By the Grace of God

Back in January, our pastor preached on the subject of making peace with one’s past. For many of us, this is hard. We feel we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness. We certainly don’t deserve the price Jesus paid for us.

But isn’t that the point?

There is nothing any of us on this earth could ever do that would make us deserving of such a sacrifice. The death of Jesus on the cross was God’s grace in action.

By The Grace Of God @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #grace #mercy Share on X

GRACE AND MERCY

We’ve all heard it taught: Grace is when we get what we don’t deserve, and mercy is when we don’t get what we do deserve. If you’re struggling with that, yes, I did, too. Just keep saying it over and over and it will sink in.

When we repent and invite Jesus to dwell within our hearts, we become new creations in Christ. Repent comes from the Greek metanoia, meaning to change your mind. We turn from our old ways and become a new person. We may all declare, I’m no longer the person I used to be because Christ died for my sins. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (ESV).

 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (ESV). In other words, Jesus paid the price we should have paid.

Conviction of our sins comes from Jesus. We can say with confidence, Yes, I did this, but I can change it because of what Christ did for me on the cross.

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE

 If you’ve ever wondered if your sins are so bad that even the blood of Christ can’t save you, friend, let me tell you—your sin is exactly why He came to earth in the first place. God’s grace is freely given, poured out with the precious blood of Jesus on that cross. Here’s the thing—you cannot out sin the cross of Christ.

He invites you to come. 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (ESV).

The three verses cited here are so full of promise. But if that isn’t enough, remember Jesus’ words from the cross—It is finished John 19:30 a (ESV).

The question is, do you have enough faith to believe this? It is by faith in the work of Christ on the cross that we are saved. Nothing else. Not by works or being a good person, not because your parents were Christians, not because you go to church, but by faith alone.

TAKE A STEP OF FAITH

Can you hear Him calling? He’s waiting for your answer. You’ve nothing to lose, except the old you, but everything to gain, including eternal life.

Blessings, y’all!

One of my favorites. Of course, they’re all my favorites. This is from Southern Harmony which is the 1854 edition of tunes, hymns, Psalms, odes, and anthems. It is considered Sacred Harp music.