Living In Grace

During my first few years of attending a Fundamental Bible believing church I kept on hearing about grace, salvation, saved Christian being preached among other things. I had questions in my mind but I dare not ask at that time.

During that time I also began reading the Bible. I started the book of Psalm. I used to take the bus going to work and I used that time to read Psalm. The Bible that I used to carry at that time was small and the color of the cover was white and has the New Testament and the books of Psalm and Proverbs. That’s how it all started. As I continue to read Psalm every morning everyday, the desire to know more about God’s Word is impressed in my heart. I confess that there are some things that I do not clearly understand but that didn’t stop me from going to the next pages of the Bible.

A Christian friend of mine gave me a book entitled Amazing Grace. And from this book have I understood well what grace means. Grace which was then a mystery to me was revealed. Grace is all about the undeserved love of God for me. In that Jesus Christ has died for my sins that I may live eternally. It is a gift. A gift offered to all men. It is a matter of taking that gift and knowing your position in Christ Jesus as my Saviour and all in all. A gift that I took years ago by faith. For what is faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). And God said, But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). That is how I got saved. By faith, I repented of my sin and I accepted that gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

With this I began a new life in Christ. I am still imperfect for only God is perfect. But I am made perfect by the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ who died for me. His blood justifies me from the time that I accepted Him as my one and only Saviour. Justification is when my sins are forgiven and being paid off.

Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgression he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid in him the iniquity of us all.

The Bible has clearly stated that by the shedding of His blood we are healed. And when we sin He is merciful and just to forgive us. We have a mediator in Christ Jesus. With these being said, do we have now an excuse to sin? No! Titus 2:12 says Teaching us that , denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. After being saved, we are called to live a sanctified life. Sanctified unto Jesus. Sanctified living is living a life that is holy. Living a life that is separated from this world while living in it. Being sanctified is an ongoing process. But salvation is a one-time transaction. Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. If I depend on myself to live a holy life I will fail. It is by God’s grace that I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me. With men is it impossible but with God it is possible.

Some still cannot accept the simplicity of salvation. They believe that they have to work in order to attain salvation. That salvation is an ongoing process. Jesus Christ has done the work. Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. It is perfectly clear that nothing can take my salvation away from me. I am sealed with that Holy Spirit.

So, we are saved by grace. Justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. Sanctified by the Holy Spirit living in us calling us to live a holy life, in the will of God. How do we know we are living according to His will? By reading the Bible daily. The Bible says, Wherewithal shall a young men cleanse his ways? By taking heed thereto according to thy word (Psalm 119:9) and Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11)