Africa accept him as Lord, and one claiming to be Christian actually believes that Jesus Christ and Satan are brothers. John 3:16 actually says, “His only begotten Son.”
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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR
JULY
7th - Sunday 2 Kings 7,8, Acts 27:1-20, Proverbs 16:16-24
8th - Monday 2 Kings 9, Acts 27:21-40, Psalm 81:8-16
9th - Tuesday 2 Kings 10, Acts 28, Psalm 82
10th - Wednesday 2 Kings 11, 12, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 83
11th - Thursday 2 Kings 13, 14, Romans 1:18-32, Proverbs 16:25-33
12th - Friday 2 Kings 15, 16, Romans 2, Psalm 84:1-7
13th - Saturday 2 Kings 17, Romans 3:1-20, Psalm 84:8-12
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MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” - Romans 5:12
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DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND?
A man’s wife looked into the mirror one morning, turned to her husband and said, “ I’d like to be eight again.”
Her husband received what he thought was her longing to turn back the clock and be young again, so he sprang into action.
The next morning he woke his wife up early to celebrate her birthday by feeding her a bowl of Coca Pops, and whisking her away for a glorious day at Knott’s Berry Farm.
What a day they had! They rode every ride until they staggered out of the theme park. Then they were off to McDonalds for a Happy Meal with extra fries and chocolate cake. This was followed by a movie with popcorn and candy.
They staggered home at 10:0’clock and collapsed into bed exhausted. He tenderly leaned over and asked her, “Well, honey what was it like being eight again?
Her eyes flew wide open in surprise and her mouth dropped open in horror when she finally understood that day. Then she said, “I wasn’t thinking about my age. I wanted to wear a size 8 dress again”
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