(kjg63;57248)
I am very new to all this.I am a believer, but my faith is very weak due to not understanding the bible very well. My life has been spinning out of control, as I read the bible many verses talk about the grace of God.what is grace? is it something I ask God for?Sorry, if some of my questions sound dumb, just truly trying to understand.
Oh boy did I ever struggle over understanding the grace of God. I struggled with condemnation in my life, greatly when I was barely 20 years old, though I had been saved by God's grace since I was about 5 years old (or before the foundation of the world, take your pick)... I didn't understand it until later in life. That is the way it is, by the way... you don't have to understand God's grace in order to receive it
. It is what it is! You just receive it.You see, I feel I was like the seed planted on thorny ground. I was saved when I was young... but the ways of this world choked me out, and I didn't grow for a long time.But later in life, as I came into my own... the nutrients that I did receive started to nurish me once those thorns were removed. I started to seek God to understand salvation... and to understand *if* I was indeed saved. You see, I had believed at a young age... I professed that Jesus was Lord, and had died for my sins (and the sins of the whole world), but I wanted that *experience* that told me I was saved. You know, coming to know the maker of the entire universe... that is a pretty big deal. And, as I recall it, when I was around 5 years old (when I received Jesus into my life as my savior, I believed in Him), I don't recall an Earth shattering event that I thought I required.So, the struggle over my salvation began... as I wrestled with God day and night with tears, and much emotional pain, until I was completely fatiqued. I did this for 9 months, literally, often on my face before God in tears every night and often during the day as I saught an answer. I fasted, I read, I prayed... I cried. I did this for 9 months, interestingly enough, until I finally gave in and said to the Lord, "I give up...". I gave up, in the best of ways. I told Him that I can't do this anymore... struggle over my salvation. I couldn't try to earn His favor anymore... I couldn't keep trying to earn salvation. I told Him if he wanted me to have it, I will have it. If He wanted me in heaven when I past this life, then I would be there. I wasn't going to try and figure out if I am saved or not anymore (in fact I had now done this)... I told Him, "I know that you have died for me, and that if I am going to get to heaven, it is indeed by your GRACE ALONE."It was this watershed moment of faith that lifted the weight of condemnation off of my shoulders... and I began to experience, 9 months after the struggle over my salvation began, the feeling of what I already was... born again.You see, grace is so hard to understand for people, because we want to earn something. God has even taught us by His law what is evil and what is good. We know that God punishes according to the law, and evil people will indeed have judgment brought on them for evil things. We receive His grace, by faith.
We are saved by grace, THOUGH FAITH, not of works... lest any man boast. It is a gift of God.God so loved the worldthat He GAVE HIS ONLY begotten SON, that whoever believes on Him will NOT PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE.Jesus has finished the work... and it is indeed finished. That's just the way it is. Bottom line. End of story. The grace of God means that you don't have to struggle over your salvation. You just believe Him, and say, "Yes Lord, I like that, I'll take that. Thank you." And every time you struggle with it afterward you do it again! You never earn it, ever. "Yes Lord, I like that, I'll take that. Thank you."I love the hymn, AMAZING GRACE:
"Amazing Grace"Amazing grace, how sweet the soundThat sav’d a wretch like me!I once was lost, but now am found,Was blind, but now I see.’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,And grace my fears reliev’d;How precious did that grace appear,The hour I first believ’d!Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,I have already come;’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,And grace will lead me home.The Lord has promis’d good to me,His word my hope secures;He will my shield and portion be,As long as life endures.Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,And mortal life shall cease;I shall possess, within the veil,A life of joy and peace.The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,The sun forbear to shine;But God, who call’d me here below,Will be forever mine.
How precious does that grace appear... when we believe that God has done the work... that there is absolutely NOTHING we can do to get to heaven. No struggle great enough that we will inherit eternal life... just believe, that's it.
"In Christ Alone"In Christ alone my hope is found;He is my light, my strength, my song;This cornerstone, this solid ground,Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.What heights of love, what depths of peace,When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand.In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,Fullness of God in helpless babe!This gift of love and righteousness,Scorned by the ones He came to save.Till on that cross as Jesus died,The wrath of God was satisfied;For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live.There in the ground His body lay,Light of the world by darkness slain;Then bursting forth in glorious day,Up from the grave He rose again!And as He stands in victory,Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ.No guilt in life, no fear in death—This is the pow'r of Christ in me;From life's first cry to final breath,Jesus commands my destiny.No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,Can ever pluck me from His hand;Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand
Grace is God's Word, for us. Grace is God's WORK for us. Grace is us giving up the fight to earn the salvation we want so badly, and
by faith receiving that which will eventually prove to be
literally more than we could ever have hoped for based on HIS MERITS (in heaven). Grace is unmerited, unearned favor. That is what ALL of us have in Jesus. Unmerited, unearned favor. Believe it, receive it... simple as that!